JCM250 Compact Monoblock

Compact Power with Deep Musicality The JCM250 is a high-performance monoblock amplifier designed for listeners who want serious power without excessive size. Whether you’re driving demanding full-range speakers or crafting a powerful home theater front-end, it delivers authority and finesse—even when the music gets intense. Designed by John Curl, the JCM250 runs high-bias Class A/AB with up to 8 W in pure Class A (High Bias; 4 W in Low Bias) and delivers 250 W into 8 Ω, 450 W into 4 Ω, and 800 W into 2 Ω with 100 A peak current. The circuit is direct-coupled (no capacitors in the audio path) with a JFET input stage and MOSFET driver stage, plus XLR/RCA inputs and loop-outs for effortless bi-amping. Integration is simple with 29 dB / 23 dB gain options, 12 V trigger or audio-sense auto-on, and a 2U chassis that’s easy to rack. Parasound also equips the input stage with Bybee Music Rails™ high-frequency filters. The Absolute Sound Editors’ Choice 2026 Winner Read the Editors’ C