Parasound HCA-1205a with Paradigm s4?

[xrayyellowzebra]

I have pretty much made up my mind on getting the Paradigm s4's, c3, servo 15 and sa-35's for surround (space limitations). I will probably get the Yamaha rxv-2600 as well. Now I am trying to decide on a power amplifier. I see the parasound amplifiers are going for reasonable prices used. Does anyone have any experience with the paradigm s4's and the parasound 1205a? Is it powerful enough for these speakers? How is the sound compared to other amps? Do you have any other suggestions that I would find interesting?

 

[mtrycrafts]

I have pretty much made up my mind on getting the Paradigm s4's, c3, servo 15 and sa-35's for surround (space limitations). I will probably get the Yamaha rxv-2600 as well. Now I am trying to decide on a power amplifier. I see the parasound amplifiers are going for reasonable prices used. Does anyone have any experience with the paradigm s4's and the parasound 1205a? Is it powerful enough for these speakers? How is the sound compared to other amps? Do you have any other suggestions that I would find interesting?

Why not wait with the amp until you have everything set up and see if you really need an external amp?
What is the speaker's impedance and sensitivity? Maybe two Behringer A500 bridged will also work, 300+watts and only $180 each.

 

[ttowntony]

Yes, the Parasound has plenty of power for the S4. I had those speakers at one time powered by a 60w integrated, and they sounded fantastic. When mated to the with the Parasound A23, they really came alive.

Not to offend, but I found the S2 to be the better speaker. It imaged better than the S4, and since you will have a nice sub to handle the LFE, you are waisting money on the S4's IMO.

 

[indcrimdefense]

i have the S8, so my experience may be different from what you would hear from the S4 and/or S2. i have had a bit of listening time with both the S4 &
S2, but not enough to be of any real use. at home i have used a krell kav-2250 & a demo cary cinema 5 with great results, with no real preference of one over the other. i did hear the S8 at the shop on a B&K 125.2 & was unimpressed, listening to the S8 on B&K gear was frankly boring.

 

[j_garcia]

I auditioned the S2s with an Arcam A80 and I thought they sounded great. Head and shoulders above the Studios. IMO, to power the whole setup, you will probably want at least an amp for the mains and the Parasound should be fine for them.