Preamp selections 2 channel

[PENG]

Ah, so you haven't gotten into ripping your BDs into MKV files (retain 100% PQ/SQ quality) and playback via XBMC on your HTPC, huh?


So simple now.

Not yet.. Thanks to Netflix, half of my BRD and HDDVD are still in their original shrink wrap, shouldn't have bought most of them.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Not yet.. Thanks to Netflix, half of my BRD and HDDVD are still in their original shrink wrap, shouldn't have bought most of them.

I would not buy unless I've already seen them and want to collect the movies for repeat viewing, which eliminates about 90% of the movies.

Welcome to the digital download age.

 

[Irvrobinson]

I would not buy unless I've already seen them and want to collect the movies for repeat viewing, which eliminates about 90% of the movies.

Welcome to the digital download age.

I agree with you philosophically, but if you care about video quality the streaming services don't compare to a Blueray, IMO. I don't try to optimize video quality, so I get maybe one or two Bluerays per year, but I can fully understand if someone more serious about video bought a lot of Bluerays.

 

[PENG]

I agree with you philosophically, but if you care about video quality the streaming services don't compare to a Blueray, IMO. I don't try to optimize video quality, so I get maybe one or two Bluerays per year, but I can fully understand if someone more serious about video bought a lot of Bluerays.

Agree, and the sound quality too, BR sounds noticeably better than Netflix's DD+ and I just have to buy every BRD coded with 6.1 or 7.1. Regarding ripping BR, I would like to try if I have the spare time, the needed software but obviously only if it is legal to do so. I assume it would be a length process too so I won't be doing it any time soon regardless. I suppose if ripped with the proper software the original AV quality would be preserved, for streaming.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

BTW, looks like the OP got himself a nice new shiny silver Parasound Preamp. Almost poetry.

 

[ematthews]

For the price I got. I couldn't pass it up. So for now my audio system will stay separated from my HT set up... Next project will be the HT...

 

[TheHills44060]

For the price I got. I couldn't pass it up. So for now my audio system will stay separated from my HT set up... Next project will be the HT...

Great choice. Love the integrated crossovers on that thing. Wish my preamp had them.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Great choice. Love the integrated crossovers on that thing. Wish my preamp had them.

Well, we wanted him to migrate from EMO to either Parasound or ATI.

So he got the ATI amp + Parasound Halo preamp.

 

[RichB]

BTW, looks like the OP got himself a nice new shiny silver Parasound Preamp. Almost poetry.

One from column A(TI), one from Column P(arasound)

- Rich

 

[ematthews]

And you know.... What do we get from more expensive items? Is it better sound. Maybe.. Maybe all I am getting is a better built box sitting on a rack.... It appears that I may only be getting a 3db gain going to the ATI over the Marantz PM8004... That's a lot of money for small GAINS. I am really a novice that enjoys great sounding music. All the technical talk is going to require me to go to school again.

 

[slipperybidness]

That's a lot of money for small GAINS.

Now you're starting to catch on! That's the name of the game, the law of diminishing returns, once you get to a certain level you need another $1000+ to get that next little 0.5% improvement.

I'll steal a quote and/or paraphrase from another member here. I don't remember where I saw it, it might be in an AH member signature:
"I spent a whole lot of time and money to learn that I didn't need to spend that much money to begin with"

 

[RichB]

And you know.... What do we get from more expensive items? Is it better sound. Maybe.. Maybe all I am getting is a better built box sitting on a rack.... It appears that I may only be getting a 3db gain going to the ATI over the Marantz PM8004... That's a lot of money for small GAINS. I am really a novice that enjoys great sounding music. All the technical talk is going to require me to go to school again.

Which is fine if you are playing test tones, but music has peaks that depending on your listening content and levels one amp may clip where another may not. Some may clip "gracefully" limiting dynamics, others may produce gross distortion.

As I recall, you began this upgrade process because you felt that you were running out of power. You did not like the Emotiva amp and preamp.

The question is, after all of this, do you get the desired volume levels and do you like the sound?

