Parasound Halo A 23+ Stereo Amplifier - Silver

One Hundred and Sixty Watts of John Curl

The A23+ is the Parasound most people actually need. It makes 160 watts per channel into 8 ohms and 240 into 4, which covers the great majority of domestic speakers, and it does it with John Curl's circuit topology behind it.

What separates it from a specification sheet is the bias. Parasound runs it high-bias Class A/AB, so the first watts are pure Class A. Since most home listening lives in those first watts, that is the part of the design you actually hear.

If one is not enough, two are. Bridged to mono, an A23+ makes 500 watts into 8 ohms, so a second unit turns a stereo pair into monoblocks rather than a trade-in.

Inside the Chassis

The numbers are quiet and steady. THD stays under 0.06% at full power and under 0.03% at the levels you actually listen at. Signal-to-noise is better than 112dB A-weighted, and damping factor is above 800 at 20Hz, which is what grips a woofer and stops it ringing.

Response runs 5Hz to 100kHz at −3dB, and holds within a quarter of a decibel across the audible band. Inputs are balanced XLR at 66k ohms or unbalanced RCA at 33k, with 29dB of gain. It measures 17-1/4 inches wide and weighs 27 pounds.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Yongki Go reviewed the A23+ for Home Theater HiFi on November 18, 2020. "There is a lot to like in the reasonably-priced PARASOUND HALO A23+ STEREO AMPLIFIER," he concluded. "It is stylish, packs sufficient amplification power, and delivers solid high-fidelity sonic performance."

In use he found the amplifier "was always in control of the music played through it", and summed up: "The A23+ is definitely a very capable amplifier that seems to do everything well." Under things he would like to see, he wrote one word: "None".

Who Is This Amplifier Best For?

• Your speakers are a normal load — 160 watts into 8 ohms and 240 into 4 drives the large majority of domestic speakers, so the money goes into circuit quality rather than headroom you never reach.
• You listen at sensible levels — high-bias Class A/AB puts the first watts in pure Class A, which is exactly where most home listening sits, so the character you hear most is the good part.
• Your system might grow — a second A23+ bridges to 500 watts of mono, so today's stereo amp becomes half a monoblock pair instead of something you sell on.
• Your rack is shared with other gear — at 27 pounds and 4-1/8 inches high it does not demand its own shelf, and it wakes on a 12V trigger or on audio signal with the rest of the system.
• You already own a preamp, or plan to add one — Halo P6 is the matched choice, and a streamer/DAC preamp works equally well

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Feed it from your preamplifier by balanced XLR or unbalanced RCA, whichever your preamp offers. Speakers connect to the binding posts. If you are running two A23+ units as monoblocks, set each to bridged mode first.

For turn-on, choose manual, a 12V trigger with looping output, or audio-signal sensing. The per-channel gain controls on the back let you center the image if your listening seat is off to one side.

Pairs Well With

Building around the A23+? Here are some great companions:

• Preamplifier: Required, and the natural next decision — see our Preamplifiers.
• Speaker Cables: Carry the current properly — see our Speaker Cables.
• Interconnects: Balanced XLR is the better run from preamp to amp — see our Interconnect Cables.
• Audio Rack: Give a Class A/AB amplifier air around it — see our Audio Racks.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much power does it make?

160 watts per channel into 8 ohms and 240 watts per channel into 4 ohms. Bridged to mono, one A23+ makes 500 watts into 8 ohms.

What does high-bias Class A/AB mean?

The output stage runs in pure Class A for the first watts, then switches to the more efficient Class A/AB for bigger demands. Most home listening happens inside that Class A window.

Does it take balanced inputs?

Yes. Balanced XLR at 66k ohms and unbalanced RCA at 33k ohms, with 29dB of gain.

Can I use two of them as monoblocks?

Yes. Each bridges to mono for 500 watts into 8 ohms.

How does it turn on, and how big is it?

Manually, by 12V trigger with a looping output, or by audio-signal sensing. It is 17-1/4 inches wide, 15-1/4 deep and 4-1/8 high with feet, weighing 27 pounds.

Where is it built, and what warranty does it carry?

Parasound covers the A23+ with a 5-year parts and labor warranty for the original purchaser from an authorized dealer.

See It in Action

Audio Arkitekts reviews the Halo A23+:

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