A 21 Amplifier

Owner’s Guide
THANK YOU! 1

Congratulations and Thank You for Choosing Parasound

Your new Parasound Halo Series A 21 power amplifier presents the latest advancements
in amplifier technology. The A 21 is built to the strict quality and performance standards
set by Parasound. We’re proud to offer you this exceptional audio component that will
bring you many years of enjoyment and dependability.

Here at Parasound, we design our products to perform at a higher level of flexibility

and sonic performance than you may have expected. We encourage you to read
this entire manual to learn all the features and capabilities of your new Halo Series
A 21 Amplifier.

If you’re eager to get up and running right away, simply follow the basic step-by-step
instructions to connect and operate the A 21. If you want to learn about some of the
technical and design aspects of your A 21, refer to the Technically Speaking and
Parasound A 21 Design Overview sections in the back of the manual. If you run into
difficulties, the Troubleshooting Guide should help you quickly remedy the problem.

We appreciate you taking the time to read these instructions and thank you for
selecting Parasound for your listening pleasure.

The Parasound Staff

Unpacking Your A 21

Unpack your A 21 from the shipping carton, remove the enclosed rack mounts, AC
power cord, and the control wire with 2.5 mm sub-mini plugs on each end. (This is
the trigger connection wire). While you are unpacking your new amplifier, inspect
it thoroughly for possible shipping damage. If you see any, contact your Parasound
dealer right away. Be sure to save and store both the inner and outer cartons and the
packing inserts for possible future transport. To save room for storage, you can cut the
seams on the bottom of the cartons and flatten them.

Keeping Records for Future Reference

Record the serial number located on the bottom of your A 21 in the space below. Also
note your Parasound Dealer’s name and phone number. We recommend that you keep
your purchase receipt with this manual and store them both in a safe place. You may
need to refer to this information sometime in the future.

Parasound A 21 Amplifier Serial #: ____________________

Parasound Dealer: ____________________________________

Phone Number:_______________________________________

Date of Purchase: _____________________________________

YOU SHOULD KNOW

There is no Parasound warranty for this unit if it was not purchased from an Authorized
Parasound Dealer. Investigate any warranty claims made by unauthorized dealers very
carefully as you will need to depend entirely upon the dealer, and NOT upon Parasound.
Unauthorized dealers may lack the capability to arrange repairs of Parasound equipment.
Authorized Parasound Dealers are listed at www.parasound.com or you can call 415-397-7100
between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm Pacific time.

A missing or tampered serial number could indicate that this unit was stolen or sold by an
unauthorized dealer. If this unit is missing its serial number, you should return it to your
dealer immediately for a full refund.
TABLE OF CONTENTS 1

A 21 Amplifier

PLACEMENT GUIDELINES FOR YOUR A 21 1

_________________________________________________________________________________

CONNECTING A STEREO PREAMPLIFIER OR A SURROUND 2

CONTROLLER TO THE BALANCED INPUTS ON YOUR A 21
_________________________________________________________________________________

CONNECTING A STEREO PREAMPLIFIER OR A SURROUND 3

CONTROLLER TO THE UNBALANCED INPUTS ON YOUR A 21
_________________________________________________________________________________

CONNECTING THE A 21 LOOP OUT JACKS 4

TO ANOTHER POWER AMPLIFIER’S INPUTS
_________________________________________________________________________________

CONNECTING SPEAKERS TO YOUR A 21 5

_________________________________________________________________________________

CONFIGURING THE A 21 FOR BRIDGED MONO OPERATION 6

_________________________________________________________________________________

MANUAL AND AUTOMATIC TURN ON-OFF OPTIONS 7

_________________________________________________________________________________

CONNECTING AN EXTERNAL DC SOURCE FOR A 21 AUTOMATIC TURN ON-OFF 8

_________________________________________________________________________________

CONNECTING THE A 21 TO TRIGGER ANOTHER COMPONENT 9

_________________________________________________________________________________

UNDERSTANDING THE INDICATORS ON THE A 21 10

_________________________________________________________________________________

CONNECTING THE A 21 AC POWER CORD 11

_________________________________________________________________________________

MAINTAINING YOUR A 21 12
_________________________________________________________________________________

TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE 13
_________________________________________________________________________________

SERVICING YOUR A 21 14
_________________________________________________________________________________

TECHNICALLY SPEAKING 15
_________________________________________________________________________________

PARASOUND A 21 DESIGN OVERVIEW 17

_________________________________________________________________________________

PARASOUND A 21 SPECIFICATIONS 19
_________________________________________________________________________________
1 PLACEMENT GUIDELINES FOR YOUR A 21

Power amplifiers are usually heavier and generate more heat than other components. To avoid
damage to the A 21 or other equipment and to reduce risk of fire, you must follow these
guidelines:
• Place the A 21 on a separate shelf that will adequately support its weight.

• Keep it away from heat sources such as air ducts or radiators.

• Avoid placing it on carpeting or another material that might obstruct airflow into the openings
in the chassis bottom.

• Leave at least 3” of space around both sides and 6” of space above the top. The bottom
clearance can be a little less.

• Do not block the front of the A 21 behind closed cabinet doors during use.

• Do not stack the A 21 with other components inside a cabinet unless you use a fan to circulate
and exhaust the warm air that builds up between them.

Rack Mounting Your Parasound A 21

To mount the A 21 into a 19” wide equipment rack, you must first attach its rack mount brackets
(provided). With its four feet removed, the A 21 chassis and front panel height occupies four rack
spaces (7” or 176 mm). When mounting equipment below the A 21, you will also need to allow
about 1/8” below the unit for the bottom chassis screws. A single standard rack space allows
1-3/4” vertical height in a 19" wide equipment rack. This measurement standard was developed
by the EIA (Electronic Industries Association) so manufacturers of electronic components and
equipment racks could build products in standardized heights that would fit in a uniform space.
Please call your Parasound dealer or Parasound Technical Services if you need additional advice
about rack mounting the A 21.

