Parasound HINT 6 Integrated Amplifier

New, Improved Version of Parasound’s Bestselling Halo Integrated

Parasound’s award winning Halo Integrated Amplifier would seem to be an impossible act to follow. But Parasound’s new HINT 6 is an improved version of the acclaimed Halo Integrated Amplifier. After the original Halo Integrated Amplifier was introduced, it quickly became known as “HINT” in the Parasound community, and that name is now adopted in the new model as the HINT 6.

The amazing sound quality and musicality of the original Halo Integrated (HINT) carries on in the HINT 6. The new model features a Burr-Brown volume control with easy-to-read front panel display. It also adds an upgraded USB receiver with plug-and-play functionality for Windows and Mac, a second optical input, increased phono gain, greater channel separation, and some pleasing refinements to its appearance.

John Curl-Designed Power Amplifier Section

The Parasound HINT 6 uses the same powerful John Curl-designed power amplifier as the original acclaimed Halo Integrated Amplifier. This 160-watt-per-channel (240-watts @ 4 ohms) amplifier is based on John Curl’s direct coupled Class A/AB circuit topology found in Parasound’s renowned separate power amplifiers. These capabilities are further enhanced with a home-theater bypass function, 2.1-channel analog bass management, a dedicated high-current headphone amplifier, and an MM/MC phono stage.

New Burr-Brown Volume Control

The Parasound HINT 6 is packed full of technical advancements. The new, upgraded volume control replaces the original model’s motorized potentiometer and sliding mechanical contacts with a Burr-Brown electronically controlled analog resistor ladder volume control. Technical advancements in the new volume control offer a more distinct sound stage by increasing the dynamic range, lowering the noise floor, improving left-right separation and maintaining absolute left-right channel tracking at any volume level.

The solid aluminum volume knob is supported on ball bearings to rotate with exceptional smoothness, while the dimmable two-digit display shows volume level in increments from 0-99. This advanced volume control enables users to program both a default turn-on volume level as well as a favorite-volume level with remote control button.

ESS Sabre32 Reference DAC

The Parasound HINT 6 uses a proven ESS Sabre32 Reference DAC to decode a wide range of digital music files via two optical, one coaxial, and a new upgraded USB receiver – now with plug-and-play support for Windows 10 in addition to Mac. The asynchronous USB 2.0 input supports PCM up to 384 kHz/32-bit, native DSD256, and DoP DSD bit streams. The coax and optical inputs accept PCM up to 192 kHz/24-bit.

Among other circuit improvements are an upgraded op-amp in the preamp gain stage, improved L-R channel separation, and increased gain for the MC and MM phono inputs.

Even the chassis of the Parasound HINT 6 is new! The upgraded chassis is available in either black or silver finish, with its visual appeal enhanced by the addition of subtle gold highlights and sand-blasted solid aluminum end caps.

Phono Stage with Three-Position Selector Switch

The HINT 6 is equipped with a high quality phono stage. The Phono input has a three-position load/cartridge selector switch. MM is for moving magnet cartridges. It provides a 47k ohm load and the appropriate gain for all MM cartridges. This is the most common cartridge type.

MC 100 ohm is for most moving coil cartridges. It provides the higher gain required for even very low output MC cartridges and a 100 ohm load that is ideal for the majority of MC cartridges.

MC 47k ohm provides the appropriate gain for MC cartridges with an alternative 47k ohm load. You can try both the 100 ohm and 47k ohm settings to see which sounds best in your system. The MC 47 k ohm setting is also the load which Soundsmith and Grado recommend for their MI (moving iron) cartridges.

Audiophile Headphone Stage

The HINT 6 is equipped with a dedicated high quality current-feedback headphone amplifier based on the top grade Texas Instruments TPA6120A. This superior design allows for an extremely high slew rate preventing odd order distortions which are responsible for listening fatigue. The virtually instantaneous response to musical dynamics doesn’t raise the noise floor or degrade the s/n ratio like typical headphone amps. The headphone amp circuit was also designed with a low 10 ohms output impedance and high gain to drive headphones rated up to 600 ohms.

The headphone jack accepts a 1/8” (3.5mm) stereo mini plug. The Left and Right Speaker Outputs and the Preamp output jacks (RCA and XLR) are muted whenever a headphone plug is inserted into this jack. The L and R Record out jacks are not muted.

Balanced and Unbalanced Subwoofer Outputs

The HINT 6 provides one XLR connector and two RCA jacks for one or more subwoofers. The two unbalanced and one balanced subwoofer outputs all carry the same mono signal. You can select whether the mono signal is full range or crossed over according to the frequency you select for the Low Pass crossover. The Balanced XLR Sub Output has the same signal as either Sub 1 or 2 Output RCA jack. Balanced has 6dB higher gain. Both RCA 1 & 2 outputs and the XLR output can be connected at the same time.

If you have two subwoofers and want them to operate in stereo you can connect them to the Left and Right Main Output jacks instead of to the Sub Output jacks which are mono. In this case you would need to set the High Pass crossover switch to Off. With this configuration the front panel Sub Level control does not function.

