Hello!
Sorry to reboot an old thread but after reading many review for 5.1/7.1 preamps back in 2020, I ended up getting a Parasound P7 to drive 5.1 from an OPPO 205 to a McIntosh MC257.
1.5 years later... I removed the P7 without regret to replace it with a McIntosh C45 and my setup has been sounding good again.
My experience with the P7:
CONS:
1/ Humming from all speakers if not using XLR
2/ A/O amps noticeably clicking in and out when changing volume
3/ Voices/vocals/mids were somehow sent further from the sound stage, sounding weak and making me considering speakers maintenance.
4/ When powered off for a few days, the volume/control knob stops working completely for several days -- Parasound had to send me a replacement.
5/ Display can be turned off but the moment you use any control, it will come back up and not-redim
6/ Input description cannot use several common chars (such as dash -)
7/ P7 can’t bi-amp front using extra the unused channels in 5.1.
8/ Unused inputs cannot be turned off
9/ The POWER control to the MC257 would turned it on/off as expected but the lights on the amp would remain OFF, regardless of the control know. I tried to make custom cables to address this but it didn’t know.
It was globally sounding a little bright/harsh compared to patching directly from OPPO to Amp but brought convenience to inputs switching and reducing bass to avoid getting kicked out of my apartment by angry neighbors.
PROS:
1/ Better bass management -- but I do not/cannot have a subwoofer
2/ Tape out will down mix 5.1/7.1 to stereo (useful for spectrum analyzers, or VU Meters) -- but I can live without a muti-ch down-mix
3/ Input renaming
4/ MC/MM phono switch
5/ Bass/Treble can be adjusted from the remote
6/ I got one of the last discounted new units + racking kit before they were discontinued.
But the upgrade bug was always kicking and I finally found a McIntosh C45 for a good price and pulled the trigger.
With the coloration of the sound with the P7 well imprinted in my head after 1.5 years, the C45 differences were quite obvious. Most notably, the mids/vocals were back in front of the sound stage, not diluted in the back, and the sound was warm again, like McIntosh is famous for. Phono also sounded better with better bass and hissing mostly gone. Less fatiguing to listen to, I find myself listening to more music again these days.
The C45 isn’t better than the P7 on all counts but I would say it is a better choice for me. It fixes most of the CONS from the P7 and only bring a few steps down. Volume change is smooth, unused inputs can be turned off, 2 inputs can have 2/6ch modes, etc.
CONS:
1/ No tape out 6ch down mix (McIntosh confirmed that would have added audio processing that was not part of the design)
2/ Input names can’t be change (so... my BD player is officially "DVD" !)
3/ Trim can be adjusted from the remote, but not bass/treble.
4/ Trim by-pass is not available on the remote.
4/ Display can’t be turned off completely but it can be dimmed to low levels
5/ The plastic used for the original remote control (HR071) basically melted over the years. The replacement (HR093) is great but cost another $200.
PROS:
1/ Sound is definitely better to my ears
2/ Unused inputs can be turned off
3/ Front can be bi-amped (C45 has a pair of RF and LF)
4/ I does look good with its glowing green LED/fiber display ;-)
5/ Dead quiet, no humming on speaker at any volume
6/ Softer switch from sources (there is a temporary volume down/up to make it sound comfortable, the P7 would switch right away)
7/ The POWER control to the amp works and this time the lights remain on and can be adjusted with the knob.
8/ Phono sounds even better
So, as a conclusion, I would not recommend the P7 for a full audio setup but only for smaller satellite speakers that would be driven from a DVD/BD player with multi-channel outputs + few other sources. For a heavier setup, I don’t think it delivers the "neutral" sound I read about and actually degraded my mids quite noticeably.
Did anyone ever played with a P7 <=> C45 before?
Julien
