Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners Halo D3 Universal Player (pics)

Looks like the long awaited D3 is in final approval stages and should be available soon. I'm looking to replace the Denon 2900 with a Halo model. The specs are as follows:

– HDMI digital video/audio output with HDCP

– 480p / 720p / 1080i selectable scan rate

– Simultaneous progressive scan component video output and interlaced composite video output

– Faroudja DCDI processing for precision progressive scan

– DVD-Audio and SACD multi-channel

– SACD DSD bit stream goes directly to audio DAC

– DVD-A, SACD with bass management

– DVD+–R/RW, CD-R/RW compatible

– MP-3, JPEG, WMA, DivX playback, Kodak Picture CD playback

– 192 kHz / 24-Bit audio DACs

– 216 MHz / 12 bit precision video DAC

– Pure Black mode with black level adjustment, 7.5 IRE or 0 IRE

– BNC and RCA jacks for component video output

– Two s-video and two composite video output jacks

– Gold-plated 5.1 channel analog audio output jacks, two extra L, R output jacks

– Coaxial and optical digital audio outputs

– Balanced two channel analog output with XLR jacks

– Defeatable video & digital audio circuits for purest analog audio

– RS-232C two-way communication port with DB9 connector

– Easy to use remote control handset with glow-in-the-dark buttons

– External IR repeater input and looping output jacks

– Detachable IEC AC power cord

– 115v / 230v operation

– Heavy duty 3U chassis, rack mounts with HRA3 (not included)

Halo D3 Front


Halo D3 Rear



Any thoughts and comments would be appreciated, and before someone asks, its like the rest of the Halo series, its not
inexpensive at all. Retail price: $ 2,300.00

NO MORE TOYS FOR YOU. That looks awesome. I can see why you would want it. Perfect match to the halos.

thought: gorgeous

comment: where'd you find your money tree?

This will come out of the income tax return fund, that or I will have to take on another project of building something for a neighbor.

Pretty blue lights.
Impressive specs.
Pretty blue lights.
Nice match for the Halo amps!
Pretty blue lights.
Seems to be a superior video DAC over other models and processors. This will be direct feed to the projector I imagine?
Pretty blue lights.
My wife would kill me if I bought something like that but maybe she would like the pretty blue lights.

For now the video feed would just use the Sony HDTV, still working on the projector/screen fund.

with your back wall, being all glass, I would imagine that setting up for a projector would be a nightmare… and cost some nice $$$$$.... where were you planning on putting the screen? Same place you have your tv? Or you will have to build new stuff?



What projector were you thinking of, runco? Or something a little less spendy?

Plan is for auto ceiling mount screen, and would be in front of the Sony unit. The system will be for movies which are usually in the evenings. But the solarium has built in shades, so would work for day time use if needed.

The so called budget for the projector and screen is $8 -10k, have not made any decisions as to what brand of projector, screen choice so far is a Da-Lite.

What!!! No IEEE-1394 firewire output for sacd?

It's beautiful. My first thought is that that's a lot of money for a player considering that HD-DVD's are coming soon, but I doubt that will stop you. You'll just buy a kick-butt HD-DVD player when they arrive.

Enjoy your toys! (Yes, I'm jealous.)

I am not very familiar with universal players, but I always thought that Denon had great players (2900 and others later). Now, this one is not that expensive for a Parasound Halo, and it is a "Halo"!! Looks a good deal. Any comparison with the Denons???

When assembling the new system I went with the Denon 2900 (refurb) have had no problems with it as for CDs, but it had problems reading all DVDs. Sent it to Denon, they returned it saying the issue had been solved. A few months later it started having the same issue.
I added a Sony 5 disc CD/DVD unit as a back up, the Sony does fine with DVDs, but at times it does have problems with CDs, as it restarts a CD after about 2 or 3 seconds of playing the first track of a CD, not all CDs, but to many in my thinking. Have sent it to Sony, they can not duplicate the problem.
Have been waiting for the Halo D3 to become available, since having the Halo series of products I have been very pleased with them and the support from Parasound is much like Axiom. So I'm thinking of trying the D3 and see how my luck goes with this universal player., the advantage I have with Paraound, they are located with in an hours drive and I can talk to a live tech in person.