New Features (Changes from the original Halo Integrated)

• Burr Brown analog resistor ladder volume control
• Dimmable front panel volume display
• Updated USB receiver is Plug and play with Windows 10 and MAC
• An additional optical input (2 total)
• Ball bearing supported solid aluminum volume knob
• Programmable default turn on volume setting
• Favorite volume memory with remote control button
• Increased phono stage gain for lower output cartridges
• Improved Left/Right channel separation and balance tracking
• Updated cosmetics with subtle gold highlights

Preamp and DAC Features:

• ESS Sabre32 Reference DAC (ES9018K2M)
• Asynchronous USB 2.0 supports PCM up to 384kHz/32-bit
• USB input decodes Native DSD64, DSD128, DSD256 and DoP DSD
• Coax and optical inputs accept PCM up to 192kHz/24-bit
• Analog bass management with high & low pass crossovers
• Home theater bypass input for surround sound integration
• Front panel subwoofer level control
• Dedicated high current headphone amplifier (TI TPA6120)
• Phono input for MM, MC and MI with 100 Ω or 47k Ω load
• Front panel Aux input with automatic +12 dB gain stage
• 5 pairs RCA line level Analog inputs
• 1 pair XLR balanced Analog input
• Balanced XLR and RCA left and right preamp outputs
• 1 balanced XLR and 2 RCA subwoofer outputs
• Bass & treble controls with relay bypass from remote or front panel
• Rear panel IR input and IR loop output jacks
• 12 Volt trigger output
• Back-lit remote control with discrete buttons
• 0.5w standby power consumption meets Energy Star & EU specs

Power Amp Features:

• 160 Watts x 2 @ 8 Ohms (RMS, both channels driven)
• 240 Watts x 2 @ 4 Ohms (RMS, both channels driven)
• Power amp circuit topology designed by legendary John Curl
• Direct amplifier input to bypass preamp section
• High bias class A/AB operation
• Oversized shielded toroid power transformer
• Dual-mono power supply and power amplifier
• 40,000uF power supply filter capacitance
• Matched JFET input stages and MOSFET driver stages
• 12 high voltage/high current bipolar output transistors
• Heavy-duty 24k gold-plated 5-way speaker binding posts
• Over temp and short circuit relay protection

Specs:

Power Output – Both channels driven (0.9% THD, 20 Hz – 20 kHz)

• 180 watts x 2 @ 8 Ω RMS
• 270 watts x 2 @ 4 Ω RMS

Current Capacity

• 45 amps peak per channel

Frequency Response

• 10 Hz – 100 kHz, +0/-3 dB
• 20 Hz – 20 kHz, +0/-0.5 dB

Total Harmonic Distortion (THD)

• < 0.01 %, average listening levels
• < 0.05 %, 160 watts x 2 @ 8 Ω

Interchannel Crosstalk

• > 70 dB at 20 kHz
• > 78 dB at 1 kHz

Signal to Noise Ratio – IHF A-weighted

• Line in: – 103 dB (input shorted)
• Digital in: – 106 dB

Amplifier Damping Factor

• > 800 at 20 Hz

Preamplifier Stage Input Sensitivity

• 300 mV in for 1 V at Preamp Output jacks
• Total Preamp Stage Gain: 10 dB
• Max Output Unbalanced: 7 V
• Max Output Balanced: 9 V

Power Amplifier Stage Sensitivity

• 1 V at Bypass/Amp In for 28 V at Speaker Out
• Total Amp Stage Gain: 28 dB

Phono Stage Sensitivity / Input Impedance

• MM: 41 dB / 47 k Ω
• MC: 54 dB / 47 k Ω or 100 Ω

High & Low Pass Crossover Slope

• 12 dB per octave

Supported DAC Sampling Rates

• USB: up to 384 kHz / 32-bit PCM
• DSD Native: DSD 64, DSD 128, DSD 256
• DSD over PCM (DoP) at 384 kHz

Coax/Optical

• Up to 192 kHz / 24-bit PCM

Digital to Analog Converter

• ESS Sabre32 Reference ES9018K2M
• 384 kHz / 32-bit

USB 2.0 Controller

• Savitech SA9227, 384 kHz / 32-bit

Headphone Amplifier

• Texas Instruments TPA6120A
• Output Impedance 10 ohms

XLR Pin Identification

• 1 = Ground (Shield)
• 2 = Positive
• 3 = Negative (Return)

Input Impedance

• Unbalanced: 24 k Ω
• Balanced: 100 k Ω per leg

Preamplifer Output Impedance

• Unbalanced: 100 Ω
• Balanced: 470 Ω per leg

Dimensions

• Width: 17-1/4″ (437 mm)
• Depth: 16-1/4″ (413 mm)
• Depth, with cables 17-1/4″ (437 mm)
• Height, with feet: 5-7/8″ (150 mm)
• Height, without feet: 5-1/4″ (133 mm), 3U

Net Weight

• 33 lb. (15 kg)

Shipping Weight

• 45 lb. (20.4 kg)

Power Requirement

• Standby: 0.5 watts
• Idling power: 70 watts
• Maximum: 750 watts
• 110-125 VAC 60 Hz or 220-250 VAC 50 H
• AC mains voltage is set on rear panel