New Parasound Integrated Amplifier - cool!

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  • marvda1
    marvda1 Posts: 4,901
    would love to compare the parasound to this.
    http://www.avrev.com/home-theater-power-amplifiers/integrated-amplifiers/belles-soloist-1-integrated-amplifier-review.html
    Amplifiers: Norma IPA 140, MasterSound Compact 845, Ayre v6xe, Consonance Cyber 800
    Preamp: deHavilland Ultraverve 3
    Dac: Sonnet Morpheus 2, Musical Paradise mp-d2 mkIII
    Transport: Jay's Audio CDT2 mk2, Lumin U1 mini
    Speakers: Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II
    Speaker Cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Organic Audio Organic Reference 2
    Interconnects: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Argento Organic Reference 2, Argento Organic 2
    Power Cables: Argento Organic Reference, Synergistic Research Foundation 10 and 12 ga.
    Digital cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2 bnc, Tellurium Q aes, Silnote Audio Poseidon Signature 2 bnc
    Puritan PSM156
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  • Upstatemax
    Upstatemax Posts: 2,670
    edited March 2015
    Nightfall wrote: »
    Aside from the obvious power difference, what would be the sonic difference between this and the Marantz PM8005 integrated? One warmer than the other, more detailed, etc, and is it worth the extra $1400 over the Marantz.

    These are my questions.

    Sonic difference is too early to tell.

    But the Parasound sports a very nice integrated DAC, subwoofer management and HT bypass. The Marantz offers neither.

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  • Nightfall
    Nightfall Posts: 10,086
    edited March 2015
    I don't regard posts at avsforum very highly, as a general rule, but here this is:

    http://www.avsforum.com/forum/173-2-channel-audio/1679946-parasound-halo-integrated-amp-5.html#post32395721
    I got mine yesterday. First impressions; everything I hoped for! Improved soundstage placement, actually improved everything. I can't finish a song, I keep jumping from one to the next to hear how much better everything sounds, vocals, pianos brass, strings all clearer and more listenable. Upgraded from my pioneer elite, which I never felt lacked in any area, but this is like a veil, that I never knew was there, has been lifted. Hard to quantify, it makes my B&W 805s and SVS sub sound like a new (much better) system. I've already decided, this is a keeper, I don't care how much it cost, I forgot about that within the first hour. A great value.
    Only hiccup was stuttering when fed from my apple airport expres optical output, both first and second generation, (well documented issue with higher quality DACs because of AE's high jitter). Stopped at the Apple Store on the way home today and picked up an apple tv...problem solved, plays perfectly. If you're thinking about this one, do yourself a favor, just get it and rediscover your collection!
    afterburnt wrote: »
    They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.

    Village Idiot of Club Polk
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  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    Nightfall wrote: »
    I don't regard posts at avsforum very highly, as a general rule...

    Sig worthy....with the highest praise! :)


    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
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  • Nightfall
    Nightfall Posts: 10,086
    edited March 2015
    Upstatemax wrote: »
    But the Parasound sports a very nice integrated DAC, subwoofer management and HT bypass. The Marantz offers neither.
    The Marantz does have HT bypass. Maybe the amount of people using a sub in a 2 channel setup is higher than I think it is. The DAC and the R&D that probably went into its implementation is definitely worth some of that difference, agreed.

    afterburnt wrote: »
    They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.

    Village Idiot of Club Polk
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  • OldSchoolPolk
    OldSchoolPolk Posts: 159
    Been looking at the Integrated since they hinted at it a while back. Initially thought it was a no brainer (given the funds) but now I have a question about implementing high pass & low pass crossovers.

    Since the Hi/Low crossovers are essentially preout how are they integrated into the speakers via the binding posts?

    I understand you can send the low to the sub but the speakers hooked to the speaker terminals would still get full signal vs just 80hz and up (or what ever you choose)

    It makes more sense to me to have the P5 and use the pre outs to a powered sub, and the high pass to an amp, then to the speakers with the crossover set to your liking.

    What am I missing with the Integrated set up?
    HT: Marantz NR-1603, Oppo 981, Def Tech SM55, SVS PB-1000
    BR: iPad Mini, Audio Engine A5+
    2C: Parasound ZDAC V.2, Sony DA80ES, Sony XDR-F1HD, SVS Prime Tower, JSE .6 Infinite Slope
    Office: MBAir, Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, JBL LSR-308
    Projects: Polk RTA12, Polk Monitor 7, Revox B225CD, BIC 3-TM
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  • Upstatemax
    Upstatemax Posts: 2,670
    OldSchoolPolk wrote: »
    Been looking at the Integrated since they hinted at it a while back. Initially thought it was a no brainer (given the funds) but now I have a question about implementing high pass & low pass crossovers.

    Since the Hi/Low crossovers are essentially preout how are they integrated into the speakers via the binding posts?

    I understand you can send the low to the sub but the speakers hooked to the speaker terminals would still get full signal vs just 80hz and up (or what ever you choose)

    It makes more sense to me to have the P5 and use the pre outs to a powered sub, and the high pass to an amp, then to the speakers with the crossover set to your liking.

    What am I missing with the Integrated set up?

    The Halo Integrated can pass full range or filtered to the subs. It will also allow you to adjust the rage going to the binding posts using the high pass crossover (it controls the binding post and the pre-outs).

    Big differences from the P5; upgraded DAC unit, better USB capabilities and DSD in the new integrated.

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  • OldSchoolPolk
    OldSchoolPolk Posts: 159
    Thx Upstatemax.

    Just curious as to where you saw that the high pass controls the binding posts. I believe you, but in all the Parasound documentation I've seen noting states their integration or routing to the binding post. Thanks again.
    HT: Marantz NR-1603, Oppo 981, Def Tech SM55, SVS PB-1000
    BR: iPad Mini, Audio Engine A5+
    2C: Parasound ZDAC V.2, Sony DA80ES, Sony XDR-F1HD, SVS Prime Tower, JSE .6 Infinite Slope
    Office: MBAir, Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, JBL LSR-308
    Projects: Polk RTA12, Polk Monitor 7, Revox B225CD, BIC 3-TM
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  • Emlyn
    Emlyn Posts: 4,490
    OldSchoolPolk wrote: »
    Thx Upstatemax.

    Just curious as to where you saw that the high pass controls the binding posts. I believe you, but in all the Parasound documentation I've seen noting states their integration or routing to the binding post. Thanks again.

    The subwoofer circuit control is covered starting on page 15 of the owner's manual:

    http://www.parasound.com/pdfs/halo-integrated-manual.pdf


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  • Upstatemax
    Upstatemax Posts: 2,670
    OldSchoolPolk wrote: »
    Thx Upstatemax.

    Just curious as to where you saw that the high pass controls the binding posts. I believe you, but in all the Parasound documentation I've seen noting states their integration or routing to the binding post. Thanks again.

    I pulled up the owners manual on Parasound's website.

    They go over sub set up and cross over set up and they mention that the high pass knob controls pre out and the speaker terminals.

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