1st Parasound piece....

OldSchoolPolk
OldSchoolPolk Posts: 159
in Electronics
My Parasound zdac v.2 arrived yesterday. It was on blow out for $299 on Audio Advisor b/c it was silver. I don't get the Haters re. silver gear. It's beautiful.

Feels more solid than I thought it would, sounds great and has been a great introduction to Parasound as a company. Honestly, its as simple as I could find that has XLR outs which I needed for my JBLs. Its also the least expensive option I could find w XLR outs w/o going for pro gear.

Mainly using mid level Sennheisers and I'm clearly hear things I've never heard before. There is clearly a diff among DACs. It's been very enjoyable over the initial run in as I only have 3 hours on it.

It's funny; I can imagine many on this site that would not even bother w/ such an entry level option, but its a great step up the ladder for me.

I appreciate everyones insights and recommendations re Parasound in general, and specifically, the need to get a unit and listen for my self.

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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Comments

  • Legender
    Legender Posts: 478
    If it sounds good to you that's all that matters. We all start at our own rung on the ladder and climb up as we feel the need and have the resources.
    Music: Oppo103 - Parasound JC2 - Parasound A21- SDA 3.1
    Theater: Denon 3808 - B&K 7500/Emotiva XPA-3- RTi12, CSi5, RTiA7x4, PSW505
    Sleeping: Marantz 70005 - Harman Kardon 2400 - SDA 2
    2 Channel: Cary 306 SACD - Canary Audio 906 - Pass Labs x250 - PS Audio Perfectwave DAC, Polk LSiM705, SVS SB13 Ultra
    Office: Dell Optiplex, Emotiva XDA-2, Adcom 5500, LSiM 703
    Spares: Yamaha CA-810; LSi 15; Kenwood Basic M2a, Yamaha M60/M80, Polk Monitor 7, SVS SB13 Ultra
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  • tratliff
    tratliff Posts: 1,710
    Parasound offers great cost effective options. I have been very happy with all of the Parasound products I have purchased.
    2 Channel Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II, 2 REL Carbon Limited, Norma Revo IPA-140B, Lumin U2 Mini, VPI Prime w/SoundSmith Zephyr MIMC, Modwright PH 150, Denon DP-59l w/Denon DL-301MKII, WAY Silver 3 Ana+ Speaker Cables, WAY Silver 4+ Interconnect Cables, AudioQuest Niagara 7000 w/Dragon and Hurricane Power Cables
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  • Mikey081057
    Mikey081057 Posts: 7,127
    Parasound gear is built like a shick brithouse.. Enjoy!!!
    My New Year's resolution is 3840 × 2160

    Family Room| Marantz AV7704| Usher Dancer Mini - 2 DMD Mains |Usher Dancer Mini-x DMD's Surrounds | Usher BE-616 DMD Center | SVS Ultra Rear Surrounds | Parasound Halo A21 | Parsound Halo A52+ | MIT Shotgun S3's | Dual SVS SB 4000 Ultras | Oppo UDP 203 | Directv Genie HD DVR | Samsung 75" Q8 QLED | PSAudio Stellar GCD | Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ | Lumin U1 Mini | HP Elite Slice PC | ROON'd for life |

    ManCave: HT:Polk LSiM 706VR3 LSiM 703's LSiM 702's|| Marantz AV7002 AV PrePro Sunfire TGA-7401| Sony PS4 Pro| Sony PS4 Pro|SVS PB13 Ultra| Oppo UDP 203 | Music Hall MMF 5.3se TT w/ Soundsmith Carmen | Samsung 55" SUHD TV | Sony PS4

    Patio | Polk Atrium 8's | Yamaha R-N303BL |

    Office BlueSound Node| KEF LS50 | Peactree Nova 125SE |

    Bedroom | Focal 905's | Chromecast Audio |

    Garage | Polk Monitor 5B's

    Closet Yamaha M80 | 2 Polk MP3K subs| Yaqin MC100B with Shuguang Treasures KT 88's & CV181Z's | Tesla E83CC's | Marantz 2252B | Marantz 2385 |Polk SDA SRS 2.3 | LSiM 705's |
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    Parasound is a great, high value product; which gels well with my cheapa__ nature. LOL
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • gudnoyez
    gudnoyez Posts: 8,135
    Nothing wrong with silver gear I have a few pieces of silver gear, the Parasound gear in silver looks sexy, a good deal you got there Audio Advisor has great deals.
    Home Theater
    Parasound Halo A 31 OnkyoTX-NR838 Sony XBR55X850B 55" 4K RtiA9 Fronts CsiA6 Center RtiA3 Rears FxiA6 Side Surrounds Dual Psw 111's Oppo 105D Signal Ultra Speaker Cables & IC's Signal Magic Power Cable Technics SL Q300 Panamax MR4300 Audioquest Chocolate HDMI Cables Audioquest Forest USB Cable

