price,bass,smooth detailed highs

heavy, 21" deep

This Amp kicks ass! I traded my ATI 1505 for this monster and let me tell you I couldnt be happier! The BASSS this amp PUMPS out is .uckin tremendous! Dont get me wrong I love the dynamics of my ATI ,but the bass is just not there .With the 2505A, you get the same dynamic sound but you also get deeep bass .Also the ATI can get overly bright and a little edgy on certain dvds and music.so if your looking for deep bass,multi-bit dynamics without the shrill sound of the ATI ,get this amp.

Similar Products Used:

ATI,Krell ,proceed,HK,Marantz,B&K,Tag Mclaren,denon

Power, large soundstage, imaging, natural warmth and detail, bass quality and control, outstanding value

Parasound doesn't leave alot of room for hooking up cables, if your speaker cables are terminated with spades this can be a challenge

I originally bought the B&K Reference 7250 and lived with this amp for a few weeks. My impression of the B&K was that it was dynamic but lacked low level detail, and it's presentation was unnaturally soft. Bass control and extension were also not up to my expectations for a 2500 amp. Back went the B&K. I've had the 2205 for only a few days now. I didn't have to wait 3 or 4 days for the amp to break in like the B&K, it sounded great right out of the box, and has smoothed out since then. Without going into a lengthy description of the 2205's sound, the performance of the 2205 comes very close to my Bryston 7B monoblocks. I have not heard the ATI 2505, but outside of the ATI 2505 the Parasound HCA 2205 is the best ~2500 5 channel amp available. As others have said, you will not be dissapointed with this amp, for music or home theater.

Similar Products Used:

Bryston 7B/5B, B&K Reference 7250, Rotel RMB 985(older version), McCormack DNA 1 dlx, others

High current, quality components, warmth and depth of sound almost second to none except the very high end home theater amps around.

No optional non rack face plate?

Like many stories of audio listeners of fine equipment, I was first interested in this poweramp after seeing it at web sites and in magazines. After having just a thought or a notion to look around and see what was out there to replace what I had I decided to look here and read what others had to say about the ATI and Parasound high current amps. As the story goes, the notion turned more into an obsessive and firebreathing nagging in the heart to own something bigger and better and more $$$! Yes to buy a new five channel home theater powerhouse amp that would drive the 4 ohm load Kef 104/2's and bring it to life once again. Did it ever die? No Kef 104's never die and was one of the best of Raymond Cooke's design magic. After researching the reviews here my dream became that aforementioned firebreathing nagging obsession and like most audio enthusiast I found all the justifications I needed to spend the money on one. But which one? The ATI 2505 or the Parasound HCA2205? Since I already had a Denon AVP8000 that sounded warm and sweet and it was said to couple it with Denon amps made it even warmer and delightful to listen to, I opted for the Parasound's spaciousness, warmth, and depth of soundstage. When got it via UPS it was like my home theater "wet dream" come true and I rushed to get it hooked up! As I turned it on for the first time I was immediately impressed by the warmth before the breakin period and I knew I was in AUDIO HEAVEN for sure! I listened to it for hours and hours reliving all the years of music, but in another league of power amplification. Yes the Parasound has lived up to everyone's reviews and more in my opinion because it really brought my place alive, where it was just considered mediocre before. The HCA2205 is worth the all the $$$ and Ken at Reference Audio Video was kind enough to sell me a unit that listed at their site as a demo. The only reason it was called a demo is because it had the cover removed for an audio display and it was also $800 off list price. A steal of a deal to me and I rushed to buy it because of the firebreathing obessions that needed to be quenched! So now my ears are pleasantly serenaded and so is a sweet loving woman called my wife! Now if I can only get my #@@)(#&*)(&#)@Infinity HPS250 subwoofer to work properly, everything will be perfect! Darn thing has a bad poweramp. Now where is my sweet woman so I can let her see that firebreathing obessive look once again so she will feel sorry for me and let me spend more $$$ on audio nirvana?!? Oh there she is sitting and listening to my loving Parasound and Denon combo! Aloha to All!