To attach the rack mount brackets:

• Remove the three screws from each side of the A 21. These are arranged vertically, behind its
front panel and in front of its first heatsink fin.

• Line up the three holes on each bracket with the three holes on the A 21 and reinsert
the screws.

• Make sure the screws are tight because they will support the entire weight of the A 21 in the
equipment rack

Rack HRA-4
Mount Rack Adapter Attached
Brackets Mounted onto
JCA1 21
CONNECTING A STEREO PREAMPLIFIER OR A SURROUND 2
CONTROLLER TO THE BALANCED INPUTS ON YOUR A 21

Left and Right Balanced Input Jacks

Balanced connections will give you the best sound. If your preamplifier or surround controller
has balanced XLR output jacks, we recommend that you connect them to these inputs. Refer
to the Balanced and Unbalanced Lines in the Technically Speaking section for additional
information about why we recommend using balanced lines.

What You’ll Need:

Male

• One pair of balanced interconnect cables with XLR connectors

• A preamplifier or surround controller with balanced outputs Female

XLR Connectors

Before Connecting
Leave the A 21’s AC cord disconnected until you have made all other connections to
prevent any surprise burst of sound.

Make sure that all your cables are long enough so they are not strained or stretched
once they are connected.

Make sure the Inputs switch on the rear of the A 21 is in its Balanced (up) position and
the Ground switch is in its Normal (down) position.

To Connect

1 Plug the male end of the balanced interconnect cable into the Balanced Right Channel
input jack on the A 21.

2 Plug the female end of this cable into the balanced right channel output jack on
your preamplifier (or a channel on your surround controller).

3 &4 Repeat steps 1 and 2 above to connect the left channel.

COMPONENTS
OUTPUTS SURROUND
SOUND
1 2 1 2 CONTROLLER
3 3
or
Right Left PREAMP

2 4

1 3

YOU SHOULD KNOW

Balanced XLR Jacks and Their Pin Configuration
The balanced inputs of the A 21 use XLR jacks that conform to the industry standard of:
Pin 1: Ground, Pin 2: Positive (+), Pin 3: Negative (--). The balanced outputs on some
components use terminals with 3 screws instead of XLR jacks. These are compatible with
the A 21 as long as you match the bare wires to the corresponding pins on the XLR plug: +
to pin 2, - to pin 3, and Ground to pin 1.
3
CONNECTING A STEREO PREAMPLIFIER OR A SURROUND
CONTROLLER TO THE UNBALANCED INPUTS ON YOUR A 21

Left and Right Unbalanced Inputs

Use these inputs if your preamplifier or surround controller doesn’t have balanced
output connectors or if you simply prefer to use unbalanced connections.

What You’ll Need: Left

• A pair of shielded interconnect cables with RCA plugs

• A source component with RCA output jacks Right
RCA Plugs

Before Connecting

Leave the AC cord on the A 21 disconnected until you have made all other connections
to prevent any surprise burst of sound.

Make sure that all your cables are long enough so they are not strained or stretched
once they are connected.

Make sure the Inputs switch on the A 21 is in its Unbalanced (down) position and the
Ground switch is in its Normal (down) position.

To Connect

1 Plug one end of the cable into the Unbalanced Right Channel Input jack on the A 21.

2 Plug the other end of this cable into the unbalanced right channel output jack on your
preamplifier (or a channel on your surround controller).

3 &4 Repeat steps 1 and 2 for the left channel.

COMPONENTS
OUTPUTS SURROUND
SOUND
CONTROLLER
Right Left
or
PREAMP

2 4

1 3

YOU SHOULD KNOW

Interconnect Cables and Their Color Codes
Common color codes for input and output jacks are red for right and white for left. Match
the colors at the outputs from your preamplifier or surround controller to the inputs on your
A 21 so you’ll always hear the channels in their intended position.
CONNECTING THE A 21 LOOP OUT JACKS 4
TO ANOTHER POWER AMPLIFIER’S INPUTS

Loop Out Connector

The Right and Left Loop Out jacks provide connections to route the same input signals from
your preamplifier or surround controller to an additional power amplifier. In most instances,
you won't use the loop out feature so you can skip this section.

What You’ll Need: Left

• One pair of shielded interconnect cables with RCA plugs

• An additional amplifier Right
RCA Plugs

Before Connecting

Leave the AC cord on the A 21 disconnected from the wall until you have made all of
the connections in the system to prevent any surprise burst of sound.

Make sure that your interconnect cables are long enough so they are not strained or
stretched once they are connected.
COMPONENTS
To Connect

1 Plug one end of the cable to the right channel Loop Out jack on the A 21.

2 Plug the other end of this cable to the right channel input jack on the other power amplifier.

3 &4 Repeat steps 1 and 2 for the left channel.

INPUTS

Right Left

POWER AMP

2 4

1 3

YOU SHOULD KNOW

These jacks eliminate the need for two “Y” connector cables to split the outputs from the
two source channels between your A 21 and another amplifier. The A 21 Loop Out Jacks
jacks provide the same signals that are received at either the balanced or the unbalanced
inputs. Refer to Loop Out Jacks in the Technically Speaking section for more information
about when to use the Loop Out Jacks.
5 CONNECTING SPEAKERS TO YOUR A 21

Speaker Terminals

The five-way binding post speaker terminals on the A 21 accept most speaker wire
terminations including single or dual banana plugs, 1/4” spade lugs, or bare wire.
Refer to Bare Wire Speaker Termination in the Technically Speaking section for
information about bare wire termination.

