Free Shipping on US orders above $49
What You Need to Know
What Is a Stereo Power Amplifier — and Why the 2250 v.2 Stands Out
A power amplifier does one job, and it does it well: it takes a small audio signal from your preamp or receiver and amplifies it enough to actually drive your speakers. Think of it as the engine under the hood. A weak engine strains, clips, and distorts when pushed. A strong one glides — delivering clean, controlled power even when you turn things up. The Parasound NewClassic 2250 v.2 is very much a strong engine.
What makes the 2250 v.2 notable in its price class is the sheer combination of certified performance, build quality, and real-world flexibility. It's THX Ultra2 certified — that's a standard developed by Lucasfilm to ensure an amplifier can faithfully reproduce the full dynamic range of a movie soundtrack or a live musical performance, from the softest quiet passage to the loudest explosive peak. Earning that badge isn't easy, and Parasound has held it as a point of pride across the NewClassic line.
The v.2 designation signals a meaningful refresh. Parasound didn't change the audio circuits — they left what was working alone. Instead, they updated the cosmetics, upgraded the trigger connections from 2.5mm to the now-standard 3.5mm size, refined the auto-sensing trigger system into a simpler two-position switch, added an A/B speaker lockout switch for installers, removed an unnecessary ground lift switch, and corrected the power ratings to reflect actual, real-world output rather than conservative understatements. The result: the same trusted amplifier with better fit, finish, and usability.
Real Power, Intelligently Delivered
Power numbers on amplifiers can feel abstract, so here's what these mean in practice. The 2250 v.2 delivers 275 watts per channel into 8 ohms — the most common speaker impedance you'll encounter — with both channels fully driven at the same time. Drop to 4-ohm speakers (common with high-end bookshelf and floorstanding speakers), and output climbs to 400 watts per channel. Need to drive a particularly demanding 2-ohm load? Flip the impedance selector switch and it handles that too.
If you ever want to run the amp in bridged mono mode — that means combining both channels to power a single speaker or subwoofer — you get 750 watts of continuous output. That's serious headroom for home theater, large rooms, or any speaker that needs real power to come alive.
Backing all of that power is a 45-amp peak current rating per channel. Peak current is what an amplifier can deliver in short, demanding bursts — the kind your music creates constantly, during drum hits, bass transients, and orchestral swells. High peak current means the amp doesn't flinch when the music gets complex. It stays in control.
The circuit design is Class AB — a well-established approach that balances efficiency with sonic quality. Pure Class A amplifiers sound excellent but run very hot and waste a lot of energy. Pure Class D is efficient but some listeners find it lacks warmth. Class AB sits in the sweet spot: efficient enough to run cool and reliable, capable enough to sound genuinely musical. The 2250 v.2 pairs this Class AB topology with fully discrete circuitry — meaning every gain stage is built from individual transistors rather than integrated chips — and a large toroidal transformer (a donut-shaped core that's quieter and more efficient than conventional E-I designs). The result is an exceptionally low noise floor. The signal-to-noise ratio measures 114 dB A-weighted at full output, which means the amp is essentially silent in the background.
What Reviewers Are Saying
The 2250 v.2 earned a Highly Recommended award from AVForums in January 2023. Reviewer Martin Dew put it through its paces with both film and music sources.
According to Martin Dew at AVForums (January 2023), the amplifier proved equally satisfying with both music and film material — he described movie and music sources as bounding "into life" through the amp, and praised its transparency: "What goes in is literally what comes out." Dew also noted that the build quality was "excellent in every respect," though he observed that the amp's traditional styling may not appeal to everyone who prefers a more modern aesthetic. He did note that Parasound's UK pricing puts the amp out of reach for some European buyers.
In a review for Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity (June 2008) covering the original Model 2250 paired with the Model 2100 preamp, Chris Groppi wrote that the combination offered "sound quality across the board so good, I would have thought you'd have to pay at least $3,000 to get it." His conclusion: "If you have $2K to spend on a preamp and amp, you can't go wrong with the Model 2100 and 2250." Note that this review covers the original version — the v.2 uses the same audio circuits with updated ergonomics and cosmetics.
