Is anyone else getting tired of waiting?

[phansson]

I have been waiting to pull the trigger on a c1/c2 for about 3 months now. I am very disappointed with the time frame that Parasound as a company has given the consumers. I think I would be happy if they would at least come out with a formal list of what we are waiting for. That is really all I would like to know. :Z

[nicholtl]

What they're releasing exactly has yet to be seen, but there's only 7 days until we find out, so...

[Chris D]

I hear you, phansson. We've been waiting for Halo upgrades ever since they first came out 2 years ago, or whatever it was. Can't wait, hopefully next week!

[SpOoNmAn]

I really dont care what we get, I love my Halo gear as is. I really dont need any upgrades, as I probably wont use any of them anyways.

what is rumored to be coming?

[nicholtl]

A girl in a cake?

[SpOoNmAn]

ok, I'll take that, lol.

:E

[will1066]

Choice of color LEDs?
John Curl-autographed gold-colored faceplate option?
Fourth-subwoofer output module?

[Chris D]

Well now, I guess those are pretty new suggestions!

[Peter Nielsen]

John Curl-autographed gold-colored faceplate option?

LOL, why not go the whole nine yards and provide a John Curl-autographed SOLID GOLD faceplate option for "only" $19,995.00. Everyone will want one ...:rofl:

Seriously, am I the only one thinking that the "Parasound" logo (and other front panel text) is very hard to read because of the color combination. Somtimes it almost looks like you have "noname" products simply becase the text isn't legible or even visible in certain light conditions...


Peter

[phansson]

Does anyone really have any idea of what we are waiting for? what are the rumours?

[Peter Nielsen]

Does anyone really have any idea of what we are waiting for? what are the rumours?

DPLIIx will most definitely be there since the new Classic 7100 has it...

Peter

[P-Stone]

I guess we're talking firmware upgrades here. What about the hardware upgrades? HDMI switching, etc. AND of course, new gear such as a DVD player... :roll:

P..

[nicholtl]

I don't think there will be any hardware upgrades that come along with the firmware one that will be released in 6 days, now. I hope there will be, but I doubt it. I'm not sure Parasound is ready for all of us to start shipping out units back to them for hardware installation.

[Chris D]

Well, if they release a hardware upgrade, they're going to have to, sooner or later, really. Now if it's all EXTERNAL for some reason (which I don't think it would be) there's a potential for it to be just a direct additional purchase.

[bhuskins]

patience people...

Brent Huskins
Media Design

[phansson]

Well after talking to someone on this forum, they believed that the Motorola chips that are on the C1/C2 right now cannot handle the DPLIIx sound processing. They were going to have to do a hardware upgrade first. Of course I might have misunderstood(wouldn't be the first time).

So what we are waiting for is DPLIIx? That is ALL they are doing????

[bhuskins]

No and no...

DPLIIx is eminent and WILL NOT require a hardware update.

There are SEVERAL other software enhancements that will be included with the DPLIIx upgrade at the same time. A few surprises too...exclusive to Parasound. These added items may bump the release date a couple of weeks, but trust me it will be worth it. Dec 15th looks like it will a little, but not much. I'll keep you guys posted as I can divulge more info.

thanks,

Brent Huskins
Media Design

[Kingdaddy]

Well after talking to someone on this forum, they believed that the Motorola chips that are on the C1/C2 right now cannot handle the DPLIIx sound processing.

I don’t believe anyone designs a Processor based unit without leaving a good amount of upgrade capacity IMO, just doesn’t make sense. Processor power is relatively cheap. Anyway, I'm sure the existing EPROM has more then enough power to add EQ, DPL2x and some more DSP modes. Any major hardware upgrade like HDMI/DVI or extra analog outs will cost you good, anytime you have to add a chassis you add $200 retail.

BTW
Brent Huskins:

I'm about to pull the trigger on a Panasonic AE700 FP and a da-lite motorized screen, can you help?

[SpOoNmAn]

I dont have to worry about the timing. Mr. Schram guaranteed that when my C2 is returned to me within a week or so, it will have all the pieces parts everyones clamoring over :T

[Kingdaddy]

Please do tell, if you can.. I already have a good idea, but I cant be for sure.

[SpOoNmAn]

I wont know until I get it back in my hands with a list of upgrades :W

[Chris D]

Oh yeah... Spoonman, you may be the first of us. We're counting on you for a full and descriptive explanation.

[SpOoNmAn]

Count on it :T

They receive it next Monday, so maybe they'll work on it before Christmas and get it back out to me.