- Rich

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

And you know.... What do we get from more expensive items? Is it better sound. Maybe.. Maybe all I am getting is a better built box sitting on a rack.... It appears that I may only be getting a 3db gain going to the ATI over the Marantz PM8004... That's a lot of money for small GAINS. I am really a novice that enjoys great sounding music. All the technical talk is going to require me to go to school again.

The only thing that matters is your system sounds great and you are happy with it. Nothing else really matters.

The only think I care about now in terms of my system is listening to music (iPad to Denon) and watching movies and TV series (XBMC on my HTPCs).

 

[ematthews]

Now you're starting to catch on! That's the name of the game, the law of diminishing returns, once you get to a certain level you need another $1000+ to get that next little 0.5% improvement.

I'll steal a quote and/or paraphrase from another member here. I don't remember where I saw it, it might be in an AH member signature:
"I spent a whole lot of time and money to learn that I didn't need to spend that much money to begin with"

Ha.. So true but I can not seem to follow it. I am at a point where I have a little more money to spend but it seems I keep going in reverse.. I had a full Gen 1 Emotiva set up with Polk speakers and all was fine until I got some money for selling my watch collection. I then bought more expensive speaker and sub... Now it seems I am trying to find gear that out performs my last stuff and I am getting frustrated... At times, I go into my Garage and listen to a 23 year old Onkyo hooked up to old Polk RTI 8 speakers.. This is feed from a GOPRO dvd/vhs recorder... Sounds great.. All Junk IMO.

But....... The ATI amp is awesome so far and I know The Parasound will be too... All I need now is a CD player....Yes, I love spinning disc... And I need to find one.. Looks like the ERC-3 might be a hard one to beat at this price point..

 

[slipperybidness]

Ha.. So true but I can not seem to follow it. I am at a point where I have a little more money to spend but it seems I keep going in reverse.. I had a full Gen 1 Emotiva set up with Polk speakers and all was fine until I got some money for selling my watch collection. I then bought more expensive speaker and sub... Now it seems I am trying to find gear that out performs my last stuff and I am getting frustrated... At times, I go into my Garage and listen to a 23 year old Onkyo hooked up to old Polk RTI 8 speakers.. This is feed from a GOPRO dvd/vhs recorder... Sounds great.. All Junk IMO.

But....... The ATI amp is awesome so far and I know The Parasound will be too... All I need now is a CD player....Yes, I love spinning disc... And I need to find one.. Looks like the ERC-3 might be a hard one to beat at this price point..

At the price of the ERC, I would just go ahead and get the Oppo 103 (or 105 for double the price) and call it a day.

Heck, I even still keep my old Pio 100 disc changer in my 2nd system. It works fine, sounds good, and that is 100 discs that are at my finger tips and keeps me from having to buy yet another big CD wallet. This is the one I have, and I like that it isn't the carousel design, but is the flip-down file design instead.
Pioneer PD F904 CD File Type 100 Compact Disc Jukebox Player Digital Home Audio | eBay

 

[ematthews]

I am 90% sure I will go with the Oppo 105 for the system.

 

[Irvrobinson]

Looks like the ERC-3 might be a hard one to beat at this price point..

Maybe. I had the ERC-2 and didn't like it in several ways, primarily the slot-loaded CD drive, the controls, and the remote. I ended up selling it after a months, and it also broke after a very short time (bad drive FW). It looks like Emotiva changed all of those parts, especially going to a drawer drive, but I'd still be wary of them. They seem to have big amps figured out, but I'm less sure of the rest of their product line.

 

[RichB]

I am 90% sure I will go with the Oppo 105 for the system.

And when you get the BDP-105, try it directly connected to the ATI amp and via the Parasound.
If you like it direct, sell the Parasound for a profit

- Rich

 

[slipperybidness]

I am 90% sure I will go with the Oppo 105 for the system.

Then no need for a separate CD player, just use the Oppo. No CD player is gonna beat its performance anyway.

 

[slipperybidness]

And when you get the BDP-105, try it directly connected to the ATI amp and via the Parasound.
If you like it direct, sell the Parasound for a profit

- Rich

I'm really thinking a Oppo 105 connected to a pair of Emo Stealth 8s (and maybe a subwoofer) would make a killer 2.0 or 2.1 setup for a good price.