Krell Digital Vanguard or Parasound Halo integrated?


Looking for actual owner/user opinions on either of this pair of integrated amps.

There maybe other contenders but this is where I am down too right now.

Needs..
Xlr, rca analog inputs
Digital spdif, toslink, usb inputs.
Headphone amp if possible.( not a major).
Fairly compact, modern, reliable., great factory USA based support.

Will be going into my second home in North Carolina. Sources will be a music server of some description and a tt.
Speakers to be determined but likely small form factor floorstanders or decent stand mounts.

Thank you.
128x128uberwaltz

Showing 8 responses by uberwaltz

Slowly
Would really prefer to sell some of the gear I have up listed before I spend any more money...lol
David!
Yes I am very happy with the Triangles I got from you as you may tell...lol.
Condition was better than I expected considering age etc and the sound is just perfect with my system.
My components are listed on my system page apart from not updated the speakers yet but quick run down;


Nottingham Analog Spacedeck, Spacearm c/w ZYX RS30 cart
GoldNote PH10 Phono stage
Pioneer DV-79AVI SACD player
Nakamichi 582 cassette deck
Bluesound Vault 2 server for ripped cd and streaming
CPT Equicore-1800 power conditioner
Lyngdorf 2170 integrated
Nearly all interconnects and speaker wires are Nordost, bar a pair of XLR cables that Grannyring made for me.
And of course now Triangle Altea ESW speakers
@stereo5
I bought the Scansonic right here from a very trustworthy member at a very fair price.
T bh I was pretty shocked just how solid the bass was on these, obviously not low as physical impossible but more solid and palpable than I would have believed from smallish drivers.
Soundstage and imaging is first rate and they truly disappeared.
The only area I thought maybe needed a little help was the top end especially acoustic guitar, piano, female vocals etc. Nothing bad you understand just left me a little cold. However they still need breaking in so anything can change yet.
Then I was browsing and a pair of Triangle Altea ESW caught my eye at a stupid price and just had to give them a try.
No other way to say it but these are the best sounding speakers so far in my setup. There seems to be complete and perfect synergy. Vivid, dynamic, sparkling without harsh. And SLAM. I do not care that they are 2005 model and only cost $2000 new I am floored by them so far.
Btw for 2005 age they are 9/10 at least.
While recuperating from surgery I have been playing them like 10 hours a day and no fatigue on any type of music or source at all.

I think the Scansonic are fantastic for the price, look real well built and modern but these triangles just leave them for dead in my room and my system.
YMMV
In this case speakers are likely to not be as relevant as the feature set I need in the integrated.
However if the Scansonic mb2.5 I have up for sale do not sell then they will get used for the time being.

Just my opinion.....
Very nice to know,does not hurt it is a fair bit cheaper than the Krell to boot!
And I have read many good things on Parasound customer service.
@stereo5 

Now that is exactly the sort of information I am looking for.
Obviously my results will vary based on source, speakers, room etc etc.

Ever any issues?
Yes you could be right but I always prefer to hear from actual owners/users of anything. You can get a great insight into any quirks or known issues and general "what is it like to live with" type of feel.
And usually somebody will also come up with another suggestion which can open other doors of exploration I had missed previously
@audiothesis.
T
hank you I was not aware of that . I had been just looking at used models primarily.