High-end Halo CD 1 Press Release

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  • Chris D
    Moderator Emeritus
    • Dec 2000
    • 16877

    High-end Halo CD 1 Press Release

    For the full official press release, and large high-res photos, go here: http://www.gspr.com/parasound/cd1.html

    For Immediate Release:

    Parasound Debuts Halo CD 1 Holm-Designed CD Player

    Parasound teams with Holm Acoustics to deliver a radically different approach to extracting the best possible sound from a Compact Disc.





    San Francisco (1/3/13) -- Parasound has introduced a high-end Compact Disc player that represents a radically different approach to extracting the best possible sound from a CD. The new Parasound Halo CD 1 uses new CD playback and processing technology that is the result of a collaboration between Parasound and Holm Acoustics in Copenhagen, Denmark.

    "The CD 1 demonstrates that CDs can sound significantly better than anyone has imagined possible," said Richard Schram, Parasound's president and founder. "The full potential of the 16-bit CD format is realized for the first time in the CD 1."

    The Parasound CD 1 uses a new method for playing CDs that is based on using a CD ROM drive instead of a conventional CD drive and a Linux-based computer to read and process the CD data. The CD ROM drive in the CD 1 runs at 4 times the speed of a conventional CD player drive in order to accumulate a vast amount of data. An on-board Intel ITX computer, running the Linux operating system kernel and Holm's proprietary software dramatically improves the reading of CD disc data. It analyzes CD data and reads every part of a CD as many times as are needed to significantly reduce errors and, accordingly, the negative effects of error concealment. The result is a nearly bit-perfect data stream..

    [This and other technical features of the CD 1 are explained in much greater detail on the accompanying white paper entitled "The Technology in the Parasound Halo CD 1" ]

    Standard CD players cannot accomplish any of this because CD drives are slow data readers and data must move through the buffer at the same speed it comes off the CD. Unlike the CD 1, standard CD players must transfer data to the DAC as soon as it is read from the CD. As a result, they don't have time to accumulate enough data in a buffer so that it can be analyzed and processed. It is a significant handicap.

    In addition to its Holm-designed CD processing technology, the Parasound Halo CD 1 is in all aspects a high-end audiophile player in keeping with the legacy of Parasound's Halo product family. It has a rugged aluminum chassis with extensive shielding for electrical and mechanical isolation. It has three separate power supplies for the analog and digital circuits. The outputs use premium balanced XLR connectors, gold-plated RCA outputs, and S/PDIF Digital audio outputs via 75-ohm BNC, coaxial, and optical connections.

    The CD 1 offers a unique 'Discrete OpAmp' selector that gives users the option of listening to the analog outputs directly from the low noise National LME49990 op-amps or via discrete transistor output stages. The discrete output stage uses individual transistors in a Darlington configuration that operates in the feedback loops of the LME49990s. This subtly changes the sonic character of the CD 1 and there is no "wrong" choice.

    The Parasound Halo CD 1 Compact Disc Player is offered in both traditional Halo silver chassis and the new Halo all black finish. It is now shipping with a suggested retail price of $4,500.

    About Parasound: Founded in 1981, Parasound Products, Inc., is a privately owned U.S. company that specializes in providing affordable audio and home theater components to the critical listener. Parasound's products are available from quality audio/video retailers, and select custom installation specialists. For more information, visit www.parasound.com or call 415-397-7100.





    Last edited by Chris D; 12 January 2013, 22:19 Saturday.
    CHRIS

    Well, we're safe for now. Thank goodness we're in a bowling alley.
    - Pleasantville
  • Chris D
    Moderator Emeritus
    • Dec 2000
    • 16877

    #2
    Lots of things to comment on here, even before hearing the player in operation. (I've heard it several times, and it has sounded fantastic in trade shows, but have never heard it in a real, controlled environment)

    First, make sure you click on the hyperlink for that white paper. Quite interesting read and understandable by those of us that are not electrical engineers or comp-sci majors.

    I'm not sure I understand the "Discrete Op-amp" feature, and how that setup can potentially improve the sound clarity. I'm really intrigued to learn more about that.

