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Post by AudioHTIT on Oct 11, 2018 10:58:17 GMT -5
That’s what’s missing, does Parasound have a controller? Amps are plentiful, but a flexible IP based control system is what’s needed. Precisely. There are amps aplenty but those with IP control and network streaming are not as common and those with Roon support are rarer still. Checkout the NAD CI 580. It's a 4 zone controller with no keypads, controlled entirely from eiher BluOS or Roon apps. Paired with an Emotiva Basx A-800 it's the best solution I've found so far. Parasound are not well represented down under in Middle Earth. The CI 580 does look good, and they have a local dealer, but the quick math for me comes to about $3600 for 8 zones using (2) 580’s and a Pair of A-800’s (though I’d prefer Class D). I could probably get the Russound MCA-88 for much less, not quite as nice, but should meet my needs. I’m certainly going to check the NAD out more though. I’d prefer my sources (like streaming) be part of my main system and then routed to the Zone solution via Emo Zone 2 or digital out, so probably paying for something there I don’t need, but understand different needs. |
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Post by tagmanz on Oct 11, 2018 16:28:00 GMT -5
Once you start making multi channel amps with DACs and IP all you have is a very limited one trick pony integrated amp. If you ask me this is a bad business model (which is why you don't see this very often or when you do it is very expensive since volume is extremely low) Hence my suggestion to leverage the existing architecture Emotiva already have in the modular XPA Gen3 platform. It would require the development of a control module only which in itself could further leverage the investment Emotiva are making in developing the streaming module for the RMC-1. I'm sure it is more complex than it sounds and such a product may never happen but I felt it was an interesting concept and worthy of debate. |
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bootman
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Typing useless posts on internet forums....
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Post by bootman on Oct 12, 2018 5:58:09 GMT -5
Once you start making multi channel amps with DACs and IP all you have is a very limited one trick pony integrated amp. If you ask me this is a bad business model (which is why you don't see this very often or when you do it is very expensive since volume is extremely low) Hence my suggestion to leverage the existing architecture Emotiva already have in the modular XPA Gen3 platform. It would require the development of a control module only which in itself could further leverage the investment Emotiva are making in developing the streaming module for the RMC-1. I'm sure it is more complex than it sounds and such a product may never happen but I felt it was an interesting concept and worthy of debate. You hit on a good point. Building it into the RMC makes business sense since the higher price of that unit can help cover the development costs. But a standalone amp that won't sell that well doesn't from a business point of view. Unless you have data that shows they would be able to move +5K units to make it worth while, functions like IP control should stay in the preamp. |
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Post by tagmanz on Oct 12, 2018 23:44:52 GMT -5
Hence my suggestion to leverage the existing architecture Emotiva already have in the modular XPA Gen3 platform. It would require the development of a control module only which in itself could further leverage the investment Emotiva are making in developing the streaming module for the RMC-1. I'm sure it is more complex than it sounds and such a product may never happen but I felt it was an interesting concept and worthy of debate. You hit on a good point. Building it into the RMC makes business sense since the higher price of that unit can help cover the development costs. But a standalone amp that won't sell that well doesn't from a business point of view. Unless you have data that shows they would be able to move +5K units to make it worth while, functions like IP control should stay in the preamp. The point I'm trying to make here is that the product I'm suggesting is essentially a control module only. It would be an extension to the existing XPA product line and shouldn't be viewed as a standalone amplifier which I agree would be of somewhat limited appeal. The XPA line is already modular. If one needs a mono, stereo or multi channel amplifier you can configure the chassis as appropriate. If one had a need for a zone amplifier what I am suggesting is that you configure the chassis with the control module and a suitable number of 2ch stereo amplifier modules to suit your needs. It is not a question of can Emotiva sell a one trick pony amplifier as you put it but rather how can Emotiva bring greater functionality to the market through leveraging the products and technology they already have. Of course I have no hard sales data to support my idea but likely no one here except Emotiva does. |
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Post by AudioHTIT on Oct 13, 2018 23:34:33 GMT -5
Called my local NAD dealer today, I would probably not buy anything from the salesman I talked to (despite his assurance that he’d been in the business over 40 years and knew what he was talking about). Though I was interested in the NAD, he tried to push me into Sonos. Ok, I said “does it have a digital input?”, No he replied. Well, that won’t work for me, how about the NAD? Why do you need that? 99.9% of Zone products don’t have a digital input. What about the NAD? Yeah, it has one. He wasn’t interested in what I wanted, only what he wanted to sell.
Looks like my math was about right for 8 zones though, $3600 for an NAD/Emotiva solution (with his amps would have come to over $5000, or $4000 for a Sonos system.
So what would you pay for this proposed XPA control card? The competition wants $2600 for 8 channels? Would you pay $1000 for 6 channels (since you could get 6 stereo blades in the same chassis).
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Post by tagmanz on Oct 15, 2018 2:50:52 GMT -5
Called my local NAD dealer today, I would probably not buy anything from the salesman I talked to (despite his assurance that he’d been in the business over 40 years and knew what he was talking about). Though I was interested in the NAD, he tried to push me into Sonos. Ok, I said “does it have a digital input?”, No he replied. Well, that won’t work for me, how about the NAD? Why do you need that? 99.9% of Zone products don’t have a digital input. What about the NAD? Yeah, it has one. He wasn’t interested in what I wanted, only what he wanted to sell. Looks like my math was about right for 8 zones though, $3600 for an NAD/Emotiva solution (with his amps would have come to over $5000, or $4000 for a Sonos system. So what would you pay for this proposed XPA control card? The competition wants $2600 for 8 channels? Would you pay $1000 for 6 channels (since you could get 6 stereo blades in the same chassis). I can sympathize with you Audiohtit. It is frustrating when sales people either won't listen or have little knowledge of the products they are trying to sell. It's interesting to learn the US price for the CI 580. Here in New Zealand it is $2499 NZD so more or less a direct exchange rate conversion. Not always the case with many brands here. To answer your question I would definitely pay $1000 USD. I think it would still be of reasonable value at $1500. That's assuming of course it could be made to fit one slot allowing room for 6 amplifiers. The economics would change if less amplifier channels were available. |
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