What You’ll Need: Common Speaker Connectors

The GND notch Red usually
signifies ground designates right
• Two lengths of speaker wire or speaker left

AWG 16 or thicker with banana

plugs, spade lugs, or bare wire
• Loudspeakers or a speaker
Dual Single Spade Lug Stripped
selector box Banana Plug Banana Plug AWG wire

Before Connecting
Remove power to all the components in your audio system.

To Connect

1 Insert one wire with the ridge or other marking into the red Right + (positive) speaker
terminal on the A 21. Insert the wire without the ridge or other marking into the black
Right - (negative) speaker terminal on the A 21.

2 Insert the other end of the wire with the ridge or other marking into the red right +
(positive) terminal on the speaker. Insert the wire without the ridge or other marking
into the black right - (negative) terminal on the speaker.

3 &4 Repeat steps 1 and 2 for the left channel.

1 3

Speakers

YOU SHOULD KNOW

2 4
Correct Speaker Polarity is Important
Polarity refers to + and – connections. Speaker wires are coded with printing or a ridge on
the insulation on one of the leads so you know which lead was connected to the + and –
terminals at the other end. This coding will help you keep the + and - polarity consistent
for both channels.

Speaker Wire Length and Gauge (thickness)

When selecting speaker wire, follow these guidelines:
• Keep the length of your speaker wire as short as possible
• Use the thickest wire practical. For lengths greater than 50 feet, use speaker wire with an AWG
(gauge) of 14 or lower. The smaller the AWG, the thicker the wire.
• Do not use speaker wire that is thinner than 16 AWG.
CONFIGURING THE A 21 FOR BRIDGED MONO OPERATION 6

In certain applications, you may require your A 21 to power a single 8 Ω speaker by

using its bridged mono feature. In most instances, you won’t use the A 21 this way and
you can skip this section.
What You’ll Need:

• One length of speaker wire with banana plugs, spade lugs, or bare wires
• One shielded balanced or unbalanced interconnect cable for each A 21 used
in bridged mono
• One loudspeaker with an impedance of 8 Ω or higher

Before Connecting
Remove power to all the components in your audio system.

Set the A 21 Stereo - Mono Bridge Switch to its Mono (up) position.

To Connect: From the Source

1 Plug one end of the interconnect cable into the Balanced or Unbalanced Right
Channel & Mono Input jack on the A 21

2 Plug the other end of this cable into the desired output channel on the preamplifier
or surround controller.
3 Do not make any connection to either Left Channel Input jack on the A 21.

To Connect: To the Speaker

4 Insert the wire with the ridge or other marking into the red Right + (positive) speaker
terminal on the A 21. (This is the positive speaker terminal in bridged mono.)

5 Insert the wire without the ridge or other marking into the Left + (positive) speaker
terminal on the A 21. (This is the negative speaker terminal in bridged mono.)

6 Insert the wire with the ridge or other marking into the red + (positive) terminal on the speaker.

7 Insert the wire without the ridge or other marking into the black -- (negative) terminal
on the speaker. 8
Components

8 Do not make connections to either of the OUTPUTS Surround

Sound
A 21's black speaker terminals. Right Left
Controller

Preamp
2

1 3

4 5

8 8

YOU SHOULD KNOW 6 7 Speaker

IMPORTANT! - Before Trying Bridged Mono

You should not connect a speaker with an impedance of less than 8 Ω to the A 21 when it is
configured for bridged mono operation. Refer to Bridged Mono Operation in the Technically
Speaking section for additional information about. Use the right channel Gain control to
adjust level in the bridged mode.
7 MANUAL AND AUTOMATIC TURN ON-OFF OPTIONS

You can manually turn the A 21 on and off with its front panel On-Off button. It can also be
triggered to turn on and off automatically when your preamplifier, surround controller, or
system controller is turned on and off.

Manual On-Off from the Front Panel

If you want to manually turn on and off the A 21 at any time, you need to first select
the Manual On-Off option by placing the Auto Turn On switch (on the rear panel) to
its middle Man (Manual) position.

Connecting an Active Audio Source for Automatic On-Off

If you want to automatically turn on the A 21 whenever music is playing (an audio
signal is present), choose the audio triggering option by moving the Auto Turn On
switch to its upper Audio position.

What You’ll Need:

• An audio source that's playing

Before Connecting

Remove power to all the components in your audio system.

Make sure the Auto Turn On switch on the A 21 is in its Audio (up) position.

Set the Audio triggering Sensitivity adjustment knob on the rear panel to the desired
level. Start with the 12 o’clock position.

To Connect

Connect an active audio source to either the Left or Right Balanced or Unbalanced
Input jacks. (Refer to to pages 2 and 3).

Start Sensitivity at 12 o'clock

1 Switch in up position

YOU SHOULD KNOW

Turn Off Delay in the Audio Mode
When the music (audio signal) stops, the A 21 will remain turned on for about five minutes.
This delay prevents unwanted turn-off during silent passages in music or pauses between
CONNECTING AN EXTERNAL DC SOURCE 8
FOR A 21 AUTOMATIC TURN ON-OFF

If you want to automatically turn on and off the A 21 with an external DC voltage, choose
the DC Triggering option by moving the Auto Turn On switch on the rear panel to its lower
12V position.
What You’ll Need:

• A cable with a 2.5 mm sub-mini plug on each end (provided)

• A “control” component with +9Vdc to +12Vdc trigger voltage 2.5 mm sub-mini plug

Before Connecting

Remove Power to all the components in your audio system.

Make sure the Auto Turn On switch on the A 21 rear panel is in its 12V (down) position.

