SSP & Pre/Pros that support HDMI Audio MPCM - Page 24

I don't know about the AVM50v, but the D2v waiting list now starts in the middle of May. That's the wait list, so I assume actual delivery would be approximately 2 weeks later!

Boy, did Parasound make a huge blunder. They postponed their <$5K HBR processors due to the "economy;" meanwhile Anthem can't keep up with demand at >$7K.

Latest word we have from Anthem is that new D2v and AVM 50v orders are currently taking about 45 to 60 days to ship from when Anthem receives the order (i.e., when the dealer and his regional distributor actually place the order with Anthem: The day you buy at your dealer may not be the day Anthem actually receives the order). First come first served, except for warranty replacements which go to the head of the line. I don't believe any dealers have managed to keep either of these units in inventory. This is not very different from when the original D2 launched in 2006.

Due to the press of new unit orders, Anthem now says it doesn't expect D2 -> D2v upgrades or AVM 50 -> AMV 50v upgrades to be orderable until June. Final pricing on such upgrades also has still not been set.

Both the unit firmware for the D2v and AVM 50v and the software for Anthem Room Correction (ARC: For all ARC-capable Anthem processors, not just the D2v and AVM 50v) have just had significant updates released -- downloadable from Anthem's web site.

As always, discussion is taking place in the massive "tweaking" thread:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=678260

Interested folks should read the first post of that thread and then start scanning backwards from the end.
--Bob

I think parasound is using the "economy" as an excuse since they probably do not have the ability to produce a HDMI processor. Look how long it took meridian to come up with a non HDMI fix to integrate with their processors.

Yes like many others

I believe they are as capabable (technically) as the next guy when it comes to producing an HBR processor, and perhaps more capable than some. However, they grossly overestimated the impact of a terrible economy on demand for current technology processing.

I suspect that their (and other) legacy platforms slowed significantly once HBR processors (receivers mainly) started to hit the market 18 to 24 months ago. That reduction in revenue impacts R&D in any company, particularly small company. Combine the reduction of R&D budget with a dismal economic outlook and it's easy to see why they retrenched. It's really only in hindsight that their misstep appears potentially grave. I'm sure it looked like the right (perhaps only) thing to do at the time.

No, that is just an excuse.


Because more people are not worried about name and pick a product on what it can and can't do. This leaves the high end far behind.

Let's step back and look at things from a different angle. Parasound is not the only manufacturer that is experiencing delays or been slow to put out product. Several things to take into account.

Separates are a very small portion of the A/V business in the U.S. Most of the receivers sold are what I call "disposable" (not in the sense they are junk), mass produced pieces that companies look for consumers to replace every couple of years. How many threads are there where people go from the 604 to 605 to 606 and are waiting for the 606, or gone from the 3800 to 3801 to 3803 to 3806 to 3808 and are waiting for the 3810? Processors are priced higher and are meant to last a while. I've had my MC12HD for 3 years now. My Paraound before that lasted for so long it's not even in their archived product's list anymore. How many are going to replace their 30K Krell every two years?

So that brings us to another problem. This every changing world of specs. SInce I got my Lexi, there have been two major and quite a few minor changes in HDMI, new audio codecs, video processing, etc. What is going to happen in say 6 months when HDMI announces they are coming with version 1.4 (at say CEDIA) to increase bandwidth for new codecs, 3D, and 4K. And by the way, it will have a new connector. What will happen then? Unless you are mass producing pieces like Denon, Onkyo/Integra, Yamaha, etc. it is impossible to keep up with. Processor companies would be more than happy to have external player decoding and video switching to handle everything. But we the small majority are demanding the lastest and greatest and want it now.

So let's look at the economy side of things for a minute. Let's say all of these manufacturers (Parasound, B&K, Krell, etc.) have done their R&D (albeit with a little final tweaking) and are ready to start producing. How many of the companies have gone under that they buy their components from? Now they need to look for new part manufacturers, negotiate new contracts, etc.

Just a different look at things.

S~

I am sure this is correct. Small companies live and die with their cash flow. Just because there is a big market opportunity available doesn't mean that a company like Parasound has the financial wherewithal to develop a new product at a time when their sales are surely suffering from the overall bad economic conditions. It sounds like a prudent business decision to me.