    Small point of note, but for those who may not have been in the A/V world as long, or are still unsure of how to use their digital connectors, note that the white paper flat out says that if you do choose to use the digital outputs instead of the onboard DAC, that the digital coax connector should be used before the optical.

    Naturally, this is obviously not a mass-market product. The price says that alone, but in today's market, lots of people are going all-digital media, greatly in the name of convenience and ease of use. Many of those people simply do not care about preserving top-end clarity, or at the very least are satisfied with the compromise of resolution loss, or digital artifacts. This product is certainly aimed at the identified minority today who still demand top-end performance, and want to get the best performance possible out of their physical media. The market definitely is out there for this product. It will just be interesting to see if it's large and sustained enough to make this product a profitable unit for the company. It's definitely noteworthy (and admirable) that Parasound is taking the approach to product offering development, that they want to make top-performing A/V products that they themselves want to have and use.

    Interesting that the transport in that pic is a slot-load Sony DVD/CD-RW AD-7800H.

    As has been pointed out elsewhere, the high-end DAC in the CD 1 is also used in the Zdac, giving that product amazing value. It's also interesting that there's one DAC for both channels, not one for each, and the white paper makes clear why that is beneficial in this system. It also says why Parasound chose not to add any digital inputs on the CD 1 to extend the use of the onboard DAC, as it would have compromised CD performance.

    To note, Holm Acoustics chose to use Linux, not Windows or Apple iOS. Flame on.

    As I mentioned in another thread, this just started shipping, and Parasound is already back-ordered.
    Last edited by Chris D; 12 January 2013, 22:38 Saturday.
    CHRIS

    Well, we're safe for now. Thank goodness we're in a bowling alley.
    - Pleasantville

    Comment

    • Dmantis
      Moderator Emeritus
      • Jun 2004
      • 1036

      #3
      This product gets you closer to what computer music is already doing. It's a beautiful player with very strong engineering behind it but I don't see these types of devices lasting much long in our market.

      What I do see is using a computer for all your music. Using high quality software to store your 16/44.1 files and replaying them back bit perfectly with a high quality DAC weather it's internal or external in your configuration.

      I'm assuming since you posted about this gem , you are thinking about getting one? I'd really like to compare one to a nice mac Mini running Channel D software , USB out to a DAC. The source is the most important part of your system IMO.

      Comment

      • Peter Nielsen
        Super Senior Member
        • Sep 2004
        • 1188

        #4
        I completely agree with Dmantis. I've been using the SlimDevices Transporter since 2006. I rip my CDs to FLAC and the Transporter sounds identical to any high-end CD player I've tried (at least when run digital over AES/EBU). I used to own a Lyngdorf CD-1 which is a high end CD not much unlike the new Parasound, but sold it years ago since I never used it.

        The only thing I still use discs for is the music that can't be losslessly ripped: SACD and DVD-Audio.

        Comment

        • wkhanna
          Grumpy Old Super Moderator Emeritus
          • Jan 2006
          • 5673

          #5
          Originally posted by Peter Nielsen

          The only thing I still use discs for is the music that can't be losslessly ripped: SACD and DVD-Audio.
          These can both be ripped, do some research here
          _


          Bill

          Practicing Curmudgeon & Audio Snob
          ....just an "ON" switch, Please!

          FinleyAudio

          Comment

          • Peter Nielsen
            Super Senior Member
            • Sep 2004
            • 1188

            #6
            Originally posted by wkhanna
            These can both be ripped, do some research here
            You're right. I have not done any recent research. It seems like ripping SACD finally became possible as recently as 18 months ago. Unfortunately it requires a PS3 loaded with specific firmware. The number of SACDs I own (less than a dozen) would not justify the purchase of a PS3 and going through the hoops to rip.

            I'm not surprised DVD Audio can be ripped. I did expect that it somhow is possible. However, ripping multichannel music is "useless" as the Transporter can't play multichannel audio anyway.

            Comment

            • Chris D
              Moderator Emeritus
              • Dec 2000
              • 16877

              #7
              Yes, especially if you read the Parasound white paper there, you'll see that the CD 1 really is its own self-contained computer, running on the Linux OS. Sure, you can build your own, but it seems the designers here have really gone all out in selecting components and building paths and connectors to get nanosecond-timing, error-free sampling, and jitter-free results. Something else you run into when building computer audio is EMI and/or mechanical noise entering the audio stream.