[Rags]

Just in case anyone missed my post on the sticky here it is again -

Ok I know there is going to be an official announcement soon but I cant hold it in any longer. The new software will feature amongst other things -

1. Dolby Pro Logic IIX
2. Better bass management (cut off frequency adj in 5Hz increments from 20-200Hz) but will not allow different settings for different sources
3. Party mode will now include the back channels
4. Lipsync correction
5. Six independant bass and treble turnover points
6. DSP 96Khz sampling for bass and treble adjustment (not sure what this means)

There may be other things but these are the main upgrades. No hardware changes atm.

Enjoy!

[Chris D]

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeenteresting....

[_PM]

Nice lipsync!

[nicholtl]

Could someone explain what bass and treble "turnover" points means? Does this mean independant crossover settings for each channel?

[Kingdaddy]

I confused, what is the due date now, or are we back in limbo.

[nicholtl]

Back in limbo for another few weeks, I think?

[emillika]

Big surprise that it is pushed out again. I find it discouraging that Parasound doesn't make a statement about what is and what is not happening. I have been patient for the last year or so waiting for something.. anything.

I would like a dvd player that is on par with the quality of the c1/c2/a51 and jc1's.
I would like dvi/hdmi inputs... I only ran one dvi cable to my projector and it seems I will be adding at least one more dvi component soon. It would be nice if I as the consumer had a choice whether or not to do video switching in the unit.

[phansson]

I agree, It seems like the upgrade list is OK but not great.

No HDMI/DVI switching? No room correction?

Come on Parasound. You make a great product but are about a year behind everyone else on these items.

[Rags]

No HDMI/DVI switching? No room correction?

Come on Parasound. You make a great product but are about a year behind everyone else on these items.

Not sure what you mean by "a year behind everyone else" ? How many processors out there at the moment offer HDMI switching and room correction ? Tbh I cant think of any that offer both apart from maybe the Meridian G series but I havent seen the detailed specs. Only three available in the European market offer full room EQ - Lexicon M12 V4 (approx $11,000 8O), Meridian G Series ($8,000 8O) and the TAG DP (not available new any longer). That hardly makes the C1 / C2 are a year behind everyone on these items.

[Peter Nielsen]

No HDMI/DVI switching?

My guess is that this will be available in the form of a plug-in card. The new expansion slot on the 7100 looks to be identical with the ones on the HALO C1/C2...

Let those that need it pay for it :B

No room correction?

That's the only thing I really miss in the C2. I even e-mailed Parasound about it and asked them to put it on the C2 "wishlist". In a personal reply from Richard Schram, Richard tells me that "I should not give up on my wishlist" (I don't remember the exact wording). Evidently this is one of the many features that are planned...

Peter

[Peter Nielsen]

Not sure what you mean by "a year behind everyone else" ? How many processors out there at the moment offer HDMI switching and room correction ?

AFAIK The Krell Showcase offers room correction, however not with auto-calibration since it doesn't have a cal mic input... I'm hoping that once Parasound gets this implemented, it will come with fully automated calibration too. Just sit down and relax while it is calibrating ;h

Peter

[Rags]

Your right - the Krell Showcase has it but it is more basic than something like the MC12 and even some top end integrateds. The point still holds though - HDMI switching is at present virtually non existent on processors and Room Eq isnt exactly common place either. At least Parasound are trying and all options are being kept open for existing Halo customers.

[phansson]

Rags,

I am not trying to be a pain. Yes you are right that there are very few processors/receivers that have HDMI/DVI switching and room correction. I think that the meridian and a Sony receiver are the only ones that do. If you think that any newer model processors that come out in the next year will not do both(especially high end), I think you are mistaken. And by the way room correction models off the top of my head

Yamaha 5 models
denon 3 models (5305 has both HDMI/DVI switching)
Sony 5 models (top end model has both HDMI/DVI switching)
Pioneer 5 models
lexicon 1 model
meridian 1 model
tag mclaren 2 models (I think you can add HDMI/DVI switching)

That is around 20 models without doing research. To me that makes them common place. I know that most are very rudimentary try's but it is at least a start.

The HDMI/DVI switching isn't really all that important to me because I would rather run straight to my source anyway. The room correction is a big bummer to me. You can get a Denon receiver now for under $1000 that has some kind of room correction.

I am not bashing Parasound. I have four of their amps. I really enjoy them. I would really like to have a C1/C2 but without either digital video switching or room correction of some kind it does seem that they are behind IMHO.

I have a Lexicon MC-1 which is 3 years old. I am not totally happy with the sound. I was looking at the MC-12 with V.4 but the price keeps me away.

[Peter Nielsen]

I am not bashing Parasound. I have four of their amps. I really enjoy them. I would really like to have a C1/C2 but without either digital video switching or room correction of some kind it does seem that they are behind IMHO.

They are probably trying to do it right from the start...

