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Well I have both the RSP1098 and C1 side by side and I have had the C1 a full week and have played CD, DVD, Satellite TV's and am ready to give a general comparison of strengths and weaknesses.
COMPARING the CD source in Stereo the sound on the Halo was was much richer than the Rotel. The Bass tones more evident, mid range was full and deep and a general feeling of warmth that we used to have with tube Amps back way when. The Rotel was missing in the mids and Bass tones were light and cold and sterile when compared to the Parasound.
The C1 in Dvd mode I found the separation of sound distinct, maybe more detailed, yet less info dispersed if its not meant to be. I used a Radio shack spl and got everything even but felt the fronts and center had more weight then the surrounds in DD and PrologicII than the Rotel processer which shared the sound around more..
Ease of use of the Rotel seems easier. Firstly the larger LCD had information actually "readable" where as the Parasound you have to be at least 6 feet "directly" in front of it. Then you are really not sure of your 'mode' chosen so you have to get up and take a look closer while everyone is watching a movie and play with a few buttons. Maybe this will change as I get confident the system will chose DD3.2/1 first as the best choice. Rotel had preprogrammable "defaults" which means when a DVD is the source, the first choice will always be, not just the last one you used. It will always chose first choice DD OR DTS if its offered. It will always chose PrologicII for satellite if that was the default, even if you change it temporarily. Then you can shut down or change the source mode and it will always go back to Prologic II as thats the default not just the last choice of mode. The LCD as a readable ally is not your best friend with the C1 system.
I had read a review that the "reviewer" thought the sound on the C1 was superior than the C2 and that was the reason I went for the C1. I figured it can't just be $2000 more for a LCD !! I think it was Audioholics, he wasn't sure it might not have been his setup configurations that were entered diferently. I've read in previous threads from the club that Parasound people say there's no difference, but no one is sure sure.
I always thought the systems like Denon and Harmon Kardon where they had either a little diagram with which speakers were on or a green light for which sound system was playing on the front is easier than calling up a "status" on an lcd you can't read.
Ease of setup of the wiring": Rotel was easier and more evident as there were less choices and it wasn't clear firstly on the C1 which RCA inputs for the 5.1/7.1 with the 2 sets next to each other. After a quick look at the manual the right set was chosen. Then There was the choice of the analog video 3 and analog audio 3 inputs for analog sound. Which one corresponds to the #3 S-video input. I naturally chose the 'audio' 3, because I thought perhaps the 'video' 3 was a composite input for a picture on the lcd or something. After a call to the Parasound who are very helpful and its a one liner what to do (after spending 1 hour playing with the remote) the sound popped right up, as video 3, is actually the audio, which corresponds to s-video 3. The rest of the wiring was a no brainer for anyone with a little experience in home cinema.
Both the setup menus in the Rotel + Parasound guides you easily and the Parasound has less choices. The spl mic provided does not do the job and the radio shack spl found slight differences in 5 speakers, but enormous difference in the subwoofer. The inboard spl mic had 10db difference with the radio shack spl. This is "alot" and, IF I had gone with the inboard mic, I would have a "boomy" system and would have thought this was how it was supposed to be. So for all of you who rely on the inboard mic, its worth the investment to have a radio shack spl for $39 to run a cross check.
On the plus side for the Parasound there are controls if you like for treble and bass that do not exist for Rotel. Ebass for deeper bass at low volumes exists in both. A plus for Rotel is programmable speaker sizes for different different modes. In pure stereo you can select only the front 2 speakers. The default for surround mode will always be where the Rotel goes when switching between sources while the C1 goes and stays set on the last choice for the source. So with the C1 if you were watching Satellite TV and someone in your family played with the remote and accidentally touched a button to change from PrologicII to another surround choice it will stay that way until you manually change it. Rotel automatically keeps the default when switching back and forth and turning on and off. When you go back it automatically choses Prologic if that was the default for that source. This can be hazardous on the C1 if your wife or someone else hits the wrong button on the remote and you are not aware. This gives you less confidence and are checking the "status" often with an LCD you can't read except from close.
Both remotes can be preprogrammed and set up easily to go directly to the source and control the source with one button ease.
I can announce (for me) that Parasound has truer harmonics, and the separation of sound in 5.1 is clean and distinct. So far, ease of use is a bit worrisome, and it could be, that I am new to it, and haven't fully gotten confident, what it will produce. I will wait 1 month before making a complete Audioreview.com review so there can be no mistake caused by unfamiliarity.
So Far
STRONG POINTS
Great Stereo sound
Clean separation of DVD material
XLR inputs + ouputs, BNC component ins and outs
Great Remote
Warm harmonics
WEAKNESSES
Lcd lettering is not readable from a distance
Default settings overrided by "last choice" for source surround
Only one speaker "set" for each source (large vs small + which ones)
Also I found in Stereo mode there was NO signal to the subwoofer unless I switched to PrologicII music or cinema
No unbalanced bypass possible
CONCLUSION: The sound (to my taste of course) was better on the Parasound, so that is the choice. If the sound was equal, the Rotel offers more choices, more thought out, and an LCD that is clear and goes directly to the point. The XLR inputs and outputs, bnc inputs and outputs are great on the C1 to many this is important. "IF" the sound had been equal coming from both, I personally would chose the Rotel. However, the sound is warmer, deeper bass, more midtones and sharper highs with the Parasound. BOTTOM line is the best system is the system that SOUNDS the best. N'est Pas ?
System used for comparison:
Parasound Halo C1 and Rotel RSP 1098
Krell KAV 2250 2x250w
Krell Showcase Amp 5
Pioneer DV868avi
Rotel RCD1072
B&W 804s, 805s, Htm3s, Asw 825 1000watt
Nordost Solar Wind, interconnects + Speaker cable
[I]
COMPARING the CD source in Stereo the sound on the Halo was was much richer than the Rotel. The Bass tones more evident, mid range was full and deep and a general feeling of warmth that we used to have with tube Amps back way when. The Rotel was missing in the mids and Bass tones were light and cold and sterile when compared to the Parasound.
The C1 in Dvd mode I found the separation of sound distinct, maybe more detailed, yet less info dispersed if its not meant to be. I used a Radio shack spl and got everything even but felt the fronts and center had more weight then the surrounds in DD and PrologicII than the Rotel processer which shared the sound around more..
Ease of use of the Rotel seems easier. Firstly the larger LCD had information actually "readable" where as the Parasound you have to be at least 6 feet "directly" in front of it. Then you are really not sure of your 'mode' chosen so you have to get up and take a look closer while everyone is watching a movie and play with a few buttons. Maybe this will change as I get confident the system will chose DD3.2/1 first as the best choice. Rotel had preprogrammable "defaults" which means when a DVD is the source, the first choice will always be, not just the last one you used. It will always chose first choice DD OR DTS if its offered. It will always chose PrologicII for satellite if that was the default, even if you change it temporarily. Then you can shut down or change the source mode and it will always go back to Prologic II as thats the default not just the last choice of mode. The LCD as a readable ally is not your best friend with the C1 system.
I had read a review that the "reviewer" thought the sound on the C1 was superior than the C2 and that was the reason I went for the C1. I figured it can't just be $2000 more for a LCD !! I think it was Audioholics, he wasn't sure it might not have been his setup configurations that were entered diferently. I've read in previous threads from the club that Parasound people say there's no difference, but no one is sure sure.
I always thought the systems like Denon and Harmon Kardon where they had either a little diagram with which speakers were on or a green light for which sound system was playing on the front is easier than calling up a "status" on an lcd you can't read.
Ease of setup of the wiring": Rotel was easier and more evident as there were less choices and it wasn't clear firstly on the C1 which RCA inputs for the 5.1/7.1 with the 2 sets next to each other. After a quick look at the manual the right set was chosen. Then There was the choice of the analog video 3 and analog audio 3 inputs for analog sound. Which one corresponds to the #3 S-video input. I naturally chose the 'audio' 3, because I thought perhaps the 'video' 3 was a composite input for a picture on the lcd or something. After a call to the Parasound who are very helpful and its a one liner what to do (after spending 1 hour playing with the remote) the sound popped right up, as video 3, is actually the audio, which corresponds to s-video 3. The rest of the wiring was a no brainer for anyone with a little experience in home cinema.
Both the setup menus in the Rotel + Parasound guides you easily and the Parasound has less choices. The spl mic provided does not do the job and the radio shack spl found slight differences in 5 speakers, but enormous difference in the subwoofer. The inboard spl mic had 10db difference with the radio shack spl. This is "alot" and, IF I had gone with the inboard mic, I would have a "boomy" system and would have thought this was how it was supposed to be. So for all of you who rely on the inboard mic, its worth the investment to have a radio shack spl for $39 to run a cross check.
On the plus side for the Parasound there are controls if you like for treble and bass that do not exist for Rotel. Ebass for deeper bass at low volumes exists in both. A plus for Rotel is programmable speaker sizes for different different modes. In pure stereo you can select only the front 2 speakers. The default for surround mode will always be where the Rotel goes when switching between sources while the C1 goes and stays set on the last choice for the source. So with the C1 if you were watching Satellite TV and someone in your family played with the remote and accidentally touched a button to change from PrologicII to another surround choice it will stay that way until you manually change it. Rotel automatically keeps the default when switching back and forth and turning on and off. When you go back it automatically choses Prologic if that was the default for that source. This can be hazardous on the C1 if your wife or someone else hits the wrong button on the remote and you are not aware. This gives you less confidence and are checking the "status" often with an LCD you can't read except from close.
Both remotes can be preprogrammed and set up easily to go directly to the source and control the source with one button ease.
I can announce (for me) that Parasound has truer harmonics, and the separation of sound in 5.1 is clean and distinct. So far, ease of use is a bit worrisome, and it could be, that I am new to it, and haven't fully gotten confident, what it will produce. I will wait 1 month before making a complete Audioreview.com review so there can be no mistake caused by unfamiliarity.
So Far
STRONG POINTS
Great Stereo sound
Clean separation of DVD material
XLR inputs + ouputs, BNC component ins and outs
Great Remote
Warm harmonics
WEAKNESSES
Lcd lettering is not readable from a distance
Default settings overrided by "last choice" for source surround
Only one speaker "set" for each source (large vs small + which ones)
Also I found in Stereo mode there was NO signal to the subwoofer unless I switched to PrologicII music or cinema
No unbalanced bypass possible
CONCLUSION: The sound (to my taste of course) was better on the Parasound, so that is the choice. If the sound was equal, the Rotel offers more choices, more thought out, and an LCD that is clear and goes directly to the point. The XLR inputs and outputs, bnc inputs and outputs are great on the C1 to many this is important. "IF" the sound had been equal coming from both, I personally would chose the Rotel. However, the sound is warmer, deeper bass, more midtones and sharper highs with the Parasound. BOTTOM line is the best system is the system that SOUNDS the best. N'est Pas ?
System used for comparison:
Parasound Halo C1 and Rotel RSP 1098
Krell KAV 2250 2x250w
Krell Showcase Amp 5
Pioneer DV868avi
Rotel RCD1072
B&W 804s, 805s, Htm3s, Asw 825 1000watt
Nordost Solar Wind, interconnects + Speaker cable
[I]
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