Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Current models are available on parasound.com if you prefer to purchase directly. If you prefer hands-on help selecting the right product, our Flagship Dealers are listed at parasound.com/dealers.

Our Flagship Dealers are a carefully selected group of specialty audio retailers who know Parasound products deeply and are committed to getting you into the right one. They are listed at parasound.com/dealers. Several sell and ship nationwide, so you do not need to be nearby to work with one.

Parasound products are not sold on Amazon or through third-party marketplaces.

Online sales are only permitted through Flagship Dealers listed as online sellers at parasound.com/dealers. That page is the definitive source.

Products purchased online through any other seller or marketplace are not eligible for Parasound warranty coverage.

If you are unsure whether a seller is a Registered Dealer, contact Parasound before purchasing.

Parasound does not offer financing.

We offer our best price upfront, all the time. Rather than artificially inflating prices to make a discount feel like a deal, we set honest prices from the start. That means you can buy when you are ready, not when a sale forces your hand. We do adjust prices over time as conditions change, but we do not pre-announce increases to pressure you into buying before you are ready.

Home Theater Bypass (HTB) lets your Parasound preamp or integrated amplifier pass audio from a home theater processor directly to your amplifier without any gain or processing from the preamp. You need it if you want to use the same speakers and amplifier for both two-channel stereo listening and a surround sound system. When your AV receiver or processor is handling the surround decoding, HTB keeps your stereo preamp out of the signal path so the processor controls volume. If you only listen to stereo music, you do not need it, but it costs nothing to have it available.

The JC/HALO line is designed by John Curl, who is extraordinarily particular not just about circuit topology but about specific components from specific manufacturers throughout the signal path. The result is a level of performance that reflects decades of refined thinking about what matters and why. The NewClassic line carries Parasound's broader design standards and approach, but it does not attempt to match the JC/HALO signal path performance. It delivers honest, capable sound at more accessible price points without pretending to be something it is not.

Parasound amplifiers use different topologies across the product lines. The JC/HALO series operates in Class AB with high bias, meaning they run in Class A up to a threshold before transitioning to Class AB above that point. Class A operation conducts continuously through the output devices, eliminating the crossover distortion that can occur at the switching point, at the tradeoff of running warmer and drawing more power even at idle. The NewClassic amplifiers and Zamp v3 are also Class AB but at lower bias levels than the JC/HALO series. The ZoneMaster series and 200 Integrated use ICE power modules, which are Class D switching amplifiers optimized for efficiency and multi-zone distribution.

Balanced XLR connections reject common-mode noise picked up in cables and are most beneficial over longer cable runs or in environments with electrical interference. For most home audio installations with short to moderate cable runs, single-ended RCA connections work excellently. Not all Parasound products include both connection types, so check the specifications for your specific model. If your unit has balanced inputs and your source or preamp has balanced outputs, using them is generally a good idea, but it is not a requirement for great sound.