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When shopping for a home audio system, it’s not uncommon to come across the Parasound A21 and the Parasound A23. These two receivers are among the most popular models on the market today, with both offering impressive features at price points that won’t break your budget. But what exactly are these amplifiers? And, how do they compare to each other? You’ll find your answers in this article.
The major difference between Parasound A21 and A23 amplifiers is that generally, Parasound A21 offers more features than the A23. The ability to connect your turntable, CD player, and digital source directly to the amp with no switching boxes makes it easier to set up your system. The A23’s phono input means you’ll need an external preamp if you want to connect a turntable.
If you have invested in high-quality cables for all of your gear then this isn’t an issue because the A21 has built-in RCA inputs with gold-plated connectors. The Parasound amplifiers both have a low impedance switch that allows them to be used with speakers rated at 4 Ohm or 8 Ohm impedances which makes it easy if you’re not sure what impedance rating your speakers have been designed for.
Comparing Parasound A21 and A23
| Parasound A21 | Parasound A23 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $$$$ | $$$ |
| Power output | 2 x 250 watts | 2 x 125 watts |
| Inputs | Analog, digital (optical, coaxial) | Analog, digital (optical, coaxial) |
| Outputs | Speaker | Speaker |
| Key features | Class A/AB operation, high-current power supply, balanced inputs | Class A/AB operation, high-current power supply, balanced inputs, front-panel volume control |
| Customer reviews | Generally positive | Generally positive |
Parasound A21: A High-End Amplifier with Impressive Power and Clarity
The Parasound A21 is a high-end stereo power amplifier that offers impressive power and clarity. It is the successor to the popular A21 amplifier and has been designed to improve upon the original in every way possible. In this review, we’ll take a closer look at the Parasound A21, its features, and its pros and cons.
The Parasound A21 offers 300 watts-per-channel at 8 ohms, 500 watts-per-channel at 4 ohms, and an incredible 1,000 watts in bridged mono mode. The A21 features a high-bias class A/AB operation, which delivers a cleaner and more transparent sound. It also includes a balanced XLR input and RCA input, which allows you to connect it to a variety of different sources.
Pros:
One of the most significant pros of the Parasound A21 is its power. It delivers an impressive amount of power, making it an excellent choice for those looking for a high-quality amplifier for their home theater or music system. Additionally, its class A/AB operation provides a cleaner and more transparent sound. The balanced XLR input and RCA input also provide versatility in terms of connectivity.
Cons:
While the Parasound A21 offers impressive power and clarity, it does come with a few drawbacks. Firstly, it is relatively expensive, and may not be accessible to all budgets. Secondly, it is a bit on the heavy side, weighing in at 60 pounds, making it difficult to move around or adjust its position. Finally, it may not be as visually appealing as some other high-end amplifiers on the market.
Parasound A23: A High-Quality and Affordable Amplifier
The Parasound A23 is a high-quality power amplifier that offers excellent sound quality at an affordable price point. It is the successor to the popular A21 amplifier and has been designed to provide even greater clarity and versatility. In this review, we’ll take a closer look at the Parasound A23, its features, and its pros and cons.
The Parasound A23 offers 125 watts-per-channel at 8 ohms and 225 watts-per-channel at 4 ohms. It includes a bridging switch that allows you to combine two channels for even greater power. The A23 features a class AB operation, which provides a more efficient and dynamic sound. It also includes balanced XLR and RCA inputs, which provide versatile connectivity options. The front-panel volume control allows for easy adjustment of volume levels.
Pros:
One of the most significant pros of the Parasound A23 is its high-quality sound. It delivers an impressive amount of power and clarity, making it an excellent choice for those looking for a high-quality amplifier for their home theater or music system. The bridging switch also provides even greater power options, which is a huge advantage for those who need to power larger speakers or home theater systems. Additionally, its class AB operation provides a more efficient and dynamic sound. The balanced XLR and RCA inputs also provide versatility in terms of connectivity. The front-panel volume control is also a significant pro, allowing for easy adjustment of volume levels.
Cons:
While the Parasound A23 offers impressive performance and versatility, it does come with a few drawbacks. Firstly, it is a bit on the heavy side, weighing in at 32 pounds, making it difficult to move around or adjust its position. Secondly, it may not be as visually appealing as some other high-end amplifiers on the market. Finally, while it is more affordable than some other high-end amplifiers, it may still be too expensive for some budgets.
Common Features of Parasound A21 vs A23
Both the A21 and the A23 have a volume control, which is something you don’t see often on high-end amplifiers. They also come with a remote control that can be used to adjust basic player settings, but not for advanced functions like track selection.
Both of these amps also have an input selector button and two headphone jacks, so you can easily plug in multiple devices and listen to music privately.
They both also offer built-in phono preamps, meaning they’re not only great for listening to music through your speakers but also for playing records on your turntable or other analog sources like cassette tapes.
Differences Between Parasound A21 vs A23
1. Performance
The A23 is the winner here. Although it’s only rated at 60 watts per channel compared to the A21’s 125 watts, it has more power and better bass than the A21. The A23 also has a higher sensitivity rating of 91dB, which means you’ll need less amplifier gain for your input signal to reach an acceptable listening level.
2. Price
The difference in price is largely due to the fact that the A21 offers more features and better sound quality than A23. If you have a larger budget, or if you need specific features that the JC2 lacks, then Parasound’s A23 amplifier is an excellent choice for your system.
It’s important to note that there are still some similarities between these two amplifiers: both offer high-quality sound with plenty of power and both have gotten good reviews from audiophiles everywhere they’ve been sold. If you want to spend less money on an amp with great potential.