To Connect

1 Plug one end of the trigger wire into the 12V Input jack on the A 21.

2 Plug the other end of this wire into the external DC source.

2 CONTROL
Input
COMPONENT

YOU SHOULD KNOW

If the device you want to use to control your A 21 doesn’t have a 2.5 mm trigger output
connector, you can cut one plug off the cable and terminate the end as required. The lead
with the red stripe is positive and the lead without the stripe is negative.
9 CONNECTING THE A 21 TO TRIGGER ANOTHER COMPONENT

Whenever the A 21 is turned on either manually or automatically, there is 12 Vdc present

at its own DC Trigger Out jack so it can trigger additional amplifiers or other components
on and off.
What You’ll Need:

• A cable with a 2.5 mm sub-mini plug on each end

(in addition to the one provided with the A 21)
• A component that can be triggered with an external 2.5 mm sub-mini plug
+9 Vdc to +12 Vdc source. The A 21 DC Trigger output
provides up to 150 mA of current

Before Connecting

Remove power to all the components in your audio system.

To Connect
1 Plug one end of the trigger wire into the 12V Output jack on the A 21.

2 Plug the other end of this wire into the component that you want the A 21 to trigger.

2 COMPONENT
Input
TO CONTROL

YOU SHOULD KNOW

If the device you want your A 21 to control doesn’t have a 2.5 mm trigger output connector,
you can cut one plug off the cable and terminate the end as required. The lead with the
stripe is positive and the lead without the stripe is negative.
 UNDERSTANDING THE INDICATORS ON THE A 21 10

A&B AC Present Indication

When the A 21 is plugged into a live AC outlet, a soft blue halo glows behind its On-Off button
and its red “P” Badge glows faintly. These indicate that the unit is plugged into a live AC
outlet, even when it is turned off.

B On, Off and Fault/Protection Status Indicators

Whenever the A 21 is turned on, the soft blue glow behind its On-Off button will change to
red for about five seconds as its internal circuits stabilize. Then the red glow is replaced
by a brighter blue glow to indicate normal operation. If the glow remains red after
turn on or while the amp is playing, it indicates activation of the A 21’s protection
circuits and no sound will be heard from the speaker. The A 21 protects itself from external
conditions such as excessive heat, load impedance that is too low, or a short-circuited
speaker connection or wire. After you correct the fault, the A 21 will resume operation. If
the A 21 remains “in protection” after it has cooled down and you’ve confirmed there
are no external faults, it could indicate an internal problem. Please contact Parasound’s
Technical Service Department.

C&D Left and Right Channel Status Indicators

These are two small round indicators in the center of the recess in the front panel. The indicator
on the left displays the status of the left channel and the indicator on the right displays the
status of the right channel.
C&D Both Illuminated
When both channels are operating normally, these both glow blue.
C&D No Illumination:
When the A 21 is turned off, these indicators are off.

E High-Temp Indicator
This indicator is near the right side of the panel recess. It will glow red if either channel
overheats. The On-Off button will also glow red if the A 21 overheats.

F Gain Control Knobs

These adjust the gain (level) of the A 21. We recommend that you rotate the
Left and Right Gain controls to their maximum clockwise positions, marked THX Reference.
Refer to Gain Controls in Technically Speaking for more information about these adjustments.

G Ground Switch
The Ground switch can assist in reducing audible hum caused by ground loops in your
system. This switch should be in its Normal (down) position. If you hear hum you can move
it to its Lift (up) position to eliminate it. Refer to the Technically Speaking section for more
information about ground loops.

A
A2

B C D E

F F

G
11 CONNECTING THE A 21 AC POWER CORD

AC Power Connections
We recommend that you plug your A 21 into the same AC wall outlet or power strip that
powers your other audio components, especially the preamplifier or system controller.
Having all the audio components on the same power circuit helps prevent hum caused
by possible ground loops. The A 21 requires AC power that is continuous rather than
switched on and off.

110 V - 120 V or 220 V - 240 V Operation

The A 21 can operate on either 110 V - 120 V or 220 V - 240 V. The correct line (or “AC
mains”) voltage for your unit is marked on its carton. Changing the A 21’s operating
voltage involves rewiring internal connections for both its main power transformer and
standby power transformer, plus changing fuse values. Since there is a risk of electric
shock, voltage changes must be referred to a qualified technician.

What You’ll Need:

• An IEC 65 AC Cord (provided)
• An AC outlet or high quality AC power strip within reach of the AC cord

Before Connecting
Remove power to all the components in your audio system.

To Connect
1 Plug the female end of the AC cord to the AC receptacle on the rear of the A 21.

2 Plug the male end of the AC cord to an AC outlet or power strip.

2
MAINTAINING YOUR A 21 12

Your Parasound A 21 power amplifier requires no periodic maintenance and has no

user-serviceable parts inside. To avoid the risk of electric shock, do not remove its top
cover. The amplifier’s exterior can easily be cleaned with a soft cloth pre-moistened only
with a few drops of water or glass cleaner.

Main Power Fuse

If this fuse blows, please contact Parasound Technical Service for further advice.

