Parasound P6 VS PS Audio Stellar Gain Pre/DAC

24

Comments

  • jdjohn
    jdjohn Posts: 2,987
    Excellent, Joe...welcome to the club! Are you going for silver or black?
    Did you double-check that both balanced and unbalanced can used at the same time?
    "This may not matter to you, but it does to me for various reasons, many of them illogical or irrational, but the vinyl hobby is not really logical or rational..." - member on Vinyl Engine
    "Sometimes I do what I want to do. The rest of the time, I do what I have to." - Cicero, in Gladiator
    Regarding collectibles: "It's not who gets it. It's who gets stuck with it." - Jimmy Fallon
  • joecoulson
    joecoulson Posts: 4,943
    95chyeiddzpn.jpeg

    Here she is. Stunning black.
    Wow what a huge jump in sound from where I was.
  • joecoulson
    joecoulson Posts: 4,943
    This solved all my issues. Just got done fixing all the inputs, running and wires, reprogramming the Harmony Elite and assigning input names and adjusting settings etc.
    wow. So glad and happy that @kharp1 helped me get a fantastic deal on this - Thank You.
    HT bypass so I can still enjoy movies the way I need to. But isolated 2ch with glorious sound now.
    The imaging just went bonkers. Not that the Marantz AVR did a bad job as a pre, but it’s like apples and oranges to this.
    Combined with the Vincent tube phono pre, the records are such an experience.
    Still very new so I have to let all these changes settle down and break in, but initially so grateful to have this finally where it should be.
    Thank You all (you know who you are) for your help and guidance on this.
  • kharp1
    kharp1 Posts: 3,453
    Good to hear. Look forward to hearing your thoughts after it's had some break in time. Walter does have some smoking deals at times.
  • joecoulson
    joecoulson Posts: 4,943
    No doubt. Thanks Kerry
  • jdjohn
    jdjohn Posts: 2,987
    joecoulson wrote: »
    95chyeiddzpn.jpeg

    Here she is. Stunning black.
    Wow what a huge jump in sound from where I was.
    Fits like a glove.
    "This may not matter to you, but it does to me for various reasons, many of them illogical or irrational, but the vinyl hobby is not really logical or rational..." - member on Vinyl Engine
    "Sometimes I do what I want to do. The rest of the time, I do what I have to." - Cicero, in Gladiator
    Regarding collectibles: "It's not who gets it. It's who gets stuck with it." - Jimmy Fallon
  • joecoulson
    joecoulson Posts: 4,943
    John, never answered your question. Yes I verified it could be used (Xlr and RCA) at the same time with Walter.
    I get my Xlr cables today so I will be able to verify for sure.
  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,521
    I like it! You got me running numbers in my head...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
  • joecoulson
    joecoulson Posts: 4,943
    Ha. That’s funny. I’m sorry (not sorry) Steve.
  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
    That's the difference between using a receiver as a pre, and a dedicated quality pre. Congrats Joe.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
  • joecoulson
    joecoulson Posts: 4,943
    edited December 2018
    Thanks Tony! Sure is.

    Beside the stupid Roomba issue (mentioned in another thread) it has been decently simple to hook up. Have the HT bypass along with feeding the SVS in both 2ch and 5.1 was a little outside the wheelhouse but other than that, flawless execution.
  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 24,474
    steveinaz wrote: »
    I like it! You got me running numbers in my head...LOL

    fudge it you need it Steve.... >:)o:)
  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,521
    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    steveinaz wrote: »
    I like it! You got me running numbers in my head...LOL

    fudge it you need it Steve.... >:)o:)

    ...and you "need" my benchmark DAC2L....muhaha
    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
  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 24,474
    steveinaz wrote: »
    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    steveinaz wrote: »
    I like it! You got me running numbers in my head...LOL

    fudge it you need it Steve.... >:)o:)

    ...and you "need" my benchmark DAC2L....muhaha

    What I neeeeed is a cash infusion :)
  • jdjohn
    jdjohn Posts: 2,987
    joecoulson wrote: »
    q79bh0ytwcy7.jpeg
    Try the PS Audio S300 or M700 monoblocks for even MORE synergy B) Of course you have to be willing to give Class D a fair shot.
    "This may not matter to you, but it does to me for various reasons, many of them illogical or irrational, but the vinyl hobby is not really logical or rational..." - member on Vinyl Engine
    "Sometimes I do what I want to do. The rest of the time, I do what I have to." - Cicero, in Gladiator
    Regarding collectibles: "It's not who gets it. It's who gets stuck with it." - Jimmy Fallon
  • joecoulson
    joecoulson Posts: 4,943
    Happy with the Linns. They are stellar power amps.
  • joecoulson
    joecoulson Posts: 4,943
    Ok some more thoughts as I have been with this for over a week now

    The volume knob on the unit itself is beautiful. Not overly stiff like most AVR’s these days, but not loosy goosy like the old 70’s/80’s stereos. Fine myself wanting to get up off the couch and turn the volume up and down.

