AXPONA 2019 Show Coverage brought to you by Core Power Technologies — AXPONA 2019 Show Coverage brought to you by **Core Power Technologies**

CHICAGO (PTA) — After going all-in with its high-end Halo products at the recent Florida Audio Expo (Tampa) show in February 2019, Parasound now focuses it’s efforts on debuting more affordable audio components at Axpona 2019. This time, it’s Parasound’s NewClassic line that receives another great update with the NewClassic 200 INT Integrated Amplifier.

The Story

It’s true, Parasound has made recent updates to the NewClassic and Z-Custom lines. The new Zphono XRM has been exactly what audiences have been clamoring for in an affordable but high-quality phono-stage from Parasound.

Another recent addition to Parasound’s NewClassic line-up is the still-new NewClassic 200 PRE which includes a built-in DAC, a phono-stage, and a host of other features listed in the press release below (sans amplifier).

If great wasn’t good enough, great just got better with the NewClassic 200 INT building off of the PRE 200’s already stellar design, feature set and chassis. How they cram all this audiophile goodness into such a slim body is anyone’s guess.

Also, making their first US audio show appearance is Buchardt Audio. The Parasound room’s demonstration system will debut a pair of the new Burchardt Audio S400 two-way loudspeakers. Buchardt is an up-and-coming Danish manufacturer that has quickly built a reputation for producing high performance and yet still affordable loudspeaker systems.

The following is taken from Parasound’s official press release

Parasound has turned its most-affordable preamplifier and DAC design into its most-affordable integrated amplifier and DAC with the addition of a 110-watt per channel power amplifier stage. The resulting Parasound NewClassic 200 Integrated Amplifier and DAC has all the same preamplifier features as the NewClassic 200 Pre, but now with the ability to drive high-quality loudspeakers without buying a separate power amplifier.
Like the 200 Pre, the all-new 200 Integrated includes analog bass management for optimal performance with compact satellite speakers and a powered subwoofer. The amplifier stage is the latest design from the renowned Danish company Pascal. Pascal’s expertise in class D engineering allows Parasound to cram a hefty 110 watts/channel RMS 8 ohms into the very slim 1U chassis. Parasound’s expertise in designing superb, full-featured preamplifiers ensures signal integrity by avoiding typical analog-to-digital conversion for volume control and special functions such as bass management, high pass and low pass crossovers.

“Integrated amplifiers with a DAC have replaced the venerable stereo receiver as the entry-level system anchor for serious music lovers,” said Richard Schram, the President and CEO of Parasound. “The NewClassic 200 Integrated gives budget-minded audiophiles an affordable, sensible pathway to a higher-end system. For just $300 above the cost of the preamp-only version customers will have a system with great power amplification and outstanding preamp features. The inclusion of preamp outputs allows for the flexibility of adding a separate power amp in the future.
The Model 200 Integrated and 200 Pre are the latest additions to Parasound’s NewClassic line of affordable, high performance audio products. The 200 Pre and 200 Integrated include a superb MM/MC phono stage, two RCA line-level inputs, digital inputs for USB, coax, and optical sources. There is a home theater bypass for L, R and two subs, plus a front-panel aux line-level input with an automatic 12 dB gain increase to improve sound quality for portable devices.
These NewClassic products have inherited features developed for Parasound’s premium Halo product family, renowned for their home theater bypass and crossover functions plus great sounding DACs. The 200 Integrated’s and 200 Preamp’s Home Theater Bypass function similarly with an adjustable 40-140 Hz high-pass crossovers for the L and R outputs, plus they generate full range and <80Hz sub outputs. Burr-Brown DACs were chosen for their musicality and reputation.

Additional convenience and custom installation features include presets for both turn-on volume and favorite volume, a bi-directional RS232 serial port equipped with Control4 drivers, rear panel IR repeater input, and a 12V trigger output. Input level offset (source level matching) ensures that sources with varying output voltages will play at the same level. The dimmable front panel LCD display plus a built in library of 28 words makes it simple to name each input for the source device connected to it. The back-lit remote control includes adjustments for L-R balance, bass and treble adjust, subwoofer on-off, and even remote control of subwoofer level. The Bypass input enables a direct connection to the amplifier stage to facilitate integration with surround sound systems or for connecting a streaming device with its own volume control such as the Sonos Connect. With thoughtful, well-engineered design, Parasound has accommodated an unprecedented feature set and high quality into a sleek and compact one rack-space chassis.
The Parasound NewClassic 200 Integrated amplifier and DAC will be available in early Summer with an MSRP of $1,195.
About Parasound: Founded in 1981, Parasound Products, Inc., is a privately-owned U.S. company that specializes in providing affordable audio components to the critical listener. The company’s ever-improving audio product lines have garnered an international reputation for performance, value, and reliability. The highest quality standards are assured by Parasound’s relationships with their Taiwan audio manufacturers that date back to 1982.

For more information, visit http://www.parasound.com

The Sound

The Buchardt S400 loudspeaker is new to me, but listening to stand-mount speakers is not. In chorus with the new NewClassic 200 Integrated, there is something magical happening. Refinement is high, noise is low, sound-stage is creeping out passed the walls, and dynamics are settled right in the Goldilocks zone. The 200 Integrated is an exciting piece from Parasound, as it captures a large slice of their Halo sound and features, but at easily attainable prices for wider audiences.