Still looking for preamp in the $800.00 range!

[Tony3d]

HI, I m still looking at preamps, and I'm interested in the Parasound Halo P3. One of the main problem's I have heard about is that it has a noise floor issue. Some people claim to be able to here hiss no matter where the volume is set, or which input is used. My Crown ic-150 is 38 years, and is dead quite on all line level inputs. Does anyone have anything to add to the performance of the P3?

 

[WmAx]

HI, I m still looking at preamps, and I'm interested in the Parasound Halo P3. One of the main problem's I have heard about is that it has a noise floor issue. Some people claim to be able to here hiss no matter where the volume is set, or which input is used. My Crown ic-150 is 38 years, and is dead quite on all line level inputs. Does anyone have anything to add to the performance of the P3?

I used to use stand alone pre-amps. But today I just use higher performance receivers as a pre-amp. I use external amplifiers of course. The unit I have used for a while now in my 2 channel system is the Yamaha RX-V2600. You should be able to get similar pre-amp performance fro the RX-V1800, which you can get factory refurbished for about $450-$500 on eBay. Gene here at Audioholics measured the pre-amp section of the RX-V2600 and found it performs as well as, and better than some stand alone pre-amps. He uses an industry standard Audio Precision analyzer if memory serves. That is why I chose that specific unit, and I could not be happier with it. I believe the RX-V1800 uses the same pre-amp section, as well as the newer RX-V2700 and RX-V2800. Really, only the HDMI capabilities and video/audio decoding features are different on the newer units, but I only use it for music so I really have no care about those things. I did hook up a small portable television to the receiver video outputs when I set initially set it up so that I could navigate the GUI and make sure everything was set to 'flat' and no sound processing was engaged. But after that, there is no need for the video monitor.

I do recommend placing some spacers between the receiver and any components set on top of it if you set anything on top of that. The above picture shows my CD changer directly on top, but I later placed a 1.5" clearance stand between the receiver and player to allow proper ventilation.

-Chris

 

[Nomo]

Back when i was looking to replace my Yamaha RX-V1500 I decided that a pre-pro would be a good idea. It didn't take long to realize that the price vs performance ratio was ridiculous compared to that a mass marketed receiver.

Considering what a pre-amp or pre-pro gives you:
Balanced outputs? Who cares.
Better DACs? It's arguable that they would even be perceptible.
Video upconversion? Generally speaking; a decent player in combination with a good TV should make for a third party converter unnecessary.

I like my RX-V1800 just fine. Price paid $900, but getting into the $800 target without losing a great deal of features is not difficult at all.

Given that there are plenty of recommendation here for receivers.

 

[yettitheman]

That's some mighty sexy equipment right there.

 

[DonBattles]

....

You might want to have a look at Emotiva's soon to be released UMC-1 and soon after XMC-1. Reported cost on the UMC-1 is $699. I am looking at these myself but will wait and see what the first wave of owners have to say.

 

[lsiberian]

I used to use stand alone pre-amps. But today I just use higher performance receivers as a pre-amp. I use external amplifiers of course. The unit I have used for a while now in my 2 channel system is the Yamaha RX-V2600. You should be able to get similar pre-amp performance fro the RX-V1800, which you can get factory refurbished for about $450-$500 on eBay. Gene here at Audioholics measured the pre-amp section of the RX-V2600 and found it performs as well as, and better than some stand alone pre-amps. He uses an industry standard Audio Precision analyzer if memory serves. That is why I chose that specific unit, and I could not be happier with it. I believe the RX-V1800 uses the same pre-amp section, as well as the newer RX-V2700 and RX-V2800. Really, only the HDMI capabilities and video/audio decoding features are different on the newer units, but I only use it for music so I really have no care about those things. I did hook up a small portable television to the receiver video outputs when I set initially set it up so that I could navigate the GUI and make sure everything was set to 'flat' and no sound processing was engaged. But after that, there is no need for the video monitor.

I do recommend placing some spacers between the receiver and any components set on top of it if you set anything on top of that. The above picture shows my CD changer directly on top, but I later placed a 1.5" clearance stand between the receiver and player to allow proper ventilation.

-Chris

Very nice setup.

 

[Tony3d]

Very nice setup.

What pro amps are those? I have a new Crown XTi 2000, and just love the sound quality! I don't understand why so many people are down on pro amps.

