Don't Understand all the accolades for Parasound Halo CD 1

Frank Sol

Frank Sol

Lunatic Member
I'm not complaining about the price either way... Got that out of the way :yes:

And not complaining about the sound of the DAC

Reviewers are all excited about and some are raving because the Halo CD 1 reads the disc several times and must have a double match before sending to an internal HDD. Then that file is feed to the DAC...

:scratch2:

Most of us have been doing that for years with a computer & Exact Audio Copy program :D
 
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If I'm not mistaken, it's the CD player or the first affordable one box player, to take this approach to minimize read errors by using a memory buffer (I don't believe it's a hard drive) with a Linux based computer.

Yes, computer audiophiles have been doing this for years but the CD player is for those who like spinning CD's and see the advantages of error free reading and playback. It's sort of combining one of the best attributes of computer playback and adding it to the conventional CD player.

Parasound should be applauded for designing a product whose concept shows forward thinking and an "out of the box" approach. Who knows, maybe others will follow suit.
 
Some Rega players have a buffer that the music is actually played from. I've had my Apollo glitch on me a couple of times where hitting stop won't stop play, and I've actually opened the top and taken out the spinning CD (did that once, won't do it again) and the music played for a while after the CD was in my hand (I dunno, 15 seconds??).


From Positive Feedback ( http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue29/rega_apollo.htm )
"Let's start with the controller, since it's a honker. It boasts 20MB of memory and 32 bits of processing muscle, for those that get excited about such things. For liberal arts dolts like me, what all those bits and bytes really mean is vastly improved error correction that, according to Rega, far surpasses anything that has come before. The control system also allows for another interesting feature: the ability to analyze a CD and optimize the laser's tracking position and focus spot size for optimum data recovery. (When you pop in a disc, the display reads 'INITIALISING' as the servo controller does its thing. There's also a slight lag after you press play, during which time the buffer fills itself with data from the CD. "
 
I don't much get it... At $4500 you can build an absolute state of the art PC along with a top of the line stand alone DAC. Then you can rip all your cds EAC and not have to go digging through your collection when you want to listen to something.

But... Each to their own. I personally don't see that spinning cds has the same value as spinning vinyl but they obviously sell a fair few of these players or they wouldn't bother making them.
 
matteos said:
I don't much get it... At $4500 you can build an absolute state of the art PC along with a top of the line stand alone DAC. Then you can rip all your cds EAC and not have to go digging through your collection when you want to listen to something.
Click to expand...
Exactly, but I've learned not to question the high end peeps.
 
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matteos said:
I don't much get it... At $4500 you can build an absolute state of the art PC along with a top of the line stand alone DAC. Then you can rip all your cds EAC and not have to go digging through your collection when you want to listen to something.

But... Each to their own. I personally don't see that spinning cds has the same value as spinning vinyl but they obviously sell a fair few of these players or they wouldn't bother making them.
Click to expand...

Even $4500 is high. I built mine with a new PCI SS hard drive with a terabyte disc drive for backup for just over $2500. Including 8 gigs of memory and a smokin' vidcard. And like many others I've been doing this for years with my computer. Most of the computers I've built for myself over the years are gaming/music rigs.
 
Yeah I know it's high... $4500 was the price of the CD player when I googled.

I built my HTPC for about $1000. Do love having SS for boot up too.
 
trhee said:
minimize read errors by using a memory buffer (I don't believe it's a hard drive) with a Linux based computer.
Click to expand...

Correct.. Like the RAM in our computers

Not a conventional HDD

Santa may bring me a new SSD for my music :scratch2:
 
sebrof said:
Some Rega players have a buffer that the music is actually played from. I've had my Apollo glitch on me a couple of times where hitting stop won't stop play, and I've actually opened the top and taken out the spinning CD (did that once, won't do it again) and the music played for a while after the CD was in my hand (I dunno, 15 seconds??).


From Positive Feedback ( http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue29/rega_apollo.htm )
"Let's start with the controller, since it's a honker. It boasts 20MB of memory and 32 bits of processing muscle, for those that get excited about such things. For liberal arts dolts like me, what all those bits and bytes really mean is vastly improved error correction that, according to Rega, far surpasses anything that has come before. The control system also allows for another interesting feature: the ability to analyze a CD and optimize the laser's tracking position and focus spot size for optimum data recovery. (When you pop in a disc, the display reads 'INITIALISING' as the servo controller does its thing. There's also a slight lag after you press play, during which time the buffer fills itself with data from the CD. "
Click to expand...

Yes it always surprises me when the Apollo keeps playing.

I can't figure out WHO is going to rip all my cds for me then teach me how to play them on 5 different hifi systems plus 3 vehicles.
 
Frank Sol said:
Correct.. Like the RAM in our computers

Not a conventional HDD

Santa may bring me a new SSD for my music :scratch2:
Click to expand...

I found it best to install the Operating System and your software on the solid state... Then stuff like Music and movies can stay on a conventional HDD... That way you only need about 128gb SSD.

Boot up becomes super quick, my main rig boots up in about 10 seconds from POST, everything gets faster and then you have the cheap and massive storage of HDD.

The other advantage of this is that you can pull your HDD from your PC without the OS crap on it, put it in another computer etc, install a different OS and nothing gets affected with your media. SATA 3 is fastest.
 
Running a CD around from system to system reminds me of sneakernet with the old floppy drives before networking was de facto. Rockin' it old school. :D
 
matteos said:
I don't much get it... At $4500 you can build an absolute state of the art PC along with a top of the line stand alone DAC. Then you can rip all your cds EAC and not have to go digging through your collection when you want to listen to something.

But... Each to their own. I personally don't see that spinning cds has the same value as spinning vinyl but they obviously sell a fair few of these players or they wouldn't bother making them.
Click to expand...

Really ? I dont know where 'TOTL' starts in DACs right now, but if its the Berkeley Alpha I'd suggest that the ~3-3.5K you'll have left after you build the PC isnt going to cut it. It's only when you move to the midrange DACs from Resonessence, AURALiC and others that things seem to get more competitive with that $4500 CDP - I take no joy in that, but I think 'TOTL' gets thrown around a little too freely on AK, and that 'state of the art' PC might be the bomb for games but audio has a very different set of requirements - read Connaker's CAPS articles when you have an hour or so free. I still like the Mac Mini - I've used one as a 24/7 music server before - but the 'serious' types seem to have moved on from the little guy, at least in stock form.

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/331-computer-audiophile-suggested-hardware-list/

Digital to Analog Converters

Chord Electronics QBD76HD / QBD76HDSD $7,000 / $8,500
Review (06/12/2012) | Site

EMM Labs DAC2X $15,500
Review (07/06/2012) | Site

Lumin Network Music Player $7,200
Review (08/22/2013) | Site

Luxman DA-06 $6,000
Review (05/22/2013) | Site

Meitner Audio MA-1 $7,000
Review (09/16/2011) | Site

Weiss Engineering DAC202 $7,737
Review (06/17/2010) | Site

Computers / Music Servers

Apple MacBook Pro $1199 +
Site (Listed 3/07/2010)

Apple Mac Mini $699 +
Site (Listed 2/18/2011)

Computer Audiophile Pocket Server - C.A.P.S. ~$1,500
Article (02/08/2010)

Computer Audiophile Pocket Server Version 2.0- C.A.P.S. v2.0 ~$1,400
Article (06/23/2011)

WideaLab Aurender S10 $6,990
Review (11/29/2011) | Site

SOtM sMS-1000 $2,499+
Review (11/29/2011) | Site
 
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From Stereophile Mag: "Parasound (Halo CD 1 ) uses Analog Devices' AD1853 DAC chip. Parasound didn't take the approach of balanced dual-differential, complementary digital architecture—not for reasons of cost, they claim..."
 
estreeter said:
Really ? I dont know where 'TOTL' starts in DACs right now, but if its the Berkeley Alpha I'd suggest that the ~3-3.5K you'll have left after you build the PC isnt going to cut it. It's only when you move to the midrange DACs from Resonessence, AURALiC and others that things seem to get more competitive with that $4500 CDP - I take no joy in that, but I think 'TOTL' gets thrown around a little too freely on AK, and that 'state of the art' PC might be the bomb for games but audio has a very different set of requirements - read Connaker's CAPS articles when you have an hour or so free. I still like the Mac Mini - I've used one as a 24/7 music server before - but the 'serious' types seem to have moved on from the little guy, at least in stock form.

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/331-computer-audiophile-suggested-hardware-list/

Digital to Analog Converters

Chord Electronics QBD76HD / QBD76HDSD $7,000 / $8,500
Review (06/12/2012) | Site

EMM Labs DAC2X $15,500
Review (07/06/2012) | Site

Lumin Network Music Player $7,200
Review (08/22/2013) | Site

Luxman DA-06 $6,000
Review (05/22/2013) | Site

Meitner Audio MA-1 $7,000
Review (09/16/2011) | Site

Weiss Engineering DAC202 $7,737
Review (06/17/2010) | Site

Computers / Music Servers

Apple MacBook Pro $1199 +
Site (Listed 3/07/2010)

Apple Mac Mini $699 +
Site (Listed 2/18/2011)

Computer Audiophile Pocket Server - C.A.P.S. ~$1,500
Article (02/08/2010)

Computer Audiophile Pocket Server Version 2.0- C.A.P.S. v2.0 ~$1,400
Article (06/23/2011)

WideaLab Aurender S10 $6,990
Review (11/29/2011) | Site

SOtM sMS-1000 $2,499+
Review (11/29/2011) | Site
Click to expand...

Build your own computer. I know what constitutes important for a music PC and a gaming PC, I have built both, several times.

If you think $3k isn't enough for a TOTL DAC, I don't have much to say to you. Get some perspective I guess.

:screwy:
 
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Just seems this is another pile on thread.

Cost is relative, choices are a good thing....guess I don't 'get' the 'don't get, so let's hate' threads.
 
Erik Tracy said:
Just seems this is another pile on thread.

Cost is relative, choices are a good thing....guess I don't 'get' the 'don't get, so let's hate' threads.
Click to expand...

Seems like this is more of a "Hey you can do more things with less money" thread.

Like I said before, each to their own. I don't care who buys what or listens to what, makes absolutely no difference to me. However, as has already been said, you can do more if you choose if you go a different route, especially for the money involved.
 
botrytis said:
Again, if people want to pay it, who are we to say anything is wrong with it.

The old saying, 'Don't piss in my sandbox and I won't piss in yours' comes to mind.

If you don't think it is reasonable - fine - but others do.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion.
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Just seems lots of posts here lately do the pile on of stuff they haven't even listened to....that's what I don't understand - and isn't what I would call an opinion - or at least an informed opinion.

I can get my daily dose of that on some other forums that begin with "A" - and am quickly reminded why I don't even bother to login in and contribute anymore.

No one wants to bother to go listen to stuff and hear for themselves, and instead are experts as to what is better or unreasonably priced.

Peace - out -
 
I'm missing the posts where anybody has commented on the SQ of the item in question.
Or told anybody not to buy it or that they are stupid for buying it.

I see where it's been examined and compared to computers that do the same things the same way. I see where substitutes have been mentioned for a similar price or a lower price.

AK is becoming a place where you can't say anything about anything.
 
How about every one calm down and drop the name calling! This is an interesting thread that should continue to educate. There is no need to pile on etc. Rather than pile on share your knowledge!
Happy Holidays,
Jim
 
matteos said:
I'm missing the posts where anybody has commented on the SQ of the item in question.
Or told anybody not to buy it or that they are stupid for buying it.

I see where it's been examined and compared to computers that do the same things the same way. I see where substitutes have been mentioned for a similar price or a lower price.

AK is becoming a place where you can't say anything about anything.
Click to expand...

You can contribute to the knowledge base, and it seems you sure can. No need to get upset if some questions your opinion, we all have one.

My read is you need to expound further with your knowledge, and thanks for your posts!

Happy Holidays,
Jim
 
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