P7 Multi-Channel Pre-Amplifier

[RebelMan]

I was surprised to see a multi-channel pre-amplifier but Halo has one in the P7. Audiophile quality that goes beyond two-channel stereo and can potentially eschew processor obsolescence is an innovative concept that I haven't seen implemented quite like this before. Halo seems to have created a niche market with a novel idea that exemplifies a little forward thinking for a backward (compatibility, i.e., HDMI) problem.

[Kal Rubinson]

Yup. Looks like a very desirable product.

Kal

[Vince Helm]

I was surprised to see a multi-channel pre-amplifier but Halo has one in the P7. Audiophile quality that goes beyond two-channel stereo and can potentially eschew processor obsolescence is an innovative concept that I haven't seen implemented quite like this before. Halo seems to have created a niche market with a novel idea that exemplifies a little forward thinking for a backward (compatibility, i.e., HDMI) problem.

Hey that sound great... more details please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks
vince

[Chris D]

Yes, the "P7" sounds pretty nifty. I agree, though, that it would be a "niche" product, not something the mass public would pursue. Then again, Parasound I think has trended more towards the "boutique" style of products, slightly more specialized and high-quality, without truly crossing the line of pricing items out of where a good portion of the public could afford.

We have yet to see any data or pictures of the P7 in work. Perhaps something will come out of CES about it? (info at least, I don't think we'll be seeing any prototypes or official press releases)

[RebelMan]

We have yet to see any data or pictures of the P7 in work. Perhaps something will come out of CES about it? (info at least, I don't think we'll be seeing any prototypes or official press releases)

They have it on display at CES. I'll see if I can get some more details and pictures. The rep didn't have any literature at the time I asked but its release date is imminent if I recall.

[Kal Rubinson]

I have a product sheet and picture. The latter should be posted on the Stereophile CES2007 blog one of these days and I can put up details here when I get a chance. Basically, 2x7.1 inputs, bal and RCA stereo analog inputs, mm/MC phono, bal+unbal outputs, bass+treble controls, analog BM. $2000

Kal

[RebelMan]

Here is some more info and pics. Availablity is expected in about three months.

[Vince Helm]

Here is some more info and pics. Availablity is expected in about three months.

Cool, if my C2 is Dr. Evil then the P7 looks like mini-me from the back. (Just kidding) This could be so hot. I wonder if in a few months we will see a companion box containing all the video,digital connections and the surround processor stuff. Sorry kids but daddy is going back to work!

Vince
xoxo to Parasound

[Eric242]

I am not quite sure I understood the P7.

It is an stereo preamplifier, unable to decode digital signals (DD, dts...) but with the possibility to connect a DVD player analog, amplify the decoded signal and put it through to the poweramps? The chain in that case would be: Player decoding signal, sending decoded signal anlog to the P7 for preamplification and then to the poweramps/speakers?

Eric

[Kal Rubinson]

Correct, Eric242, except that it has 2 7.1 inputs and outputs in addition to the stereo inputs, so it is not just a stereo preamp.

Kal

[Eric242]

Thanks for the clarification Karl!

Eric

[Kal Rubinson]

Thanks for the clarification Karl!
Eric

Or Kal.

[bhuskins]

The P7 and D3 combo should be a really nice match. The 7.1 channel separation should end up being the best in class.

[jkscherk]

This product is a great idea for someone who has a simple system and wants a really clean approach to their sound. But no one that I know of has any player with 7.1 analog outputs. Everything is 5.1.....DVD as well as HD-DVD/BR players. Is something with a 7.1 analog out still coming from someone??? One thing I don't really get....maybe I'm just dense.

[jkscherk]

Anyone???? 7.1 Analog out available on anything??

[kwojciec]

Actaully one of new BR players has 7.1 output. The same goes with a very good recent Onkyo player and its high end versions from Integra and Research Integra. Those players only offer the playback of the information from the right surround and left surround in their rear channels, but the effect is really nice

best

Krzysztof

[Chris D]

Hey, man! As far as 7.1 outs, no, I haven't seen anything that's discrete 7.1 outs from ANY source yet. (DVD player, satellite receiver, etc) As you know, though, 7.1 outs will (or should) be showing up soon in HD-DVD and BD players.

The closest I've found in the past was Onkyo DVD players that duplicated the side surrounds into rear channels, and gave 7.1 analog outputs. But just realize that those rear two channels are duplicates of the sides, not discrete channels or even matrixed from the other channels like DPLIIx. Still, that's closer than any other source has come yet, and since we can't use ANY processing on our Parasound 7.1 analog inputs, including DPLIIx, something like that would be the only way for us to get 7.1 sound up to this point through the multichannel analogs.

[Chris D]

(I was posting that at the same time as Krzysztof, apparently) Ah, cool! Didn't know that one of the BD players actually had made it to the 7.1 outputs. Do you know if it's fully utilizing those with onboard Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD, etc, decoding?

[Peter Nielsen]

The closest I've found in the past was Onkyo DVD players that duplicated the side surrounds into rear channels, and gave 7.1 analog outputs.

Well, as I see it, if the DVD hardware has 7+1 outputs, we can more or less consider it 7.1 even though today's software doesn't decode it... After all, the software can be upgraded by the user!