    2 Channel
    Adcom 555II Vincent SA-T1 Marantz SA 15S2 Denon DR-M11 Clearaudio Bluemotion SDA 2.3tl's (Z) edition MIT Terminator II Speaker Cables & IC's Adcom 545II Adcom Gtp-450 Marantz CD5004 Technics M245X SDA 2B's, SDA CRS+

    Stuff for the Head
    JD LABS C5 Headphone Amplifier, Sennheiser HD 598, Polk Audio Buckle, Polk Audio Hinge, Velodyne vPulse, Bose IE2, Sennheiser CX 200 Street II, Sennheiser MX 365

    Shower & Off the beaten path Rigs
    Polk Audio Boom Swimmer, Polk Audio Urchin B)
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  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,145
    Congrats. Audio Advisor does have some great deals and excellent customer service. They are selling the Cambridge Audio Aero line at rock bottom prices.
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  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 10,032
    I have no experience with the zDac, but I know the zphono I purchased for a friend a few years back punched WAY WAY beyond its price.
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  • mikeyb128
    mikeyb128 Posts: 2,885
    Did my first transaction with audio adviser this week. Bought some Pangea ac14 c7 power cords. Shipped to Canada in 2 days! Awesome!

    Had the z phono, and for what I payed (I think 100 bucks) it was awesome. My 3 times the price Soundsmith sounded only marginally better.
    2 channel:
    Bryston 4B3, Bryston BDA3, Cary SLP05, Shanling CDT1000SE with parts conneXion level 2 mods, Nottingham analogue ace space 294, soundsmith Carmen MKii, Zu DL103 MKii, Ortofon MC 20 MKii, Dynavector XX2 MKii, Rogue Audio Ares, Core power technologies balanced power conditioner, Akiko Corelli power conditioner with Akiko Audio HQ power cable, Nordost heimdall 2, Frey 2, interconnects, speaker and power cables, Focal Electra 1028 BE 2, Auralic Aries Femto, Black diamond racing cones, ingress audio level 1 roller blocks, JL Audio E110 with Auralic subdude, Primacoustics room treatments.
    Theater:
    Focal Aria 926,905,CC900, SVS PB ultra x2. Pioneer Elite SC85, Oppo BDP93, Panamax M5400PM, Minix neox6, Nordost Blue heaven LS power cables.

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  • kharp1
    kharp1 Posts: 3,453
    I've also considered picking up one of the zdacs at that price point, however, I'm not sure if it would be a major improvement over the Stello DA100 Sig that I currently use. I have never owned anything Parasound, but, that's about to change. I, too have had great results with AA, but, Dskip is a Parasound dealer and I'm about to pick up a P5 pre from him. Can't see adding a 3rd dac at the moment as the P5 has one buit in. Not sure if the zdac is the same chip set that's in the P5 or not.

    Be interested in hearing what your thoughts are after giving it break in time.

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  • OldSchoolPolk
    OldSchoolPolk Posts: 159
    Two weeks with the ZDAC V.2 and I'm liking it more and more everyday. I don't have a lot of detailed words for the sound but I know it sounds diff and I know it sounds better than any source I've ever used.

    The clearest example has come with my Senns. Using a number of tracks I thought I knew has been eye opening as to the potential of better gear. I can say the sense of a sound stage and the placement of instruments in that stage is kind of spooky. How can an instrument that earlier seemed to be a few feet left of center is now clearly 4 feet to the left and 3 feet forward of center stage? Numerous similar examples with the zdac v.2. Also enjoying the xls outs to my JBLs.

    To kharp1 - your Stello DA 100 looks very nice but I agree the Parasound P5 would be great to have. Honestly, what can the P5 not do?

    Thanks again for everyone's input.

    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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  • OldSchoolPolk
    OldSchoolPolk Posts: 159
    Well that settles it! Put me down for a P5 / A23 combo. That seriously is my end game for the main system with the zdac v.2 in the office.

    I'll send you a PM in early 2018....
    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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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 10,716
    ^^^^ the end of the beginning. :D
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