              As for me, yeah, I'd love to get one, but like the JC 2 and multiple JC 1's, this may be outside my budget. We'll see if maybe I can do a test and eval on a unit though.
              CHRIS

              Well, we're safe for now. Thank goodness we're in a bowling alley.
              - Pleasantville

              Comment

              • Peter Nielsen
                Super Senior Member
                • Sep 2004
                • 1188

                #8
                Originally posted by Chris D
                Yes, especially if you read the Parasound white paper there, you'll see that the CD 1 really is its own self-contained computer, running on the Linux OS. Sure, you can build your own, but it seems the designers here have really gone all out in selecting components and building paths and connectors to get nanosecond-timing, error-free sampling, and jitter-free results. Something else you run into when building computer audio is EMI and/or mechanical noise entering the audio stream.
                Right. This is why I suggest getting a ready made media player like the Logitech Transporter, Bryston BDP-1, Sonos, or similar. Then you don't have to build the playback hardware yourself.

                Ripping the CDs on a computer will yield better or equal results to any CD-player. The advantage with ripping is that *if* you have a troublesome CD, the PC can spend a longer time than usual trying to recover the bits than what can be done when playing back in real-time and the "show must go on". When ripping, it's fine for the PC to stop and work a minute or two to try to recover a few seconds of imperfect bits.

                But, yeah, the Parasound CD player is targeted to those select customers that still have not realized the convenience and advantage to store your CDs losslessly ripped. (Anybody who cares about his CD library should do this regardless due to CD rot. Those discs won't stay good forever).

                Comment

                • r100gs
                  Senior Member
                  • May 2005
                  • 321

                  #9
                  Nice looking unit! Would love to have that in my collection.
                  Jay

                  Comment

                  • Lex
                    Moderator Emeritus
                    • Apr 2001
                    • 27461

                    #10
                    It is a nice looking piece of equipment. I've never been a fan of stationary drives with slot fed access. I am sure there are benefits in some regards by this, but I still like a tray.

                    I admit, I am old school, I still prefer media to a computer.
                    Doug
                    "I'm out there Jerry, and I'm loving every minute of it!" - Kramer

                    Comment

                    • Peter Nielsen
                      Super Senior Member
                      • Sep 2004
                      • 1188

                      #11
                      Originally posted by Lex
                      It is a nice looking piece of equipment. I've never been a fan of stationary drives with slot fed access. I am sure there are benefits in some regards by this, but I still like a tray.
                      I agree - I would be worried that the slot feed scratches the disc. What happens if you're tired and don't insert the disc straight?...

                      Originally posted by Lex
                      I admit, I am old school, I still prefer media to a computer.
                      I prefer to buy my music in tangible form and rip, scan, and store it on a computer that gives me a nice interface to randomly access my +2000 CD library. That way I'm never too lazy to access a song and I don't risk scratching a disc.

                      I still have not paid for music in lossy form (MP3) and I hope to be able to keep it that way :B

                      Comment

                      • Peter Nielsen
                        Super Senior Member
                        • Sep 2004
                        • 1188

                        #12
                        With CD-rot you will want to have a backup of all your CDs regardless. The myth is busted: CDs are not forever... http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/cds-tru...vity-mold-rot/

                        Comment

                        • Alaric
                          Ultra Senior Member
                          • Jan 2006
                          • 4143

                          #13
                          You're right. I have not done any recent research. It seems like ripping SACD finally became possible as recently as 18 months ago. Unfortunately it requires a PS3 loaded with specific firmware. The number of SACDs I own (less than a dozen) would not justify the purchase of a PS3 and going through the hoops to rip.
                          Our very own Jon Marsh has posted some very nice work in that area. Impressive stuff. And , I don't think there is a PS3 in sight! LOL. Very interesting stuff here http://www.htguide.com/forum/showthr...4&page=1&pp=35
                          A very good read , parallel to the initial subject of the thread. A twofer! It (ripping DSD) starts at post #18. :T
                          Lee

