The Halo JC5 is a stereo power amplifier by Parasound that delivers 400 watts x 2 channels into 8 ohms, 600 watts x 2 channels into 4 ohms, and 1,200 watts bridged into 8 ohms mono. The first 12 watts are pure Class A. It was released in 2017. It is a 2-channel design using a Class A/AB output stage. Bridged to mono it delivers 1,200 watts mono into 8 ohms, which is the usual way to use a pair of these on a demanding speaker. Speakers connect via binding posts. A minimum impedance of 2 ohms makes it compatible with a wide range of loudspeakers. The Parasound Halo JC5 has an MSRP of $7,000.
There are 5 Parasound amplifiers in our database. Below you can see the main specs of these amps.
Parasound Power Amplifier Series
Performance Specs
One of the most important factors when deciding on an integrated amplifier is its power ratings and compatibility with your speaker's impedance requirements. The Parasound Halo JC5 is rated at 400 watts RMS into 8-ohms.
Here are the main highlights of its performance specs:
- 400 watts into 8-ohms (5 Hz-100 kHz)
- 600 watts into 4-ohms
How loud will 400 watts actually play in your room? →
Wiring more than one pair of speakers to it? Check the load first →
Which speakers suit the Parasound Halo JC5?
400 W into 8 ohms, 600 W into 4, rated down to 2 ohms.
We rank every passive speaker we cover against it on power, impedance safety and current
delivery.
Need more power?
Parasound Halo JC5 is rated at 400 watts into 8 ohms, which puts it in our Over 180 watts band. That is the top band we cover, so there is no step up from here - if it is not enough, the answer is more sensitive speakers or a smaller room, not more watts.
When pairing the Parasound Halo JC5 with a passive Bookshelf (Stand mount) or Passive Floor Standing (Tower) speaker, you have to check if their Max Power Range is below the max wattage of the amp for the given impedance levels.
Operating your amp outside of this max range may damage the speakers.
What size of room is the Parasound Halo JC5 Amplifier good for?
An essential deciding factor is the size of the room in which you intend to employ the Parasound Halo JC5 amplifier. Here, taking into account its maximum power parameters, we analyzed its applicability to various size environments:
| Listening Environment |
Suitability |
| Near-field | Are you nuts? |
| Small Room | Bad |
| Mid-size Room | Poor |
| Large Room | Good |
| Very Large Room | Good |
Inputs and Outputs
Besides the performance specs of the Parasound Halo JC5, the next important feature set that you have to evaluate is the input and output selections that it offers.
Parasound Halo JC5 has total of 2 Analog inputs .
Inputs
- Total Number of Analog Inputs: 2
Outputs
Bluetooth Connectivity
Parasound Halo JC5 doesn't have bluetooth connectivity feature. In order to stream your music via bluetooth, the easiest way is to connect an external bluetooth receiver to your Parasound Halo JC5. Two bluetooth receivers that we recommend are the
iFi Zen Blue V2 and the
Audioengine B1.
Among the amps in the same price range, these are the 5 amps that have Bluetooth Connectivity:
Phono Input
Parasound Halo JC5 doesn't have a phono input so in order to play your vinyl albums, Parasound Halo JC5 has to be paired with a Phono Preamp that is MM (Moving Magnet) or/and MC (Moving COil) depending on your cartridge type.
Balanced connections
Parasound Halo JC5 has a balanced XLR input. A balanced cable carries the signal twice, on two conductors of opposite polarity. Interference picked up along the way lands on both equally and cancels when the two are recombined at the far end, so the longer the cable run and the noisier the surroundings, the more the connection is worth. Whether a balanced connection also yields more power depends on how the amplifier is built inside - some are balanced end to end, others convert to single-ended internally and deliver the same power either way, so it is worth reading the maker's own wording rather than assuming.
Parasound Halo JC5 Pros and Cons
Drawn from the published figures on this page, not from listening.
- ✓400 watts per channel into 8 ohms is more than most rooms and most speakers will ever ask for.
- ✓Rated down to 2 ohms, so even a speaker with a punishing impedance dip is within its brief.
- ✓Class A operation, the topology most often chosen where distortion at low levels matters more than efficiency.
