Parasound Upgrades Its Top-Of-The-Line Preamp-Processor And 5-Channel Amp

23-Jun-00

Parasound has upgraded its highly regarded AVC-2500 preamp/processor with improved bass management, optional 5.1 volume control card and PhastLink modules. It is also offering to upgrade previous versions of the AVC-2500. In addition, the company has restyled the cosmetics of its top-of-the-line HCA-2205A home theatre power amplifier to match the styling of the AVC 2500.The new AVC-2500u, which replaces the AVC-2500, features improved bass management features. First, it now has selectable crossover points for high/low pass frequencies, where previously it had a fixed 80Hz crossover frequency. Second, the Reinforced Bass mode now allows the subwoofer to operate even if the main speakers are set to ""large."" Previously, the use of large speakers precluded the use of a separate subwoofer. The AVC-2500u has a suggested retail price of $3495.The bass-management upgrade can be applied to earlier versions of the AVC-2500 with a factory-installed BMU-2500 Bass Management Upgrade kit, which will cost $125.Parasound is also offering some new accessories for the AVC-2500u.Several AVC-2500 customers had requested to be able to control the volume levels of the 5.1-channel inputs. Now Parasound is offering the 5.1-VC Volume Control Card to provide premium volume control for these inputs. The card requires either an AVC-2500u or AVC-2500 with BMU-2500 upgrade. The suggested retail price of the 5.1-VC Volume Control Card is $200.Parasound has also introduced the SAM-2500 PhastLink Serial Access Module. This preprogrammed module interfaces the AVC-2500's RS-232 Port with PhastLink Systems.Finally, Parasound has restyled the front-panel of the HCA-2205A power amplifier to match the style of the AVC-2500u. The new model is called HCA-2205AT and it has the same 5 x 220 watts of its predecessor.Founded in 1981, Parasound is a privately owned U.S. company that specializes in providing affordable audio and home theatre components to the critical listener.