Paradigm Owners Thread - Page 345

Originally Posted by AbMagFab

If you want to rip your BD's as well, and new HD home video, you need to build a HTPC (which is about 50-60% as effective as XBMC, but the only way to play HD right now, unfortunately).

Originally Posted by cjv998

How is an XBMC twice as effective as an HTPC? I don't see what it can do that an HTPC can't, besides play Xbox games (and the PC can play most of those, with better graphics). I'd actually argue the opposite; that the HTPC is far more effective than an XBMC setup. Plays any audio or video format I've came across, upscales to 1080p and sharpens video (ffdshow filter), plays new games, can emulate all the old game systems, plus you have all the obvious PC features (web browsing, e-mail, office stuff) which are all great on an HDTV as well. Only downside is it could cost more, depending on how crazy you get with the hardware. What am I missing?

I will agree with the point you seem to be making about HD support on the PC; from what I've heard it still isn't very well supported, and it bugs me that you need to buy expensive software after you bought an expensive Bluray drive just to play the movies; for what you pay between the drive and software ($200-ish) you could buy a standalone Bluray player and not have to worry about HD DRM stuff (HDCP, right?).

Originally Posted by Reeltrooper

I'm looking into doing a 5.1 system using the in ceiling speakers from Paradigm. The salesman today pitched the PV,CS and AMS series. I've never owned this brand before and wondered if anyone here could clue me in to their experience (hopefully) with an all in ceiling installation. I'm not really sold on the idea that it will sound the way HT should. My wife is making me get rid of my trusty box speakers.

Thanks for any info./advice.

B.

Originally Posted by osofast240sx

funny but seriously we can race for the 100's http://i436.photobucket.com/albums/q...g?t=1235105298

Originally Posted by cjv998

How is an XBMC twice as effective as an HTPC? I don't see what it can do that an HTPC can't, besides play Xbox games (and the PC can play most of those, with better graphics). I'd actually argue the opposite; that the HTPC is far more effective than an XBMC setup. Plays any audio or video format I've came across, upscales to 1080p and sharpens video (ffdshow filter), plays new games, can emulate all the old game systems, plus you have all the obvious PC features (web browsing, e-mail, office stuff) which are all great on an HDTV as well. Only downside is it could cost more, depending on how crazy you get with the hardware. What am I missing?

I will agree with the point you seem to be making about HD support on the PC; from what I've heard it still isn't very well supported, and it bugs me that you need to buy expensive software after you bought an expensive Bluray drive just to play the movies; for what you pay between the drive and software ($200-ish) you could buy a standalone Bluray player and not have to worry about HD DRM stuff (HDCP, right?).

Originally Posted by shrabok

I think everything has it's place. I use Knoppmyth. The nice thing there is you have a Server and a Front end. I can do much more then just use it for media it can also have numerous utilities along with it. But XBMC works great as a simple front end for a media center. But again it has it's limitations. PC will always have the ability to surpass it but a PC will cost more in hardware. I recommend a solid Server backend and having lightweight front ends all over the house, and I've heard many people use Playstations or XBox's to do so.

Originally Posted by AbMagFab

XBMC is a front-end to a media server. That's the point. Once media server, lots of XBMC's all over your house. Works perfectly, is incredibly usable, and completely stable.

PS3's and XB's as front-ends are horrible. The media format support is laughable, and the UI's are awful and designed to be used by technical people, not by real users.

Originally Posted by mustangv8

Folks - Today I auditioned studio 100s at the HiFi House in Wilmington, DE. The sales guy really pushed the new 100s. They were great but a bit beyond my budget. Does anyone know the list price for the 60s?
Jim

Originally Posted by JimmyDaves

Hey everyone:

Just have a quick question as I narrow down my search (finally) for a multi-channel amp to power my Signature 8's and C5, etc.

Since these speakers are relatively effecient, would I notice a difference between a good amp that is 5 x 200 wpc versus an amp that is 5 x 300 wpc? I know that the consensus is to have more power than you need, but if you have 200 clean solid wattage on these speakers, would that be enough "headroom" for dynamics, bass, etc?