A user on the r/BudgetAudiophile subreddit (June 2020) described the 2250 v.2 as "absolutely worth it," calling it "an awesome amp, very detailed and clean." Community responses were generally positive among those who had paired it with a variety of speaker brands.
Who Is This Amplifier Best For?
You have a preamplifier, AV receiver with preamp outputs, or an audio processor, and you want to add serious amplification power to your system without starting over from scratch.
You're running demanding speakers — lower-impedance or harder-to-drive designs — that leave lesser amplifiers sounding thin, compressed, or strained at volume.
You want one amp that can serve double duty: pure two-channel stereo today, and home theater amplification tomorrow — or two different rooms via the A/B speaker outputs.
You're a custom installer or integrator looking for a rack-mountable (3U chassis), auto-sensing, trigger-controllable amp that's robust enough for professional use.
You value the assurance of THX Ultra2 certification — an independent guarantee that this amp meets real performance standards, not just marketing claims.
How Does It Connect to Your System?
On the back panel, you'll find gold-plated RCA input jacks — one pair of inputs that accepts a line-level signal from your preamp, processor, or receiver's preamp outputs. There's also an RCA loop output, so you can daisy-chain a second amplifier or zone if needed.
For speakers, there are two pairs of heavy-duty 24K gold-plated five-way binding posts — one labeled "A," one labeled "B." Five-way binding posts accept bare wire, spade lugs, banana plugs, or pin connectors, giving you flexibility with whatever cables you already own. A front-panel A/B speaker selector lets you switch between two sets of speakers (or two rooms) on the fly. The new rear-panel lockout switch disables those front buttons entirely — useful if you want a fixed, permanent connection that nobody accidentally changes.
The 12V trigger input (now the standard 3.5mm size) lets the amp turn on and off automatically when your preamp or receiver sends a 12-volt control signal — common in integrated systems. There's also an audio-sensing auto-on mode, which wakes the amp when it detects an incoming signal. Both options mean you rarely have to think about turning the amp on or off yourself.
Rear-panel gain controls let you fine-tune the input sensitivity — useful if you're matching levels between the 2250 v.2 and other amplifiers in a multi-channel or multi-zone setup.
One important note: the 2250 v.2 is a power amplifier only — it has no volume control, no source switching, and no phono stage. You'll need a separate preamplifier, integrated control unit, or AV receiver with preamp outputs to use it. If you're not sure what that means for your setup, give us a call at 800-942-0220 — we're happy to help you figure out the right combination.
Building Your System? Great Companions for the 2250 v.2
The 2250 v.2 is a power amplifier — here's what pairs naturally with it:
- Stereo Preamplifiers — The 2250 v.2 needs a preamp upstream to handle volume and source selection. The Parasound NewClassic 2100 v.2 is the natural companion from the same product family. Browse our full preamplifier selection to find the right match for your source components.
- Floorstanding Speakers — With 275W per channel and rock-solid current delivery, the 2250 v.2 is built to wake up large, demanding floorstanders that smaller amps can't properly control.
- Bookshelf Speakers — Don't let the power intimidate you — the 2250 v.2 is equally at home with bookshelf speakers, and the extra headroom means they'll play more cleanly at volume than with a less capable amp.
- RCA Interconnect Cables — You'll need a quality RCA cable to run from your preamp to the 2250 v.2. A good cable makes a real difference in keeping the signal clean.
- Speaker Cables — The 2250 v.2's five-way binding posts accept a wide range of terminations. We carry speaker cables in various gauges and lengths to fit your room.
- Power Conditioners — Protecting a quality amplifier with clean, conditioned power is always a smart investment. It keeps noise out of your audio chain and safeguards your gear.
Features & Specifications
Audio Performance
Plenty of Power for Any Room or Speaker — The 2250 v.2 delivers 275 watts per channel into 8 ohms, 400 watts per channel into 4 ohms, and 400 watts per channel into 2 ohms (using the load selector switch). For those who want maximum output in mono mode, it bridges to 750 watts — more than enough headroom for large rooms, high-efficiency speakers, and demanding home theater setups.