Notes:
13 TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE

TROUBLE PROBABLE CAUSE REMEDY

No power Power cord is disconnected Connect power cord
Auto Turn On selector switch is in Check for correct position of the Auto Turn On
wrong position switch
AC Voltage selector switch is in the Make sure the switch is in the
wrong position correct position for your region
AC fuse blown Replace with same value fuse
Auto turn on doesn’t DC trigger source wired in reverse Check polarity of DC source with a voltmeter
function with a or voltage too low Try connecting a 9 V battery to the 12V DC input
trigger voltage Auto Turn On selector switch in Make sure Auto Turn On selector switch
wrong position is in its 12V position

Auto turn on doesn’t Auto Turn On selector switch in Make sure Auto Turn On selector switch
function with an audio wrong position is in its Audio position
input signal Sensitivity incorrectly adjusted Turn the Audio trigger Sensitivity
knob counterclockwise
A 21 will not turn off when Sensitivity level too high Turn Sensitivity knob clockwise toward 200 mV
audio signal is removed
Level controls turned too low Turn level controls clockwise
Power on, but no sound
On-Off button glows red Bad connection from preamplifier or Check input connections or try a
different set of cables
and channel indicator(s) off controller
Over-current protection circuitry has Check speaker load impedance. Check speaker
been activated- one or both blue wires and connections
channel LEDs not illuminated
A 21 has overheated - red Hi Temp Allow A 21 to cool. Check that there is adequate
indicator is on ventilation around the A 21. Be sure the load
impedance of each channel is no less than 4 Ω

Distorted sound Damaged speaker Connect each speaker to the opposite channel
on the A 21. If the same speaker remains distorted,
the speaker or its wire is damaged. If the other
speaker distorts, the problem may be with the
A 21, the preamp, or a source component

Problem with preamplifier or source Switch the left and right input cables. If
component distortion moves to the other channel, the
problem is with a component other than the A 21

Balanced-Unbalanced Input switch Move to the correct position for the

is in the incorrect position jack in use

Mono Bridge switch is in the Mono Move switch to its Stereo position
bridged position

Hum and / or buzz Ground loop between preamplifier Move the Ground switch to its Lift position
through speakers and A 21 or at the equipment rack Install nylon shoulder washers on both sides of
the panels of all equipment to insulate metal
from touching the rack
Ground loop from cable TV Move the Ground switch to its Lift position.
Install cable isolation device such as the
Xantech 634 Ground Breaker
www.xantech.com
Other ground loop Contact Parasound Technical Service
A 21 is overheating Load impedance at speaker terminals Make sure the speaker or speaker
is too low selector load is 4 ohms or higher
Not enough ventilation Make sure the A 21 has adequate ventilation
 SERVICING YOUR A 21 14

If All Else Fails –Call Us for Help

Call your Parasound dealer or Parasound’s Technical Service Department toll free at
1-866-770-TECH (8324). We can often solve the problem with simple diagnostic tests you can
perform yourself. If we determine that your A 21 will need further inspection or servicing,
we will:

a) Refer you to an authorized Parasound repair center near you, or

b) Authorize return of the unit to us and advise you of the correct procedure.

Procedure for Returning Your A 21 to Parasound for Service

If Parasound determines that you should send your A 21 to Parasound, you will be given
a Return Authorization (RA) number. This RA number must be clearly marked on the outer
carton only.

IMPORTANT: Enclose a copy of your original purchase receipt. A unit is eligible for warranty
repair ONLY when the purchase receipt shows that the unit was purchased from an Authorized
Parasound Dealer. A unit obtained through unauthorized channels is not eligible for warranty
repair. Parasound is not responsible for any sellers’ misrepresentations about our warranties
or other service policies.

We do not accept any of the following:

Units with collect shipping charges
Units without a valid RA number
Units without a suitable shipping carton
Units for which we see or hear evidence of improper packing

For a non-warranty repair, contact us for an estimate of the repair charges before you ship the
unit to us. The same packing and Return Authorization number procedures apply.

Important Notice - Shipping the A 21

Before shipping the unit to Parasound, you MUST re-pack the unit into its fitted molded foam
insert sandwich and its original carton. If you do not have the original packing cartons and foam
inserts, call us for new packing materials that we can provide to you for a nominal charge.
Use of any other carton and packing materials will probably result in shipping damage, and refusal
of the unit. Common carriers such as UPS seldom pay claims for damage incurred during
shipment when a product is surrounded only with Styrofoam "peanuts" or otherwise improperly
packed.

We cannot stress enough the importance of properly packing your A 21. Shipping damage
resulting from inadequate packing can cost you a lot of money and significantly increase the
time required for repair.

Ship the unit with adequate insurance. After repair under warranty, the unit will be returned to
you via prepaid UPS within the continental United States.
15 TECHNICALLY SPEAKING

