News(?) on the Halo DVD

[P-Stone]

Mail from me to Parasound :
So...
How is that Halo DVD coming along...???

Answer from Parasound :
Progress but not yet completed. Looks like late spring by the time it is released. The prototypes have stunning video and audio characteristics thus far and I expect that they will get better. We’ll post more info on the website when we are closer to releasing it but in the meantime you can email me and if I have any info I’ll let you know.

---------------------

Hopefully, not to long now (fingers crossed)... ;)

P..

[SpOoNmAn]

good grief, more for us to buy..

Brent, any more updates? lol

[Peter Nielsen]

Excellent news! Perfect timing! My old workhorse (Sony DVP-S7700) is probably about to throw in the towel soon (for instance it has developed very noticable layer changes)...

:banana: :dothewave: :banana:

Peter

[nicholtl]

Hehe, a bunch of rainbow colored jellybeans doing the wave sandwiched by two air-humping bananas. Nice! Hopefully their DVD player with have HDMI output, play HDCD/XRCD/SACD/DVD-A, Blu-Ray and/or HD-DVD, have no chroma bug or Y-delay problem, a large memory buffer, Burr-brown DAC's (although maybe not necessary if HDMI is the next step in evolution), and fantastic build quality.

I want it to be black. Or gunmetal graphite. Enough silver already.

[SpOoNmAn]

I want it to be black. Or gunmetal graphite. Enough silver already.

never enough silver!!!!

are you mad!?

lol

[mags]

I'll have to go down the road and ask how it's coming along. ;)

[mikepinkerton]

I sure hope if they put HDMI into their dvd player that they put HDMI switching into their pre-pro. That's the main thing that's keeping me from even looking at a C2.

-Mike

[nicholtl]

never enough silver!!!!

are you mad!?

lol

I would be if I had as many cool toys as you! I saw your photo album. Wow, your bike is rad. Your paintballing buddies look pretty good too. But I'll bet my boys could take yours out. =)

By the way, good thing you have a carpet in your listening room. Without it I'd think you'd be in a reflection/rarefaction nightmare.

[SpOoNmAn]

I would be if I had as many cool toys as you! I saw your photo album. Wow, your bike is rad. Your paintballing buddies look pretty good too. But I'll bet my boys could take yours out. =)

By the way, good thing you have a carpet in your listening room. Without it I'd think you'd be in a reflection/rarefaction nightmare.

it still is quite reflective, the lease is up in 5 months and I dont know if im staying. If I do, Ill be doing some acoustical work for sure.

Ahh my bike, my baby, spring can't get here soon enough!!! silver bike, silver audio rack, silver on my paintball gun...hmmmm

I need to buy another xbox and get a silver skin for it :B

I have pics of my paintball buddies up?

checking...

that group pic is from yeeeeears ago in my back woods at the old house. We play every sunday at a local field I help to run, we average about 30 players, which reminds me, I have to get ready in a few.

good to see someone else plays :T

wow did we get waaaaaaaaay off topic...sorry guys.

so whens that dvd player due out?!?!?!

8)

[Peter Nielsen]

I want it to be black. Or gunmetal graphite. Enough silver already.

Yes, but if it is black, then Parasound MUST provide new chassis parts in black for my JC1, A51, C2, and T3... Otherwise, make it match! :B

(Personally, I would *love* a set of replacable chassis parts to make all my Parasound black... I like black. All my Maggies are black on black, not white on cherry like the MG20.1 in my avatar)

Peter

[nicholtl]

Did the girl come with your speakers as well?

[Peter Nielsen]

Did the girl come with your speakers as well?

No... I prefer blondes :B

Peter

[bhuskins]

We'll have a DVD player one of these days and assume it will be silver. I expect it to be a top notch universal player. It's not an issue of designing a player...that work has already been done. Now it's a matter of getting one built and that's where they're at. Hopefully spring, but these things tend to drag out as we are all aware. Publicly, Parasound is saying nothing about the DVD player. To me that means we are still a couple to a few months away.

Brent Huskins
Media Design

[Peter Nielsen]

Brent,

Do you have any inside info on whether there is going to be just one model, or two in different price categories like the C1/C2 ? (They were obviously talking about D1/D2 back at CES 2002 (http://www.smr-home-theatre.org/ces2002/home_theater/page_07.shtml). I wonder if this still holds...)