High Peak Current Means No Straining at the Hard Parts — With 45 amps of peak current per channel, the amp delivers instant bursts of power during demanding musical peaks — drum transients, bass notes, orchestral crescendos — without compressing or clipping the signal.
Ultra-Low Noise Floor — A signal-to-noise ratio of 114 dB (A-weighted at full rated output) means the 2250 v.2 is essentially inaudible in the background. You hear the music, not the amp.
Very Low Distortion — Total harmonic distortion (THD) measures 0.02% at full rated output and drops to 0.015% at average listening levels. Transient intermodulation distortion is not measurable. In plain terms: what goes in, comes out — faithfully.
Wide, Flat Frequency Response — Frequency response extends from 20 Hz to 50 kHz (+0/−3 dB at 1 watt), ensuring the amp handles the full audible range plus well beyond, without rolling off the highs or the lows.
Strong Channel Separation — Inter-channel crosstalk measures 85 dB at 1 kHz and 73 dB at 10 kHz. This keeps the left and right channels cleanly separated, which contributes to a solid, well-defined stereo image.
High Damping Factor — A damping factor of over 150 at 20 Hz means the amp keeps tight control over woofer movement. This translates directly into better-defined, more articulate bass — not the bloated, boomy bass you get from an amp that can't control its speakers.
Circuit Design & Build
Fully Discrete Class AB Circuitry — Every gain stage is built from individual transistors — not integrated chips. This approach gives designers more control over the signal path and typically results in lower noise and more musical performance. Class AB operation provides efficient, cooler running compared to pure Class A, while retaining the sonic qualities audiophiles value.
Large Toroidal Power Transformer — The toroidal (donut-shaped) transformer is more efficient and generates less electromagnetic interference than conventional designs. This keeps the noise floor low and ensures a clean power supply for the audio circuits.
DC Servo and Relay Protection — Built-in protection circuits guard your speakers against DC offset and other faults that could damage drivers. Standby, channel status, and high-temperature indicators on the front panel let you know at a glance that everything is operating normally.
Impedance Selector Switch — A rear-panel switch lets you configure the amp for 4–8 ohm loads (standard position) or 2–3 ohm loads (low-impedance position), enabling it to safely drive speakers that would strain or damage lesser amplifiers.
THX Ultra2 Certified — This independent certification verifies that the 2250 v.2 can reproduce the full dynamic range of a cinema-quality soundtrack in a large home environment. It's a meaningful badge — not a marketing claim — and requires passing a rigorous battery of performance tests.
Connectivity & Control
Dual A/B Speaker Outputs with Lockout — Two pairs of heavy-duty 24K gold-plated five-way binding posts let you connect two sets of speakers. Front-panel A/B buttons select which speakers are active. The new rear-panel lockout switch disables these buttons — useful in custom installation or commercial settings where you always want both zones active.
12V Trigger Input & Loop Output — Now 3.5mm Standard — The 12V trigger input (updated from 2.5mm to the current industry-standard 3.5mm) lets a preamp, processor, or control system automatically turn the amp on and off. The looping output passes the trigger signal downstream to additional components in your chain.
Two-Position Audio-Sense Auto-On — The simplified trigger system offers a "Quieter" setting (activates at very low signal levels) and a "Louder" setting (activates at higher levels), eliminating the previous turn-on sensitivity knob. The amp shuts itself off after 15 minutes of silence.
Switchable 18 dB/Octave High-Pass Filter — A rear-panel switch engages a high-pass filter at either 20 Hz or 40 Hz. This is useful when using the 2250 v.2 alongside a powered subwoofer — redirecting deep bass to the sub so your main speakers don't have to work as hard.
Gold-Plated RCA Inputs & Loop Output — Gold-plated connectors resist corrosion and maintain a reliable, low-resistance connection over time.
