{"product_id":"parasound-halo-p6-2-1-channel-preamplifier-dac","title":"Parasound Halo P6 2.1 Channel Preamplifier \u0026 DAC","description":"\u003cbody\u003e\n\n\n\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\n\u003ctitle\u003eParasound Halo P6 2.1 Channel Preamplifier \u0026amp; DAC — Product Description\u003c\/title\u003e\n\n\n\u003cdiv style=\"max-width:720px;margin:0 auto;padding:32px 24px 48px 24px;background:#ffffff;\"\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.25em;margin:0 0 0.35em 0;font-weight:600;\"\u003eA Preamp, DAC, and Phono Stage That Covers the Bass Too\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 0.9em 0;line-height:1.55;\"\u003eThe Parasound Halo P6 is a full-featured preamplifier built around a resistor-ladder volume control. That design keeps noise low as you adjust the level, unlike a standard volume pot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 0.9em 0;line-height:1.55;\"\u003eThe \"2.1\" in its name points to built-in bass management. Analog high-pass and low-pass crossovers, both at a 12dB\/octave slope, split bass duties between your main speakers and a subwoofer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 0.9em 0;line-height:1.55;\"\u003eA front-panel subwoofer level control lets you dial that balance in without walking over to the sub itself. Total harmonic distortion stays under 0.01% throughout the preamp section.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 0.9em 0;line-height:1.55;\"\u003eLine input signal-to-noise ratio measures above 108dB, A-weighted. That's a genuinely quiet foundation for the rest of your system to build on.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.25em;margin:1.4em 0 0.35em 0;font-weight:600;\"\u003eA DAC and Phono Stage Worth Skipping the Extra Box For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 0.9em 0;line-height:1.55;\"\u003eAn ESS Sabre32 Reference DAC chip handles digital sources. Over USB, it decodes PCM up to 384kHz\/32-bit. It also supports native DSD64, DSD128, and DSD256.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 0.9em 0;line-height:1.55;\"\u003eCoaxial and optical inputs handle PCM up to 192kHz\/24-bit. That covers a CD player, TV, or older digital source alongside anything you'd stream over USB.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 0.9em 0;line-height:1.55;\"\u003eA built-in phono stage covers moving magnet, moving coil, and moving-iron cartridges. Input impedance switches between 47k ohms and 100 ohms, so you can match it to your specific cartridge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 0.9em 0;line-height:1.55;\"\u003eA Texas Instruments TPA6120A chip drives the front-panel headphone jack. Bass and treble controls are included too, with a relay bypass to pull them out of the signal path when you don't need them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.25em;margin:1.4em 0 0.35em 0;font-weight:600;\"\u003eWhat Reviewers Are Saying\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 0.9em 0;line-height:1.55;\"\u003eMichael Zisserson reviewed the P6 for Positive Feedback on March 21, 2019. He wrote that \"the P 6 is a wonderful listen. Never did I get the sense I was listening to a price point.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 0.9em 0;line-height:1.55;\"\u003eZisserson also reviewed the P6 for Future Audiophile on January 4, 2023, writing that \"the Halo P 6 preamplifier can do it all when it comes to a preamp,\" offering \"a functional level of features that are no-compromise.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 0.9em 0;line-height:1.55;\"\u003eOn its sound, he added that \"even when presented with the opportunity to fail, the Halo P 6 chose to shine instead, resolving the strong harmonies during the chorus.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.25em;margin:1.4em 0 0.35em 0;font-weight:600;\"\u003eWho Is This Preamplifier Best For?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul style=\"margin:0 0 0.9em 0;padding-left:1.4em;line-height:1.6;\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAnyone building a system around a separate power amp.\u003c\/strong\u003e The P6 handles preamp, DAC, and phono duties, so your power amp only has to amplify.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVinyl listeners with a moving magnet or moving coil cartridge.\u003c\/strong\u003e The built-in phono stage covers both, with switchable MC loading.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAnyone running a 2.1 speaker setup with a subwoofer.\u003c\/strong\u003e Built-in crossovers and a front-panel level control handle the bass split for you.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStreamers and computer-audio listeners.\u003c\/strong\u003e The onboard ESS DAC handles high-resolution PCM and native DSD without a separate box.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNot the right fit if you need an integrated amp in one chassis.\u003c\/strong\u003e The P6 has no power amp section, so you'll still need one to drive your speakers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.25em;margin:1.4em 0 0.35em 0;font-weight:600;\"\u003eHow Does It Connect to Your System?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 0.9em 0;line-height:1.55;\"\u003eFive RCA line inputs and one balanced XLR input cover most sources. A front-panel aux input with its own gain stage makes it easy to plug in a portable player.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 0.9em 0;line-height:1.55;\"\u003eConnect a turntable to the built-in phono input, wired for MM, MC, or moving-iron cartridges. USB, coaxial, and optical digital inputs route a computer, streamer, or disc player through the internal DAC.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 0.9em 0;line-height:1.55;\"\u003eBalanced XLR and RCA preamp outputs feed your power amplifier. Dedicated XLR and RCA subwoofer outputs, plus a home theater bypass input, round out the connections for a larger system.