Regards,
Ken

Similar Products Used:

Onkyo, Hafler, SAE

Quite simply one of the best I have heard. My wife, who hates me buying new equipment wondered if I had bought new cds (it was that impressive). It is a beast and requires a dedicated line (don`t hook this up to an outlet and have something else in the same outlet--the amp will kick in its protective circuits and shut down). I love the machine though. It is well built and lets my classical music sound wonderful. Haven`t used it for home cinema yet, but will in due course. If it sounds as good for cinema as it does for music, it`ll be another acolade.

Smooth power

very deep, makes it hard to fit in my a/v rack

I won't go into too much detail as I feel my fellow Parasound owners have extolled this unit's virtues enough. I was prepared to spend significantly more for my first multichannel amp (in fact I'm embarrassed to say that the low price of this unit almost kept me from auditioning it), but after listening to the Parasound unit I just couldn't justify spending a penny more. I feel this unit competes well with the either the Bryston or the Krell units, at a fraction of the price. I couldn't be happier.

I agree with the rest of you guys. Dave is a bonehead!!! Don't review products you haven't heard, and obviously know little about.
I've had the 2205A for about six weeks and I feel it is a superb power amplifier, certainly among the best, in terms of value and performance for your buck!! Warm, natural, clean sound, with a ton of power, built like a tank and is covered by a 10 year warranty. What more could you ask for??

Case closed!! Five stars for the Parasound 2205A and no stars for Dave!!

Power, sound quality, price/performance, tech support

Large footprint (very deep).
Does not have balanced inputs (XLR)

After looking at a lot of amps to power my Magnepan MG1.6QR and MMG speakers (4 Ohms loads), I decided on the Parasound HCA-2205AT after reading all the positive reviews on the web.

The Parasound is a rather large amp and can deliver all the power I need to my relatively inefficient Magnepan electrostatic speakers.

The sound is fabulous and the bass is incredible. I was using a subwoofer before, but now my speakers sound like they do not need the subwoofer at all.

The only other amp that I really liked was the Bryston 9B-ST but at twice the price ($3499) of the Parasound. I wish the Parasound had balanced inputs (like the Bryston).

When I initially got the amp, the gain controls omn all the channels were twisted all the way counter-clockwise (off), so I was not getting any output. I called Parasound Tech support and they immediately asked me to check the gain settings. After I turned the gains clockwise, everything sounded great.

this amp has the power to re-create any effect that a movie director would want you to hear....and it a great 2-channel audio amp

I've had to complain to Parasound to replace this amp within 6 months because it went into "stand-by" mode and never kicked in..Parasound wanted the amp back to research so I had them send a new.
I now have a problem with another new 2205A, the front left channel is cutting out within 5 minutes after the amp is on, the amp was sent to a Parasound service center only for me to get the amp back not fixed..Parasound is stating they're standing by the product for the next service visit..."where was Parasound, the dealer and service tech the first time ?" This component has been the weakest link in my system from day 1.

PLEASE ensure yourself if you're sold on this amp to deal with a dealer you feel will be there after the sale and DEMAND a Parasound rep contact you upfront in the event you have a problem and how they intend to help.

THIS HAS BEEN A DISAPPOINTING PIECE OF EQUIPMENT

I'll be posting reviews as this issue unfolds. Please feel free to e-mail me for more details if you desire.

This SUPERB power amplifier has all the qualities a true high end amp must have: POWER,MUSICALITY,RELIABILITY.
At this price point you need not look any further. I wouldn't even consider
spending more for a 5-channel amp as this one may very well embarrass most of the more expensive competition .

Bravo Parasound. Thank you Audio Wizard John Curl.

To make things short and to the point.The parasound amp may very well be able to deliver 220 watts without a fan.But I cannot classify it as part of the high end. Just poweramp and thats it. Sorry folks I have listened to several of their amps. Thats the sad reality in a Home Theater review it scored no higher than the Sunfire Cinema Grand IMAGINE THAT