                          Marantz PM7200-RIP
                          Marantz PM-KI Pearl
                          Schiit Modi 3
                          Marantz CD5005
                          Paradigm Studio 60 v.3

                          Comment

                          • Peter Nielsen
                            Super Senior Member
                            • Sep 2004
                            • 1188

                            #14
                            Originally posted by Alaric
                            I don't think there is a PS3 in sight!
                            No, it's more complicated/expensive than the PS3 solution: "It involves a custom modified player" :B

                            Comment

                            • r100gs
                              Senior Member
                              • May 2005
                              • 321

                              #15
                              CD rot or not ,still looks like fine piece of gear to me. Proper care of a CD and the proper environment can make it last a long time. I've had more hard drive crashes and not one CD rot. Go figure.
                              Jay

                              Comment

                              • Peter Nielsen
                                Super Senior Member
                                • Sep 2004
                                • 1188

                                #16
                                Originally posted by r100gs
                                CD rot or not ,still looks like fine piece of gear to me. Proper care of a CD and the proper environment can make it last a long time. I've had more hard drive crashes and not one CD rot. Go figure.

                                Sure, it's a fine piece of gear, but how useful is it? :B :T

                                CD-rot is most prominent with CDs manufactured in the early 90's. I have a dozen CDs that are seriously affected although they were always treated well: always kept in their jewel cases and completely scratch free. It all comes down to how carefully the CDs were manufactured. Even with ideal handling and storage condtions, CDs will still degrade with time. How quickly or slowly that happens depends on manufacturing quality...

                                One CD manufactured in the end of the 90's that I ripped in 2006 is today unreadable. (I remember it was one of the CDs that I had trouble ripping error-free back then, which is what prompted me to try it today). The CD in question is completely scratch free, but it has changed color from silver to violet due to CD rot.

                                Hard drive crashes? Who cares. The hard drive needs to be backed up too...

                                Comment

                                • r100gs
                                  Senior Member
                                  • May 2005
                                  • 321

                                  #17
                                  Originally posted by Peter Nielsen
                                  Sure, it's a fine piece of gear, but how useful is it? :B :T

                                  CD-rot is most prominent with CDs manufactured in the early 90's. I have a dozen CDs that are seriously affected although they were always treated well: always kept in their jewel cases and completely scratch free. It all comes down to how carefully the CDs were manufactured. Even with ideal handling and storage condtions, CDs will still degrade with time. How quickly or slowly that happens depends on manufacturing quality...

                                  One CD manufactured in the end of the 90's that I ripped in 2006 is today unreadable. (I remember it was one of the CDs that I had trouble ripping error-free back then, which is what prompted me to try it today). The CD in question is completely scratch free, but it has changed color from silver to violet due to CD rot.

                                  Hard drive crashes? Who cares. The hard drive needs to be backed up too...
                                  How useful is it? It plays CD's. Hard drives crashes?, even backed up, I care. How are your JC1's doing? :rofl:
                                  Jay

                                  Comment

                                  • Alaric
                                    Ultra Senior Member
                                    • Jan 2006
                                    • 4143

                                    #18
                                    CDs will still degrade with time.
                                    A valid point. CDs aren't all that loses info , however. Isn't all digitally recorded/stored music suffering a certain degree of loss? Hence the use of the word 'sampling'? 'Lossless' just means you didn't lose enough (in theory) to be noticeable. Each backup that is used in case of minor or major catastrophe on a HDD is a little less than the material it copied , which was a little less than the CD. I can't remember if it was Robert Heinlen or an episode of Star Trek TNG that mentioned 'replicative fading' in reference to cloning a clone , but the theory applies here , too. Each time a copy is made from a copy you lose information. Is it enough to be noticed in a lifetime? I have no idea , but it's the sort of question that would drive me nuts. :B

                                    So I guess that's one vote in favor of the Halo CD1. In theory , anyway. And at my age my CDs will likely outlive me-not so much my hard drive.
                                    Lee

                                    Marantz PM7200-RIP
                                    Marantz PM-KI Pearl
                                    Schiit Modi 3
                                    Marantz CD5005
                                    Paradigm Studio 60 v.3