I've looked at amps from 200 wpc to 500 wpc, single-ended and balanced, multi-channel and monoblocks. I just want to get the best sound out of my speakers (who doesn't?) and I don't want to get a 200 wpc amp and then wish I had gotten a 300 - 500 wpc amp. Certainly there is a price difference but I don't want that to be the determining factor in my decision. I want an amp that will mate synergisticly with the Signatures and that I will not question and keep for a while.

I have my mind set on 2 different amps and I know I can't go wrong with either one, but there is a price difference and if 200 wpc is enough, then why pay more for 300-500 wpc?

Thanks for all of the advice you've given me so far (especially Patrick)!

Originally Posted by oztech

an anthem p5 would make a nice combination and probably the last amp
you would ever need.

Originally Posted by JimmyDaves

Hey everyone:

Just have a quick question as I narrow down my search (finally) for a multi-channel amp to power my Signature 8's and C5, etc.

Since these speakers are relatively effecient, would I notice a difference between a good amp that is 5 x 200 wpc versus an amp that is 5 x 300 wpc? I know that the consensus is to have more power than you need, but if you have 200 clean solid wattage on these speakers, would that be enough "headroom" for dynamics, bass, etc?

I've looked at amps from 200 wpc to 500 wpc, single-ended and balanced, multi-channel and monoblocks. I just want to get the best sound out of my speakers (who doesn't?) and I don't want to get a 200 wpc amp and then wish I had gotten a 300 - 500 wpc amp. Certainly there is a price difference but I don't want that to be the determining factor in my decision. I want an amp that will mate synergisticly with the Signatures and that I will not question and keep for a while.

I have my mind set on 2 different amps and I know I can't go wrong with either one, but there is a price difference and if 200 wpc is enough, then why pay more for 300-500 wpc?

Thanks for all of the advice you've given me so far (especially Patrick)!

Originally Posted by shawnwalters

What are you guys powering your P5's with - does it really need 2 dedicated 20 amp circuits? And does it run hot?

Originally Posted by AbMagFab

I have 2 dedicated 20A circuits available to me, but I'm powering my P5, P2, and D2v off one 20A circuit (along with my other stuff, like a Tivo S3, HTPC, PS3, and XB360).

I haven't had any issues at all, even at very high volumes. But I'm also using Sigs, not Studios, which apparently are more efficient (I know you have Studios, so you might have a slightly higher power draw).

The *only* time I've tripped the circuit is when I'm listening at very high volume levels, and my whole-house generator kicks in (I have it take full load during it's weekly self-test). And even then it only trips about 20% of the time.

And no, it doesn't run hot. The D2v and HTPC are the hottest things in my rack.

Originally Posted by AbMagFab

I have 2 dedicated 20A circuits available to me, but I'm powering my P5, P2, and D2v off one 20A circuit (along with my other stuff, like a Tivo S3, HTPC, PS3, and XB360).

I haven't had any issues at all, even at very high volumes. But I'm also using Sigs, not Studios, which apparently are more efficient (I know you have Studios, so you might have a slightly higher power draw).

The *only* time I've tripped the circuit is when I'm listening at very high volume levels, and my whole-house generator kicks in (I have it take full load during it's weekly self-test). And even then it only trips about 20% of the time.

And no, it doesn't run hot. The D2v and HTPC are the hottest things in my rack.

Originally Posted by shawnwalters

Thanks, glad to hear it..if I ever splurge enough to get the p5. I saw your post last year and you mentioned you were getting the d2v2 to go along with your p5 - how do you like it, combined with the p5 and compared to your old Onkyo?

Originally Posted by AbMagFab

I have 2 dedicated 20A circuits available to me, but I'm powering my P5, P2, and D2v off one 20A circuit (along with my other stuff, like a Tivo S3, HTPC, PS3, and XB360).

I haven't had any issues at all, even at very high volumes. But I'm also using Sigs, not Studios, which apparently are more efficient (I know you have Studios, so you might have a slightly higher power draw).

The *only* time I've tripped the circuit is when I'm listening at very high volume levels, and my whole-house generator kicks in (I have it take full load during it's weekly self-test). And even then it only trips about 20% of the time.

