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A new Parasound Integrated is on the way. It looks incredible!!
http://www.parasound.com/pdfs/halo-integrated-cut-sheet.pdf
Edits: 01/20/15Follow Ups:
That's a sweet piece. Checks a lot of boxes.
I have an old Parasound HCA 1000A power amp that has been in service around here for years. It's my "utility" amp. It has driven subs (in bridge mode), office speakers, TV system, bedroom systems, and is now functioning as a stand in as my tube amps are in the shop. BTW, the Parasound has never been in the shop.
All that for a mere $2500??
Gee if there was one more zero tacked on, I'd take it more seriously...
That's a pretty complete piece. It would replace my amp, preamp, headphone amp, remote volume control box and the dac between my televison's digital audio out and my pre. A one-box solution. Pretty enticing, if the phono section is the real deal.
Dean.
reelsmith's axiom: Its going to be used equipment when I sell it, so it may as well be used equipment when I buy it.
and all that empty shelf space to look at.
AB.
I've always been impressed with the feature rich high value and excellent sounding products by Parasound. I just wish they would update their face soon. Their front panel and chassis design while not offensive still reminds me of the Parasound line from circa 2000. If we're talking about 'eye candy' I'd like to see a more flat squared off look. Think Pass Labs. ;-)
Nice integrated!
I guess you didn't the Parasound news brief for the Halo Integrate: An illuminated volume control knob, CNC Aluminum end caps, instead of the old plastic ones, and the glowing red P badge will be replaced by a new Parasound Name badge. ;)
nt
I have a feeling the attraction for Parasound is more functional than aesthetic. It's the ultra high priced component that has to look good because nothing really sounds a whole lot better than Parasound; therefore, the high priced stuff has to look a whole lot better in order to command the high price tag. I've noticed that high-end audio these days is more a visual art form than anything else. After all, components can sound only so good and then what are you going to do?
Best regards,
John Elison
After all, components can sound only so good and then what are you going to do?
Put a pretty face on it, of course!
I'm not bashing Parasound at all and I can understand the cost savings in not updating their cosmetics. However, at some point it would be nice if they did.
Have you noticed that -most- of my recent gear is very square with sharp edges? I have to wonder if my choices were subconsciously influenced and if I'm just a shallow minded consumer of 'lifestyle' products. ;-)
Hey Abe, nice pix and nice setup. Regarding cosmetics, all other things being equal, I'll take the prettier one. But all other things are rarely equal. So I'm kinda like you - cosmetics are secondary. I'll even go one or two steps further: #1 is functionality, #2 is sound quality. I'll gladly sacrifice some small amount of sound quality, which I'll never miss, for a few extra features which I'll regularly use to my advantage, particularly when it comes to preamps, tape decks, and the like.
Regarding Parasound, I think their cosmetics are just fine. Tasteful, elegant, and not ostentatious. The A21's back panel is what I'm interested in. I suppose they 'could' fancy up the front panel and get another $3,000 for it, but I like the fact that they've got an excellent amp for a decent price. In my book, that's a winner. For the price and cosmetics, I'll pass on Pass.
:)
It's a nice looking piece, it isn't made in Chine (made in Taiwan, and
that's OK with me), power seems quite adequate, and seems to have all
the functionality I might require. I do not, however, require an onboard
DAC, which would prevent me from buying it. Perhaps a version sans DAC
is planned?
NO requirement that you USE the DAC.
I find the DAC in my P5 to be PERFECT for TV sound. Optical from small dish receiver not only cuts down on ground loop possibilities but provides the BEST sound the dish is capable of. Even if the DAC in the new integrated is not a world beater, it will certainly be sufficient for TV use. And since my small dish has Bunches of Music Channels, that's what plays much of the day.
One other MINOR point. Some people buy stuff with resale in mind. No me, but I can see, if given the choice, buying the integrated WITH the DAC, if only to preserve resale.
Too much is never enough
I just bought two Halo A23s a month ago and have been shopping around for a preamp and dac. I'm looking for something a little better than the P-5. Not that it's bad for the price range it's in. Had I known this was coming out I certainly would have waited to hear it. I just sent an email to my dealer to call me as soon as he gets one in. I've been nothing but impressed so far with Parasound. I had one question about my amps and the dealer emailed the company for me. Richard Schram responded within 4-5 hours. Customer service like that has gotten rare on this corner of the planet. On the other hand I sure am having fun going to audio store after audio store listening to equipment. I've been in buying limbo far too long. You're right on about them becoming a candy factory.
What?! Not two A21s?! ;)
I have to ask: Why two A23s and not one A21?
