Parasound Halo JC3+ Phono Preamplifier
Description of the Parasound Halo JC3+ Phono Preamplifier
Rediscover Vinyl with Precision and Clarity
The JC3+ is for people who believe that vinyl still offers something digital can’t. It’s a dedicated phono preamp designed to extract every drop of warmth, detail, and dimension from your records. Quiet, dynamic, and beautifully open, it lets your favourite albums sound the way they were meant to be heard—alive, human, and full of feeling.
Designed by John Curl with a dual-mono, all-analogue architecture, the JC3+ is engineered for pure musical connection—quiet, detailed, and beautifully uncoloured. It works seamlessly with any turntable setup, making it the perfect partner to your prized cartridge and tonearm.
What Vinyl Lovers Say
- “Near‑reference quality and incredibly natural.”
- “Neutral and transparent to sources—just pure music.”
- “Quiet enough to disappear—all I hear is the record.”
- “It makes the music sound more fleshed out with body.”
Where It Fits in Your Setup
The JC3+ sits between your turntable and power amp (or integrated). It manages MM and MC cartridges—including adjustable MC loading—then sends a clean signal on to your system.
Why It’s Special
- Dual-mono design with precision RIAA for accuracy and separation
- Supports MM and MC cartridges; variable MC impedance from 50 to 550 Ω per channel
- Discrete Class A input stage for smooth detail and tonal richness
- Extensive shielding and upgraded power supply for nearly silent operation
- Gold-plated connections, XLR + RCA outputs
Listening Experience
- Recordings feel more dimensional, with a clear sense of space and texture
- Rich orchestral or jazz pieces gain warmth and realism
- Heavy guitar, drums, and acoustic tones land with clarity and muscle
Recognised Excellence
- The Absolute Sound Editor’s Choice for its transparency and control
- Stereophile review: praised for clarity and near reference-quality sound
- AudioKey Reviews: called it “a stone-cold bargain” for serious vinyl setups
Final Word
The JC3+ is a purist’s phono preamp—no frills, just vinyl in its purest form. It elevates what you already own with quiet control, pristine clarity, and the feeling that your records are played right in the room with you.
Features of the Parasound Halo JC3+ Phono Preamplifier
- Designed by John Curl, creator of the legendary Vendetta Research phono preamp
- Inputs and outputs use Vampire brand 24k gold-plated RCA jacks
- Balanced outputs use Neutrik brand premium XLR jacks
- MM 47k ohm, MC 47k ohm or MC variable 50-550 Ohms
- RIAA is accurate within 0.2 dB
- Exclusively Vishay-Dale resistors in the audio path
- Triple shielding; low-carbon mild steel partitions isolate the power supplies & AC wires
- Dual mono design; each audio channel is separately enclosed in its own extruded aluminium enclosure
- Separate high speed-soft recovery rectifiers, filter caps and voltage regulators for each channel
- A mono switch can improve the sound of mono and older LPs
- Built-in AC line conditioner to prevent AC noise from polluting the circuits
- AC polarity reverse switch can reduce hum in many systems
- Non-magnetic aluminium rear panel for purest sound
- Turn on the Options switch: manual or auto with 12V trigger input
- Premium detachable heavy-gauge IEC AC cord
Specifications of the Parasound Halo JC3+ Phono Preamplifier
Frequency Response
20 Hz – 20 kHz, +/- 0.2 dB
Total Harmonic Distortion
< 0.01% at 1 kHz
Signal to Noise Ratio, MM
> 87 dB, input shorted, IHF A-weighted
> 78 dB, input shorted, unweighted
Signal to Noise Ratio, MC
> 87 dB, input shorted, IHF A-weighted
> 67 dB, input shorted, unweighted
Interchannel Crosstalk
72 dB at 1 kHz
Input Impedance
MM: 47k Ω
MC: 50 – 550 Ω variable, 47k Ω fixed
Output Impedance
Unbalanced: < 100 Ω
Balanced: < 100 Ω per leg
Input Capacitance
150 pF
Input Sensitivity at 1 kHz
MM: 4mV for 1 V output
MC: 600µV for 1 V output
Total Gain
MM: 48 dB
MC: 64 dB
XLR Pin Identification
1 = Ground (Shield)
2 = Positive
3 = Negative (Return)
AC Power Requirement
Standby: 1 watt
Power On: 12 watts
115 or 230 VAC 50 – 60 Hz
(Selected on Chassis Bottom)
Dimensions
Width: 17-1/4″ (437mm)
Depth: 13-3/4″ (350mm)
Height, with feet: 4-1/8″ (105mm)
Height, without feet: 3-1/2″ (89mm)
Weight
Net: 19 lbs. (8.6 Kg)
Shipping: 26 lbs. (11.8 Kg)
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