It is too bad; I think they would have been a good competitor for my business.

Don't give up on them too soon. They just won't be out as soon as you, others, or I would like.

S~

I think the blaming the crisis is too easy, Most of them should have been in production by now. They waited to long and figured it would be easy to add a few dsp's and software that they could OEM. The design/testing of components should have started in 2006/2007 way before the crisis hit. We had for example a whole range of brands pick the wrong dsp combi that got delayed and delayed and delayed only to save a few bucks while others like denon just solved the problem by adding more dsp's of a avaiable model and start programming early.

The new formats and hdmi means a whole new format for most what was laking was them looking forward and starting soon. If they did they could have been selling in 2008 and 2009 instead of doing R&D.

Atleast 50% of the blame is just analog companies being late to the party and some of them will not make it as a result since they are now not crisis proof when needed the most.

Daniel.

Who knows what might happen when they get to market - for all we know they could go through a lengthy teething process like Onkyo, NAD, Cary, B&K etc. That might mean waiting year from today for a usable product from them.

I'm not going to wait that long - good players are starting to become available in numbers, and software availability is starting to become a lot better.

Has anyone heard anything at all recently about availability on the NAD Master Series M15 HD that was projected for February release? It's nearly April, and this one has me very interested. It seems to have everything necessary, with one caveat.

It's a shame that it doesn't offer balanced connections, as that will add a significant amount of cost for my installation.



John

Eric, I have found an authorized dealer who is giving me a fantastic price for a 9.9 but it was opened in the store for a customer to look at. The dealer ordered it december should be wary about opened box and also the fact that it was ordered in december was thier a firware update around that time frame. Your help would be greatly aprciated

Sorry i think i posted the last post on the wrong thead sorry Eric.

I think there's a question or 2 in there...

As far as open-box goes, make sure ALL accessories are present, make sure the cosmetics aren't a problem, and most of all make sure the warranty is the same as an unopened box would have. Other than that, it's purely up to you whether you want to save some $$$ or not.

As far as a firmware update is concerned - as long as the hardware didn't change it shouldn't be a problem. Just install the newer firmware and you should be just as up to date as someone who bought one with the newer firmware already installed.

Thanks for the update Eric. We could always hope that it has been delayed while they add balanced connections!


John

For thos interested in the Paraound Processors I suggest you email them and ask, the more interest they receive the more likely they are to move forward sooner rather than later.

I emailed them again today myself

sales@parasound.com

Adam

Keep in mind that Parasound (as well as many others) was working with Vinci Labs and Vinci Labs packed up shop a year ago, leaving a lot of companies halfway through the design process on a lot of things. It usually takes about 2 years from start to shipping for a high-end electronics product.

It also *always* takes an extra 3-6 months to ship a processor than the company sales guys think. Including NAD.

I wouldn't expect BD players to start dropping processing except at the most affordable price ranges. It's an extremely cheap thing to throw on a player. Once a feature is built in, in rarely ever goes away, just like a new government program. I've been trying to convince NAD to drop S-Video, even component, as it's utterly worthless these days, as are more than maybe 3 analog inputs. But it may take years before companies start doing that.

I had a nice chat with Richard Schram last night (President Parasound) which has re-ignited my excitement for the new processors.

No real new 'News' on their arrival but they are still aiming for 'Summer 09':


The above is probably the part of the discussion most relevant to the forums but he came across as a really nice chap and it is refressing for a company president to take the time to talk with some random bloke who slings over an email.

Anyway I suppose the gist is that they are still working on things and we will see these products eventually.

Adam

Eric
Last I heard the AVP-32 is dead. They are planning a multi-channel pre instead. Of course, this may have changed?? See page 3 of the AC thread you linked.

AngelEyes,
Thanks for sharing the info on Parasound. It is refreshing to to hear from an manufacturer who does not see consumers as beta testers in order to save on R&D.

My first choice would have been Halo, but I ordered the Anthem D2v when it became clear that Parasound was serious about scuttling their HBR processors for the year (if it really is summer, it will be laaaate summer ). Keep in mind the 3 to 6 month rule based on when a manufacturer states they will release a product. Actually, that rule can extend indefinitely depending on the manufacturer. Let's hope that Parasound falls in the short end of that range.

Nice Eric! Thanks for keeping this thread so up to date.