LeRoy
03-31-2013, 07:10 AM
Last year, about mid-year, I bought a Parasound Zamp V3 45 wpc into 8 ohms and I also bought the matching Parasound ZPre2. Both units had been on my wish list so I finally went through with the purchase. I had modest expectations for their musical presentation given their price point.
When I got them of course I put them into action and I was so very disappointed with the SQ. I was embarrassed to post about the purchase. I had plugged them in using the supplied stock power cords and I thought it just sounded awful.
I simply placed them on the shelf as audio jewelry and had not bothered to turn either unit on since last September. Then about 3 weeks ago my buddy from Florida (WM) sent me his Emo XDA-1 to test out. I went ahead and dusted off the Parasound gear to see if the tone controls on the Zpre might be helpful. Yes, it was. But all that experimenting got me to swapping power cords, a variety of I.C's and finally taking both units my audio dealers home to test out with other gear. I thought after swapping out the power cord on the Zamp was crucial in unleashing it's potential but I needed verification.
As it turns out that little Zamp is a bona fide gem! Yesterday, I put the Zamp into play with Belles LA-01 Pre, Meridian G08 CDP, Benchmark DAC, Blue Marble speaker wire, I.C's, power cord, and some very inefficient home made Usher clone tower speakers.
I was comparing the Zamp against the Belles 350A (I think it was V2) 250 wpc and I was very surprised how nearly identical the Zamp is in performance to the Belles.
The only difference, besides watts, was the Belles had a tad slower pace and audible shifts in pace. The Zamp held a steadier more constant pace. Detail, insight, tone, soundstage, depth of bass, and warmth ....I could not tell the Zamp apart from the much costlier Belles. The Zamp can not only hang with higher end audio gear but actually is right at home with higher end components. I paid less than $300 for the Zamp, new.
Had it not been for my buddy sending out the Emo I would not have given the Parasound gear a second chance but as it turns out putting an excellent power cord (currently I am using WW Gen 7 Electra Copper on the unit) I would never have discovered what a gem the Zamp is. I am planning on getting a second Zamp to use as mono blocks (no smirking!). The Zpre is a different story but the gist of my rambling is the Zamp is a steal just put a quality power cord on it!!
When I got them of course I put them into action and I was so very disappointed with the SQ. I was embarrassed to post about the purchase. I had plugged them in using the supplied stock power cords and I thought it just sounded awful.
I simply placed them on the shelf as audio jewelry and had not bothered to turn either unit on since last September. Then about 3 weeks ago my buddy from Florida (WM) sent me his Emo XDA-1 to test out. I went ahead and dusted off the Parasound gear to see if the tone controls on the Zpre might be helpful. Yes, it was. But all that experimenting got me to swapping power cords, a variety of I.C's and finally taking both units my audio dealers home to test out with other gear. I thought after swapping out the power cord on the Zamp was crucial in unleashing it's potential but I needed verification.
As it turns out that little Zamp is a bona fide gem! Yesterday, I put the Zamp into play with Belles LA-01 Pre, Meridian G08 CDP, Benchmark DAC, Blue Marble speaker wire, I.C's, power cord, and some very inefficient home made Usher clone tower speakers.
I was comparing the Zamp against the Belles 350A (I think it was V2) 250 wpc and I was very surprised how nearly identical the Zamp is in performance to the Belles.
The only difference, besides watts, was the Belles had a tad slower pace and audible shifts in pace. The Zamp held a steadier more constant pace. Detail, insight, tone, soundstage, depth of bass, and warmth ....I could not tell the Zamp apart from the much costlier Belles. The Zamp can not only hang with higher end audio gear but actually is right at home with higher end components. I paid less than $300 for the Zamp, new.
Had it not been for my buddy sending out the Emo I would not have given the Parasound gear a second chance but as it turns out putting an excellent power cord (currently I am using WW Gen 7 Electra Copper on the unit) I would never have discovered what a gem the Zamp is. I am planning on getting a second Zamp to use as mono blocks (no smirking!). The Zpre is a different story but the gist of my rambling is the Zamp is a steal just put a quality power cord on it!!