Too bad Parasound didn't design the D3 hardware for 7.1... IMHO very odd, considering the long time it took to get the D3 on the market and the fact that they now have the P7 which mates with a 7.1 analog DVD...

Peter

[Vince Helm]

Too bad Parasound didn't design the D3 hardware for 7.1... IMHO very odd, considering the long time it took to get the D3 on the market and the fact that they now have the P7 which mates with a 7.1 analog DVD...

Peter

Quite true Peter. Maybe Parasound has some good news coming soon!?
Vince

[Peter Nielsen]

Quite true Peter. Maybe Parasound has some good news coming soon!?
Vince

Well, first the brand spanking new and out-of-the-box-outdated D3 has to sell (well)... Don't hold your breath! 8O

What's needed here is that Weird Al Yankovic buys a D3 and uses it as an expensive paper weight! That ought to boost sales! I might even consider getting one :B

Sorry for the sarcasm. IMHO the only truely cool thing about the D3 is the Parasound logo on the big screen. If I still had my JC1s, I would without doubt get the D3 just for the impressive logo! However, without a ton of surrounding Parasound gear, the D3 falls dead in the water... Truth be told!

Peter

[kwojciec]

Panasonic DMP-BD10 is the player with 7.1 output and is supposed to output true high defintion DD and DTS, listed at $1,299

best

Krzysztof

[Vince Helm]

Well, first the brand spanking new and out-of-the-box-outdated D3 has to sell (well)... Don't hold your breath! 8O

What's needed here is that Weird Al Yankovic buys a D3 and uses it as an expensive paper weight! That ought to boost sales! I might even consider getting one :B

Sorry for the sarcasm. IMHO the only truely cool thing about the D3 is the Parasound logo on the big screen. If I still had my JC1s, I would without doubt get the D3 just for the impressive logo! However, without a ton of surrounding Parasound gear, the D3 falls dead in the water... Truth be told!

Peter

OUCH!!
Vince

[Chris D]

Yeah... wish the D3 was upgradable to being an HD-DVD and/or BD player!

[Vince Helm]

Yeah... wish the D3 was upgradable to being an HD-DVD and/or BD player!

I am sure not all is lost. The D3 was late, the world moved on, they will move on and at some point, come out with a proper Halo HD-DVD / BD player / music server / what ever thing of a gig, thing. Maybe the D3 was/is their Zooropa?

Vince

[Peter Nielsen]

I am sure not all is lost. The D3 was late, the world moved on, they will move on and at some point, come out with a proper Halo HD-DVD / BD player / music server / what ever thing of a gig, thing. Maybe the D3 was/is their Zooropa?

Vince

I agree. They probably decided to go ahead and produce the D3 just to finally get a Halo DVD-player in the program. There are always people that want to get equipment that matches, and the D3 makes this easy and it looks great... Surely, the D3 is a great DVD even though it does not have the latest bells and whistles. However, you pay a big premium for the Halo looks. A similar or better third party DVD can be had for less...

Peter

[hamtor]

I own a Halo D3, and first of all I use it as a cd ( and SACD ) player. It sounds really great, with xlr cables and direct bypass on my C2, I think this is what they call high end sound.

For me the dvd player is a bonus, The writing on the front says it all: Discplayer.

[r100gs]

I own a Halo D3, and first of all I use it as a cd ( and SACD ) player. It sounds really great, with xlr cables and direct bypass on my C2, I think this is what they call high end sound.

For me the dvd player is a bonus, The writing on the front says it all: Discplayer.

Right on! ;x(

[Chris D]

Sweet, hamtor. We really could use a review of the D3, big or small, if you could start a thread!

[hamtor]

Sweet, hamtor. We really could use a review of the D3, big or small, if you could start a thread!

Ok, here it is http://www.htguide.com/forum/showthread.php4?t=24567

[thinredcollie]

The main benefit of the D3, as I see it, is very good sound and decent video capability. To my ear, the D3 sounds better than most in the sub 5k world.

Mark

[Chris D]

Hey, Mark, welcome to the Guide and Club Parasound! :banana: Thanks for the input on the D3. I was seeing a lot of spec/performance similarities with my Denon 3910, but is the D3 really better?

[thinredcollie]

I'm sorry, but I don't have any experience with the 3910, but I can say this: The D3 compares favorably with my Bel Canto Dac2 and my Grace m902-- the Bel Canto having the more musicl sound and the Grace having the more detailed sound. Overall, I prefer the Bel Canto, but the D3 is very easy to listen to. I don't own a Bel Canto Dac3, but I spent some time with it and prefer to D3, the Dac3 being somewhat clinical. I only mention the Dac 3 becasue it is a good representation of Bel Canto's new house sound. HT, in my opinion, sounds better with a warmer presentation. I have worked as a sound designer on a bunch of indy films and know all too well how far we go with effects and details, often at the expense of sound quality. I can hear that in most major release films-- they often sound harsh and a little softening can go a long way towards a better viewing experience. This is why I like Parasound gear-- it is designed with an audiophile's ear.

regards,

Mark

[bhuskins]

I can agree with the above 110%...

[Chris D]

Cool...

Good to hear D3 opinions coming out!