Parasound Halo P7 AV Multi Channel Preamp

[admin]

Parasound has introduced a new $2000 A/V preamp processor designed for sound purists seeking superior low-noise performance from classic stereo sources as well as multichannel music and movies from Blu-ray, DVD-Audio, and SACD players. But where's the beef? Considering its lack of video switching, audio decoding, and HDMI support, one wonders if this is more or less a re-issued legacy product with minor upgrades or if it's a completely new design which just happens to lack several features commonly found on receivers starting at $249.

Discuss "Parasound Halo P7 AV Preamp / Processor" here. Read the article.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

A "purist" 7.1 Analog Audio-only Preamp for $2K?

I think it's a great product.

 

[Davemcc]

This might hae been a great product circa 1998 but it seems a little odd for introduction in 2008, like it's obsolete before it's introduced. I have a new corporate slogan to suggest.
ARCAM - perfecting 20th century technology for the 21st century.

Seriously, I think a lot of high end companies are going to ignore HDMI and hope it goes away. I've heard from my local high end source that these companies either don't have or don't want to expend the resources to integrate HDMI into their products.

 

[Audioholics]

Some (not all) of these companies could probably buy a retail mid-fi receiver, redo the casing, and have a better product for half of what they pay to make their own. This product would be fine for two-channel, but it's slightly perplexing when it addresses multi-channel in essentially an analogue-only format.

 

[Seth=L]

A "purist" 7.1 Analog Audio-only Preamp for $2K?

I think it's a great product.

Look whose talking.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Look whose talking.

What?

I didn't say I was going to buy or anything.

 

[russ_l]

Just Another Way to Go

I’m with AcuDefTechGuy on this one. I’m actually hoping for an Audio Research MP1 to pop up on Audiogon or EBay every since I looked at his system a month or so ago. His approach may be a good way to get off the expensive side of constantly upgrading, the prepros or receivers, and limit the upgrading to the (usually) less expensive source components.

The MP1 has three 5.1 inputs vs. the Parasound’s two 7.1 inputs. Both have a bunch of two channel inputs. I’m thinking a Sony 9000ES on one input for SACD (almost all my listening now is multichannel SACD). A Denon 3800 for watching Blue-ray and DVD. And a receiver for the third input to use when decoding Dolby Digital while watching HD TV (which AcuDefTechGuy does not do in his setup).

Downside; a boatload of wires. No Audyssey. No 7.1. Probably more.

Russ

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I’m with AcuDefTechGuy on this one. I’m actually hoping for an Audio Research MP1 to pop up on Audiogon or EBay every since I looked at his system a month or so ago. His approach may be a good way to get off the expensive side of constantly upgrading, the prepros or receivers, and limit the upgrading to the (usually) less expensive source components.

The MP1 has three 5.1 inputs vs. the Parasound’s two 7.1 inputs. Both have a bunch of two channel inputs. I’m thinking a Sony 9000ES on one input for SACD (almost all my listening now is multichannel SACD). A Denon 3800 for watching Blue-ray and DVD. And a receiver for the third input to use when decoding Dolby Digital while watching HD TV (which AcuDefTechGuy does not do in his setup).

Downside; a boatload of wires. No Audyssey. No 7.1. Probably more.

Russ

Well, I'm planning on getting a Denon Pre-Pro NEXT YEAR just to make everyone happy.

I would just hook the pre-pro to the amps' power-direct input, which is essentially the HT-Bypass.

I would use the Pre-Pro for HDMI switching, HD Radio, Internet Radio, and maybe one day HD Satellite Sound Processing.

For BD, SACD, DVD-A/V, I would not use the Pre-Pro at all.

I don't plan on ever using the Audyssey feature, not even on the AVP-A1HDCI! Manual function + analog as much as possible is best for me.