Rear-Panel Gain Controls — Independent gain trim controls for each channel allow fine-tuning of input sensitivity — helpful when matching the 2250 v.2 to other amplifiers in a multi-zone or multi-channel system.
Bridging Switch for Mono Operation — A rear-panel switch puts the amp into bridged mono mode, combining both channels to drive a single speaker or subwoofer at up to 750 watts. Useful for large passive subwoofers or high-power single-channel applications.
Design & Build
3U Rack-Mount Height — At 153mm tall, the 2250 v.2 fits a standard 3U rack space. Parasound's optional RMK33 rack mount kit is available separately for clean installation in equipment racks or AV cabinets.
Updated Cosmetics — The v.2 refresh brought rounded front panel corners, a new display lens, and updated rear-panel silk screening for easier reading and setup. The unit is housed in a steel chassis with vented top and side panels for heat dissipation.
Energy Efficient Standby — Only 0.5 watts in standby mode, meeting Energy Star and EU power consumption standards.
Dual-Voltage Operation — A rear-panel voltage selector switches between 115V (North America) and 230V (Europe/international), making the amp suitable for use worldwide.
Quick-Reference Specifications
| Power Output — Stereo (8Ω) | 275W × 2, both channels driven |
| Power Output — Stereo (4Ω) | 400W × 2, both channels driven |
| Power Output — Stereo (2Ω) | 400W × 2 (load switch set to 2–3Ω) |
| Power Output — Bridged Mono (8Ω) | 750W × 1 |
| Power Output — Bridged Mono (4Ω) | 750W × 1 (load switch set to 2–3Ω) |
| Peak Current Per Channel | 45 amps |
| Frequency Response | 20 Hz – 50 kHz, +0/−3 dB at 1W |
| Dynamic Headroom | 1.6 dB |
| Total Harmonic Distortion (Full Output) | 0.02% |
| THD (Avg. Listening Level) | 0.015% |
| IM Distortion | 0.05% |
| S/N Ratio (A-weighted, rated output) | 114 dB |
| S/N Ratio (unweighted, rated output) | 106 dB |
| Damping Factor | Over 150 at 20 Hz |
| Input Impedance | 33 kΩ |
| Input Sensitivity | 1V in for 28.28V out (THX standard) |
| Inter-Channel Crosstalk | 85 dB @ 1 kHz; 73 dB @ 10 kHz; 67 dB @ 20 kHz |
| High-Pass Filter | 18 dB/octave, switchable 20 Hz or 40 Hz |
| 12V Trigger Input | DC 9–12V, 15 mA (3.5mm connector) |
| Audio Trigger Sensitivity | Quieter: 1 mV / Louder: 6 mV |
| AC Power Requirement | 110–120V / 220–240V, 50–60 Hz |
| Standby Power | 0.5 watts |
| Full Output Power Draw | 1,000 watts |
| Dimensions | 17.25"W × 16"D × 6"H (3U rack height) |
| Weight | 43 lbs |
| Certification | THX Ultra2 |
| Warranty | 2 Years Parts & Labor |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a separate preamplifier to use the 2250 v.2?
Yes. The 2250 v.2 is a power amplifier only — it amplifies a signal, but it doesn't control volume or switch between sources on its own. You'll need a preamplifier, an integrated preamp/processor, or an AV receiver with dedicated preamp outputs (often labeled "Pre Out" or "Zone Out"). If you're not sure what you already have or what you need, give us a call at 800-942-0220 and we'll sort it out with you.
What's the difference between the 2250 v.2 and the original 2250?
The audio circuits are identical — Parasound didn't change what was working. The v.2 update brought a fresh cosmetic look, upgraded 12V trigger jacks from 2.5mm to the industry-standard 3.5mm size, a simplified two-position audio trigger (replacing a fiddly sensitivity knob), a new A/B speaker lockout switch for installers, removal of the now-unnecessary ground lift switch, and corrected power ratings that reflect the amp's actual output capability rather than conservative understatements. Both versions sound the same; the v.2 is simply better to live with.
How does this compare to Parasound's Halo A 21+ amplifier?
