Integrated amplifiers — Parasound NC 200INT

The NC 200INT is an integrated amplifier with built-in DAC and phono stage from Parasound, a well-established American manufacturer known for accomplished, value-focused electronics engineering, built with comprehensive dual-gain phono support. The NC 200INT brings Parasound's considered engineering to a complete, feature-rich integrated chassis.

Key specs that matter

The phono stage uses a sophisticated current-sensing design covering both 47,000 ohms MM and 100 ohms MC input impedance. Output power is 125W into both 8 and 4 ohms - a consistent figure across loads suggesting efficient Class D amplifier technology. Gain is 40dBu for MM or 50dBu for MC. Frequency response spans a wide 10Hz to 80,000Hz within plus-or-minus 3dB. Signal-to-noise ratio is 100dB for line sources or 110dB for digital sources. At 438 x 375 x 63.5mm and 5.2kg, the NC 200INT maintains a manageable, feature-complete integrated amplifier chassis.

Sound and use context

Expect surprisingly clean, capable amplification reflecting the strong 110dB digital signal-to-noise figure, with the sophisticated current-sensing phono stage handling both moving-magnet and moving-coil cartridges without a separate step-up device.

Pairing

The current-sensing phono stage handles both moving-magnet and moving-coil cartridges directly without needing a separate step-up transformer.

Alternatives

Other manufacturers' comparable integrated amplifiers offer alternatives for buyers wanting to compare features at a similar price point.