Right on the money!

Posted by longtimequadowner (A) on January 2, 2004 at 19:56:22

In Reply to: Re: panasonic sa xr 45 posted by Gmood1 on January 2, 2004 at 18:29:05:

As I've posted before, and as alluded to by gmood1, the panasonic sounds like exactly what it is - a very direct link right to your source. Taking only numbers from your transport and amplifying with uncanny accuracy - and it's a preamp, amp, and DAC in one - what fun will it be to read stereophile/TAS any more - no swapping possible! Oh yeah, it has a tuner too - but I haven't tried it, but I am an avid tuner freak so I hope it's good. I'm also now an avid digital cable freak - just plug the SPDIF output from your cablebox directly into the panasonic - 40 channels of digital music in my town.

I just want to add that I resisted upgrading the power cord on mine for almost 8 weeks despite the urging of others, and they were right - it's essential. I bought the PS Audio Xstream Statement (yes I know, more expensive than the amp itself) and it is stunning.

Mine is only the XR25, by the way. $225. I'll be selling my Quad stack, my Naim stack, any my Sunfire stack when I get home - all of which I love and have commented on positively in past posts - as you can see I'm a "system" buyer to eliminate synergy issues as much as possible. My system is now a 3" tall single unit, and if the tuner proves good, will be augmented by only a CD transport.

I don't know if this is the end of the line, I read with interest Spectron's use of feedback in digital amps to eliminate distortion, etc - but the Panasonic is definitely the last "type" of amp I'll consider - one box, pre/power/DAC in one, uncanny accuracy, and in this case, 3" tall. I'm not out to "wow" my friends with exotic equipment, I'd rather impress them by playing them something they can actually own.

Maybe future digitals will have soundshaping etc to imitate tube amps (that's not a jab, I think I'd like that) done all in the digital domain with no negative effects. Hard to imagine how to color the sound without being to the detriment of some recordings albeit beneficial to others. I think we should leave those decisions to the recording engineers (for now, if I want a tube amp I listen to smooth jazz!).

In the meantime though, the panasonic? Love it to death. I'll leave it to others to fight over their brand loyalties - I have the income to afford what I want, but will be keeping the Panasonic. I only bother to post about it at all because for the decades past where I could never afford anything like this, it would have been a godsend, and I'd hate to see anyone buy without considering it today!

Maybe someday all amps will sound exactly the same, true to the source with nothing added and nothing lost, manufactured by mass market companies for a couple hundred bucks - no fun for perennial equipment chasers, a dream for the rest of us, including recording engineers whose only variable what speakers the listeners might be using...

And, before 50 people post flames and dump all over the panasonic, let's keep it in perspective - it's $300 for 6 channels, chassis and full function remote. $50 per channel!!!

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - panasonic sa xr 45 - dartmann 16:02:43 01/2/04 (41)

Re: panasonic sa xr 45 - bluenose 04:05:54 01/3/04 (0)

Re: panasonic sa xr 45 - dartmann 02:01:50 01/3/04 (1)

Driving 801's w/o Woofer Zobel 3.4 ohms, No Problem - ka7niq 05:54:34 01/3/04 (0)

every time a new digital thing appear some people think analog will deseapear(nt) - dammajor@hotmail.com 22:40:14 01/2/04 (0)

Re: panasonic sa xr 45 - sogood 21:39:26 01/2/04 (6)

You don't read very well do you? - longtimequadowner 22:24:00 01/2/04 (5)

Re: You don't read very well do you? - sogood 08:21:23 01/3/04 (4)

My feelings exactly - longtimequadowner 11:50:41 01/3/04 (3)

Re: My feelings exactly - J North 15:20:50 01/3/04 (2)

Agreed - one question though... - longtimequadowner 16:08:32 01/3/04 (1)

Re: Agreed - one question though... - J North 16:50:04 01/3/04 (0)

Re: panasonic sa xr 45 - Gmood1 18:29:05 01/2/04 (2)

Right on the money! - longtimequadowner 01/2/0419:56:22 01/2/04 (1)

Now My Friends CAN Afford Good Sound... - ka7niq 20:39:17 01/2/04 (0)

The War Is On .. Nelson Pass "Opinion" Of Digital Amps And My Reply... - ka7niq 16:19:03 01/2/04 (26)

Apparently, I'm missing the Pass comments - E-Stat 16:12:45 01/5/04 (2)

Here ya go.... - pmkap 16:43:43 01/5/04 (1)

Where's the controversy? - E-Stat 17:15:42 01/5/04 (0)

The Mouse That Soared!! - DrD 07:12:01 01/4/04 (0)

Are you from Grand Fenwick? - pmkap 23:35:49 01/3/04 (1)

Amen -nt - kgallagh 14:43:27 01/5/04 (0)

Good grief says Charlie Brown... - mr_bill 10:48:16 01/3/04 (0)

Tell me more about this Panasonic, please.... - AbeCollins 22:40:57 01/2/04 (5)

Re: Tell me more about this Panasonic, please.... - Bob Wilcox 10:39:17 01/3/04 (3)

Ditto on the PS Audio Xstream Statement - longtimequadowner 12:07:46 01/3/04 (2)

Re: Ditto on the PS Audio Xstream Statement - Bob Wilcox 14:54:51 01/3/04 (1)

Re: Ditto on the PS Audio Xstream Statement - Bob Wilcox 18:03:30 01/3/04 (0)

Re: Tell me more about this Panasonic, please.... - ka7niq 06:08:30 01/3/04 (0)

Pass Alephs are excellent amps. - edta 20:05:36 01/2/04 (2)

Ditto on the Pass in general.. - Audio Pharaoh 14:22:33 01/4/04 (0)

I Bet They Are, Havent Heard them nt - ka7niq 20:40:25 01/2/04 (0)

A boat anchor will never be obsolete. - 996turbo 17:42:22 01/2/04 (2)

Tubes dont show their ass in audio like... - ka7niq 19:05:45 01/2/04 (1)

Have you compared head to head a current digital amp.. - Audio Pharaoh 14:41:04 01/4/04 (0)

I don't think he's too worried. - Tromatic 17:01:14 01/2/04 (6)

Dude, How Wrong You Are... - ka7niq 18:48:22 01/2/04 (5)

Re: Dude, How Wrong You Are... - 3fd 12:49:54 01/3/04 (0)

Re: Dude, How Wrong You Are... - Gmood1 19:11:05 01/2/04 (3)

It's not about cost...it never was.. - Audio Pharaoh 13:26:16 01/5/04 (0)

I Hear You Man ! - ka7niq 19:51:42 01/2/04 (0)

I Second The Above Comments... - DrD 19:43:18 01/2/04 (0)

Follow Ups

Right on the money! - longtimequadowner 01/2/0419:56:22 01/2/04 (1)

Now My Friends CAN Afford Good Sound... - ka7niq 20:39:17 01/2/04 (0)

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