I'm hoping for full 1/3 octave correction for each channel. Hopefully with automatic calibration too...

Is there ANY controller on the market that does this. Or are my hopes too high...

Peter

[phansson]

Your hopes might not be to high but the price of what you are looking for puts you into the Meridian and the Lexicon I believe.

The lexicon works on decay times also which is pretty neat. The MC-12 only does room correction up to 250 Hz.

The Meridian takes measurements and then you download them to a computer to chew on. You also control the "curve" of your room by changing it to your desired curve. I guess it doesn't have the processing power. Then you upload the program to the processor.

[Rags]

Rags,

If you think that any newer model processors that come out in the next year will not do both(especially high end), I think you are mistaken.

I never said that. At present Parasound is probably like the rest of its competitors working on upgrade / new models etc that will have these facilities.

Unfortunately most of the examples you have given in your post are not direct competitors - the likes of Sony, Yamaha, Denon & Pioneer bring out a new integrated every couple of months and so the comparison is unfair. Judged agaisnt the Japanese manufacturers every specialist seperates manufacturer would not be considered upto date in terms of features.

When talking about Parasound you must compare them to manufacturers of the same ilk (ie Lexicon, Meridian, Krell, Rotel, Arcam, Classe, Primare etc). Given these manufacturers currently only have 2 models between them that have Room EQ (the G68 and Lex MC12 - ignoring TAG as I am not sure that they are still available new) and none that have HDMI switching then how can you say that Parasound are behind the ballgame ?

[Peter Nielsen]

The Meridian takes measurements and then you download them to a computer to chew on. You also control the "curve" of your room by changing it to your desired curve. I guess it doesn't have the processing power. Then you upload the program to the processor.

Very sweet, I love that! :B

[phansson]

Rags,

I know that many on that list are receivers. I agree with you and don't consider those direct competitors. But in your original post you said that Parasound is not behind? Can you tell me why you feel that way?

Does anyone actually use the BNC component/v sync/h sync inputs on the back of the c1/c2? My first HDTV I purchased 4 years ago had those hook ups. They are completely obsolete now.Don't get me wrong I like the parasound product I just feel that there wasn't much to this upgrade after waiting 1.5 years!!!

Sorry, If Parasound was my company I would have been all over the room correction DVI thing. It isn't like this is a new technology. My Infocus 7200 has DVI and it is over 2 years old!!

[Peter Nielsen]

Does anyone actually use the BNC component/v sync/h sync inputs on the back of the c1/c2?

Only NTSC sources use YPrPb component video. NTSC is used in the Americas and Japan. All of Europe and Australia use almost exclusively PAL (there is the French SECAM, but it is more or less dying). The 21-pin SCART connector is overwhelmingly popular and most European equipment has one. The SCART uses RGB+Combined Synch, but RGBHV is also very common and is the only game in professional equipment.

Without RGBHV it would be impossible to sell the equipment outside the US...

To answer your question: Yes. My Vigatec scaler outputs RGBHV and my JVC G15 projector takes RGBHV input... (However, the Vigatec is an 8-source switcher by itself, so I don't actually use the switching facility of the C2 as the C2 is way too limited in this area. Some day I will probably get a Crestron controller and interconnect the C2 with the Vigatec for seamless automatic switching).

Peter

[phansson]

Peter I am not familiar with the JVC G15. Does it have DVI input?

The reason I ask is because i have my Denon 5900 ran via DVI to my IF7200 and the picture is spectacular. I had ran it via component once and the picture looked soft.

[nicholtl]

You guys are so hard to please. It must keep your wives on their toes!

[Peter Nielsen]

Peter I am not familiar with the JVC G15. Does it have DVI input?

Nope, too old for that. I purchased it back in 2000. Street price was around $13000 at the time (plus another $5000 for the Vigatec scaler).
Picture quality is great thanks to the tight pixel arrangement of the 3 D-ILA panels and the uniformity of the Xenon bulb. Unfortunately bulb cost is very high at $750 / 1000 hours, otherwise these projectors would be a true steal today when you can get like-new used ones for below $3000. Oh, and its 12 fans makes it noisy too. The C2 measures 52dB background noise at the listening position with the G15 ceiling mounted :E. Definitely needs a hush-box...

BTW, the reason your picture looks soft with component is probably becase your projector's AD converter and/or processing are not up to the task. It is fully possible to get 100% pixel-sharp image with component or RGBHV. This is why I'm using an external scaler and feeding the projector with its native resolution. Feeding unscaled DVD component directly to the G15 looks like crap compared to what a high quality scaler will do.

You will probably need a good scaler if you want to watch "good" quality (S-)VHS with your projector, since I doubt your VCR has a DVI output :W

Peter