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.25em;margin:1.4em 0 0.35em 0;font-weight:600;\"\u003ePairs Well With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 0.9em 0;line-height:1.55;\"\u003eBuilding your system? Here are some great companions for the Parasound Halo P6:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul style=\"margin:0 0 0.9em 0;padding-left:1.4em;line-height:1.6;\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.audioadvisor.com\/products\/%%GLOBAL_ShopPathSSL%%\/amplifiers-preamplifiers\/integrated-amplifiers\/\" style=\"color:#8a5a2b;\"\u003ePower amplifiers\u003c\/a\u003e to pair with the P6's preamp outputs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.audioadvisor.com\/products\/%%GLOBAL_ShopPathSSL%%\/subwoofers\/subwoofers\/\" style=\"color:#8a5a2b;\"\u003eSubwoofers\u003c\/a\u003e to take advantage of the built-in 2.1 bass management\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.audioadvisor.com\/products\/%%GLOBAL_ShopPathSSL%%\/turntables\/turntables\/\" style=\"color:#8a5a2b;\"\u003eTurntables\u003c\/a\u003e to use with the built-in MM\/MC phono stage\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.audioadvisor.com\/products\/%%GLOBAL_ShopPathSSL%%\/cables\/interconnect-cables\/\" style=\"color:#8a5a2b;\"\u003eInterconnect cables\u003c\/a\u003e to connect it to your power amp\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.audioadvisor.com\/products\/%%GLOBAL_ShopPathSSL%%\/furniture\/audio-racks\/\" style=\"color:#8a5a2b;\"\u003eAudio racks\u003c\/a\u003e to give it a stable, permanent home\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.25em;margin:1.4em 0 0.35em 0;font-weight:600;\"\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"font-size:1.05em;margin:0.9em 0 0.25em 0;font-weight:600;\"\u003eWhat does the \"2.1\" in its name mean?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 0.9em 0;line-height:1.55;\"\u003eIt refers to built-in bass management for a stereo pair of speakers plus a subwoofer. Analog crossovers split bass frequencies to the sub, with a front-panel level control.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"font-size:1.05em;margin:0.9em 0 0.25em 0;font-weight:600;\"\u003eDoes it work with a moving-coil cartridge?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 0.9em 0;line-height:1.55;\"\u003eYes. The phono stage handles moving magnet, moving coil, and moving-iron cartridges, with switchable loading between 47k ohms and 100 ohms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"font-size:1.05em;margin:0.9em 0 0.25em 0;font-weight:600;\"\u003eCan I stream high-resolution files through it?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 0.9em 0;line-height:1.55;\"\u003eYes. The built-in ESS Sabre32 DAC decodes PCM up to 384kHz\/32-bit over USB, along with native DSD64, DSD128, and DSD256.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"font-size:1.05em;margin:0.9em 0 0.25em 0;font-weight:600;\"\u003eDoes it include a power amp?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 0.9em 0;line-height:1.55;\"\u003eNo. The P6 is a dedicated preamp, DAC, and phono stage. You'll need a separate power amplifier to drive your speakers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"font-size:1.05em;margin:0.9em 0 0.25em 0;font-weight:600;\"\u003eWhat's the warranty?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 0.9em 0;line-height:1.55;\"\u003eParasound covers the Halo P6 for five years, parts and labor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.25em;margin:1.4em 0 0.35em 0;font-weight:600;\"\u003eSee It in Action\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 0.5em 0;line-height:1.55;\"\u003eAudio Arkitekts reviews the P6 and asks whether you really need a preamp:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ciframe width=\"100%\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IlvK_QMbGR0\" title=\"Parasound Halo P6 Review | Do You Need a Pre-Amp?\" style=\"border:0;margin:0 0 0.9em 0;display:block;\" allowfullscreen\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 0.5em 0;line-height:1.55;\"\u003eSmall Spaces HiFi breaks down its features and value:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ciframe width=\"100%\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ahWzGXMJOEg\" title=\"Parasound P6 Preamplifier Review: The Swiss Army Knife of Preamps?\" style=\"border:0;margin:0 0 0.9em 0;display:block;\" allowfullscreen\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.25em;margin:1.4em 0 0.35em 0;font-weight:600;\"\u003eWhy Audio Advisor?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul style=\"margin:0 0 0.9em 0;padding-left:1.4em;line-height:1.6;\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e40+ Years of Expertise\u003c\/strong\u003e — Since 1981, we’ve helped over a million music lovers find the right gear.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e60-Day Money-Back Guarantee\u003c\/strong\u003e — Take your time. Listen, enjoy, and make sure it’s right for you.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReal Experts, Real Help\u003c\/strong\u003e — Our team is here to answer your questions at 800-942-0220, weekdays 9am–6pm EST.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFree Shipping\u003c\/strong\u003e — On orders over $49, delivered to your door.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlexible Payment Options\u003c\/strong\u003e — Financing available so you can start listening now.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.25em;margin:1.4em 0 0.35em 0;font-weight:600;\"\u003eLearn More\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 0.9em 0;line-height:1.55;\"\u003eWant to learn more about preamplifiers, matching a phono stage to your cartridge, or setting up bass management with a subwoofer? Visit our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/learningcenter.audioadvisor.com\/\" style=\"color:#8a5a2b;\"\u003eLearning Center\u003c\/a\u003e for guides, tips, and expert advice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003c\/body\u003e","brand":"Parasound","offers":[{"title":"Used \/ Silver","offer_id":45981600186541,"sku":"USED-PAHAP6-SIL","price":1999.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"New \/ Black \/ New","offer_id":45983431164077,"sku":"NEW-PAHAP6-BLK","price":2600.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"New \/ Black \/ Demo","offer_id":45983431196845,"sku":"DEMO-PAHAP6-BLK","price":2600.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/3708\/1773\/files\/PAHAP6_2-SIL-Large__17241.1725992228.1280.1280_84bc689c-e8d2-4aa8-bb0b-ca86a18a0fae.jpg?v=1787152194","url":"https:\/\/www.audioadvisor.com\/products\/parasound-halo-p6-2-1-channel-preamplifier-dac","provider":"Audio Advisor","version":"1.0","type":"link"}