Halooo Parasound!!!

halo
halo Posts: 5,616
edited November 2005 in Electronics
FedEx delivered the Parasound Halo A23 Saturday. After we got it hooked up I let it warm up for a little while. My wife may have been more curious to hear it than I was. She wanted to start listening right away and see what the big deal was about having a new / different amp and whether or not it was worth all the $$$.

Anyway, pardon my French but fuuuuuuuhuuuuuuck! What a DIFFERENCE!!! This thing is amazing. I went through a non-stop two hour listening session with my wife. We could not believe how much better the Halo sounds than the Rotel. The first thing we noticed - there is more bass. The second was that there was more of EVERYTHING else too. So many details came out that were there before but were not as pronounced. To my ears the Rotel always seemed bright and forward - like someone screaming at me. The Halo is smoother, more laid back, and very articulate - like someone singing to me. My wife had trouble putting it into words but, to her, it was clear and more modern sounding. I don't exactly know what that means but she definitely LIKES IT! (she even told me to shhhh!!! while we were listening because I started to say something and she WANTED to HEAR the music).

The Halo has shown her that different components, cables, IC's, etc. really do make differences. I think she was just tolerating my hobby before - now she "gets it".

Oh boy, now I really want to replace the tweeters and mod the crossovers.

I bought the Signal Cables that were in the demo program from Mark when the Rotel was still working (and that made a difference). I'm going to have to pick up another pair to replace my AQ Sidewinders.

Can you tell I've got a pretty big grin on my face? Its not too hard to believe especially with all the bad luck lately (RTA11t's damaged in shipping + the Rotel 980BX dying on me) - but everything happens for a reason, right?

What a hobby. One minute I'm ready to throw in the towel :mad: - then boom :eek: - can't wait to upgrade! :D:D:D

I want to thank Jesse for pointing me in the right direction & Rich for all your help - your assistance and advice is appreciated guys.
Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
Post edited by halo on
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited November 2005
    Very cool! congratulations!
    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Gaara
    Gaara Posts: 2,415
    edited November 2005
    Sweet little amp, I love the Halo stuff, especially the red and blue lights. They sound great and have a pretty little package. My A23 is the beauty and my Cinenova is the beast.

    Jared
    The Basement HT
    PC Rig
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
    edited November 2005
    Gaara - nice setup! Looks like you and I share similar taste in music (judging by the posters) :cool:
    Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
    HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Mike Reeter
    Mike Reeter Posts: 4,315
    edited November 2005
    Halo,sooo pretty,sounds like a great amp...I have an entry level Parasound HCA 1500,and I'm VERY happy with it.

    Enjoy!!!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Schris22
    Schris22 Posts: 983
    edited November 2005
    Congrats!

    Chris
    Receiver: Onkyo TX-SR502-S
    DVD Player: Pioneer DV-578A-S
    Left and Right: R50
    Center: CS1
    Rear Center: R15
    Surrounds: R30
    Subwoofer: 10'' Dayton 100 Watt
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,217
    edited November 2005
    Congrats Victor sounds like you fell into a real winner. Maybe some of my stuff will break :eek: . No I don't really mean that!

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited November 2005
    Congrats Peersool! I'm glad you & your wife are loving the new amp!!!

    Mike, There is absolutely NOTHING entry level about OUR Para 1500's! Just like Peersool, my 15 yr old RTA-8T's showed me what they are made of when I hooked them up to the 1500. They love getting 205 watts of power into them! It's great hearing stuff out of cds that you have played hundreds of times & never heard it before!



    Mike Reeter wrote:
    Halo,sooo pretty,sounds like a great amp...I have an entry level Parasound HCA 1500,and I'm VERY happy with it.