                                    Comment

                                    • Peter Nielsen
                                      Super Senior Member
                                      • Sep 2004
                                      • 1188

                                      #19
                                      Originally posted by r100gs
                                      How are your JC1's doing? :rofl:
                                      I don't have a clue. I sold all 11 of them back in summer 2006 when I moved on to TacT. TacT in turn went history summer 2012 (the company literally went incommunicado) so I was forced to move on to JBL Synthesis... :B

                                      Back in late 2006 I spent $3,000 on the Lyngdorf CD-1. I probably played 10 CDs in it until I sold it a year later. It was a great player, but I had no use for it. YMMV :T

                                      Oh, but yes, the Lyngdorf was pretty and neat looking in my TacT stack. Back when I had the Parasound stack I would happily have gotten a Halo CD or DVD player just for the good looks. I actually got the Halo T3 tuner (visible in my avatar) just because I thought it would look good in the stack. I don't think I ever hooked it up... :B

                                      Comment

                                      • Peter Nielsen
                                        Super Senior Member
                                        • Sep 2004
                                        • 1188

                                        #20
                                        Originally posted by Alaric
                                        A valid point. CDs aren't all that loses info , however. Isn't all digitally recorded/stored music suffering a certain degree of loss? Hence the use of the word 'sampling'? 'Lossless' just means you didn't lose enough (in theory) to be noticeable.
                                        There's a big difference between sampling and lossy compresson. HUGE difference and no direct relation at all between the two. Please study the subject.

                                        Originally posted by Alaric
                                        AEach backup that is used in case of minor or major catastrophe on a HDD is a little less than the material it copied , which was a little less than the CD.
                                        IT CERTAINLY IS NOT. A bitwise copy is a literal copy unless errors are introduced. Hard drive backup should be error free bitwise copies unless something goes very wrong.

                                        Your TNG copy analogy applies to (analog) TAPE copies and not to bitwise digital copies!

                                        Comment

                                        • Alaric
                                          Ultra Senior Member
                                          • Jan 2006
                                          • 4143

                                          #21
                                          That would be why the multiple questions and use of the word theory. I know from personal experience that my videos do suffer from copying , but it may very well be poor software implementation rather than an inherently flawed mechanical process. I do love the learning process here! In the interest of full disclosure I should also admit vinyl is my favorite media.
                                          Lee

                                          Marantz PM7200-RIP
                                          Marantz PM-KI Pearl
                                          Schiit Modi 3
                                          Marantz CD5005
                                          Paradigm Studio 60 v.3

                                          Comment

                                          • Peter Nielsen
                                            Super Senior Member
                                            • Sep 2004
                                            • 1188

                                            #22
                                            Originally posted by Alaric
                                            I know from personal experience that my videos do suffer from copying , but it may very well be poor software implementation rather than an inherently flawed mechanical process.
                                            Right. It all depends on how things are copied and what formats are used in the process. Let's take music and the WAV and MP3 formats for example. WAV is lossless and MP3 is lossy. If you make a bitwise copy of the music file without encoding and decoding, the copy is identical (lossless) regardless of format. However, if you play back (decode) the file first and then record (encode) the file, then MP3 will suffer a loss and degrade with each copy (encoding) whereas the WAV will stay identical.

                                            Comment

                                            • Chris D
                                              Moderator Emeritus
                                              • Dec 2000
                                              • 16877

                                              #23
                                              For those who haven't seen, the CD 1 is on Parasound's website now. Also a link to the tech white paper. Can't remember if I posted this already.

                                              CHRIS

                                              Well, we're safe for now. Thank goodness we're in a bowling alley.
                                              - Pleasantville

                                              Comment

                                              • r100gs
                                                Senior Member
                                                • May 2005
                                                • 321

                                                #24
                                                Originally posted by Chris D
                                                For those who haven't seen, the CD 1 is on Parasound's website now. Also a link to the tech white paper. Can't remember if I posted this already.

                                                http://parasound.com/halo/cd1.php
                                                Thanks Chris, the white pages make for an interesting read. The price still breaks my balls.
                                                Jay

                                                Comment

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