3. Noise
The A23 is quieter, but it’s also more expensive than the A21. That’s because it has a lower noise floor, which means that the background noise in your audio signal is lower. For most people, this isn’t worth paying extra for; however, if you’re extremely sensitive to noise in your recordings or live performances, then having a lower noise floor might be ideal for you.
The two models both have nearly identical specs when it comes to audio quality: they both can produce up to 60 watts per channel and have preamp outputs so that you can connect them directly to another amplifier without using an external preamp unit.
They also both use Class A/B circuitry and feature HDAMs on select channels, a technology that enhances sound quality. It does this by reducing distortion through complex circuit design and careful shielding of delicate components from outside interference.
4. Sound Quality
The A21 has a more neutral sound, while the A23 has a warmer sound. In terms of bass, the A23 easily gives the edge to the A21. It’s tighter, deeper, and punches with greater impact than its counterpart. The bass on both amps is tight enough to please any audiophile but still natural enough to be considered “warm” by many standards.
The main difference between these two is the noise floor: The Parasound A21 tends to run quieter than its sibling at all volume levels. However, if you want more power from your amp then go for Parasound A23 because it can deliver up to 100 watts per channel into 8-ohm speakers while its brother tops out at 80 watts per channel into 8 ohms
5. The A23 has more power and is better at lower frequencies
The A23 has more power and is better at lower frequencies. Overall, the A23 produces a lower noise floor and has a faster transient response, which means that it can respond more quickly to changes in sound. This makes the A23 a better choice for music or audio applications where you want to hear as much detail as possible. The A21 has a smoother response across all frequencies but can’t match the resolution of the A23.
6. Parasound a21 is more popular
The Parasound a21 has been on the market for quite some time and is therefore more popular with audiophiles. The Parasound a23, however, is newer and not as well-known. However, this does not mean that the Parasound a23 is worse than its predecessor; it just means that there isn’t as much information available about it yet.
7. Power Output and Load Impedance
The A21 has a maximum power rating of 150W and the A23 is rated to deliver 100W. Both amplifiers have a minimum load impedance of 4 ohms, which should be suitable for most home theater systems.
The power output rating is important because it dictates how much sound you can get from your speakers at different volumes. If you have speakers with less than a 4-ohm load, like most computer speakers or small stereo systems, then you’ll want to go with the amplifier that can produce more power, in this case, the Parasound A21. If your speakers are larger and can handle more power (8 ohms or higher), then either amplifier will work fine.
8. Frequency Response
The Parasound a23 has a frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz, while the Parasound a21 has a frequency response of 20hz to 100khz. This means that the Parasound a23 can play more high and low frequencies than the Parasound a21.
9. Connection and Control Options
The Parasound a21 is a complete audio system, available as a standalone unit or in the form of an integrated audio receiver. It comes with:
- An integrated stereo preamp with two pairs of analog RCA inputs and two pairs of optical inputs
- A built-in phono stage for connecting your turntable to the system
- The ability to connect an external digital input device via the USB port
The A21 can be connected directly to your TV via HDMI, or it can function as an amplifier for just about any external source you want to plug into it, even if that source doesn’t have a digital output. You can use this feature if you’re looking at buying new speakers but aren’t sure which ones fit best within your budget, just use the A21’s RCA outputs to connect them directly into your home theater setup.
FAQs About Parasound A21 vs Parasound A23
How many watts is Parasound A21?
The Parasound A21 amplifier delivers impressive power. The A 21+ model delivers 300 watts-per-channel at 8 ohms compared to 250 watts-per-channel for the A 21. At 4 ohms, it delivers 500 watts-per-channel compared to 400 watts-per-channel for the A 21. When bridged into mono mode, it can deliver a whopping 1,000 watts compared to 750 watts with the A 21.
What is the gain of Parasound A21?
The total gain of the Parasound A21 is 29dB with the gain at maximum. This is the typical gain of an amplifier without a gain adjustment. Therefore, you can set the A21 gain at the maximum.
What is the build quality of Parasound?
Parasound offers excellent design that ranks with some of the best in the world. Their build quality and reliability have increased substantially in the past ten years, as has their price. When partnered with comparable quality equipment, they offer a three-dimensional sound that audiophiles rave about.
What is the MSRP for Parasound A23?
The Parasound A23 amplifier is an excellent choice for those looking for a high-quality amplifier. It can also be bridged to generate a mono amplifier rated at 500 W into an 8-ohm load. However, it’s worth noting that the MSRP for this product may vary depending on your location and the retailer you choose to purchase it from.
Final Thoughts on Parasound A21 vs Parasound A23
The Parasound a21 is more popular than the Parasound a23. Parasound a21 has better specs in almost every category. The Parasound a21 has higher power output and lower load impedance, which means it will sound better with certain devices. It also has better frequency response, so it’s easier to listen to music on the go if you’re using something like an MP3 player or smartphone.
The Parasound a21 has a USB input, which allows you to make digital transfers with your computer. This can be useful for backing up your music library or transferring files from an external hard drive.
The Parasound a21 also has a coaxial input that allows you to connect other devices, such as satellite radio receivers or CD players via this port. The coaxial input sends audio signals through the same cable that sends video data from your cable box. A Toslink optical digital audio connection is also available on both units.
However, only on the A21 model does it support Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound processing when connected to compatible components such as home theater receivers and DVD players with Dolby Digital decoding capability. If you liked this post, you should take a look at our detailed comparison of Shure Beta 87A Vs Sennheiser e945.