    Enjoy!!!
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Mike Reeter
    Mike Reeter Posts: 4,315
    edited November 2005
    I think we can ALL agree that Parasound puts out a great product...The Halo line is Le Creame De Mint!!!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,513
    edited November 2005
    Congrats on the Halo aquisition! Life is gooder, eh? BTW, you know any other words in French you can teach me? :D
    Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
    edited November 2005
    SCompRacer wrote:
    Congrats on the Halo aquisition! Life is gooder, eh? BTW, you know any other words in French you can teach me? :D

    Merci Rich. Oui, vive est tres bien, mervielleux, ou magnifique - pas "gooder".
    Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
    HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
    edited November 2005
    heiney9 wrote:
    Congrats Victor sounds like you fell into a real winner. Maybe some of my stuff will break :eek: . No I don't really mean that!

    H9

    Ya, right. I bet your gonna break something on purpose just so you'll have an excuse to try out new gear! :p

    Thanks Mike, Cathy, Brock, Chris, Jared, Rich and polkatese :)
    Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
    HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • beardog03
    beardog03 Posts: 5,550
    edited November 2005
    peersool wrote:
    Merci Rich. Oui, vive est tres bien, mervielleux, ou magnifique - pas "gooder".

    translated means..

    thanks Rich, dis ting iz bery goodt, but WTF does "gooder" mean..? :D
    Cary SLP-98L F1 DC Pre Amp (Jag Blue)
    Parasound HCA-3500
    Cary Audio V12 amp (Jag Red)
    Polk Audio Xm Reciever (Autographed by THE MAN Himself) :cool:
    Magnum Dynalab MD-102 Analog Tuna
    Jolida JD-100 CDP
    Polk Audio LSi9 Speaks (ebony)
    SVS PC-Ultra Sub
    AQ Bedrock Speaker Cables (Bi-Wired)
    MIT Shotgun S1 I/C`s
    AQ Black Thunder Sub Cables
    PS Audio Plus Power Cords
    Magnum Dynalab ST-2 FM Antenna
    Sanus Cherry wood Speak Stands
    Adona AV45CS3 / 3 Tier Rack (Black /Gold)

    :cool:
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,513
    edited November 2005
    Guter ist armes Englisch für besser als schlecht. Dank für die französische Lektion.
    Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • beardog03
    beardog03 Posts: 5,550
    edited November 2005
    Bbwwaaaaaaaahhaaahhaaaaaa..!!


    Aaaiight..!!
    Cary SLP-98L F1 DC Pre Amp (Jag Blue)
    Parasound HCA-3500
    Cary Audio V12 amp (Jag Red)
    Polk Audio Xm Reciever (Autographed by THE MAN Himself) :cool:
    Magnum Dynalab MD-102 Analog Tuna
    Jolida JD-100 CDP
    Polk Audio LSi9 Speaks (ebony)
    SVS PC-Ultra Sub
    AQ Bedrock Speaker Cables (Bi-Wired)
    MIT Shotgun S1 I/C`s
    AQ Black Thunder Sub Cables
    PS Audio Plus Power Cords
    Magnum Dynalab ST-2 FM Antenna
    Sanus Cherry wood Speak Stands
    Adona AV45CS3 / 3 Tier Rack (Black /Gold)

    :cool:
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • schwarcw
    schwarcw Posts: 7,341
    edited November 2005
    I can't figure out how Rich makes that unglat????
    Carl

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited November 2005
    Congrats! Certainly sounds like you're happy!
    George Grand wrote: »
    Jstas wrote: »
    Simple question. If you had a cool million bucks, what would you do with it?
    Wonder WTF happened to the rest of my money.
    In Use
    PS3, Yamaha CDR-HD1300, Plex, Amazon Fire TV Gen 2
    Pioneer Elite VSX-52, Parasound HCA-1000A
    Klipsch RF-82ii, RC-62ii, RS-42ii, RW-10d
    Epson 8700UB
    In Storage
    [Home Audio]
    Rotel RCD-02, Yamaha KX-W900U, Sony ST-S500ES, Denon DP-7F
    Pro-Ject Phono Box MKII, Parasound P/HP-850, ASL Wave 20 monoblocks
    Klipsch RF-35, RB-51ii
    [Car Audio]
    Pioneer Premier DEH-P860MP, Memphis 16-MCA3004, Boston Acoustic RC520
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,779
    edited November 2005
    Glad you and the wife are enjoying the new amp.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Dennis Gardner
    Dennis Gardner Posts: 4,861
    edited November 2005
    peersool wrote:
    Merci Rich. Oui, vive est tres bien, mervielleux, ou magnifique - pas "gooder".

