Parasound Halo HINT 6

Parasound's HINT 6 integrated amplifier is loaded with features and design perks that make it an excellent centerpiece of a high-performance two-channel audio system. It offers plenty of digital and analog connections for music sources and delivers 160 watts of clean power per channel. And this amp is stable at low impedances, so it's compatible with a wide range of speakers. All that power comes from a large toroidal transformer and the amp's high-bias Class A/AB amplifier design (more on that later.) We like to set up sound system demonstrations here at Crutchfield, so we can really get a sense of how different components perform under real-world conditions. Sometimes we assemble a system that's all made by the same manufacturer. Other times we mix and match, like we did when I auditioned this muscular integrated amplifier in our training room at Crutchfield HQ. I chose this amp specifically because it offers 160 watts per channel, and I wanted to see how that kind of power would drive a couple of pairs ...