Audio Trigger Sensitivity Adjustment

The Audio Sensitivity Control sets the threshold conductors with respect to ground. Therefore, it is
of the audio trigger signal. You can adjust this canceled or rejected by the differential input circuit.
level from a maximum sensitivity of 50 mV (fully
counterclockwise) to a minimum sensitivity of This phenomenon of rejecting noise signals common
200 mV (fully clockwise). If you set this control to to both positive and negative conductors is called
50 mV, the A 21 might be falsely triggered on by common mode rejection. Differential inputs are
non-musical or noisy signals that can appear in the specified according to how well they reject signals
system, such as when you switch preamp inputs common to both conductors. This is measured in
at high volume levels. If you set this control to dB and is called the common mode rejection ratio or
200 mV, the A 21 might not turn on during quiet CMRR.
musical passages. The detented position (click stop)
at 12 o’clock corresponds to 100 mV. It’s a good Bare Speaker Wire Ends
starting point and will be suitable for most systems. If you plan to use connections with bare wire ends,
use a wire stripper to remove just enough insulation
Balanced and Unbalanced Lines to expose a 1/2” (13 mm) length of bare wire. You
Recording and broadcast studios use balanced can insert the stripped wire into the hole that goes
connections exclusively because of their inherent sideways through the terminal's metal post. Before
ability to reject noise and hum, thus assuring the inserting the wire, twist its bare strands to prevent
best sound. Certain high quality preamplifiers and any of the strands from making contact across the
surround controllers built for residential use utilize two speaker terminals. If you have a soldering iron,
balanced connections with XLR jacks for the same you can “tin” (apply a small amount of molten
reasons. All Parasound Halo series power amplifiers solder) to each stripped bare wire to prevent it from
have balanced inputs with XLR jacks so you can unraveling, fraying and oxidizing.
take full advantage of their inherent noise reduction
capability and superior sound quality. Bridged Mono Operation
In normal operation, the left and right amplifier
Unbalanced connections with RCA jacks are found channels each amplify both the positive and negative
on all home audio equipment. RCA jacks and two- halves of the musical signal. In bridged mono
conductor wires are less costly than the additional operation, the A 21’s entire left channel drives only
circuitry, higher priced XLR connectors and three- the positive half of the musical signal and its entire
conductor wiring required for balanced connections. right channel drives only the negative half of the
musical signal. This doubles its voltage swing.
In an unbalanced line, the positive audio signal
appears at the center pin of the RCA jack and the This doubled voltage swing enables the A 21 to
negative signal on the outer shield wire, which also deliver nearly double its 400 watts per channel 4 Ω
functions as the ground connection. Unbalanced power, or 750 watts, into a single 8 Ω speaker.
interconnect cables are vulnerable to hum from an
AC line, or other noise, such as RF (Radio Frequency), The audible benefit of this higher power is increased
which can be reproduced through your loudspeakers. dynamic range, or headroom, so that musical peaks
Since the unbalanced line’s ground also carries the can be reproduced with less distortion. Considering
audio signal, there is no way for the connected that musical peaks and crescendos require 10-100
amplifier or preamplifier to distinguish between the times as much power as average listening levels,
audio signals you want and unwanted noise emanating this added headroom is a substantial advantage
from external sources. for unrestrained, undistorted listening, even if your
average listening level is moderate.
Balanced lines are superior because they utilize
separate conductors for audio and ground: two inner Bridging allows an amplifier to deliver more power
conductors carry the positive and negative audio into a single speaker because in this mode, the load
signal, and a third outer wire connects the grounds appears to the amplifier as only half of its rated
and also shields the two signal conductors. When the impedance. Thus, the single 8 Ω speaker appears as
positive and negative signals appear at the component a 4 Ω load and a 4 Ω speaker appears as only a
receiving the signal they are equal, but 180 degrees 2 Ω load.
out of phase with each other with respect to ground.
To send and receive balanced signals requires special The A 21 is not capable of driving 2 Ω for extended
differential circuitry. periods because it will draw more current and
generate more heat than it can dissipate. We strongly
A differential input circuit amplifies only the difference recommend against using speakers rated at less than
between the positive and negative signals. For 8 Ω when bridging.
example, when a 1 Volt signal arrives at a balanced
input stage, the differential input “sees” a positive 1 Remember that mono bridging requires a separate
Volt minus a negative 1 Volt, or 2 Volts total. External A 21 for each speaker. You can’t simultaneously drive
hum and noise that somehow gets into a balanced two speakers in stereo and one speaker mono
line is common to both its positive and negative bridged.
TECHNICALLY SPEAKING continued 16

Choosing Interconnect Cables and Speaker Wire Loop Out Jacks

We are often asked to recommend specific The Right and Left Loop Out jacks are convenient
interconnect cables and speaker wire. It’s true that connections to route the same input signals from your
with some amplifiers, sound quality will vary greatly preamplifier or surround controller to an additional
according to interconnect cables and speaker wires. power amplifier. These jacks eliminate the need for
However, Parasound amplifiers use robust circuitry
“Y” connectors to split the source signal between
that sounds superb regardless of interconnects and
your A 21 and another amplifier. The Loop Out jacks
speaker wires. Therefore, we feel that choosing a
work with either the Balanced or the Unbalanced
brand of cable for Parasound amplifiers is purely a
matter of personal taste. Input jacks. Here are some examples of where you
could use the Loop Out jacks:
Ground Loops - Eliminating Hum and Buzz
1. When multiple speakers and amplifiers are to be
Audible hum and buzzing noises in a system are
played simultaneously, you can route the output of
usually related to issues with the component grounds.
Ground (sometimes called common) is a point of your preamplifier or controller to the first A 21 then
reference for voltages in virtually all audio and video connect its Loop Out jacks to the Unbalanced Input
components. Ground is supposed to remain at zero jacks a second A 21 (or other amplifier) to power
volts while the audio signal swings positive (voltage additional speakers for the same channel.
above ground) and negative (voltage below ground).
If ground isn’t at zero, there can be an audible 60 Hz 2. Some high-end speaker manufacturers recommend
hum (or 50 Hz hum in regions with 50 Hz AC). The bi-amplifying or “bi-amping” without using an
harmonics of these frequencies (120 Hz, 240 Hz, 480 electronic crossover. When bi-amping this way, one
Hz or 100 Hz, 200 Hz, 400 Hz) may add buzz in addition
A 21 drives only the woofers and another A 21 drives
to the hum.
only the tweeters. For example, you could connect
The ideal of zero voltage ground for all the components the left and right channel outputs of the preamplifier
in a system is practically impossible, because some to the inputs of the first A 21 to power the woofers,
resistance between the ground points of different and then connect its Loop Out jacks to the second
components is inevitable. By keeping components A 21 to power the tweeters.
close together with their power cords plugged into
a common AC outlet or power strip, you’ll avoid the Gain Controls
problems created by resistance in the house’s wiring.
When the gain knobs are turned fully clockwise, the
Hum and buzz is also caused when unwanted voltage actual gain controls are essentially out of the circuit.
flows through multiple component ground points The left and right channels are perfectly matched,
called ground loops. Here are three tips to avoid and your A 21 can reach its fullest sonic potential.
ground loops:
In some cases, you’ll need to reduce the gain settings.
1. Use a balanced input line with your Parasound A 21.
For example, if you find it difficult to make precise
(See Balanced and Unbalanced Lines in this section).
volume adjustments at low listening levels, your
2. When rack mounting, always use the included preamplifier or surround controller probably has a
insulated “shoulder” washers. These break the ground very high output (or gain) that you can match by
loops caused by metal-to-metal contact between the reducing the A 21’s gain. Conversely, if you need to
rack, the units, and their rack-mount bolts. Extras advance your preamplifier or surround controller’s
are available from rack manufacturer Middle Atlantic volume to nearly the top of its range for average
Products, www.middleatlantic.com. listening levels, you should increase the gain settings
3. Use the Ground switch on the A 21 to eliminate most on the A 21. The A 21 gain adjustment that optimizes
ground loops. This separates the A 21’s signal input the range of motion on the preamplifier’s volume
ground from its chassis ground to isolate unwanted control is sometimes called “gain staging”.
voltage in the ground shield of the unbalanced (RCA)
input cable. Be sure your system installation is finished
before you try moving the Ground switch from its
Normal to its Lift position.
17 PARASOUND A 21 DESIGN OVERVIEW

