I have had a PAV for many years, then bought a PAV/PDSD combination a couple of years ago. I use them with a Proceed Amp 2 and Amp 3 that drive a pair of KEF 104/2 mains, a KEF 200 C center speaker, and a pair of KEF 102/2 surrounds. Frequencies below 80 Hz are shunted to a Velodyne HGS-15 sub. This system is not only impressive for movies and HDTV, but knowledgable listeners think it sounds great for stereo. The sound is open and spacious, with excellent imaging. Build quality is very good.
Main drawback is that these units predate component video. You will need a separate video switcher for component video. I do that now at a 36 XBR, but I expect to need a switcher when I move to front projection.
db |
I have seen these go for $650 here!
I still like these units, far better than the AVP they came out with later. You will be missing a 5.1 analog input though unless you plan on rewiring the components any time you wish to use a multichannel source...
That for me is th only down side to these. |
Don Thanks for the comment.
I have read these are the best highend stereo and Home Theater system you can buy at the time. I am trying to decide for the same $$$ ($1200-$1300), is there any better Surround Processor out there? How about Lexicon MC-1?
I did some research on PAV/PDSD and it looks like PDSD uses the 20 bit DAC and it has one Burr Brown PCM1702 in every channels. Do you know if it uses the more expensive K-Series PCM1702? See this thread for more info.
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?ddgtl&1104529280
Thanks
ldk |
ldk,
I considered both the Lexicon MC-1 and Krell HT 5.1, and have listened to each. I've read claims that the sound of the PAV/PDSD is superior, but I suspect it's a close call. I do know the spaciousness and imaging I so value with the Proceed stuff evaporated when I tried to switch to Sony's penultimate receiver in the interest of simplicity.
I don't recall any details about the DACs in the Proceed unit, but I'm confident they are high quality. Again, I do know that redbook CDs sound much better when the digital output from my Sony DVP-S9000ES is processed by the PDSD rather than using the analog output from the Sony, wherein the Sony DACs are doing the processing.
db |
The shortcomings have been effectively addressed in this thread. I could be wrong, but I do not see the value of these units falling to much farther below where they are now.
In regards to the sound, if 2ch music is going to be something you are going to use than you are not going to do any better than the PAV. The lexicon stuff pales in comparison. (at least the dc-1 did)The PAV is great for high end stereo, (virtually the same as the "Pre") something that a lot of processors claim, but few actually accomplish.
My opinion is that these componenets represent extraordinary value, it just takes the right person and situation to capitalize.
-rob
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I have the Proceed PAV PDSD combo with the 24/96 Software upgrade. The sound is absolutely fantastic, the back plane which houses the balanced modular cards basically dictates which channels fire - remember that ALL channels on the PDSD are balanced. In 24/96 the code in firmware limits stereo mode ONLY -meaning when you listen to 24/96 content your subwoofer channel WILL NOT fire - quick fix, is to "Down convert" your material to 24/48 which WILL fire on all channels. If you can hear a difference between 24/96 and 24/48 consider yourself for a casting call to heroes cause no human can do that.
At the end ofthe day we are ANALOG 2 channel creatures - we hear and experience in stereo, so all this multichannel crap is marketing bombastics - if you want to pay huge dollars to hear bullets whizzing at "24/192" have fun! |
Rereading this series of posts has reconfirmed my thinking re the PAV/PDSD for a system that does both stereo music as well as surround HT. The main changes to my system since my '05 post is a Sony VPL-50 "Pearl" front projector with 100" 1.3 gain screen has been substituted for the 36 XBR, and a DVDO Edge HDMI switcher and video processor and a Velodyne SMS-1 bass manager (room correction below 80 Hz) have been added. A Sony PS3-80 does Blu-ray and DVD, as well as SACDs for surround music, but I haven't become addicted to that yet. I am a very happy camper!
My PAV needed a repair following a power surge that knocked out its power supply. The local repair shop also replaced a number of leaking capacitors. During the repair, I borrowed my cousin's Lexicon MC-1. The MC-1 did a splendid job of routing surround sound (as does the PDSD), but I was surprised by how superior the returned PAV is for stereo -- I expected them to be similar sounding if a bit different. To be fair, the MC-1 may well need leaking caps replaced, given its age and years without use. The MC-1 I used lacked the open transparency I so enjoy with the PAV/PDSD.
db |
Dbphd
I got the PAV/PDSD along with Amp-5.What do you recommend for video switcher?
Thanks
George |
Of course it depends on what kind of video cables you plan to input and output. I'm using a DVDO Edge video processor and switcher that accepts various kinds of inputs, but only outputs HDMI. AVS had a group buy on the Edge, and I've been very pleased with it -- a single button lets me switch both audio and video between my DirecTV HD-DVR and PS3-80. If your video display accepts HDMI, I can recommend the DVDO Edge.
db |
Dbphd
Thank you for your recommendation.
George |
Do you know the basic differences (about decoder) between PAV/PDSD and AVP ?
I just bought a Amp2 and now I´m looking for a pre-processor (AVP or PRE+DAC).
Thanks, |
I replaced my Proceed PAV/PDSD with a Cary Cinema 11a for the lossless codecs and HDMI connectivity. I now have an Oppo BDP-105 that has an HDMI port for the HD-DVR and an asynchronous USB port for the Mac Mini. I use the balanced stereo and unbalanced 7.1 analog outputs from the Oppo, and the Cary inputs are set to bypass. I'm wondering about reinstalling the PAV/PDSD in the same configuration to replace the Cary. I don't care about the rear channels, 6 & 7, the Oppo processes the lossless codecs, and I don't use the HDMI inputs of the Cary. I assume that providing the tether to the PAV is in place, the PDSD will accept unbalanced analog from the Oppo; I think balanced stereo could go through the PAV.
db |
Hello, I know that this is an old thread, but I am getting my PAV/PDSD combo back today after having all of the capacitors replaced; does anyone know when the last software update was made available (for PDSD) and the version number? Thank you! Rubin |
