JC3Jr Phono Amp

Beautifully Compact, Intensely Musical

Drop the JC3Jr into your vinyl chain and the room gets quieter, richer, more alive. Grooves open up, vocals feel present, and rhythms lock in—with the kind of ease that makes you flip records for hours.

Designed by John Curl, the JC3 Jr gives you the essentials that make records sing: 40/50/60 dB gain for MM/MC, variable MC loading (50–550 Ω), and balanced XLR plus RCA outputs, all fed by an ultra‑quiet, shielded toroidal supply. Simple to dial in, built to disappear.

Praised by reviewers

• “The best under‑$2000 solid‑state phono stage I have ever heard.” — Positive Feedback.
• “The quietest phono stage that had passed through my system, regardless of price.” — SoundStage! Hi‑Fi.
• “…a wide soundstage with noiseless, black‑velvet backgrounds.” — The Absolute Sound. 

Awards & Recognition (with links)

• The Absolute Sound — Editors’ Choice (Phonostages under $2000).

Warranty: new, unopened units purchased from a registered Parasound dealer on or before December 10, 2026 are covered by a 1-Year Limited Warranty.

Frequency Response:
20-20Khz, +/- 0.2dB

Total Harmonic Distortion
< 0.02% at 1 kHz

Signal to Noise Ratio, 40 dB Setting
>85dB, input shorted, IHF A-weighted
>80dB, input shorted, unweighted

Signal to Noise Ratio, 50 dB Setting
>89dB, input shorted, IHF A-weighted
>84dB, input shorted unweighted

Signal to Noise Ratio, 60 dB Setting
> 94dB, input shorted, IHF A-weighted
> 91dB, input shorted, unweighted

Inter-channel Crosstalk
>80 dB at 1 kHz

Input Impedance
MM or MI: 47k Ω
MC Variable: 50- 550 Ω

Output Impedance
Unbalanced: < 100 Ω
Balanced: < 100 Ω per leg

Input Capacitance
150 pF

Input Sensitivity at 1 kHz, 4mV Input
40 dB: 4 mV for 450mV output
50 dB: 4 mV for 1.4 Volts output
60 dB: 4 mV for 4.25 Volts output

Input Sensitivity at 1 kHz, 1V Output
40 dB: 9 mV for 1.0 Volt output
50 dB: 3 mV for 1.0 Volt output
60 dB: 0.9 mV for 1.0 Volt output

Total Gain
40 dB / 50 dB / 60 dB (unbalanced output)
46 dB / 56 dB / 66 dB (balanced output)

XLR Pin Identification
1 = Ground (Shield)
2 = Positive
3 = Negative (Return)

AC Power Requirement
Standby: <1 watt
Power On: 9 watts
115 VAC or 230 VAC 50 - 60 Hz

Dimensions
Width: 17-1/4” (437mm)
Depth: 14-3/4” (375mm)

Depth with cables: 17” (432mm)
Height: 2-1/2” (63.5mm)
Height, without feet: 1-3/4” (45mm)

Weight
Net: 13 lbs. (5.9 Kg)
Shipping: 19 lbs. (8.6 kg)

• Circuitry designed by legendary John Curl
• Circuit board layout by Carl Thompson
• Cartridge options for 47k Ω MM and MC/MI
• Variable MC impedance adjustment of 50-550 ohms
• Gain select for 40 dB/50 dB/60 dB unbalanced (46 dB/56 dB/66 dB balanced)
• Balanced and unbalanced outputs
• Mono switch can improve sound of mono & older LPs
• Convenient auto turn-on by 12V trigger
• RIAA accurate to within 0.2 dB
• Incredible S/N up to 94 dB and THD less than 0.02%
• Vishay-Dale resistors in the audio path
• Aluminum shield separates power supply and audio circuits
• Shielded toroid power transformer
• High speed-soft recovery bridge rectifiers and common mode inductors
• Vampire brand 24k gold-plated RCA jacks
• Neutrik brand locking balanced XLR outputs connectors
• Compact 1U chassis (2.5" high with feet)

JC3Jr Manual

JC3Jr vs JC3+

JC3Jr Cut Sheet