Parasound Halo Hint 6 Integrated Amplifier (Ex Demo)

Parasound set out to upgrade their original Hint amplifier without a significant price increase and they’ve done exactly that and more. The Hint 6 features a Burr-Brown (high-tech, high quality technology company) analogue resister ladder volume control, updated USB input and DAC implementation and improved phono stage with a higher gain. Other new features include a dimmable display, volume level memory and an additional optical input. Mainly listen to your music with headphones? The Hint 6 has got you covered with a dedicated high-current amplifier to make sure your headphone listening experience is always the best it can be. The Hint 6 has also been created to integrate easier with modern PCs and music servers.

Developing The Hint 6: Parasound challenged themselves to develop a next generation Halo Integrated that would not only surpass the finest integrated amplifiers but also outperform higher priced separate preamps & power amps. They began by upgrading key parts in the analogue preamp circuitry to achieve exceptional sonic transparency. They redesigned its ESS-based DAC making it easier to integrate with Windows 10. In response to customer requests, Parasound also added a second optical input. Modernized the volume control was another addition, replacing its motorised potentiometer with an electronically switched, pure analogue resistor ladder array, achieving ideal channel tracking even at low listening levels. Since legendary designer John Curl’s circuit topology is timeless, Parasound carried over the Halo Integrated’s massive, 160 watt, Class A/AB power amplifier stage to the HINT 6.

Volume Control: The volume control features a new, dimmable - display showing the exact volume setting. Other features include: user defined turn on volume, and favourite volume setting. The solid machined aluminium volume control knob, polished on the front and textured around the perimeter, rotates on ball-bearings giving it rock-solid and silky smooth operation.

Burr-Brown Integrated Circuit: The Hint 6 uses a Burr-Brown high-performance, electronically-controlled analogue volume control IC with high dynamic range. It functions as an analogue switched resistor ladder array so analogue audio is never converted to digital as with most IC volume controls. Parasound engineers bypass the on-board gain stage, using an external, high performance operational amplifier with a dedicated power supply. This approach achieves the lowest noise and the lowest distortion resulting in superior sound quality.

Power Supply: The heart of the HINT 6’s power supply is a massive 1.1 kVA toroid power transformer. It is custom designed for well-contained radiated hum, high efficiency, and high power. Encapsulating this massive power transformer in an epoxy-filled steel canister assures ultra-quiet performance. The transformer has independent secondary windings and this provides more than ample voltage to each channel's power supply under the most strenuous operating conditions. Separate windings for each channel improves stereo imaging by reducing interchannel crosstalk. The HINT 6 uses a total of 40,000uF of Lelon electrolytic filter capacitors to provide a reserve of massive power sufficient to reproduce unrestricted bass. Highly-coveted Toshiba J-FETs are deployed in the input stage of the power amplifier section to achieve stunningly low noise and maximise its dynamic range.

Innovative Crossover Network: An especially useful feature of the HINT 6 its innovative high and low pass crossover network. This provides analogue bass management as well as easy integration of subwoofers and stereo speakers. With the HINT 6 crossover network your subwoofer(s) is easily shared by two channel and multi-channel playback. This works in tandem with the Home Theatre Bypass input for a seamless transition whenever you select two channel or multi-channel operation, without any need for reconnecting the subwoofer from the HINT 6 to the AVR and vice versa. This significantly simplifies what would otherwise require complex setup.

The HINT 6 is powerful, musical and uncommonly versatile. With such exquisite performance and compelling value, the HINT 6 is the new benchmark for high-end integrated amplifiers.

In The News

The HINT 6 succeeds the original Halo Integrated, an immensely popular product acclaimed by more than two dozen reviewers who enthused: “Sounds downright sumptuous”, “Uncompromising 'best sound for the dollar' value”, “Superlative and affordable”, “Its performance blew me away”. In fact, Stereophile named the Halo Integrated a Class A Recommended Component in a field of fourteen integrated amplifiers with retail prices averaging over five times higher.

Specifications

Design: Stereo Amplifier with built-in DAC

Power Output: 2 x 160 Watts into 8 Ohms (20-20kHz) at 0.005% THD.

Frequency Response: 10Hz - 100kHz

Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 106dB.

Current Capacity: 45 Amps Peak Per Channel

Phono Input: Suits both Moving Magnet (MM) and Moving Coil (MC)

Phono Stage Sensitivity: 41dB MM,  54dB MC

Digital To Analogue Converter: ESS Sabre32 Reference ES9018K2M

Headphone Amplifier: Texas Instruments TPA6120A

Headphone Jack: Full-size headphone jack

Remote Control: Yes

Line Level Inputs: 5 x Pair RCA, 2 x XLR

Outputs: Balanced XLR and RCA, and XLR

Subwoofer Output: Yes

Rear panel IR input and IR loop output jacks

USB: Asynchronous 2.0

Speaker Wire Binding Posts: Heavy-duty 24k gold-plated 5-way speaker binding posts

12V Output: IR output and 12-volt trigger in/out

RS-232C Port: For use with external controllers

Power Cord: Detachable IEC power cord allows for easy upgrade

Colour: Black, Silver

Dimensions (WxHxD): 437 x 133 x 413mm.

Nett Weight: 15kg

Gross Weight: 20.4kg

Manufacturer's Warranty: 3 Years

Note: Features & Specifications Subject To Change Without Notice. E&OE