Circuit designed by John Curl chosen for their low Equivalent Series Resistance
Parasound design consultant John Curl has been a (ESR) and dielectric absorption. In addition, these filter
legend among audiophiles and electronic engineers capacitors are bypassed with smaller polypropylene
for decades. He pioneered measurements to correlate capacitors to reduce AC ripple in the DC supply and
musical accuracy with the materials used in parts, to further eliminate noise and interference that is
worked with world-class touring companies, has generated in AC power lines from computers and
designed highly coveted audio classics, including other appliances in the home.
the original Mark Levinson JC-2, Denneson JC-80,
Vendetta Phono Preamplifier, and CTC Blowtorch Relay-Bypassed Soft Start Circuit
preamplifiers; master recorders for Wilson Audio and
Mobile Fidelity; and the mixing consoles used in live When the A 21 is first turned on, there is a significant
concerts by The Grateful Dead and the Montreux Jazz amount of in-rush current required to charge the
Festival in Switzerland. enormous power supply capacitors. In order to
suppress this in-rush current and to prevent nuisance
As our featured amplifier designer since 1990, he has tripping of circuit breakers, we employ NTC (negative
created many products that have earned Parasound temperature coefficient) resistors. These resistors cut
worldwide acclaim. John is particularly proud of the in-rush current by approximately 50%. Once they
what he and Parasound have accomplished together: heat up, they essentially become a jumper with zero
“The circuits I design for Parasound are extremely ohms resistance. However, the A 21 goes one step
sophisticated and are typical of products that are far further for this circuit. After the NTC resistors have
more expensive. I can’t think of any other audio done their job of suppressing in-rush current a gold
products that offer nearly as much bang for the buck.” contact relay automatically is activated to jump across
the NTC resistors to completely bypass them. This
Parts Selection extra step insures that the resistors do not restrict any
Every part within the A 21 is carefully chosen for current whatsoever to the power supply once the A 21
its accuracy and reliability. Metal film resistors with is in full operation.
1% tolerance are selected for their precision and
because their values don’t drift as they heat up during Audio Circuit Path Topology
operation. Polypropylene and mica capacitors are Parasound’s circuit topology is a hybrid of carefully
used extensively for their superior linearity and low chosen discrete transistors that result in superior
dielectric absorption. Semiconductors are selected performance at each stage. We use JFETs (Junction
for superior performance in their specific roles in Field Effect Transistors) for the input stage; MOSFETs
the circuit. Gold has the best conductivity of any (Metal Oxide Field Effect Transistors) for the driver
metal, so we use high quality gold-plated input stage and bipolar transistors for the output stage.
connectors and speaker terminals. The double-sided Discrete transistors are more sonically accurate than
circuit boards are FR4 glass epoxy for long-term integrated circuits commonly used by other brands.
durability. The chassis is made of heavy gauge steel
to safely house the internal circuitry. This attention to Complementary Configuration
detail when selecting parts makes the difference between Each stage of amplification has transistors fed by
a very good amplifier and an outstanding amplifier. the positive DC power supply and complementary
transistors fed by the negative DC power supply.
The Power Supply Thus, half of the devices amplify the positive half
The heart of the power supply is a 1 kVA toroidal of the musical waveform while the other half of the
power transformer, chosen for its efficiency, low devices amplify the negative half. This complementary
hum field, and high power rating. Encapsulating this topology is inherently linear, which reduces distortion
massive power transformer in an epoxy-filled steel and improves sonic accuracy.
canister assures ultra-quiet performance.
The Input Stage
The A 21 power transformer employs multiple The A 21’s input stage uses matched pairs of discrete
independent secondary windings so that each JFETs arranged in a differential configuration. JFETs
amplifier channel has its own power supply, assuring are ideal for the input stage because their inherently
more than ample DC voltage at all times and under high impedance is unaffected by the impedance
all conditions. It also reduces inter-channel crosstalk of source components. Differential configuration
that can blur the sound and impair the correct sense provides superior noise reduction. These precision
of where instruments are positioned. input JFETs are also cascoded to produce the current
necessary to drive the MOSFET drivers in the following
To create the +/- 80 Vdc B+ and B- supply rails for each stage.
channel, we use high-speed rectifier diodes and four
enormous 25,000 uF Elna electrolytic filter capacitors,
PARASOUND A 21 DESIGN OVERVIEW continued 18