Thanks,
Peter

[Peter Nielsen]

Let's also hope that the HALO DVD can easily be made region free...

[bhuskins]

I'm not sure if we'll see 2 models at first or not...maybe one in Halo and one in Classic...this is speculation on my part.

Brent Huskins
Media Design

[Ray]

Hi,
There are roumers that the D2 will be released in June. At the moment, there are 50 American dealers playing with it (Brent?)...
It has HDMI and DVI-D!


If they are starting the release with a D2 (maybe without a tft display), then there will be a D1 later on (with a display like the C1).

That would be nice, a D2, P2 and a A51!

Cheers,

[bhuskins]

Here's what I'll say...

It won't be called the D2. The D1 and D2 were prototype devices. You could probably guess what the next likely name will be though. Expect something in the New Classic line as well.

There are zero dealers playing with it currently (if there were 5 dealers (much less 50) playing with it, I would likely be one of them.)

The outputs will be robust for sure and will have to include HDMI.

I wouldn't anticipate a player with a TFT. It's too costly at this stage of the DVD life cycle.

Brent Huskins
Media Design
HTGuide Sponsor

[Chris D]

I'll let someone else post... info as to WHEN we might see something?

[bhuskins]

Soon, is all that I'll say at this point...

Brent Huskins
Media Design
HTGuide Sponsor

[Hoffa]

I guess since it is "almost ready" and will make it to market soon, what are the chances of it being HD compliant - ie BluRay and/or HD-DVD? The rumors a while back were that it would be a universal player, just wondering if this is now substantiated in one form or another?

I can't wait .. I love my Halo A52, and I would like to add some more Halo products :)

[bhuskins]

Read the posts over at A V S about HD-DVD and Blue Ray...we may never see either. There are real discussions going on right now between Sony and Toshiba that are attempting to pave the way to one HD format. It will likely be a format that takes the best from both. This could delay things substantially. Needless to say, It will be a while before any of the independent companies like Parasound come out with a HighDef DVD player, especially if the final format hasn't even been announced.

By the way, these stories are verifiable on Google News. This is also exactly what happened when DVD was introduced. There was an 11th hour agreement put in place that shared the licensing between the prominent players (Sony and Toshiba).

Brent Huskins
Media Design
HTGuide Sponsor

[Chris D]

One centralized HD format would be a very good thing for everyone. That would be so great if we could make it happen.

So we're back to talking about a Halo player as non-high def, eh? I hope it's still universal.

[nicholtl]

Agreed. One format, as opposed to HD-DVD and Blu-Ray, would be truly ideal. I'm definitely willing to wait extra for that to become a reality.

[NMyTree]

I'm stunned.

Another attempt by the Audio/Video world to do something that makes sense.

[Hirogen]

Hehe, a bunch of rainbow colored jellybeans doing the wave sandwiched by two air-humping bananas. Nice! Hopefully their DVD player with have HDMI output, play HDCD/XRCD/SACD/DVD-A, Blu-Ray and/or HD-DVD, have no chroma bug or Y-delay problem, a large memory buffer, Burr-brown DAC's (although maybe not necessary if HDMI is the next step in evolution), and fantastic build quality.

I want it to be black. Or gunmetal graphite. Enough silver already.


HDMI output; will (and should) be definitely there I think.

HDCD; on a DVD player? Nice to have but if it comes without this it won't be a dealbreaker for me.

XRCD; non-issue, works on all CD players as far as I know, it's not a format that needs special hardware to be played back.

SACD; face it, it's dead. I won't be surprised if it will NOT be supported.

DVD-A; same as SACD.

Blu-ray and/or HD-DVD; I really don't see any of these two being implemented in the 1st incarnation of the Parasound DVD player. My guess is the DVD player that will be announced in a couple of months, will be based on the *current* DVD standard that's out there (after the format war is finally over Parasound could release a second HD capable DVD player).

Btw, if this DVD player will be able to play back CD-DA (redbook), and it most likely will, than it would be very cool if it could also play back CD-R's (orangebook part2). Same for DVD's that I burned myself.

[Ray]

SACD; face it, it's dead. I won't be surprised if it will NOT be supported.

Dead ? LOL, you sure missed something!


