The $60 Sony speakers are horrible sounding in general. Irritating tweeters, non-distinct boomy bass, nothing really positive. We're used for temp rear speakers in a 7.1 setup.
But I left the HA-1 to burn in for about 15 hours so far and there are big improvements from out of the box already. Aside from the obviously unrefined sounding tweeters etc, I'm actually getting some excellent depth, well balanced and coherent sound, surprising imaging, etc.
I won't know until the Parsifals show up, but with very little burn in, the preamp section has already improved considerably.
If this has the respectable preamp section I think it will, throw in a lower cost high value speakers and 2 channel amp (and a computer or iPod) and this could be the centerpiece of a very satisfying over performing mid-fi setup.
It might prove to be a weak link for the Cary electronics and Verity Parsifal speakers - but the juries still out. We'll see next week when the Parsifal's come knocking. I have the feeling it might hold its own.
But I left the HA-1 to burn in for about 15 hours so far and there are big improvements from out of the box already. Aside from the obviously unrefined sounding tweeters etc, I'm actually getting some excellent depth, well balanced and coherent sound, surprising imaging, etc.
I won't know until the Parsifals show up, but with very little burn in, the preamp section has already improved considerably.
If this has the respectable preamp section I think it will, throw in a lower cost high value speakers and 2 channel amp (and a computer or iPod) and this could be the centerpiece of a very satisfying over performing mid-fi setup.
It might prove to be a weak link for the Cary electronics and Verity Parsifal speakers - but the juries still out. We'll see next week when the Parsifal's come knocking. I have the feeling it might hold its own.
