[Steve Bruzonsky]

I heard a rumor but I am not gonna repeat it as I don't know if it has veracity.


Instead, I will simply ask:


Are you Hacro US owners being serviced to your satisfaction?


Has anyone recently bought a new Halcro surround processor?


Mr. Bland, how is your Halcro, and is it upgraded to the latest version?


Halcro has a nice SSP HDMI audio 1.1, as well as other niche nice but not cheap products.

 

[JlgLaw]

Steve, assuming you heard that Halcro is downsizing it's U.S. operation, that is correct. The company is still in business and they have established a tech relationship with a CA based company to service Halcro gear. My understanding is that some manufacturing is also being moved to CA. Products are still available for purchase by dealers and we all have direct contact with Australia as well.


Jim

 

[thebland]

I heard the same. I'm upgraded to the latest. All is good with the lossless codecs via HDMI.

 

[jbm007]



Quote:
Originally Posted by JlgLaw /forum/post/15400602


Steve, assuming you heard that Halcro is downsizing it's U.S. operation, that is correct. The company is still in business and they have established a tech relationship with a CA based company to service Halcro gear. My understanding is that some manufacturing is also being moved to CA. Products are still available for purchase by dealers and we all have direct contact with Australia as well.


Jim

He is correct.


So Steve wheres your order???


Jim

 

[Steve Bruzonsky]



Quote:
Originally Posted by jbm007 /forum/post/15400872


He is correct.


So Steve wheres your order???


Jim

My post at the CB3 thread explains why I am happy with what I have, and I have no plans to change to the Halcro SSP.


Folks, thanks for explaining Halcro's current status. Frankly, this "downsizing" explanation might be a concern for someone plopping 10 grand on a new Halcro SSP. Just like Theta's not yet (per The Bland "if ever") HDMI 1.3 audio upgrade might be a concern for someone plopping 10 grand or more on a new CB3.


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++



"With no working HDMI audio 1.3 display, all we have is Theta's pre-CEDIA statement that they are doing HDMI 1.3 for the CB3. Everything else is speculation. But given the current economic climate, I can appreciate anyone taking a "wait and see" attitude on buying a new CB3 until HDMI 1.3 audio upgrade is more concrete.


As to the debate whether Theta is doing HDMI 1.3 audio for the CB3, in normal economic times that debate would have been before or shortly after the purchase. ATI reviewed this carefully and pre-CEDIA and post-purchase determined to do the HDMI audio 1.3 upgrade. But lips have been sealed since then, and with no working HDMI 1.3 audio upgrade at CEDIA, and given

the economic recession since the HDMI 1.3 audio upgrade decision was announced, reasonable folks can't help but wonder if this is still going to occur. Even THE BLAND, with his consistent Theta bashing, is not unreasonable wondering about this.


Meanwhile, I enjoy my Theta CB3, Six Shooter, Integra 9.8 triple combo - and though Halcro SSP sounded nice at demo, it didn't sound as good or better than what I'm hearing in my room. So I am enjoying what I have now and waiting, waiting, waiting to see/hear if the HDMI 1.3 audio upgrade comes to fruition in this pitiable economic climate."

 

[thebland]

You know when my dealer told me this a couple months ago he said to sell it to forego any drop in value that may occur after such an announcement. But I thought to myself, 'What would I buy'? Needless up say I kept it and looks like I'll have it far longer than I ever imagined. No problem there. I'm still very pleased.

 

[Alimentall]

I think if you're not downsizing, you're being downsized by the market, so it sounds like they're just playing it smart. I've had quite a few bigger projects get put on indefinite hold while some of my best customers are struggling to pay us for work we've done.

 

[JlgLaw]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Alimentall /forum/post/15404011


I think if you're not downsizing, you're being downsized by the market, so it sounds like they're just playing it smart. I've had quite a few bigger projects get put on indefinite hold while some of my best customers are struggling to pay us for work we've done.

I think you are correct John. My sense of Halcro's move was a preemptive shift in focus to account for the downturn that was sure to come given the current state of the economy.


Like Jeff, I'm keeping my SSP, no reason to change at this point.


Jim

 

[rydenfan]

I was told that Halcro was dropped by their parent company due to the lack of revenue and they now need to survive on their own. I was told this by two separate sources but do not claim it to be 100% fact.