And no, it doesn't run hot. The D2v and HTPC are the hottest things in my rack.

Originally Posted by osofast240sx

feeling the peer pressure yet.

Originally Posted by osofast240sx

remember your whole system will only be as good as its weakest link.

Originally Posted by shawnwalters

Thanks, glad to hear it..if I ever splurge enough to get the p5. I saw your post last year and you mentioned you were getting the d2v2 to go along with your p5 - how do you like it, combined with the p5 and compared to your old Onkyo?

Originally Posted by osofast240sx

any pics of your setup?

Originally Posted by AbMagFab

It's *substantially* better than the Onkyo, in so many ways, even better than I was expecting. Here are some highlights:

- The ARC (Room EQ) is light-years better than the Audyssey in the 905. Perhaps the Audyssey Pro would be closer, but you have to pay someone to come in and do it with the Onkyo, where I can do ARC as much as I want myself, for free (I've already run it about 5 times this week, tweaking my room). And I'm currently adding more acoustic panels and moving speakers/subs around to further improve my room response, as a result of seeing ARC results and trying some things out. It's an invaluable tool in the drive to get perfect audio and room response, and the built-in Audyssey in the Onkyo is a joke by comparison (you simply run it and hope it did a good job).

- The Video Processor is unbelievable. I have always poo-poo'd VP's, especially for HD material. The VP in the 905 is a disaster (at least the Onkyo implementation of it), IMO (e.g. breaks under unusual cadences, can't do anything of value to HD content, the OSD breaks HD content, etc.). The D2v VP is what I've imagined, but never believed, a VP can do. 1080i->1080p conversion is visually stunning, and even 24p->60p works flawlessly. The additional features and tweaking (like custom crops and further image tweaking) make it even more valuable. I'm continually amazed each time I sit down and watch TV and movies since I got the D2v - the picture is noticably and significantly improved. (SD quality is also much better than the 905 VP, but I don't watch much SD, and the 905 supposedly does an okay job at SD VPing).

- The overall sound, even without ARC, is truly amazing. I keep reading people using words like "wide soundstage" and "emmersive sound", and now I know what they mean. Some good test BD tracks for me are Immortal Beloved's Ode to Joy scene - which has some nice dark and contrasty scenes as well as a great range-y classical piece, and the D2v not only reproduces the sound flawlessly, but also makes my HT seem like it's about twice as wide as it actually is. I know this sounds silly, and I've never heard it before now, but I guess this is what people mean by wide soundstage, and the Onkyo isn't even close.

- The control and configuration on the D2v, beyond the above, is also far beyond the Onkyo. You can pretty much do anything you want - whatever you can imaging, and whatever you need to do, you can do. And the RS232 control is complete and extremely reliable, so you can integrate however you want and trust it.

- The OSD works. Silly, but it's so nice to finally have this feature when every other Onkyo and Denon in my house causes such damage to the picture, or simply won't do it for certain combinations. The D2v has perfect OSD (and you can even have it display your own messages if you want - mine says "Mark's Perfect Theater" and "Enjoy the Show" at desired times). Not a huge deal for most, but such a relief for me.

- And then you couple all of this with Anthem's solid reputation for support, firmware and software upgrades, and even hardware upgrades. For a fraction of the original or replacement cost, they have always allowed you to send your unit in for a hardware upgrade to the current model (example - D2 owners can pay ~$2500 for a D2v upgrade, versus $7500 for a new D2v, list prices).

Anyway, I've only had my unit for a couple weeks, but I've been patiently waiting for about a year, and I couldn't be happier. It's more than I had expected, and I was expecting a lot.

It finally brings my Signature speakers to full life!

Originally Posted by AbMagFab

Based on what I've bolded, you want the P5. Agree with previous posters that it's probably the last amp you'll ever need.

Remember, it's not really about power, it's about clean stable power across the resistance spectrum. First, that tends to drive towards mono-blocks. Second, you need something that is proven and has been measured to be stable and clean and consistent down to low resistances.

So, you can go with something easy like a P5, or try out the IcePower amps (I know Warp has been going through them, he might have has some initial hum issues but I think they are resolved, so he can chime in).