Btw, if this DVD player will be able to play back CD-DA (redbook), and it most likely will, than it would be very cool if it could also play back CD-R's (orangebook part2). Same for DVD's that I burned myself.
Did you ever hear a copied cdr or dvd on good equipment? If so, you will never burn again!

Cheers,

Ray

[bhuskins]

That's funny, because most CD's used for demo at CES are ripped compilation discs. It all depends on how the disc is made in my opinion. If the file stays in the WAV format, it should be an EXACT copy if burned correctly.

Brent Huskins
Media Design

[nicholtl]

I have no doubt you're right, Brent. I guess it's just the thought of something not being the original generation that irks most people, including me.

[Peter Nielsen]

That's funny, because most CD's used for demo at CES are ripped compilation discs. It all depends on how the disc is made in my opinion. If the file stays in the WAV format, it should be an EXACT copy if burned correctly.

:agree: As long as the ones are ones and the zeroes are zeroes, it doesn't matter... There is no such thing as a "good one" and a "good zero". In the digital domain everything is black or white. As long as a digital signal is transferred error free, it doesn't matter if the media etc. costs one cent or a million dollar. People trying to tell otherwise are selling snake oil...

(But then again, the FUD applies. The sellers of the million dollar media may rightfully claim that it will preserve the ones and zeroes for a million years and it's hard to argue against that.... Then again, they will probably void your million year data-loss-free warranty unless the medium is stored in a vaccuum chamber or something along those lines... :B )

Peter

[Ray]

Hi Brent,

[QUOTE=bhuskins]That's funny, because most CD's used for demo at CES are ripped compilation discs. It all depends on how the disc is made in my opinion. If the file stays in the WAV format, it should be an EXACT copy if burned correctly.

Yes, its all about the way a copy has been made. But there are still a lot of people thinking that burning a cd is the same as pressing one.

Ray

[Peter Nielsen]

But there are still a lot of people thinking that burning a cd is the same as pressing one.

Then take them to an optician! Where is the artwork??? That's what you pay for.

I buy the CD for the artwork and for putting in my CD-collection. Then I make CDRs for use in the car where I would NEVER use an original. Artists with copy protection will effectively be neglected since I can't listen to them in the car. Some say caveat emptor, I think it backfires on the artist... (Copy protection never stops me from buying the CD, but it results in that I will never listen to it and promote it to my friends, since I can't listen to it in the car and thus the record eventually falls into oblivion...)

Peter

[Ray]

[QUOTE=Peter Nielsen]:agree: As long as the ones are ones and the zeroes are zeroes, it doesn't matter... There is no such thing as a "good one" and a "good zero". In the digital domain everything is black or white. As long as a digital signal is transferred error free, it doesn't matter if the media etc. costs one cent or a million dollar. People trying to tell otherwise are selling snake oil...

The quality of the transfered digital signal can only be good if the information was correctly read by the laser. A laser has more problems reading a burned image because the information on a burned media contains only dark spots (a change in color because of the burn process) These colors can change over time due to sunlight. A pressed media contains holes which are easier to read.
Testresults do show that a burned media contains more read errors than a pressed one. So, the digital signal will contain more bad zeroes and ones.

Its that simple!

Ray

[Hoffa]

:agree: As long as the ones are ones and the zeroes are zeroes, it doesn't matter... There is no such thing as a "good one" and a "good zero". In the digital domain everything is black or white. As long as a digital signal is transferred error free, it doesn't matter if the media etc. costs one cent or a million dollar. People trying to tell otherwise are selling snake oil...

Peter

Yes and that is what error correction is for :) An excellent read (for those mathematically inclined) is http://web.usna.navy.mil/~wdj/reed-sol.htm

In short, just cause a burned cd rom has more bit flips does not mean that it WILL sound any worse. Depends on the number of errors. Some can be repair based on these algorithms. Even perfect fresh out of the case CDs will have error. You won't ever read a CD and have no error correction take place.

[Peter Nielsen]

A laser has more problems reading a burned image

SOME lasers may have problems, some don't... It's that simple :B

If you use substandard equipment to burn the CD-R, you can expect substandard results and vice versa. As always, YMMV.

Peter

[Ray]

Hi Peter,
Your right about getting better results when using better equipment. But I cannot believe that people spent x0,000 dollars on good equipment and just play copied music.

