Parasound processors

Nic Rhodes · 24-08-2005, 7:20 PM

Well I have heard them several times now and have always loved them. What are others experience of them? Thinking about retiring the Tag....who uses them?

I have a Parasound pre and love that. Great looks and sound.

recruit · 24-08-2005, 7:59 PM

Heard the Halo C2 and it is a very nice sounding processor, they have just brought out a new Classic line processor which looks pretty well specd too..

Nic Rhodes · 24-08-2005, 9:45 PM

It is the C2 I am interetsed in. One of the few processors I have found with all the toys I need and simple to use to boot. Someone please talk me out of another upgrade.

dts_boy · 24-08-2005, 10:45 PM

interesting - i went from a tag av32r with 100x5 power amp to a parasound c2 with a52 power amp and haven't looked back!
its very easy to listen to - i can drive it REAL hard and it never becomes stressed and find myself listening to music again. the only downside is that updates tend to take their time but they do get there in the end.
BTW - if you are into modes like Lexicon's logic 7; the natural mode is what i tend to leave my c2 in for tv/sat viewing - its better than pl2 imo.

Godfather · 25-08-2005, 1:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nic Rhodes

Someone please talk me out of another upgrade.

Just in case you haven't seen this special offer already: http://www.crtprojectors.co.uk

recruit · 25-08-2005, 7:12 AM

I bought my A51 from Henry at CRT Projectors very helpfull indeedy and great kit

Nic Rhodes · 25-08-2005, 7:33 AM

Henry is guilty on this one Henry, he normally is, I always end up poorer when I speak to him, know the feeling?

SimonO · 25-08-2005, 7:37 AM

C2 + A51 = awesome

(although I haven't listened to a TAG system for a few years)... Assuming you don't need/want digital video switching or Logic7...

Scott3 · 25-08-2005, 7:55 AM

Meridian G68

Nic Rhodes · 25-08-2005, 8:34 AM

Not interested in Meridian, need more flexibility and ease of use.

Scott3 · 25-08-2005, 8:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nic Rhodes

Not interested in Meridian, need more flexibility and ease of use.

Nic Rhodes · 25-08-2005, 9:20 AM

and been there anyway

Do love Trifield though just not enough inputs for me.

Interesting comments about Natural mode, they seem to have the same ethos on this to TMS. L and R unchanged, C information derived from and sides / rears in the subtle catagory. There seem to be a few quality solutioms out there.

Nic Rhodes · 25-08-2005, 9:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Godfather

Just in case you haven't seen this special offer already: http://www.crtprojectors.co.uk

that is talking me out of a purchase?

Have you got those PMCs yet?

Scott3 · 25-08-2005, 9:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nic Rhodes

and been there anyway

Do love Trifield though just not enough inputs for me.

What inputs is the G68 lacking that you need and the C2 has?

Trifield is far superior to "Natural mode".

recruit · 25-08-2005, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nic Rhodes

Not interested in Meridian, need more flexibility and ease of use.

Hi Nic,

Have you tried Meridian Kit and not liked it?

Regards
John

Nic Rhodes · 25-08-2005, 10:59 AM

No I like Meridian kit, always have. I still have Meridian kit here, just interested in Parasound. Always said nice things about Meridian.

Outputs need to be BOTH balanced and unbalanced.
Need balanced input (s)
Need 8 digital inputs
Need 7.1 input
Need a stack of analogue inputs (8+)
Need some programmable outputs
Needs BNC equipped RGBHV switching for HD
Need a stack of SVideo (6?)

Want a simple remote (and a more complicated one for the drawer)
Want a LONG warranty.

Would like black
Would like British
Would like cheap
Would like room correction

Don't want proprietry comms / digital interfaces (been there done that)

The Meridian just does not fill the Needs list, simple as that. Lovely processor but doesn't fulfil my needs

recruit · 25-08-2005, 11:06 AM

The only thing that gripes me with the Meridian is the fact that it can be really annoying to configure but it does have a lovely sound.
I have heard Rags C2 and it is a very good & precise sounding processor and i would expect it to be alot more userfriendly when setting up

Scott3 · 25-08-2005, 11:10 AM

Wow! You must be the first person I've never met that NEEDS all the C2's exact spec!

I'd sooner have a bespoke British designed and made processor than an OEM based unit any day of the week.

You pays your money...

Nic Rhodes · 25-08-2005, 11:26 AM

Never been an OEM fan but the Parasound does interest me more as they worked especially closely with the OEM people. Re british designed / made, nice I idea, would like that too, have been here as well but the bottom line is much of ALL these processors is software libraries that is customized by the processor manufacturer, supplied by Motorola / Analogue Device etc. Software certainly needs customising however and good analogue / digital engineering needs to be added but both these processors do that.

Re spec, I actually want much more than that but no processor exists to do that!! Just the balanced input / output thing would be a deal killer for me.

Scott3 · 25-08-2005, 11:36 AM

When/if I return to high-end processors, Meridian will at the top of my audition list. As the heart of my system, any processor will have to do both films and music justice. I can't afford seperate systems, and I've never heard a better processor than a Meridian for both duties. They simply use the best music DSPs available and the PC software setup is almost infinitely tweakable.

Nic Rhodes · 25-08-2005, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott3

Wow! You must be the first person I've never met that NEEDS all the C2's exact spec!

...

That is why I started a thread about Parasound and not Meridian !! I am interested in the Parasound, it fits my needs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott3

I'd sooner have a bespoke British designed and made processor than an OEM based unit any day of the week.

You pays your money...

I have one of those already.

Nic Rhodes · 25-08-2005, 11:39 AM

I have separate music systems

rags · 25-08-2005, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott3

Trifield is far superior to "Natural mode".

I think Trifield is excellent. How / where did you do the comparison ?

rags · 25-08-2005, 1:01 PM

Nic,

I dont think you will be dissapointed with the C2 - as you state it has the functionality / inputs you need and I can confirm that is sounds great! The Meridian is also an excellent processor but at £5k with balance inputs its in a different price bracket. However you have asked about Parasound so ill stick to it.

Pros -
-very easy to use and set up
-stack of inputs at the back
-sounds fantastic (in my opinion!)
-comes with two good remotes one of which is programmable and a calibration mic
-Parasound seem to be providing software updates
-looks great

Cons -
-no room eq
-no HDMI switching (cant recall any current processors that have this anyway)
-a hardware update may be in the pipeline (unconfirmed)

Scott3 · 25-08-2005, 1:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rags

I think Trifield is excellent. How / where did you do the comparison ?

No direct comparison - I've just heard both (Trifield many times, 'Natural' a few) and prefer Trifield. I'm not knocking 'Natural', it's a very good DSP. I prefered it to PLII Music.

dts_boy · 25-08-2005, 1:10 PM

sorry to correct you rags but both of the remotes are programmable!
BTW, have you heard about a HAlo dvd player being launched in USA next month? time to take the credit card out of its locked case me thinks!

Scott3 · 25-08-2005, 1:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nic Rhodes

I have separate music systems

Bloody posh, you are!

Nic Rhodes · 25-08-2005, 1:48 PM

valves and transistor

rags · 25-08-2005, 2:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dts_boy

sorry to correct you rags but both of the remotes are programmable!
BTW, have you heard about a HAlo dvd player being launched in USA next month? time to take the credit card out of its locked case me thinks!

Yeah but is it NTSC / Region 1 only ? No go area for me if it is....