Parasound Halo CD 1 CD Player

Parasound still thinks we can get more out of our CDs and worked with Holm Acoustics of Denmark to implement a CD ROM drive based player that is shipping now for $4,500.

Inside the CD 1 is a Linux-based computer that analyzes the data coming off of the 4x speed drive. Parasound says that the computer keeps checking the data until it is satisfied it has a bit prefect stream. Balanced and unbalanced outputs are included as well as SPDIF for those looking to employ their own DAC.

COMMENTS
commsysman's picture

Get serious.

My OPPO BDP-95 sounds better than my $6000 Ayre C5xe/MP player, and only cost $1000.

Can you tell me with a straight face that this thing sounds better than the OPPO?

I very much doubt it.

Anyone who would spend any more than the OPPO costs has a screw loose in my opinion.

ANY player that costs more than the OPPO is simply a waste of money, and reviewing them is dishonest unless you do a direct comparison to the OPPO 95 or 105, and can point out features or performance that justifies the extra cost. I consider that to be a remote possibility.

Head-in-the-sand reviews that ignore the fact that the OPPO players are the new state of the art are just plain stupid.

JasonVSerinus's picture

Don't get yourself in a tizzy over nothing, my friend. This is not a review; it is simply a report that this player exists, and saw the light of neon at CES. 

The Parasound player is so new that I doubt few reviewers have had enough time to listen, let alone compare it to other players on the market. I do expect, however, that the one person who has taken many a long listen to it, and compared it to Oppo products, is Richard Schram of Parasound. After all, both companies are in the Bay Area, and Schram hardly lives in a bubble. He's well aware of the price difference between the products, and the competition that Oppo presents. That doesn't mean that his player does a better job on CD, of course. But it does suggest that you would be wise to take a deep breath before condemning what you have not heard, and making an absolute declaration of its quality. 

dmacg's picture

commsysman.. help me out.. your kidding right.. it's hard to tell for sure.

cheers, dmacg

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