But I think we get a bit of topic :W

HI Brent, Still nothing in stock ?

Ray

[bhuskins]

HI Brent, Still nothing in stock ?

Ray

I've got a lot in stock...

What do you need? Feel free to email me at huskins@charter.net

Brent Huskins
Media Design
HTGuide Sponsor

[NMyTree]

Any updates or new information on the Halo P2 Pre Amp and the long-awaited Halo Universal Disc Player?

[Ray]

Yeh, if the names D1 and D2 are no longer in the race, what about the U1 and U2? :)

But I think their problem is that they need so much time to complete the box, that the unit would be outdated when they would release it. :W

So, I think we will never see one. :cry:

[P-Stone]

Latest info i got :

Contacted Parasound for an update on the Halo DVD. I was re-directed to the norwegian distributor, which it seems, are developing the player. Or, they are in close contact with the developers.

They told me that if Parasound approves the beta design in the next two weeks, they will be introducing the Halo DVD at CEDIA in september.

The player will support SACD and DVD-A. And it will also be upgradable to next-generation technology, such as BlueRay or HD-DVD, when OEM loaders become available.

So, not too long now, i hope... :D

P..

[Chris D]

Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh, baby. Interesting concept, to be upgradable to high-def disc technology when it comes out.

Now, that means that we need to have high-res digital passing and decoding, too, so I'm still hoping we see DVI switching with DVD-A and SACD decoding capabilities added to the C1/C2 and Classic 7100.

[mags]

Latest info i got :

Contacted Parasound for an update on the Halo DVD. I was re-directed to the norwegian distributor, which it seems, are developing the player. Or, they are in close contact with the developers.

They told me that if Parasound approves the beta design in the next two weeks, they will be introducing the Halo DVD at CEDIA in september.

The player will support SACD and DVD-A. And it will also be upgradable to next-generation technology, such as BlueRay or HD-DVD, when OEM loaders become available.

So, not too long now, i hope... :D

P..

It's almost a year ago since I was in their offices and got a peek at the player in development. At that time they had just received new mainboards from Parasound, and they were beginning to tinker with them. The guys were very excited about the player back then.

[Chris D]

Well, yes, I suppose if we rehash the "we've waited so long, why haven't we seen the DVD player yet" topic, we've been seeing evidence of a Parasound Halo DVD player for about... maybe 3-4 years now. It's come and go. We can only hope it does make it to market. Personally, just so nobody loses hope, I think we're seeing signs it's really going to happen this time.

[hamtor]

Any updated rumors or news about this dvdplayer?

[FrankG]

So then you make you own CDplayer with parasound look :B

[bhuskins]

Pretty Cool Frank...when do you expect to be complete?

Brent Huskins
Media Design
HT Guide Sponsor

[FrankG]

In about 2 or 3 weeks i will be completed.
The inside is a tjoep reference 4000 cd player with tubes

[Whistler]

Yeh, if the names D1 and D2 are no longer in the race, what about the U1 and U2? :)

But I think their problem is that they need so much time to complete the box, that the unit would be outdated when they would release it. :W

So, I think we will never see one. :cry:

The names D 2 and D 3 are in the race :W .

[P-Stone]

The norwegian designers confirmed on email that the Halo DVD will be introduced at CEDIA. Looks like this is it, guys :-)

Come to think of it, he didnt say if it was CEDIA 2005...

[bhuskins]

He's correct...both in the Halo and NewClassic lines...But wait there's more...HDMI...

Brent Huskins
Media Design
HTGuide Sponsor

[Peter Nielsen]

He's correct...both in the Halo and NewClassic lines...But wait there's more...HDMI...

What's the tentative date when we will know the facts (or more) ?

Peter

[bhuskins]

I'll try to post pictures and details from the show. Sept. 7-11

Also, they're looking to ship "soon" after the show.