:)
I went the PAIR of '23s route and not a single '21 for the simple reason that I want to BIAMP my panels.
Using a line level crossover will give me about an additional (apparent) 3db, which means even MORE available power than a single '21. For low sensitivit panels, this becomes more important.
Too much is never enough
For some reason my wife doesn't share the joy in spending on audio gear. Besides that, I need eight channels for the LX-521 speakers I'm building. The plan right now is to use the A-23s for the tweeters, high and low mids and then use an old Sunfire I have for each of the four woofers. The Parasound amps have gain controls on the back so I'm hoping the amps will play well together.
What are the proposed crossover frequencies?
Too much is never enough
What have you found in the line of DAC/Preamps? I am also interested in buying something like that. There is one that intrigues me a lot, the Mytek Manhattan. It's not cheap, but it looks like it has just about everything I would need. Have you come across anything similar.
Thanks,
John Elison
but a little more than I was hoping to spend. I would like to hear it. I'm really looking forward to the Chicago Axpona show in April where I'll get a chance to see and hear quite a few preamps and dacs. When I finally say ok it's time to buy I'll arrange to get as many off the list as I can at the same time for a home trial. Right now my list includes the following.
Matrix X-Sabre
Yulong Da8-I've heard good things about this one.
M2Tech Young-This one I'll probably listen to this weekend. A dealer around here has a floor model for sale for less than half the list price. At that price I could afford to sell it and get something else if it turned out to be the wrong decision.
Simaudio Moon 380D-I've heard great things about this one and intend to thoroughly check this one out.
The new Parasound integrated mentioned above or the Parasound JC-2BP I was considering the P-5 but listened to it A-B with a McIntosh D100 and the McIntosh sounded much richer in sound quality especially in the bass department.
McIntosh D100 which apparently is also badged as a Wadia 321
Benchmark dac2 HGC
It may not be as versatile or 'high-end' as the others, but I'm finding that the compact $1199 MSRP Oppo HA-1 is a very nice product.... and I don't even use headphones. I'm using mine to drive my amp.
I like the fact that it has a decent selection of digital & analog inputs which are all switchable via the supplied remote (or front panel) along with remote volume control / mute. The remote also controls Skip Back, Skip Forward, and Pause on my Mac music server. Most of my source material is either 16/44.1 AIFF 'rips' from my CD collection or 24/96 from a handful of vinyl records or 'hi-res' downloads.
Oh, there's also a free iPhone App for controlling the Oppo HA-1.
Playing with the Oppo HA-1
It's on the list now. I had read about it a while back and was very interested at the time. I've come close to buying their 105 several times in the last year but want to get settled on a preamp before buying a player. I read somewhere that up to a third of all the vendors at the RMAF were using 103s or 105s as their source for demos. Pretty strong statement.
If you're seriously considering the Oppo HA-1 I should tell you that it does not present a warm, rich, robust, full-bodied, or lush sound, at all. My PS Audio NuWave DAC has a little more richness in the mids and below. The Oppo might work out for you depending on your taste and other gear. I would recommend auditioning one if you can. I like mine but I tend to prefer a little more ripeness overall.... but it's not bad coupled with a bit of vacuum tube warmth from a tube amp. Does that make sense? ;-)
Mcintosh and Wadia plate swapping. Must be from the marriage with Sumiko. Only guessing.
The marriage with Fine Sounds. ARC, McIntosh, Sumiko, Sonus Faber, Wadia. Wadia is built at the McIntosh plant. No surprise a little cross pollination might occur.
with the pace of tech change, i like outboard dacs - so you can adapt to new dac tech without changing the rest.
I can appreciate your preference. However, it is not my preference. I would like to buy a DAC/Preamp and I'm rather intrigued by the Mytek Manhattan. I'm just waiting for a friend to tell me how he likes it and how it sounds. If he gives a positive report I think I'll probably audition it in the very near future.
Thanks,
John Elison
I like Parasound but no Canadian distributers so have to pass on all things Parasound.
I don't recall who was the Canadian distributor at the time.
The problem then was that Parasound components were 'way over priced relative to competitive products. It was a classic case of a Canadian exclusive distributor trying to milk the reputation of an American maker for all -- and in this case, more -- than it was worth.
The resulting poor experience might be why Parasound isn't distributed in Canada today; more's the pity that it isn't.
I love the music of ... ... Gustav Mahler
It has a strong following in these forums...
Some features are In Common with the new P5 preamp.
And while the outputs are labeled 'sub outputs', the switch for crosssover on/off makes 'em full range and it it therefor EASY to add a 2nd amp which means, for some, 'Biamp, here I come!'
A real contender, IMO.
Too much is never enough
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