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Thread: Parasound HCA-1000A, Just some questions.. |
    
Bronze Member Username: Audiobuff
Post Number: 72
Registered: Jan-07
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| Posted on Saturday, March 29, 2008 - 02:05 pm: |
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Hi guys,
First off, would this be a worthwhile upgrade from an HK 3480 stereo receiver (as far as quality of sound)? And secondly, is $200 a decent price to pay for one of these?
Thanks |
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Relevant Product Info
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Platinum Member Username: Jan_b_vigne
Dallas,
TX
Post Number: 12397
Registered: May-04
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| Posted on Saturday, March 29, 2008 - 04:59 pm: |
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"First off, would this be a worthwhile upgrade from an HK 3480 stereo receiver (as far as quality of sound)?"
Yes, for most listeners it would be.
"And secondly, is $200 a decent price to pay for one of these?"
Yes, as long as they didn't cut the power cord off to make a quick get away.
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Bronze Member Username: Audiobuff
Post Number: 76
Registered: Jan-07
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| Posted on Saturday, March 29, 2008 - 08:43 pm: |
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Thanks Jan, what did you mean by cutting the power cord to make a quick get away, i know it sounds obvious, but is there something i should be looking for if i go and purchase this amp?
Another question, would this offer much of a difference in SQ when going against a Cambridge Audio 540a V2?
Thanks again! |
Platinum Member Username: Jan_b_vigne
Dallas,
TX
Post Number: 12398
Registered: May-04
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| Posted on Saturday, March 29, 2008 - 09:45 pm: |
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Just make sure the amp works properly. I've never heard the Cambridge piece but most separate amplifiers are better built than most receivers. Sound quality is something you will have to determine. |
Silver Member Username: Eramsey
South carolina
United States
Post Number: 582
Registered: Feb-05
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| Posted on Sunday, March 30, 2008 - 03:49 am: |
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Audiobuff-note to self Parasound=Quality Audio. How about this one....... http://www.parasound.com/halo/a51.php. I don't know speakers like some of the veterans here but I'm pretty damned confident that there is no speaker on the market that will make this amp break a good sweat. |
Gold Member Username: Nuck
Post Number: 9967
Registered: Dec-04
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| Posted on Sunday, March 30, 2008 - 05:41 am: |
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http://www.parasound.com/vintage/hca1000a.php
Hi again, ER
Buff this is a very good amp.
Not the baddest one in the archive, but for 200$ it is a steal. |
Gold Member Username: Nuck
Post Number: 9968
Registered: Dec-04
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| Posted on Sunday, March 30, 2008 - 05:42 am: |
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With what pre-amp? |
Bronze Member Username: Audiobuff
Post Number: 77
Registered: Jan-07
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| Posted on Sunday, March 30, 2008 - 07:32 pm: |
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Im kind of embarrassed to say, but the pre-amp would only be my HK-3480, the speakers will be the Klipsch SP-1's.
Thanks for all the help so far Nuck Jan & Eric, i really appreciate it! |
Gold Member Username: Nuck
Post Number: 9974
Registered: Dec-04
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| Posted on Sunday, March 30, 2008 - 09:17 pm: |
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Hey, stating with that piece, at that price, kind of makes me embarrased, Buff! |
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Silver Member Username: Eramsey
South carolina
United States
Post Number: 583
Registered: Feb-05
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| Posted on Monday, March 31, 2008 - 12:26 am: |
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Hey Nuck and Jan! $200 for that amp is truly a steal agreed. The 3480 should suffice as a preamp till something better can be had. Let us know how that combo sounds. Good luck with everything. |
Bronze Member Username: Audiobuff
Post Number: 78
Registered: Jan-07
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| Posted on Tuesday, April 01, 2008 - 12:57 pm: |
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Alright, I purchased the amp and I have to say, I really like the sound.
I have two other questions,
Firstly, The previous owner cut off the ground plug in order to eliminate the "hum" this amp is known for having, how safe is it to run the amp like this?
Secondly, Both current overload lights flicker to the beat of the music, very dim, but brighter as you turn the volume up. I read somewhere that a few other people were having this issue, one person even said to just ignore it. Everything is hooked up the way it should be. What do you guys recommend? |
Platinum Member Username: Jan_b_vigne
Dallas,
TX
Post Number: 12405
Registered: May-04
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| Posted on Tuesday, April 01, 2008 - 04:24 pm: |
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There's no reason to cut off the ground lug. Repair it and set the amp up properly so it doesn't hum.
Call the factory about the flickering LED's.
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Bronze Member Username: Audiobuff
Post Number: 79
Registered: Jan-07
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| Posted on Tuesday, April 01, 2008 - 05:06 pm: |
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I did indeed call the factory right after this post. They simple told me that there is a screw in the middle of the amp that needs to be tightened, and that it will not harm the amp either way. |
Silver Member Username: Magfan
USA
Post Number: 159
Registered: Oct-07
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| Posted on Tuesday, April 01, 2008 - 05:11 pm: |
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IN GENERAL a flickering overload light is a bad thing:
1. Any bad smell from amp?
2. Anything else on the circuit flicker, too? try an incandescent lamp for best result:
3. Abnormal heating of the amp?
4. Check all fuses for proper values and NOT slow-blo unless spec'd.
5. Borrow a watt meter and put that in the line. take some data and see if it makes sense. Too high a current draw for too little output is a red-flag, even for some class 'A' equipment.