Can anybody say pre-order special... :B :B

Brent Huskins
Media Design
HTGuide Sponsor

[Peter Nielsen]

Can anybody say pre-order special... :B :B

I'm in, for sure! :B

Hey, guys, Brent's got the best price out there! This is your chance! :T

Peter

[slick]

Hi guys.
New to the forums here. Been lurking around for a while, and reading up on products. I ended up buying a Halo P 3 and A 23 for my Hi Fi setup (getting rid of the surround sound, its not worth it in a small apartment).
Anyways, I too was interested in a Halo DVD/CD player source, so I email Parasound with an inquiry today, and within 1 hour of the email, I got a response:

Thank you for your email.
We will be unveiling our new Halo universal DVD player with HDMI outputs,
rs-232 control, 2 channel balanced outputs and other nifty features at the
CEDIA trade show in the beginning of Sept. We will post specifications and
information on our website: parasound.com in the middle of September with
an expected release date in the first week of November.

Regards,
Paul C. Brownlee
Parasound

I know I am getting one, I am too anal NOT to match it with my equipment. Can't wait.

[slick]

I got another reply from Paul @ Parasound (I replied to him thanking him for his quick response and made the remark that "I should start saving up").

We try to be quick!
One of the reasons it has taken us so long to release a player is that we
couldn't find a design that we felt was up to our standards. There are lots
of inexpensive players that perform well for $100 but aren't GREAT. There
are a number of expensive players that perform as well as $100 players but
still not GREAT. We want our player to be great!
I think you'll love it.
Start saving :^)

Regards,
Paul
Parasound

I'm quite glad that I went with Parasound for my equipment, seems like a great company so far.

[bhuskins]

They definitley are a great company...

I'll keep you guys informed of all the latest as they roll out.

Brent Huskins
Media Design
HTGuide Sponsor

[P-Stone]

Any price estimates?

[tboooe]

Brent, count me in if there is a preorder special.

[zullo]

Countdown time. Two Days? !

[bhuskins]

We're still a go as of Friday...I had to triple check :)

Brent Huskins
Media Design
HTGuide Sponsor

[Rags]

This is great news.

Brent - any idea if these will be multiregion and be able to play PAL as well as NTSC discs ?

[Hirogen]

Yeah I also hope the Halo DVD player can easily be made regionfree. I wonder what kind of transport mechanism Parasound has put in it.

[avddreamr]

I'm in for a preorder.
However if this unit has hdmi, one should assume that a c1/c2 upgrade is going to see the light of day?

Nes

[Peter Nielsen]

any idea if these will be multiregion and be able to play PAL as well as NTSC discs ?

No doubt they will play PAL and NTSC (anything less is unthinkable).

It is of course "multiregion" too (assuming that Parasound intend selling it outside the US). The question, however, is if Parasound is going to "accidentally" leak the info on how to switch regions.

I really hope the region lock is as nicely implemented as in many Philips DVDs; all you have to do is enter a few codes to set the player to R0, and voilà, the DVD is region free! :B

Peter

[Peter N]

It´s here, HDMI output, Faroudja DCDi processing, and multichannel DVD-A/SACD

The Spec. is available at www.gspr.com, but what about the HALO model

Regards Peter N

[Peter Nielsen]

It´s here

I can't see it... All I see is a New Classic DVD. That's NOT what we have been waiting for.

Now, where is the HALO DVD?

Peter

[jkscherk]

I assume that the Halo PR isn't too far behind. Using the Denon 3910 as a comparison, is there really anything here that is that special? On the surface, it seems like this gives Parasound a player that is comparable to other brands, but doesn't really take it any further. Am I expecting too much? Thoughts??

[Peter N]

I agree – but it is a Parasound DVD – a HALO version must be imminent – or not???

Regards Peter N

[slick]

Our good friend Brent Huskins will be at CEDIA from what he told me, so we should have an answer soon on whether there is a Halo DVD Player or not. I hope there is.

[jimmyp58]

Here's a pic, live from CEDIA:

http://www.htguide.com/forum/attachment.php4?attachmentid=4302&stc=1

[bhuskins]

Just got back from the parties at CEDIA...

I'll post all my pics when I get back...

$2,300 MSRP for the Halo DVD

Brent Huskins
Media Design
HTGuide Sponsor

[Rags]

Brent - great news. When is it being released and will it be able to play Play discs ?

[bhuskins]

everything...dvda sacd and a lot of the other minor formats.

expect it in Q4.

Brent Huskins
Media Design
HTGuide Sponsor

[Peter Nielsen]

Brent, does the DVD have 7 balanced outputs to match the new analog pre-amp (P2) ?