 

[JlgLaw]



Quote:
Originally Posted by rydenfan /forum/post/15410124


I was told that Halcro was dropped by their parent company due to the lack of revenue and they now need to survive on their own. I was told this by two separate sources but do not claim it to be 100% fact.

While it is true that the parent and Halcro have split, the reasoning has never been fully explained (although the reason you stated is of course plausible).


I do know Halcro continues to sell product and has arranged to service what it sells.


Jim

 

[Dennis M]

I recently had dealings with Halcro US, couple of months back, in regards to servicing my SSP180. They are backing their products 100%.

Not concerned at all by this news and plan on keeping my processor for sometime.

 

[Perfectionist2]

I just had my SSP100 upgraded to the SSP200 in December. As stated above, Halcro is using an electronics company in California to perform the upgrades.


Since the upgrade, I've experienced problems with HDCP and EDID handshaking between the Halcro, my Qualia 004 projector, and my Sony BDP-S550 and Toshiba A35 HD-DVD. I've contacted Halcro's technical support manager in the US, and he has been very responsive and supportive. I'm going to put a VP into the system which should resolve these problems.


While I have thought about replacing the Halrco with the Denon, the SSP sound is so clean and clear that I don't want to give it up.

 

[thebland]

I have an 004, Halcro 200 and have 3 BD players. No HDCP issues. Is your 200 actually an upgraded 100 or a whole new 200? I have the latter. I've read the upgraded 100s have such issues. Yes a great sounding unit. I also use a Lumagen VP. No HDCP issues.


Good luck!

 

[Steve Bruzonsky]

The above all hopefully bodes well for Halcro here in the U.S.!!!! Satisfied customers tell you a lot. The Halcro demo at Esoteric Audio in Scottsdale of the SSP-200 was nice, too. However, my predicament is that my Theta CB3 and Six Shooter, using the Integra 9.8 for HDMI audio 1.3, works and sounds great for my needs, as I hopefully await a CB3 HDMI audio 1.3 upgrade. I have no need for the expense of a brand new Halcro SSP which I feel won't sound as good in some ways (multi-channel SACD and DVD-A audio, and PCM stereo) as my current setup. Of course, if I didn't already have the CB3 investment I would seriously consider Halcro SSP.

 

[Perfectionist2]

Jeff -


Mine is an upgraded SSP100 which now says SSP200 when it boots.


If I knew that they were still having problems with the upgrade I might have held off but I like the Halcro so much I didn't want to sell it and buy something else, and I really wanted to be able to use the new sound codecs.


I will be reinstalling a Lumagen in a few weeks which I suspect will solve the problem.

 

[thebland]

Make sure 'hot plug' in the Lumagen menu is OFF for each source. It gave me some issues. If you need any set up help PM me.

 

[Perfectionist2]

Thanks.

 

[sfogg]

"I've experienced problems with HDCP and EDID handshaking between the Halcro, my Qualia 004 projector, and my Sony BDP-S550 and Toshiba A35 HD-DVD."


If it is EDID problems the Gefen DVI Detective + would likely take care of them for you. If they are HDCP handshake problems it wouldn't help.


The Radiance would help with both of course.


Shawn

 

[Perfectionist2]

Jim has also told me that the Radiance should resolve the problems, as he believes they are EDID related.


Thanks.

 

[thebland]

In terms of set up, I run my sources into the Radiance and then to the Lumagen. At 1080P24, you will have no OSD on your PJ screen from the Halcro - -only on the Halcro front panel (or if you have 2-way RS-232). Don't know why, but the HAlcro will not show such @1080P24 input. THe Halcro will not pass 1080P24sf at all - so the Lumagen comes in after the Halcro. I send HDMI 2 to another plasma in the family room.


Or ( in terms of set up), You might want to send audio only out of HDMI 2 and video directly into the 004 (so all sources are plugged in to the Lumagen). You may get a bit of lipsync but try it (the video could be ahead of the audio). But with a 1080P24sf output, you will have to send HDMI2 audio with blank video. You won't get a picture via HDMI 2 to the Halcro when set up this way. Blank video (and the audio) is sent as 1080i, so no issues...


A lot of decisions. Set things up both ways and see what works best. I also had an issue with 1080P24sf in that the default timings pushed the picture too far to the left. Easily fixed in the timings set up in theLumagen. If you have that issue, I will send you my timings.


Have fun!