AnonEmouse
New Member
This is my first post here so please refrain from summary execution.
A couple of years ago I picked up a used Parasound Halo Integrated. I believe it to be a first generation. It popped a PS cap and I sent it back to Parasound for repair. Since then, it has performed well with no issues.
I had been reading about music streaming and the various services but didn't know if I would like it and didn't want to spend a lot of money only to decide I didn't. I purchased a WiiM Pro and subscribed to both Qoboz and Amazon Music. The Pro has additional inputs allowing me to connect the TV via Toslink and the WiiM Pro to the Parasound also via Toslink and use the DAC in the Parasound.
The Parasound uses the ESS Sabre32 Reference ES9018K2M chip that, given the apparent ESS nomenclature, suggests it is old compared to the ES9039MSPRO or ES9038PRO. I do understand that implementation is generally more critical than the specific chip. That said, digital is not my forte so making usable sense of information beyond a general understanding of the measurements is difficult.
More specifically, what (if anything), do I stand to gain by adding say, an SMSL DO300 or M500 MKIII and using the XLR outputs into the Parasound? Should I expect these DACs to outperform the one in the Parasound? Should there be a noticeable improvement in the sound?
A couple of years ago I picked up a used Parasound Halo Integrated. I believe it to be a first generation. It popped a PS cap and I sent it back to Parasound for repair. Since then, it has performed well with no issues.
I had been reading about music streaming and the various services but didn't know if I would like it and didn't want to spend a lot of money only to decide I didn't. I purchased a WiiM Pro and subscribed to both Qoboz and Amazon Music. The Pro has additional inputs allowing me to connect the TV via Toslink and the WiiM Pro to the Parasound also via Toslink and use the DAC in the Parasound.
The Parasound uses the ESS Sabre32 Reference ES9018K2M chip that, given the apparent ESS nomenclature, suggests it is old compared to the ES9039MSPRO or ES9038PRO. I do understand that implementation is generally more critical than the specific chip. That said, digital is not my forte so making usable sense of information beyond a general understanding of the measurements is difficult.
More specifically, what (if anything), do I stand to gain by adding say, an SMSL DO300 or M500 MKIII and using the XLR outputs into the Parasound? Should I expect these DACs to outperform the one in the Parasound? Should there be a noticeable improvement in the sound?