7.1 HT is still jut a gimmick to me. I just don't buy into it.

 

[Nano]

If I had a P7 and a OPPO 105...Would not the "analog" nature of the P7 serve to my advantage, because then I dont use, need to go through, all the digital filters/processors, which may be inferior, and take advantage of the OPPOs excellent DAC?
Why would I want to pay for all these Digital whatevers in both a pre amp and my Source/SACD player?
Is there advantages to hooking up the OPPO via HDMI to my pre-amp...which i assume the P7 is incapable of?
Doesnt HDMI converst DSD to PCM via an HDMI?
Was this written before we had great units like OPPO, with all the latest format/ DAC capabilities?

Thank you so much, I am thinking of buying the P7. I currently run a B&K analog, 2 channel, with a Pioneer Elite SACD/DVD-A. I like the fact that the preamp is delivering what the SACD player is suppose to be delivering, via analog. Am I missing something by not having HDMI? I spoke with B&K, and they tell me that I am listening to Hi resolution in this manner, that the SACD player, via analog, is providing SACD quality.

 

[RichB]

Many people use the BDP-105 worth the p7 and that is a killer combo if you do not need any additional HDMI connected devices, Audyssey, or any the other digital processing.

I use mine with a Marantz AV8801 for the HDMI connections but I I have friend who directly connects the BDO-105 to a pair of Outlaw M2200. Mono-block amps. It sounds great but the lack of a volume knob and controls is not for everyone.

- Rich

 

[BearUK]

My five second review of the Parasound P7.

The Parasound P7 is a cheap Asian whore in a fancy dress.

Essentially Parasound went rummaging round parts bins in Asia, stuck what they'd bought together in a fancy case, and charge a lot of money for it.

Having owned one for a week I'm rather disgusted. Anyone interested in an almost new black parasound P7?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

A long long time ago in a galaxy far far away I used to think a MCH analog preamp was a great idea.

But now I would unequivocally have a Denon X4000 over any analog preamp.

 

[sharkman]

I should imagine that they all sound the same anyway.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I should imagine that they all sound the same anyway.

You know what? I think you're correct. They all sound the same.

All amps, preamps, players, DAC, wires, and power cords sound the same when level matched and double-blinded to remove bias.

Only speakers and processors (EQ, DSP) sound differently.

But just in case I'm wrong, I will be keeping my Denon AVP-A1HDCI and ATI 3005 amp.

 

[Irvrobinson]

You know what? I think you're correct. They all sound the same.

All amps, preamps, players, DAC, wires, and power cords sound the same when level matched and double-blinded to remove bias.

Only speakers and processors (EQ, DSP) sound differently.

Have you ever participated in blinded audio comparison tests?

 

[RichB]

You know what? I think you're correct. They all sound the same.

All amps, preamps, players, DAC, wires, and power cords sound the same when level matched and double-blinded to remove bias.

Only speakers and processors (EQ, DSP) sound differently.

To you. Not to me and others.
I can easily demonstrate sound quality difference using a DAC with different USB driver settings, even when the driver information utility is showing to transmit or receive errors.

Some processors handle the digital stream better than others.

But just in case I'm wrong, I will be keeping my Denon AVP-A1HDCI and ATI 3005 amp.

Good plan.

- Rich

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Have you ever participated in blinded audio comparison tests?

You mean like a formal published study? No, I have not.

 

[Irvrobinson]

You mean like a formal published study? No, I have not.

No, I mean any blinded audio comparison test, single or double-blind, where there was enough formality to make it valid.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

To you. Not to me and others.
I can easily demonstrate sound quality difference using a DAC with different USB driver settings, even when the driver information utility is showing to transmit or receive errors.

Some processors handle the digital stream better than others.



Good plan.

- Rich

The editor and staff of The Audio Critic would disagree with you and all who agree with you.

I think they might know a thing or 2 about double-blinded studies.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

No, I mean any blinded audio comparison test, single or double-blind, where there was enough formality to make it valid.

I have conducted a few in my own house with friends and family.

However, I am certain my in-home studies pale in comparison to the studies conducted by The Audio Critic and other professionals who concluded that DAC, amps, preamps, and wires don't have a sound signature of their own.