The Driver Stage Total Protection - DC Servos

The driver stage provides critical amplification for Direct Current (DC) burns out speakers. Every power
which we employ a complementary matched pair of amplifier must have some way to insure that DC from
MOSFETs selected for their tube-like sonic qualities. its power supply never reaches its + or - speaker
MOSFETs tend to generate less odd-order harmonic terminals. Most amplifiers simply use trim controls
distortion than bipolar transistors. This is important to reduce their DC offset or capacitors to block DC.
because odd-order distortion sounds unnatural and Unfortunately, trim controls can allow DC offset to
fatiguing to the human ear, whereas even-order increase over time, and even the most expensive
distortion is less offensive because it is consonant, capacitors in the audio signal path will “veil” sonic
rather than dissonant. Our MOSFET driver stage clarity and attenuate bass response.
prevents the harshness and brittle sound so often Parasound power amplifiers incorporate ingenious and
found in other amplifiers. fast-acting DC servo circuits, completely eliminating
the need for coupling and blocking capacitors. The
The Output Stage A 21 is direct-coupled from its input jacks to its
The amplifier’s sonic characteristics are established speaker terminals. This advanced circuitry never
by its input and driver stages. Now, the sole job of needs adjustment or maintenance. It operates outside
its output stage is to deliver the enormous current the audio signal path to keep the DC offset at the
and voltage from its power supply to the speakers. output of the A 21 at a constant 0.00 Vdc. The results
Bipolar output transistors are better than MOSFETS are startling clarity, freedom from listening fatigue,
in the output stage because of their higher safe and formidable bass response.
operating area (SOA) and inherent ruggedness. Each
channel’s output stage employs four pairs of high Total Protection - Relays
current (15-ampere) bipolar transistors to insure long- Each channel of the A 21 has a high-quality protection
term reliability, even with continuous high power relay with gold-plated contacts for long-term reliability.
operation and challenging speaker loads. Lightning- These relays function to protect either the amplifier,
fast (60 MHz) transistors respond instantly to complex the speakers, or both. When the A 21 is first powered
demands in the musical signal, virtually eliminating on, these relays remain open for three seconds as the
distortions that occur with slower transistors. Slew positive and negative power supplies stabilize and
rate limiting and Transient Intermodulation Distortion reach equilibrium. This prevents annoying popping or
(TIM) are simply not an issue in the A 21. other transient noises. Relay protection also prevents
damage to your speakers in case of a catastrophic
Class A-A/B Operation amplifier failure. Any amplifier that doesn’t use relay
Pure class A operation provides the purest sound. protection for its speaker outputs compromises the
However, an amplifier operating entirely in class A safety of the amplifier and your speakers.
operation would be enormous, highly inefficient, and
generate too much heat. Class A/B combines some Total Protection - Current Overload
of the advantages of Class A with the efficiency of Specialized current-sensing transistors are connected
Class B operation. It is a compromise that reduces to the output stages of the A 21 to constantly monitor
the heat generated in pure class A operation and the the current flow through the output transistors. If the
odd-order harmonic distortion created in class B. In current drawn by this stage exceeds a predetermined
class AB, the driver and output stages are always safe level due to a load impedance below 1 ohm or a
partially turned on, which provides a nominal amount short circuit at the speaker terminals, the output relay
of pure class A operation. At higher power levels, will open immediately to prevent any of the output
when the musical waveform swings from positive transistors or other parts from failing.
to negative and vice versa, each bank of transistors
is allowed to rest momentarily. This resting, or Total Protection - Fuses
quiescent time, makes it possible to deliver high Each channel of the amplifier has a separate fuse for
amounts of power without overheating. It also makes its positive and negative DC voltage rails. These fuses
it possible to use passive cooling and avoid fans, provide backup protection in case the over-current
whose noise can be heard over the music. The A 21 protection does not work in time, or if an internal part
input and driver stages employ pure Class A while fails. In the event of a part failure, these fuses halt
its output stage operates with higher pure Class A operation to minimize damage to additional parts.
power than many amplifiers selling for twice or three
times its price. The result is less fatiguing, more
natural sound.
19 PARASOUND A 21 SPECIFICATIONS

Power Output - Both Channels Driven Loop Output Level

250 watts RMS x 2, continuous, Same as input level
20 Hz - 20 kHz, 8 Ω
400 watts RMS x 2, continuous, S/N Ratio
20 Hz - 20 kHz, 4 Ω > 112 dB, input shorted, IHF A-weighted
> 102 dB, input shorted, unweighted
Power Output - Mono
750 watts RMS, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 8 Ω Damping Factor
> 1100 at 20 Hz
Current Capacity
60 amperes peak per channel DC Trigger Requirements
+9 Vdc to +12 Vdc, 2 mA
Slew Rate
> 130 volts per microsecond Audio Trigger Requirements
50 mV AC - 200 mV AC
Frequency Response
5 Hz-100 kHz, +0/-3 dB at 1 watt DC Trigger Output Capacity Requirements
+12 Vdc, 150 mA
Total Harmonic Distortion
< 0.2 % at full power Dimensions
< 0.03 % at typical listening levels Width: 17-1/2” (445 mm)
Panel height: 7” (178 mm)
IM Distortion Height with feet: 7-5/8” (194 mm)
< 0.04 % Depth: 19-1/8” (485 mm)

TIM Power Requirement

Unmeasureable Standby: 25 Watts
Full Power into 4 Ω: 1500 Watts
Dynamic Headroom
> 1.5 dB Net Weight
60 lb. (27.3 kg)
Interchannel Crosstalk
> 80 dB at 1 kHz Shipping Weight
> 63 dB at 20 kHz 74 lb. (33.7 kg)

Input Impedance
Unbalanced: 33 kΩ
Balanced: 66 kΩ

Input Sensitivity for 28.28 V Output into 8 Ω

Unbalanced: 1 V
Balanced: 1 V per leg

Features and specifications subject to change V 1.0 © Parasound Products, Inc. 2002.
without notice.
Parasound Products, Inc. 950 Battery Street, San Francisco, CA 94111
415-397-7100 / Fax 415-397-0144 www.parasound.com