    I knew that my beloved OU Sooners passing game was getting better, but I didn't think that another language would confrim it. :D
    HT Optoma HD25 LV on 80" DIY Screen, Anthem MRX 300 Receiver, Pioneer Elite BDP 51FD Polk CS350LS, Polk SDA1C, Polk FX300, Polk RT55, Dual EBS Adire Shiva 320watt tuned to 17hz, ICs-DIY Twisted Prs, Speaker-Raymond Cable

    2 Channel Thorens TD 318 Grado ZF1, SACD/CD Marantz 8260, Soundstream/Krell DAC1, Audio Mirror PP1, Odyssey Stratos, ADS L-1290, ICs-DIY Twisted , Speaker-Raymond Cable
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Roy Munson
    Roy Munson Posts: 886
    edited November 2005
    Congrats on the amp! I went through several amps lately including Adcom and Carver that didn't quite give me the sound I was looking for, then I bought Marks [Emlyn] Halo and I have to say this is a very good sounding amp! It drives my SDA's with ease and as you said it is very smooth and a little laid back which is what I was looking for. Enjoy!!!!
    2 Channel:
    Amp/Parasound Halo A23
    Pre/Carver C-1
    Tuner/Carver TX-11a
    CDP/Jolida JD 100A
    Turntable/AR XB-Shure V15 III
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited November 2005
    cfrizz wrote:
    Congrats Peersool! I'm glad you & your wife are loving the new amp!!!

    Mike, There is absolutely NOTHING entry level about OUR Para 1500's! Just like Peersool, my 15 yr old RTA-8T's showed me what they are made of when I hooked them up to the 1500. They love getting 205 watts of power into them! It's great hearing stuff out of cds that you have played hundreds of times & never heard it before!

    Cathy beat me to it, the HCA-1500 is not entry level by any measure...
    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
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Mike Reeter
    Mike Reeter Posts: 4,315
    edited November 2005
    I did'nt mean to slam the 1500... It is a PERFECT amp. for my SDA's,I would have never known about Parasound if it was'nt for Club Polk.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited November 2005
    Congrats, glad you and the Mrs. are digging the amp. Now did Jesse happen to mention a little thing called a valve?? :eek: ;)
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
    edited November 2005
    reeltrouble1 wrote:
    Now did Jesse happen to mention a little thing called a valve?? :eek: ;)

    no is the answer to that question.
    Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
    HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
    edited November 2005
    steveinaz wrote:
    Cathy beat me to it, the HCA-1500 is not entry level by any measure...

    I almost pulled the trigger on one of these right before Jesse suggested the Halo. They weren't that far apart as far as the price. More power with the HCA-1500 but its older. Since the Rotel died I wanted to go with something newer.
    Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
    HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,779
    edited November 2005
    Valves are another name for tubes. If I didn't mention it before, then I will now. Get a tube pre amp. :)
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
    edited November 2005
    F1nut wrote:
    Valves are another name for tubes. If I didn't mention it before, then I will now. Get a tube pre amp. :)

    Gonna do the upgrades on the 11's first. What do you think about passive pre's like this one LINK ?
    Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
    HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,779
    edited November 2005
    There aren't any tubes in it.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
    edited November 2005
    F1nut wrote:
    There aren't any tubes in it.

    Other than that whadda ya think? I'm seriously thinking of replacing my Rotel pre with this.
    Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
    HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,779
    edited November 2005
    I honestly know nothing about it's sound quality. I'd suggest you search around for info before buying it.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Gaara
    Gaara Posts: 2,415
    edited November 2005
    peersool,

    Thanks! I listen to a variety of music, as long as its rock. Recently I've been really into Cold, Muse, Mars Volta, System of a Down, Kill Switch Engage, and Coheed and Cambria.

    Haven't heard much about the Jolida pres, but their cd players work great. Many people on this forum, myself included can atest to the quality of their little JD-100.

    Jared
    The Basement HT
    PC Rig
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter