Halo D3

[hamtor]

What has happend to this product? has it been cancelled?

[Chris D]

No word yet. I could have sworn that we were going to get a gamut of information and releases in mid-March, but it didn't happen. The last I heard, info on the DVD players was coming out very shortly, but it's been a while. I'm still waiting with baited breath.

[psychdoc]

The longer it takes, the less this all makes sense. Read any Hometheater magazine lately and all you will read about are the soon-to-be released HD/Blu-ray players. I'm already thinking that the Blu-ray pioner elite player will look nice in my stack. I would much rather buy a parasound player but how many years will that take????

[kfr01]

The longer it takes, the less this all makes sense. Read any Hometheater magazine lately and all you will read about are the soon-to-be released HD/Blu-ray players. I'm already thinking that the Blu-ray pioner elite player will look nice in my stack. I would much rather buy a parasound player but how many years will that take????

I'm guessing Parasound is thinking the same thing.... same case... HDDVD/BLU-RAY innards?

[J.H.]

It never made sense to me. Its jusy WAY too late in the SD-DVD game for a extremely high end player. I hope Parasound knows what its doing because projects like this can sink a company financially. J.H.

[Peter Nielsen]

Well, "Extreme High End" would IMHO imply a cost of $10,000+. At $2,300 the D3 is hardly in the "extreme" category... "Budget category of high end" is probably more appropriate...

Anyway, I agree. Parasound really needs to make it available now...

Peter

[marcus]

see www.csesolutions.co.uk
official U.K. distributors. . .THEY seem confident of the spec. . .NO HD player :x

[Chris D]

Interesting site. Here's the pics they have of the D3:

[Chris D]

And here's the specs they post:

Universal Disc Player

Disc Formats:
DVD-V, DVD-A, DVD-R, DVD-RW, SACD, CD, DTS 24/96, CD-R, CD-RW
VCD, S-VCD, JPEG Images, MP3, DivX, WMA

Analogue Audio Outputs:
2: Front L/R - Down mix - XLR
2: Front L/R - Down mix – RCA
2: Front L/R - RCA
1: Centre - RCA
1: LFE - RCA
2: Surround L/R - RCA

Digital Audio Outputs:
1: Coaxial - RCA
1: Optical - TosLink

Digital-To-Analogue Conversion:
PCM Playback - CD / DVD-A etc
24-bit/192kHz Architecture all channels
SACD
Pure DSD Conversion all channels

DVD-A / SACD Audio Settings:
Defeat-able Video Circuitry
DVD-A
Bass Management / Time Alignment
SACD
Bass Management (DSD or PCM)
Time Alignment (PCM Mode)

Video Outputs:
1: HDMI (HDCP)
2: Component Video - 1: RCA - 1: BNC
2: S-video
2: Composite Video - RCA
Continuously Active Analogue & HDMI Video Outputs

Analogue Video Section:
Precision 12-bit / 216MHz Video D>A Conversion
Faroudja FLI-2310 DCDI™ De-Interlacer (PAL / NTSC)
Resolution - 480i / 480p / 576i / 576p

Digital Video Section - HDMI Output:
Faroudja FLI-2310 DCDI™ De-Interlacer (PAL / NTSC)
10-bit Professional Video Scaler
Resolution - 480p / 576p / 720p / 1080i

Video Equalisation Parameters:
DNR / CNR
Sharpness: High / Mid / Detail
Brightness / Contrast / Hue
Chroma Level / Chroma Delay / Gamma Level
Black Set Up
Six Auto Settings / Three User Memories

Control Features:
3.5mm IR Input + Loop Output
9-Pin D-Sub Two Way RS232

Rack Mounting Option available.
D3: 3 Rack Units

Dimensions:
W 431mm x D 400mm x H 147mm (With Feet)



Guide retail price : £2200 (1 x Unit)

[bhuskins]

The new Halo price sheet list the retail price at $2,500 in the US versus previously announced $2,300.

[psychdoc]

Hmmmmm, I think they have it backwards. They need to chop their price down on a product that is making less and less sense as the weeks and months pass by.

[audioarchitect]

Actually Parasound and a few other "quality-oriented" brands are releasing new universals. $2500 is a bargain compared to other overpriced underperforming players like Classe, Krell, Esoteric, etc.

NAD has the Master Series
Arcam has a new 1080p HDMI unit on the way

I would take the Halo D3 over both of them, and I wouldnt touch an HD format with a ten foot pole until they rest on ONE format and release HDMI 1.3 which is still a least a year off.

[marcus]

which is still a least a year off.

. . . .Then so possibly is my next player purchase!

[Peter Nielsen]

The new Halo price sheet list the retail price at $2,500 in the US versus previously announced $2,300.

Brent,

Any news on when we will be able to buy the D3? (Or to put it in other words; When can Parasound deliver D3s?)

Thanks,
Peter

[hays0023]

I want one too!!!

[Chris D]

Ditto.

[J.H.]

Why not just get one of the Toshiba HD players for 500$ that does excellent upconverting and HD-DVD. I just bought one and dude the upconverting is INCREDIBLE! I was exremely pleasantly surprised at how great it looks. My first HD-DVD should be here from Netflix today or tomorrow so I will let you know how that looks. J.H.

[Chris D]

Oh yeah? Interesting. With the various issues going on with HD-DVD and Blu-Ray, I'm going to wait a generation, though.

[jkscherk]

I was waiting for the D3 until yesterday. I gave up. I picked up a new Marantz 9600 instead. I got a great deal on it and for the difference in price between it and the D3, I can't imagine spending the extra $$$. If the D3 comes out and bests the 9600 by a significant margin, maybe I'll still pickup a D3, but I doubt that it will be that much of an improvement if any.

[J.H.]

So you throw away $500 big deal. HD-DVD is going no where its going to be around a long time. I cannot for the life of me see throwing away $2,500 on a non HD-DVD player that only upconverts. The HD-A1 does both and if in a year or so there no more HD-DVD [I highly doubt this] I still have an incredible upconverting DVD player. Believe me its that good. I watched "The polar express" and wow it knocked my socks off. Then again I also got Lasik eye surgery yesterday and MAN DOES EVERYTHING LOOK AWESOME! My glasses could not come close to these results. Colors are more real and everything is CRISP! This is after only 2 days. I have 20/20 in one eye and 20/25 in the other after 1 DAY! I should have done thing 5 years ago. Sorry for going off topic but I am so excited about the Lasik results I had to say something. J.H.

[slayer]

Wow, I'm blown away by this topic.
J.H. How is the SACD and DVD-audio on that new Toshiba you just bought? Oh yeah, it won't play them will it. Have you thought about that? Maybe some of the consumers out hear still believe in these Hi Res audio formats and have spent some money on their SACD/DVD-A music. Even if these formats die, we still need a quality player to enjoy them. Parasound is late getting it to the market only because it could have come sooner. There is still a need for these players. There are a lot of Audiophiles out there that need a nice Universal player. Where do you play you regular CDs? You can't expect that $500 HD-DVD player to be a very good CD player. I'm sure it works fine but it won't compare to a unit like the D3 or the Marantz mentioned above.
Now, when the new HD players start playing the above formats on top of the HD video, then we have a debate. Until then, someone needs to offer these players.
As far as my purchase of the D3 when it comes out, it will be for audio reasons only. I will use it as my DVD player until someone comes out with a High End HD player. I'm not going to spend a dime on a first gen unit. And it won't be HD-DVD either. BluRay is going to be the winner here. Every major studio is on board with them, only a few have also got on board with HD-DVD. I'm sure both are incredible, but it sounds like they are picking sides. Just politics I'm sure.
Sorry to rag, some people just are not understanding the need for Universals. It bothers me to hear someone say it is a waste of money on an old technology upconverting dvd player when it's more about the SACD, DVD-Audio, and CD.
If all I wanted was a dvd player, then yes it would be a waste.

[J.H.]

Your talking to a guy who had DVD-AUDIO the day it came out and I LOVE IT! I love it so much I have not bought a new DVD-AUDIO in a year or more. I am not going to base everything I buy on that format. There is no reason at all to buy a upconverting DVD player for $2,500. There just isn't sorry. Also I can always if i miss it that much buy an analog extender that that has two analog inputs and use my old DVD-AUDIO player. Also I LOVE PARASOUND TOO but its too late and giant mistake to release this now. Also do not be so sure Blu-ray will win this fight. J.H.

[audioarchitect]

D3 in June!

[mikepinkerton]

If you're feeding the digital out of the cd player to your C2 and using the C2s DAC's, why won't a $200 cd player fit the bill? I can't see how the drive mechanism would impact the bits coming off the disc.

-Mike

[nicholtl]

Maybe somebody is afraid of laser pickup assembly, disc platter stability or quality of transport mechanism?

[mikepinkerton]

And the quantum stability matrix may not align with the pickup bypass capacitor.


-Mike

[Whistler]

If you're feeding the digital out of the cd player to your C2 and using the C2s DAC's, why won't a $200 cd player fit the bill? I can't see how the drive mechanism would impact the bits coming off the disc.

-Mike

That's why de VRDS-mechanism of the Teac-Esoteric are one of the best drives aviable just like the belt-drives from CEC . If you are pleased with the quality of a $200 CD-Player you can also buy a $50 CD-Player :P .

I hope the D3 will outperform my current Teac on audio-level, otherwise I see no reason to buy it. And why is there no 1080p .

[Rags]

Parasound as far as I can recall has no experience of DVD players. Regardless, for them to launch a DVD player at what is frankly close the end of the technology's life cycle is pretty pointless.

If you are still in the market for a top quality DVD player, go for one of these. Out soon. Arcam make fantastic players and this ones seems to have a decent scaler built in -

http://www.movement-audio.co.uk/website/arcam/arcam-dv137.htm

[audioarchitect]

DVD's technology lifecycle is not over. MOST people will not upgrade to the newer formats because they offer LITTLE benefit and LOTS of BS and connectivity issues. Sure many forum go'ers will disagree, but then again they are not joe public.

[Chris D]

For those who didn't read in the other threads, I got the latest official update direct from Parasound this week that D3's should be shipping July 15th, 2006. (I would assume the D200 as well)

[RJKuzma]

It's July 15th. There is nothing on the Halo web site about the D3. Is anyone surprised?

[bhuskins]

The "super exact official" dates are July 28th on the D200 initial shipment and August 4th for the D3 initial shipment. As always, Media Design will be offering introductory specials for past customers/forum members, etc. Feel free to email me or PM me for the details.

Brent Huskins
Media Design
817.300.1223

[Chris D]

[Vince Helm]

D3

I noticed that Galen Carol Audio, gcaudio.com has listed the D3 and the Classic model on their web page under "new arrivals" YEAH! we should be seeing them very soon and I look forward to reading the reviews. Good luck and good listening!

Vince

[Chris D]

Yup, I keep checking the site daily. It's going to happen. It's just an issue of when the date is going to become reality, not just the next "official plan".

[Eric242]

There are already two auctions up on ebay.de, seller claims to have four D3´s in stock. Even though there is no german Parasound distribution. But I guess the seller might have these from the french distributor (having a french name and living nearby the french border). The price is 2500.- Euro which is about 3200 USD :E :E :E But I guess Parasound has always been very expensive over here compared to the US.

Link1
Link2

[jhell]

Hi, I just saw your posting, right after seeing the auctions on ebay. So you´ve been to fast...

Yes, Parasound has always been more expensive in germany. But considering shipping, VAT and loss of warranty, the difference wasn´t that much so far.
The ebay-offers tells of a germany suggested retail price of 3690 EUR!!! This is more than 2000$ more than in the US.....not far from doubled... :E

There is a distributor in germany, www.domino-design.de. But according to a dealer i spoke with a while ago, they are not very active. look at their website, they still have last years CEDIA as the big news on parasound... :Z

Any experiences with the D3 already?

Thx, Jan

[RobieZ]

Hello Jan,

Domino Design is no longer the German Parasound distributor (I spoke with them some weeks ago because my C2 needed to get repaired). As far as I know there is no German distributor at all at the moment (hope this will change in near future).

[Chris D]

RobieZ, welcome to the Guide and Club Parasound! :banana:

[Eric242]

There is a distributor in germany, www.domino-design.de.

Like RobieZ already said, not anymore. Unfortunatelly they stopped distributing Parasound on 12.31.2005. I hope that changes not too far from now.....

And now for something completely different, back to the D3

[Chris D]

Just got a message from Parasound, updating the D3 and D200.

They've been produced and are sitting in Parasound's warehouse. They're correcting a last-minute software bug, and then will be released to the public.

[Vince Helm]

That is great news! To be honest... I wish you had not said that the new units have bugs, even if that is true. My Halo is gear is working great but I have had more than my share of Halo bugs. You might say that after learning this, well now I am more than a little trigger shy.


Thanks?
Vince

[bhuskins]

You'll also have to consider just what Parasound would consider a bug. They tend to be very picky when it comes to firmware. It would likely be something obscure I'm sure.

[Chris D]

Exactly. Look at it from this perspective too--any other manufacturer would have put it out quite some time ago, bugs or not, to the public. You'd then be getting a 99% solution product. Within a week, you and a bunch of other people would have found a bug, and the manufacturer would have put out a software update that everybody would have had to do (for those that even know how) and take a chance that you somehow screw up your system doing the update. Then another bug a month later, same thing. Then another. Look at how many updates these other companies put out from all these bugs.

Parasound takes time and gets it more solid and right than the vast majority of companies out there, before they send it public, taking longer in the process. Sometimes we love them for it (when we have the good product and have many FEWER updates required) and sometimes we don't. (when we're waiting anxiously) Every person can decide for themselves.

[hamtor]

Anybody purchased this player? If so, how does it perform?

Thank you