Peter

[papaleo]

Brent, does the DVD have 7 balanced outputs to match the new analog pre-amp (P2) ?

Peter

Hi,
i'm a newbee here and this my first post here...

No,only two stereo outputs..

see link/pic.

http://www.htforum.nl/yabbse/index.php?topic=17603.msg478134#msg478134

[nicholtl]

With all those outputs, I'm assuming the player will be programmable to match, say, balanced outputs with CD, multichannel outputs with SACD/DVD-A, and HDMI/optical/coaxial with DVD?

[Peter Nielsen]

With all those outputs, I'm assuming the player will be programmable to match, say, balanced outputs with CD, multichannel outputs with SACD/DVD-A, and HDMI/optical/coaxial with DVD?

Yeah, but the D-3 will not match the P2 (or whatever the analog preamp will be called). The P2 will need 7 balanced outputs on the DVD...

Peter

[Hirogen]

Hi,
i'm a newbee here and this my first post here...

No,only two stereo outputs..

see link/pic.

http://www.htforum.nl/yabbse/index.php?topic=17603.msg478134#msg478134

Welcome PapaLeo! Can't find the banana but I'm sure you'll get one sooner or later. 8)

Has anybody more info about what transport mechanism is used in the Halo DVD player?

[papaleo]

Welcome PapaLeo! Can't find the banana but I'm sure you'll get one sooner or later. 8)



What do you mean whit "Can't find the banana"... :huh:

[Peter Nielsen]

What do you mean whit "Can't find the banana"... :huh:

Chris always gives a dancing banana to all newcomers:

:banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:

Hirogen, you don't need to look for the banana. You can simply type 'banana' with a colon before and after. Or to put it another way, the forum code for the dancing banana is:
: banana :
(remove the space before and after banana)

Peter

[papaleo]

D3 specs.

– HDMI digital video/audio output with HDCP
– 480p / 720p / 1080i selectable scan rate
– Simultaneous progressive scan component video output
and interlaced composite video output
– Faroudja DCDI processing for precision progressive scan
– DVD-Audio and SACD multi-channel
– SACD DSD bit stream goes directly to audio DAC
– DVD-A, SACD with bass management
– DVD+–
R/RW, CD-R/RW compatible
– MP-3, JPEG, WMA, DivX playback, Kodak Picture CD playback
– 192 kHz / 24-Bit audio DACs
– 216 MHz / 12 bit precision video DAC
– Pure Black mode with black level adjustment, 7.5 IRE or 0 IRE
– BNC and RCA jacks for component video output
– Two s-video and two composite video output jacks
– Gold-plated 5.1 channel analog audio output jacks,
two extra L, R output jacks
– Coaxial and optical digital audio outputs
– Balanced two channel analog output with XLR jacks
– Defeatable video & digital audio circuits for purest analog audio
– RS-232C two-way communication port with DB9 connector
– Easy to use remote control handset with glow-in-the-dark buttons
– External IR repeater input and looping output jacks
– Detachable IEC AC power cord
– 115v / 230v operation
– Heavy duty 3U chassis, rack mounts with HRA3 (not included)

To bad, he doesn't do 1080P...

[Chris D]

Ah yes, papaleo, welcome to Club Parasound and the Guide! :banana: There's my banana offering.

If only I could read Dutch. Maybe if I get really liquored up. :)

As for the player itself, I'd still like to hear back on the rumor that the D3 may be future upgradable to HD formats, etc. I'm holding out some hope that those specs we know aren't all inclusive yet or will be upgradable. 1080p, etc... :)

Brent, you said that you thought the video would be very similar to other units on the market today. (I think a lot of us are comparing it to the Denon DVD-3910 that many of us currently have) What is it that leads you to believe that it will be an improvement in audio? Perhaps inside info? ;)

[jprafter]

I also currently own the Denon 3910. Would it be worth the upgrade to a D3 or should I continue to wait for blu-ray or HD-DVD while staying with the 3910?

[Chris D]

Well, that's the sticky question. Trust me, since many of us Halo owners run the Denon 3910 (or other brands very roughly similar) we're going to be doing a very hard look at the final D3 specs when the official press release and website postings come out, and we'll have some inside discussions direct with Parasound, to judge whether that upgrade will be worthwhile.