San Francisco, 1981
Our Story
Since 1981, Parasound has built audio equipment for people who believe music deserves better. Founded in San Francisco, we set out to close the gap between gear that sounded extraordinary and gear that cost less than a car. Four decades in, that is still the only mission.
The Foundation
American Design.
Audiophile Performance.
Parasound launched with a premise that was simple and, at the time, slightly contrarian: audiophile performance did not have to mean audiophile pricing. American design, disciplined engineering, precision manufacturing. Keep the value in the circuit, not the cabinet.
That philosophy was in place from day one. It has not changed.
1981
Founded in San Francisco
60+
Countries Worldwide
35+
Years with John Curl
15
Consecutive Stereophile Class A Years
The People Behind the Sound
Design & Leadership
Amplifier Designer — Since 1989
John Curl
One of the most respected circuit designers in audio history. Before joining Parasound, John designed mixing consoles for The Grateful Dead, worked on tape research at Ampex, and created the iconic Mark Levinson JC-2 preamp.
The JC prefix on our amplifiers is a dedication to his work. Conservative circuit topology, finest components, balanced designs — qualities that outlast trends.
Owner
David Sheriff
David acquired Parasound in December 2022. A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and former A-10 pilot, he spent thirty years guiding American manufacturers through operational transformation — supply chain, distribution, and time-to-market.
His mandate: protect what works, improve what can be better, and build the foundation Parasound needs for its next forty years.
VP, Research & Development — Since 2023
Darren Myers
Darren joined in February 2023 after leading acclaimed product development at PS Audio — the Sprout100, M700, M1200, Stellar Phono, and PMG series. Earlier he worked at Classé Audio and Bowers & Wilkins.
He is leading our next generation of world-class amplifiers. Darren is a rare engineer: both his technical design skills and his critical listening skills are fully developed — a combination that is genuinely uncommon. When he came on board we made one commitment: we will not release a product until it is right. Fully tested. Not beta.
The Lineup
What We Build
Reference Line
JC / Halo
The pinnacle of what Parasound builds. Every amplifier in this line traces back to John Curl’s circuit design — dual-mono construction, class-A output stages, and the finest components throughout. The JC5, A23+, and JC3+ phono preamplifier define the line.
Designed in America. No compromises on the bench.
Browse JC → Browse Halo →Distributed Audio
Zonemaster
Built for whole-home audio and outdoor installations. Zonemaster amplifiers deliver clean, reliable power across multiple zones — indoors and out — without sacrificing the audio quality Parasound is known for.
The right amplification for every room and every environment.
Browse Zonemaster →Performance Line
NewClassic
Full-size Parasound performance for a broader range of systems. NewClassic delivers the engineering discipline the brand is built on — without the dedicated JC circuitry of the reference line.
More accessible. No less serious.
Browse NewClassic →Compact Line
ZCustom
Compact form factor, built for custom installation. ZCustom amplifiers are engineered for spaces where rack real estate is limited — without giving up on performance.
Small footprint. Parasound standards.
Browse ZCustom →Customer Insights
Hear What Others Are Running.
Parasound amplifiers end up in a lot of different systems. The Preferred Pair guide is a collection of real pairings submitted by owners — the speakers they chose, the rooms they’re in, the combinations that actually work.
Explore Customer Insights