6. REINSTALL ground lug. If you get a hum, find out why.
7. Follow Jan's advice. A call to the factory should actually be #1.
BUFF: I hate to explain jokes, it takes the mystery out of them, but Jan's 'cut the cord' crack referred to a piece of equipment that was lifted::borrowed:: stolen:: appropriated:: 5-finger discount
etc...etc............ |
Platinum Member Username: Jan_b_vigne
Dallas,
TX
Post Number: 12408
Registered: May-04
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| Posted on Tuesday, April 01, 2008 - 05:42 pm: |
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"BUFF: I hate to explain jokes, it takes the mystery out of them, but Jan's 'cut the cord' crack referred to a piece of equipment that was lifted::borrowed:: stolen:: appropriated:: 5-finger discount
etc...etc............ "
It did?!!! |
Silver Member Username: Magfan
USA
Post Number: 160
Registered: Oct-07
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| Posted on Tuesday, April 01, 2008 - 06:13 pm: |
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Either that, or a birthing accident: |
Bronze Member Username: Audiobuff
Post Number: 80
Registered: Jan-07
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| Posted on Tuesday, April 01, 2008 - 07:08 pm: |
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Leo, I indeed did call Parasound, I spoke to a gentleman named Tony, as soon as i explained the situation, he gave me a fix for it. Like I said, he told me a screw (some type of special screw) was loose, and all i need to do is tighten the screw to fix the problem. The screw is located in the middle of the four filters inside the amp. The screw is shown in the picture below:
http://img396.imageshack.us/img396/483/2722249546751241851ja1.jpg |
Bronze Member Username: Audiobuff
Post Number: 81
Registered: Jan-07
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| Posted on Tuesday, April 01, 2008 - 07:28 pm: |
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Sorry for the double post, but i just wanted to let you guys know, i went in, tightened the screw and smoke started pouring out of the amp after i turned it on! What is going on!?!? |
Silver Member Username: Magfan
USA
Post Number: 161
Registered: Oct-07
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| Posted on Tuesday, April 01, 2008 - 07:55 pm: |
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I hope you're kidding! |
Gold Member Username: Nuck
Post Number: 9981
Registered: Dec-04
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| Posted on Tuesday, April 01, 2008 - 08:32 pm: |
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It...you...WHAT?!?
Geez, check the date, Leo! |
Gold Member Username: My_rantz
Australia
Post Number: 1879
Registered: Nov-05
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| Posted on Tuesday, April 01, 2008 - 09:08 pm: |
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That what I thought Nuck - I only hope so for Ab's sake. |
Silver Member Username: Wattsssup
Barrie,
ON
Canada
Post Number: 228
Registered: Aug-06
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| Posted on Tuesday, April 01, 2008 - 09:22 pm: |
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Loosen the Screw! Loosen the Screw! |
Gold Member Username: Nuck
Post Number: 9984
Registered: Dec-04
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| Posted on Tuesday, April 01, 2008 - 09:31 pm: |
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Stop drop and roll!
Stop drop and roll! |
Bronze Member Username: Audiobuff
Post Number: 82
Registered: Jan-07
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| Posted on Tuesday, April 01, 2008 - 10:24 pm: |
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Of course I was joking guys, the fix worked like a charm.
I just wanted to give a big thanks to yall for the help and info  |
Silver Member Username: Wattsssup
Barrie,
ON
Canada
Post Number: 229
Registered: Aug-06
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| Posted on Tuesday, April 01, 2008 - 10:55 pm: |
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Lol. Glad to hear all is well. |
Silver Member Username: Magfan
USA
Post Number: 162
Registered: Oct-07
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| Posted on Tuesday, April 01, 2008 - 10:59 pm: |
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Yeah, I know what planet I'm on.....
Glad this worked out....and a deal to boot! |
Gold Member Username: Nuck
Post Number: 9986
Registered: Dec-04
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| Posted on Wednesday, April 02, 2008 - 06:15 am: |
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Very good allaround, Buff. |
New member Username: Mobilewrench
Honolulu,
Hawaii
USA
Post Number: 1
Registered: Jul-08
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| Posted on Friday, July 11, 2008 - 08:35 pm: |
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This is my first time at this/any audio site forum. I have 3 HCA-1000s and all three have/had the blinking LED's. I just took them apart, blasted the circuit boards clean, and tighted that center screw...No more blinking LED's. I had two of the amps bridged to combat that problem. But it seems now I have an extra amp to play with. Thanks for the tech advice. Now I can finish rebuilding an old pair of Cerwin-Vega PD-9's, only needs two 6and1/2 inch mids to complete the pair...103 db! |
