Parasound HCA-806 Amplifiers

Parasound HCA-806 Amplifiers 

DESCRIPTION

6 Channel Power Amplifier - 80 Watts

USER REVIEWS

Showing 1-9 of 9  
[Nov 30, 2014]
Michael Royer
AudioPhile

Currently bi-amping my Magneplanars, (MG-ll).
Truly a match made in audio heaven.
Not one single compaint - high-end sound for affordable fixed income buyer.
Highly recommended...solid 4 ****

November 30/ 2014

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
4
[Sep 23, 2008]
txsmoke
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Flexibility and power. Cheap on used market.

Weakness:

Heavy, heavy heavy. But needed for the power it outputs.

Picked this up cheap on Craigslist. Relays are flaky, but when it's working, it is great. Been in contact with Parasound on a couple of occassions and support is excellent. If you can pick this up, do so. Very flexible and gobs of power. Very musical. Using to to run my center and surrounds (5 channel). Would be 5 stars except for the relay issue.

Customer Service

Excellent

Similar Products Used:

dbx BX-3 and mkII. BX-2. NAD 2200.

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
5
[Apr 22, 2003]
roulade r
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Power, smooth sound, flexibility to bridge 4 of the 6 channels or run several zones of speaker pairs.

Weakness:

I get noise through the center and surround channels when I'm listening to 2-channel music. It could very well be another link in my system, especially since my speaker cables, power cables and interconnects have to sit side by side. The amp is large & heavy, which is great for a power amp, but real world considerations mean it needs space and a solid enclosure, and it gets pretty warm.

This is a great step up from receivers and at $400, a painless way to get into separates. I upgraded my system step by step, so I was able to see the differences each component made to the sound. The power amp ran through the same cheap speakers and cheap cd changer I had always used. Immediate superior sound on a completely different level-- bass extension that simply wasn't there before, much more subtle, natural and easy to listen-to high end. As I've upgraded the rest of the system, the amp is hanging with the improved speakers, pre-amp and cd player. I'm quite happy, although I find the amp can be noisy. Although specs can't tell you everything, I love the design philosophy behind the amp-- direct coupled, which means no caps in the signal path, big nasty transformer that can pull 30 amps peak, runs class A for the first bunch of watts and becomes push-pull when pushed harder. It gives me confidence I can run tough loads with the amp. Hey, come to think of it, I now use Totem Rokks with the amp, and I believe those are 4 ohm speakers and not very sensitive. Guess the specs do add up after all!

Similar Products Used:

none.

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
4
[Oct 08, 2000]
Joseph
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

-Clear, defined sound, no hum.
-Plenty of power for most people.
-Bridgable, can be used as passthrough, 6 channel setup for future home theater standards. Can be setup with the flick of a switch.
-Very solid build.
-Excellent price.

Weakness:

Great build quality = heavy.

I'm borrowing this amp while my bud is away in college, and it's an excellent piece. Not the best amp I've ever heard, but you'll never regret buying it. If you can find it on clearence or used somewhere, buy it up because it's very competitivly priced for what it offers.

Similar Products Used:

none

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jan 02, 2001]
Mike Little
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Clean sound, versatile connection and output options, build quality

Weakness:

Sound is a bit lean and bright

This is an outstanding six channel amp for the money, particularly at demo/used prices. It has proven to be quite reliable with a very good sound. It is sweet, though a touch bright, for music. Very good imaging and decent soundstage depth. The bass is good but a trifle on the polite side. It helps to bridge channels, use very efficient speakers or supplement the output with a subwoofer. In my current set up the amp drives NHT VS-2's to more than sane sound levels. I have bridged the center channel to improve dialog intelligibility. I use a NHT SW-3Pi (250 watt) powered sub system for the LFE channel.
The construction is first rate though it is heavy. The fins on the heat sinks are on the sharp side and should be handled with care.
As mentioned the unit can be bridged and allows for looping through on four of the six channels. Two independent zones (one with two stereo pairs, one with one pair) can easily be supported. Also with the advent of 6.1 surround, six channels are once again a good investment.

Similar Products Used:

Carver AV-405X, Rotel RB-985 Mk. I

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
5
[Nov 03, 1998]
Ken
an Audio Enthusiast

This amp delivers a clean and detailed sound with more power than 90% of listeners will ever reqiure.My amp drives Arcam's 8 Cd Player through to B&W 603 speakers, a combination which delivers a very natural, full sound.
Well worth the money and the 5 !

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
[Nov 03, 1998]
Ken
an Audio Enthusiast

This amp delivers a clean and detailed sound with more power than 90% of listeners will ever reqiure.My amp drives Arcam's 8 Cd Player through to B&W 603 speakers, a combination which delivers a very natural, full sound.
Well worth the money and the 5 !

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
[Jul 22, 1997]
Matt LaVoie
an Audio Enthusiast

I replaced my onkyo receiver with this amp to drive my Pardigm 7se's. The difference was incredible. Bass was present in many more cd's. This amp really extended the bass response of my speakers. Conservatively rated at 80wpc, in home theater, this 6 channel amp can play, and play loud (the Paradigms are sensitive, that helps). Switching to separates in the amp category has been one of the most satisfying upgrades I have made. The build quality is remarkable, over 50 pounds of steel in an attractive chassis. Parasound is now putting out 5 channel amps for home theater, don't miss 'em! For the price, this amp is outstanding, see reviews in Wide Screen Review, and elsewhere.

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
[Jul 22, 1997]
Matt LaVoie
an Audio Enthusiast

I replaced my onkyo receiver with this amp to drive my Pardigm 7se's. The difference was incredible. Bass was present in many more cd's. This amp really extended the bass response of my speakers. Conservatively rated at 80wpc, in home theater, this 6 channel amp can play, and play loud (the Paradigms are sensitive, that helps). Switching to separates in the amp category has been one of the most satisfying upgrades I have made. The build quality is remarkable, over 50 pounds of steel in an attractive chassis. Parasound is now putting out 5 channel amps for home theater, don't miss 'em! For the price, this amp is outstanding, see reviews in Wide Screen Review, and elsewhere.

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
Showing 1-9 of 9  

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