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Well, lookie here: I think we just found the first "official" information on Parasound DVD players. It looks like the rumors were true after all! 
First, the printed info: The December 2003 issue of DVD Etc has a "DVD Player Buyer's Guide" in the back, that seems to contain some new models by several manufacturers that presumably are about to be released, maybe CES next week.
Click Here for the DVD Etc website, you can even find a free online magazine with the Parasound information on page 119
I don't know if this was a mistake or not that some of this info was printed at this time. Under "HALO by Parasound", we find two models listed with the following information:
C1 $5,000
D2 $2,500
Disc Capacity: 1
Outputs DTS from Digital connector: YES
SACD Decoding: NO
Dolby Digital Decoding: NO
DVD Audio Decoding: YES
CD-R/CD-RW Compatible: YES
MP3 Playback: YES
Progressive Scan: YES
Stereo Analog-Audio Outputs: YES (2)
Audio Outputs: COAXIAL, TOSLINK, AT&T
Multi-Channel Analog Outputs: NO
Video Outputs: COMPOSITE, S-VIDEO, COMPONENT (2)
RBG, DVI, or IEEE 1394: NO
Other input/outputs: NO
Now, my take on this: first, I've seen these buyer guides to have several inaccuracies in the past, so I wouldn't take this as gospel for any of this information. (first obvious thing is that the models are likely the D1 and D2, not C1 and D2 as printed since the C1 controller already exists) But it lets us know what kind of ballpark we are looking at. From the prices, it looks like Parasound is generally making models to compete with the big boys--we're talking about going head-to-head in performance with very high-end equipment like Krell, Classe, etc. This could be very exciting--we're possibly looking at reference quality stuff here!
Next, note that the listed features for the two models are exactly the same, even though the "D1" is twice the cost of the D2. This could be attributed to onboard line-doublers or added features not listed like SDI added to the higher cost model. (although other models in the buyer's guide did have SDI listed)
Three important items jump out at me as missing from that features list: SACD capability, Multi-channel analog outputs, and DVI/HDMI. If the D1/2 do not include SACD, they're not going to be universal disc players, which could be a deal-killer for many people looking to include ALL available sound formats. Next, if there are no multi-channel outputs, (i.e. 5.1 analog outputs or so) the players need to have SOME way to pass DVD-Audio. It will not go through digital coax or toslink. Only a stereo DVD-A signal can be passed through the stereo analog audio connections. I don't know much about an AT&T connection, but I would doubt it passes DVD-A. Even if it does, you need something that can decode DVD-A on the other end, which the Halo processors currently can not do. And if there is no DVI/HDMI/SDI, we're not looking at being able to pass a digital video signal all the way to a digital projector.
Since there's two sets of component connections, and the Halo processors have BNC connection inputs, I would guess that at least one set on these DVD players are also BNC connections, which I really like.
Okay, my hopes are up! Now the race is on to see who can find more information for us next. I can't wait to see what Parasound has in store for us!
CHRIS
Luke: "Hey, I'm not such a bad pilot myself, you know"
First, the printed info: The December 2003 issue of DVD Etc has a "DVD Player Buyer's Guide" in the back, that seems to contain some new models by several manufacturers that presumably are about to be released, maybe CES next week.
Click Here for the DVD Etc website, you can even find a free online magazine with the Parasound information on page 119
I don't know if this was a mistake or not that some of this info was printed at this time. Under "HALO by Parasound", we find two models listed with the following information:
C1 $5,000
D2 $2,500
Disc Capacity: 1
Outputs DTS from Digital connector: YES
SACD Decoding: NO
Dolby Digital Decoding: NO
DVD Audio Decoding: YES
CD-R/CD-RW Compatible: YES
MP3 Playback: YES
Progressive Scan: YES
Stereo Analog-Audio Outputs: YES (2)
Audio Outputs: COAXIAL, TOSLINK, AT&T
Multi-Channel Analog Outputs: NO
Video Outputs: COMPOSITE, S-VIDEO, COMPONENT (2)
RBG, DVI, or IEEE 1394: NO
Other input/outputs: NO
Now, my take on this: first, I've seen these buyer guides to have several inaccuracies in the past, so I wouldn't take this as gospel for any of this information. (first obvious thing is that the models are likely the D1 and D2, not C1 and D2 as printed since the C1 controller already exists) But it lets us know what kind of ballpark we are looking at. From the prices, it looks like Parasound is generally making models to compete with the big boys--we're talking about going head-to-head in performance with very high-end equipment like Krell, Classe, etc. This could be very exciting--we're possibly looking at reference quality stuff here!
Next, note that the listed features for the two models are exactly the same, even though the "D1" is twice the cost of the D2. This could be attributed to onboard line-doublers or added features not listed like SDI added to the higher cost model. (although other models in the buyer's guide did have SDI listed)
Three important items jump out at me as missing from that features list: SACD capability, Multi-channel analog outputs, and DVI/HDMI. If the D1/2 do not include SACD, they're not going to be universal disc players, which could be a deal-killer for many people looking to include ALL available sound formats. Next, if there are no multi-channel outputs, (i.e. 5.1 analog outputs or so) the players need to have SOME way to pass DVD-Audio. It will not go through digital coax or toslink. Only a stereo DVD-A signal can be passed through the stereo analog audio connections. I don't know much about an AT&T connection, but I would doubt it passes DVD-A. Even if it does, you need something that can decode DVD-A on the other end, which the Halo processors currently can not do. And if there is no DVI/HDMI/SDI, we're not looking at being able to pass a digital video signal all the way to a digital projector.
Since there's two sets of component connections, and the Halo processors have BNC connection inputs, I would guess that at least one set on these DVD players are also BNC connections, which I really like.
Okay, my hopes are up! Now the race is on to see who can find more information for us next. I can't wait to see what Parasound has in store for us!
CHRIS
Luke: "Hey, I'm not such a bad pilot myself, you know"
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