The Halo A 21+ is Parasound's premium two-channel amplifier and sits at a higher price point with a more refined Class AB/A design (it operates in Class A up to 5 watts before switching to Class AB). The A 21+ uses more elaborate circuit topology, higher-grade internal components, and is designed for listeners who want the last word in two-channel audio. The NewClassic 2250 v.2 is the value-oriented powerhouse — it delivers impressive performance and certified THX Ultra2 output at a more accessible price. For most listeners and applications, the 2250 v.2 is more than sufficient; the A 21+ is for those who want to go further.
Can I use the 2250 v.2 in a home theater setup?
Absolutely. The 2250 v.2 carries THX Ultra2 certification, which was developed specifically for home theater use — it guarantees the amp can handle the dynamic demands of film soundtracks in large rooms. A common configuration is to use the 2250 v.2 for the front left and right channels of a surround system, driven by an AV processor or receiver's preamp outputs. You could pair it with a second amplifier (such as the Parasound 5-channel) for the center and surrounds.
What speakers does the 2250 v.2 work best with?
The 2250 v.2 is particularly well-suited to power-hungry speakers — those with lower sensitivity ratings (below 88 dB/1W/1m), lower impedance loads (4 ohms or below), or physically large drivers that need current to move properly. That said, it's equally capable with high-efficiency speakers — the extra headroom simply means those speakers will play more cleanly and dynamically at any volume level. If you're pairing it with a specific speaker and want our input, we're happy to help.
What does bridged mono mode do, and when would I use it?
Bridged mono mode combines both amplifier channels into one, delivering 750 watts into a single speaker or passive subwoofer. You'd typically use this if you're bi-amping a single speaker (one amp channel per driver section), powering a large passive subwoofer that needs serious current, or running a single very-high-power speaker that benefits from the extra headroom. It's not needed for typical stereo use, but it's a useful option to have.
Is the 2250 v.2 suitable for rack mounting?
Yes. The 2250 v.2 stands 153mm tall, which is exactly 3U (three rack units) in standard equipment rack sizing. Parasound offers a dedicated rack mount kit (model RMK33) that's sold separately. Keep in mind the amp is 16 inches deep, so check your rack's depth clearance before ordering. It's also worth giving the unit some room to breathe — despite its relatively cool running Class AB design, good ventilation is always good practice.
How loud will the 2250 v.2 get before running out of power?
In most home listening environments, you'll reach the limits of your hearing comfort and possibly your speakers long before you run out of power from the 2250 v.2. At 275W per channel, this amp has significantly more headroom than most home speakers require for even demanding volume levels. The benefit of that headroom isn't just loudness — it's that the amp stays clean and composed even during demanding transients, rather than clipping or compressing the signal.
What cables do I need to connect this amp to my preamp?
You'll need a pair of standard RCA interconnect cables to run from your preamp's output to the 2250 v.2's input jacks. The length depends on how far apart your components are. We carry a wide range of RCA interconnect cables — if you'd like a recommendation for your specific setup, just ask.
What's in the box?
See the "What's in the Box" section below for the full list. If you need to confirm any accessory details before ordering, the Parasound owner's manual is available for download — or give us a call.
What's in the Box
- Parasound NewClassic 2250 v.2 Two Channel Power Amplifier (Black)
- Detachable AC power cord
- Owner's manual
Note: Rack mount kit (RMK33) is sold separately. Verify complete packing list with Parasound or the product manual prior to purchase if exact accessory contents are important to your decision.
Why Audio Advisor?
40+ Years of Expertise — Since 1981, we've helped over a million music lovers find the right gear.
60-Day Money-Back Guarantee — Take your time. Listen, enjoy, and make sure it's right for you.
Real Experts, Real Help — Our team is here to answer your questions at 800-942-0220, weekdays 9am–6pm EST.
Free Shipping — On orders over $49, delivered to your door.
Flexible Payment Options — Financing available so you can start listening now.
Want to learn more about power amplifiers and how to choose the right one for your system? Visit our Learning Center for guides, tips, and expert advice on building a great audio system.