    The DAC is a better performer on CD’s than the Cambridge is. Better soundstage and imaging. Clarity and resolution is about the same. But the music from CD (connected by a King Cobra AQ coax) is more engaging with the PSA DAC

    HT pass through is great on this unit and very intuitive. The preset level out worked without any adjustment on the AVR for level matching on the channels. No lag and does exactly as advertised here.

    Analog pre is fantastic on the Rega. But that’s hard to nail down to just this. Since within a few weeks I had the new Rega, upgrades to it, Vincent pre and then the PS. But records now are night and day. I just wonder if changing the cart to an MC will just be the icing on the cake (DL103r might be next) the biggest thing is how quiet it is. All the way up on the volume and the background noise is a small fraction of what it used to be (which wasn’t shabby). This lends itself to black backgrounds and more music.

    Finally the lights. It’s blue hue on the display and also the power button is not overpowering or annoying. It’s gives a perfect offset color to the rack along with the tube light and Cambridge display screen.
  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,558
    joecoulson wrote: »
    All the way up on the volume and the background noise is a small fraction of what it used to be (which wasn’t shabby). This lends itself to black backgrounds and more music.

    I would be careful doing this. Turning a preamp or integrated all the way up can actually cause some serious but inaudible distortion to be passed onto the speakers and can damage them. I actually read a post on here about someone damaging their crossovers and/or tweeters by turning the volume all the way up with nothing playing.
  • joecoulson
    joecoulson Posts: 4,943
    Really?! I didn’t know that. Thank you Drew
  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,521
    edited January 2019
    You're a bad influence. This thing has loads of balls, and I like it. Low-level bass linearity makes late night low volume listening exciting again. Musical, punchy, fast paced, and a touch on the sweet side of things. I love the concept of the gain cell volume control, it reminds me of my passive Placette pre I had many years ago, and probably explains the low-level linearity. This thing is a progressive Jazz, Rock listeners wet dream:

    awzv3qeizg32.jpg
    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
  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
    Looks sweet, they sure pack a lot of punch into one package, and the price is pretty good too. Gotta get an ear on this baby.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,521
    For reference, I'm running dig filter #1, connection to A21 amp via XLR cables.
    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
  • joecoulson
    joecoulson Posts: 4,943
    I like filter 1 also. Seems to have the smoothest (tube like) sound to it.
    If I crank up Tool, I like filter 2
  • joecoulson
    joecoulson Posts: 4,943
    Wait, did you say I was a bad influence? I’ve been told that before on this forum :smile:
  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,521
    edited January 2019
    Just an FYI, the digital filter you pick, sticks with the input that you selected it on, so you can select whichever filter you like for each input.
    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
  • joecoulson
    joecoulson Posts: 4,943
    yes, thats a cool feature
  • jdjohn
    jdjohn Posts: 2,987
    Nice! Another convert in the house B) I agree on how it excels for low-volume listening. The matching PS Audio class D power amps are no slouch...just sayin'. I have the S300, and have to think the monoblock M700s are even better.

    Joe, just let me know if you want me to bring my S300 down for the meet. It's light, and travels well.
    "This may not matter to you, but it does to me for various reasons, many of them illogical or irrational, but the vinyl hobby is not really logical or rational..." - member on Vinyl Engine
    "Sometimes I do what I want to do. The rest of the time, I do what I have to." - Cicero, in Gladiator
    Regarding collectibles: "It's not who gets it. It's who gets stuck with it." - Jimmy Fallon
  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,521
    I'm going to exercise it's Jazz-chops when I get home.

    I did experience the sometimes mentioned "remote control conflict" on the forums. PS Audio said that some companies are not properly registering their remote codes, and it can cause issues. Mine is STRANGE. My new 65" Vizio reacts to the GCD remote, but ONLY if I'm using the smartcast app page on the TV, or watching anything from it. It was an easy fix, I just switched to my Oppo to watch Netflix. No conflict there. It doesn't affect watching DirecTV on the P65-F1 Vizio.
    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
  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,558
    steveinaz wrote: »
    I'm going to exercise it's Jazz-chops when I get home.

    I read this as "Jazzercise"