Parasound has introduced a new preamp in the prestigious Halo series. P5 is the name.

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Parasound has announced this preamp for a while, and now it's advertised at the Norwegian distributor NCMS. Halo P5 settles price ratio in where Halo P3 has remained, making it tempting to assume that the latter is on the way out.

P5 has five line inputs, one of which is phono input with the choice between MM and MC. There is also a balanced input.

What is quite new compared to the P3 is that P5 has a built-in DAC. It is a Burr-Brown PCM1798, which can handle 24/196. To this you can choose between optical, coax or USB input. If you select USB input, frequency is limited to 96kHz.

Parasound has chosen to emphasize that the P5 is a 2.1 preamp. It has two subwoofer outputs, and switchable, variable crossover frequency for both suwoofer and stereo outputs. This is a move we recognize from the preamplifier NewClassic Model 2100, which we tested a few years ago.

Another special feature provided by NewClassic Model 2100 , the processor input, as Parasound choose to name the "Home Theater Bypass Input". This is entirely in its own division, and led to the assigned preamplifier honorary membership in our official database of amplifiers with processor input .

There are two factors that make the Model 2100 and now also Halo P5 processor's input is in a completely separate division than the rest.

One is not exlisive to Parasound, but it does not make it less valuable. We are talking about that the bypass is automatically active when preamp is denied.

The second factor - which we are not aware of any other manufacturers - is that they have chosen to create a bypass input also for the subwoofer. Ingeniously, also crossovers also be bypassed, so that subparameters for surround are chosen in receiver / processor, while if desired can set your own values ​​for the stereo.

Parasound Halo P5 costs approx. 9.990, - NOK, and this appears to be rather aggressive pricing. Especially if the sound is at least as good as in P3, which we tested for nearly 10 years.

Halo P5 will be available in both black and silver.

User Manual for Halo P5 :