 

[Highbar]

What pro amps are those? I have a new Crown XTi 2000, and just love the sound quality! I don't understand why so many people are down on pro amps.

I'll WmAx out on this one. They are Yamaha Pro amps. Not sure which models though.

 

[WmAx]

What pro amps are those? I have a new Crown XTi 2000, and just love the sound quality! I don't understand why so many people are down on pro amps.

Yamaha P2500S on top, and 2x P3500S on bottom.

Flawless amplifiers. No fan noise, either.

-Chris

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

HI, I m still looking at preamps, and I'm interested in the Parasound Halo P3. One of the main problem's I have heard about is that it has a noise floor issue. Some people claim to be able to here hiss no matter where the volume is set, or which input is used. My Crown ic-150 is 38 years, and is dead quite on all line level inputs. Does anyone have anything to add to the performance of the P3?

The Parasound Model 2100 Preamp actually has better Signal-to-Noise Ratio than the P3 (-105 dBA on the 2100 vs. -92 dBA on the P3).

The 2100 also has better crosstalk (-75 dB @ 20kHz vs. -55 dB @ 20kHz).

In my experience, anything that has a SNR of less than -100 dBA will produce some kind of hissing in the speakers.

I doubt that the Emotiva preamps will be any quieter than the P3.

As others have mentioned, some Pre-Pros or even receivers may be quieter than some stereo preamps. Look at the SNR specs. In other words, a receiver that has a SNR of -105dBA should be quieter than a dedicated stereo preamp that has a SNR of -92dBA.

I just don't trust those specs on Emotiva. I think Outlaw Audio have quieter components.

 

[Warpdrv]

Yamaha P2500S on top, and 2x P3500S on bottom.

Flawless amplifiers. No fan noise, either.

-Chris

By the pictures it doesn't look like that system gets very loud.... No fan noise, much less any sound out of it at all....



Anyone notice why...?

 

[Tony3d]

The Parasound Model 2100 Preamp actually has better Signal-to-Noise Ratio than the P3 (-105 dBA on the 2100 vs. -92 dBA on the P3).

The 2100 also has better crosstalk (-75 dB @ 20kHz vs. -55 dB @ 20kHz).

In my experience, anything that has a SNR of less than -100 dBA will produce some kind of hissing in the speakers.

I doubt that the Emotiva preamps will be any quieter than the P3.

As others have mentioned, some Pre-Pros or even receivers may be quieter than some stereo preamps. Look at the SNR specs. In other words, a receiver that has a SNR of -105dBA should be quieter than a dedicated stereo preamp that has a SNR of -92dBA.

I just don't trust those specs on Emotiva. I think Outlaw Audio have quieter components.

I did also notice that the 2100 was quieter that the P3, and phoned Parasound for some advice. They would commit to nothing, basically telling me nothing I didn't already know. Actually the Emotiva was dead silent on all the line level inputs, but rather hissy on the phono stage. My 37 year old Crown at full volume is very quiet on the phono input. I can't hear it more than 3 to 4 feet away, whereas the Emotiva I could hear 15 feet away!
Not sure what to do at this point. My mint Crown is back in my system for now. I don't want to spend more than $850.00 on a new preamp.

 

[WmAx]

By the pictures it doesn't look like that system gets very loud.... No fan noise, much less any sound out of it at all....



Anyone notice why...?

That photo was taken right after I installed those amplifiers. I had not even set the gains yet, so they are all set at minimum.

-Chris

 

[Seth=L]

By the pictures it doesn't look like that system gets very loud.... No fan noise, much less any sound out of it at all....



Anyone notice why...?

LOL, you guy..you.

 

[Warpdrv]

sorry I couldn't help but notice

It's not like I could just let it go

 

[Seth=L]

sorry I couldn't help but notice

It's not like I could just let it go

It's alright... I just find it funny that you and I share the same disease. Other people look at pictures and see the equipment (like home theater in a box picture on the exterior of the box) and think it looks nice. You probably look at the picture and imagine the mess of wires that should be in the picture with the system (even though we know it doesn't look nice). My personal favorite is when I see a stock photo of some product in use, or at the least turned on, and the photo has been clearly shopped or maybe the speakers where simply not connected. For some reason it gives me a slight chuckle.

Think Bose.