- ✓Can be bridged to mono, so a pair can be used as two larger monoblocks.
- ✓Balanced XLR inputs, worth having on a long cable run.
- ✓5-year parts warranty, longer than most of the market.
- ✓Detachable mains lead (Yes).
- ✗Class A runs hot and draws mains power whether or not it is playing; it needs room to breathe.
- ✗A power amplifier has no volume control and no input selection - it needs a preamplifier, or a source with a variable output, in front of it.
- ✗It weighs 33.1kg - check the shelf, and plan on a second pair of hands.
Parasound Halo JC5 External Dimensions and Weight
Parasound Halo JC5 has external dimensions of (H x W x D) . The unit weighs
33.11 kg (73 lbs).
- Width: mm (")
- Height: mm (")
- Depth: mm (")
- Weight: 33.11 kg (73 lbs)
- Base Surface Area: ~cm2 / 0.0inch2
- Volume: ~0.0 liter / 0.0 gallon
Available colors
Parasound Halo JC5 is available in Black and Silver color options.
Warranty
5 Years of parts warranty and 5 Years of labor warranty is generally provided for the Parasound Halo JC5 by the manufacturer.
| General |
| Brand |
Parasound |
| Full Model Name |
Parasound Halo JC5 |
| Release Date |
2017 |
| Amplifier Type |
Power Amplifier |
| Number of Channels |
2 |
| Amp Class |
Class A/AB |
| Amplifier Technology |
Solid State |
| Performance |
| Watts RMS per Channel into 8-ohms |
400 watts |
| Watts RMS per Channel into 6-ohms |
N/A |
| Watts RMS per Channel into 4-ohms |
600 watts |
| Bridged Power per Channel |
Yes, 1,200 watts mono into 8 ohms |
| Frequency Bandwidth |
5 Hz-100 kHz |
| THD |
|
| Minimum Impedance |
2 |
| Signal to Noise Ratio |
N/A |
| Digital Music |
| Built-in DAC |
No |
| Bluetooth |
No |
| WiFi |
No |
| CONNECTIONS |
| Total Analog Inputs |
2 |
| Phono Input |
No |
| Headphone Output |
No |
| Removable Power Cord |
Yes |
| Speaker Connectors |
Binding posts |
| PHYSICAL SPECS |
| Height |
mm (") |
| Width |
mm (") |
| Depth |
mm (") |
| Weight |
33.11 kg (73 lbs) |
| Available Colors |
Black,Silver |
| OTHER |
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
How much power does the Parasound Halo JC5 have?
The Parasound Halo JC5 delivers 400 watts x 2 channels into 8 ohms, 600 watts x 2 channels into 4 ohms, and 1,200 watts bridged into 8 ohms mono. The first 12 watts are pure Class A. It increases its output into 4 ohms, so it has some headroom for harder-to-drive speakers.
Does the Parasound Halo JC5 use vacuum tubes?
No. The Parasound Halo JC5 is a solid-state amplifier - there are no vacuum tubes in it.
What amplifier class is the Parasound Halo JC5?
The Parasound Halo JC5 uses a Class A/AB amplifier design. Class A/B is the traditional linear design: it runs warmer and is less efficient than Class D, but it is long valued for its natural, low-distortion sound.
Does the Parasound Halo JC5 have a built-in DAC?
No. The Parasound Halo JC5 has no built-in DAC, so a digital source such as a streamer or CD transport needs its own converter, or you connect it over analogue.
Can I connect a turntable to the Parasound Halo JC5?
No. The Parasound Halo JC5 has no phono input, so a turntable needs an external phono preamp (or a deck with one built in) before it can be connected.
Does the Parasound Halo JC5 have Bluetooth?
No. The Parasound Halo JC5 does not have Bluetooth built in; you would need an external Bluetooth receiver connected to one of its inputs.
Does the Parasound Halo JC5 have a headphone output?
No. The Parasound Halo JC5 does not have a headphone output, so headphone listening needs a separate headphone amplifier.
How much does the Parasound Halo JC5 cost?
The Parasound Halo JC5 has a manufacturer's list price (MSRP) of $7,000.
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