[neobop]

John Curl (designer) recently updated the JC-3.  Among other improvements it now has continuously variable MC loading up to 550 ohms, with custom made pots by Vishay.  Some circuit board upgrade/redesign improves MC S/N to 87dB (A weighted). 
http://www.parasound.com/halo/jc3.php

http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/parasound-introduces-the-halo-jc-3-phono-preamp/

Golden Ear Award winner Sept 2014

neo

[Minn Mark]

Can be had now in either silver or black casework too, I guess.

Plenty of reviews around, including those at

newrecordday.com

analogplanet.com

Nice bit of kit that, but at $3000 USD, there's plently of stiff competition.
Comparisons to the Musical Surroundings Nova ( at about 1/3 the cost)?


Mark

[Vedder323]

Can be had now in either silver or black casework too, I guess.

Plenty of reviews around, including those at

newrecordday.com

analogplanet.com

Nice bit of kit that, but at $3000 USD, there's plently of stiff competition.
Comparisons to the Musical Surroundings Nova ( at about 1/3 the cost)?


Mark

Hey Mark,

Thanks for the plug but getting a JC3+ from parasound has proven to be difficult. I would love to compare it with my XP15.

Ron

[tonyptony]

Hey Mark,

Thanks for the plug but getting a JC3+ from parasound has proven to be difficult. I would love to compare it with my XP15.

Ron

Ron, I also have a XP-15 and was very curious about the JC3+. If you get a chance to compare please let us know what you heard!

[neobop]

I think it should be noted that the XP-15 is $3800.  The original JC3 was something like $2350.  Seems like a significant difference, especially if you're shelling out the dough.

John Curl designed the JC3 for Parasound to sell at or near that price point.  He tried to duplicate the sound of his famous Vendetta SC-2T, but was only partially successful.  The Vendetta used matched jfets which were no longer available, consequently chips were substituted.  Noise was 14dB worse than the Vendetta, but the sound was still good. 

The JC3+ is quieter and the custom MC loading pots are a unique feature.  I believe these are exclusive to Parasound.  I think the problem with the original design is in the chip substitution which would require a complete redesign for top performance.  High performance audio chips are actually quieter than discreet components, but regulation has different requirements.  There are phono stages using integrated circuits that have S/N in the high 90's even with MC gain.  In case you're thinking integrated circuits can't compete at top performance level, their potential isn't defined by the JC3.  The Walker phono stage uses ICs and the newest version sells for $25K.  I've seen other IC stages that spec in the 90's and as more circuit designers learn the tricks of designing with them, we should see more and better stages available for less money than otherwise possible.  This isn't trickle down technology.  The chips already exist and the cost is minimal compared to a million parts on a big circuit board with all the traces and wire. 

Rant over, and I don't want to imply that discreet components or tubes are second rate.  The best is what you like best.
neo

[Minn Mark]

Thanks neo.  Great info.

 

Mark

[neobop]

BTW, JC3 owners shouldn't feel bad about their phono stage because of the info above.  It's still a good sounding piece and it didn't receive the accolades and recommendations for nothing.  There's always something "better" and you could pay $60K these days.  So it's all relative to what else you can get for the same money. 

The Vendetta was $2K back in the '80s.  Curl said that if the Vendetta SC-2T were duplicated today, it would cost $8K or more. 

Minn Mark,
Speaking of relative value, I've heard great things about Musical Surroundings Nova and Phenomena.  Do you have one of these?  They would be interesting to compare to others and a lot easier on the finances.
neo

[Minn Mark]

Neo,

Currently I'm using an AVA Vision MM phono pre-amp installed in my van Alstine Insight + pre-amp. Pretty happy with it for the $$. Fed by a VPI Classic I with Sumiko Blackbird.  Still considering a separate phono pre (LKV, MS Nova, JC3+; that sort) for an independent unit against which to judge.  The AVA is due for a review in TONE Audio, but it also recently got some good press as part of recent reviews (TAS) installed in one of Frank's AVA FET Valve CF pre-amps.

Cheers,

Mark

[tonyptony]

I think it should be noted that the XP-15 is $3800.  The original JC3 was something like $2350.  Seems like a significant difference, especially if you're shelling out the dough.

I didn't say I didn't love my XP-15 , but I'd never heard one of Curl's phono pres.

[neobop]

Few people have heard the Vendetta.  Not many were made.  A Vendetta preamp was traded in where I worked in the late '80s and I compared it to everything we had at the time.  I liked it better than ARC, Jeff Rowland, Threshold, Meitner, CJ, Krell, and anything else we had traded in.  The assortment was considerable as we normally took in trades.  With most comparisons it was no contest.  Vendetta sounded like music.  It was detailed, sweet, accurate and dead quiet.  The ARC had a certain goosed-up sound that renders harmonics larger than life and sounds fast.  This can be appealing, depending on taste and associated equipment, and I can imagine some preferring ARC. 

Here's a review from 1988 with comparisons from the next few years:
http://www.stereophile.com/phonopreamps/640/index.html

[jimdgoulding]

Few people have heard the Vendetta.  Not many were made.  A Vendetta preamp was traded in where I worked in the late '80s and I compared it to everything we had at the time.  I liked it better than ARC, Jeff Rowland, Threshold, Meitner, CJ, Krell, and anything else we had traded in.  The assortment was considerable as we normally took in trades.  With most comparisons it was no contest.  Vendetta sounded like music.  It was detailed, sweet, accurate and dead quiet.  The ARC had a certain goosed-up sound that renders harmonics larger than life and sounds fast.  This can be appealing, depending on taste and associated equipment, and I can imagine some preferring ARC. 

Here's a review from 1988 with comparisons from the next few years:
http://www.stereophile.com/phonopreamps/640/index.html

I agree with your assessment of the ARC, Neo.  I recently substituted a Joule Electra line stage for my ARC line stage and the hype of the ARC vanished making the sound more natural and pleasurable.

[geowak]

I think John Curl is a great engineer/designer. I have had several Parasound pieces, and all of them have been great. My A21 has outperformed some other amps I have had. Amps that have been raved about here at AC.
Not saying these other pieces of equipment were not good, just the Parasound was more quiet, more powerful,
better resolution, built better and had better parts and engineering. Also it presented neutral to the point that sounds (musical instruments, vocals, etc.) appeared much more natural, organic and true.

[BruceW]

Nice to read of the Appreciation of John's products--I own the  2T and it has still seen off all I have auditioned against it.

Good Listening,

Bruce

[neobop]

Welcome to Vinyl Circle Bruce.

Hey all you John Curl fans I just happened to see an interesting piece on Agon. 

http://app.audiogon.com/listings/phono-mark-levinson-jc-1-cartridge-preamplifier-phono-preamp-2014-09-03-preamplifiers-92804-anaheim-ca

I believe this is similar fet design/performance to Vendetta, but I don't know all the details. 
neo

[barrows]

anyone looking for a discreet, JFET based phono pre might also consider Ayre.  The Ayre uses a very similar circuit to what JC uses in the Vendetta, and no global feedback.  Nice and quiet, excellent timbre, no overly hyped up sound, natural dynamics, etc...

[BruceW]

Welcome to Vinyl Circle Bruce.

Hey all you John Curl fans I just happened to see an interesting piece on Agon. 

http://app.audiogon.com/listings/phono-mark-levinson-jc-1-cartridge-preamplifier-phono-preamp-2014-09-03-preamplifiers-92804-anaheim-ca

I believe this is similar fet design/performance to Vendetta, but I don't know all the details. 
neo

Yes fine a JC product--but has no RIAA provision--you still require the Phono stage .

BruceW