Initial impressions of the PXA-H900
Thread Starter
1000 Watt CAFz'r
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,783
Man I've been busy, so busy that my beloved processor sat in the corner for about a day and a half before I opened the box.
First off, this product is all class. From the packaging(even the trim ring is packed separately for gosh sakes) to the user manual(leather bound binder). This product is a statement piece, and it shows in the details. The allen key for accessing the DB9 connector on the front panel even matches the "chrome shadow" finish on parts of the processer.
Upon unpacking the entire contents of the box, I carried the contents out to my car to start patching it into my system. I literally layed the processor in my back seat with a Toslink cable strung out the center vent in my dash to the H900. I also connected an analogue output from my deck using Kimber cable KCAG interconnect.
After fumbling my way through the crossover and time alignment menus, I put some music in and started to listen.
First off, using the analogue input from my deck (Alpine DVA-7996) to the H900, the sound was much better than using my DQX. This is with very little tuning time, so I'm confident I can do much better. The real shocker was when I switched to the optical input. It was like lifting a curtain between yourself and the music. Everything simply became more real!! I was smiling from ear to ear.
This piece of gear is by far the best electronic component in my system right now. For me, it was easily worth the purchase price.
Now...I"ve been also working on the install again. My car currently has no sound, as I"ve stripped the trunk again, and have a new plan. I've purchased a modest stash of aluminum, and I"m currently having it machined for the new install. Just as a teaser...my 4 Focal 8 inch subs are being mounted in a 1/2" thick aluminum baffle.
Off to work on the install,
Adam
First off, this product is all class. From the packaging(even the trim ring is packed separately for gosh sakes) to the user manual(leather bound binder). This product is a statement piece, and it shows in the details. The allen key for accessing the DB9 connector on the front panel even matches the "chrome shadow" finish on parts of the processer.
Upon unpacking the entire contents of the box, I carried the contents out to my car to start patching it into my system. I literally layed the processor in my back seat with a Toslink cable strung out the center vent in my dash to the H900. I also connected an analogue output from my deck using Kimber cable KCAG interconnect.
After fumbling my way through the crossover and time alignment menus, I put some music in and started to listen.
First off, using the analogue input from my deck (Alpine DVA-7996) to the H900, the sound was much better than using my DQX. This is with very little tuning time, so I'm confident I can do much better. The real shocker was when I switched to the optical input. It was like lifting a curtain between yourself and the music. Everything simply became more real!! I was smiling from ear to ear.
This piece of gear is by far the best electronic component in my system right now. For me, it was easily worth the purchase price.
Now...I"ve been also working on the install again. My car currently has no sound, as I"ve stripped the trunk again, and have a new plan. I've purchased a modest stash of aluminum, and I"m currently having it machined for the new install. Just as a teaser...my 4 Focal 8 inch subs are being mounted in a 1/2" thick aluminum baffle.
Off to work on the install,
Adam
Thread Starter
1000 Watt CAFz'r
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,783
Yes I've played with the software. It's awesome!!!
But to date, the single most outstanding feature of the H900 is it's sound. I just can't put into words how good this thing is.
Aluminum has been machined...going back out to work on the trunk.
Adam
But to date, the single most outstanding feature of the H900 is it's sound. I just can't put into words how good this thing is.
Aluminum has been machined...going back out to work on the trunk.
Adam
Thread Starter
1000 Watt CAFz'r
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,783
Just got a 1/2" thick plate of aluminum cut with a plasma cutter. Holy crap it's messy. Beats using the jig saw though. My trusty die grinder is getting a workout.
DQX is spoken for.
Back to work on the car....
Adam
DQX is spoken for.
Back to work on the car....
Adam
1000 Watt CAFz'r
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,120
The 700 will take a Toslink input(Optical)which is critical in making the 700 sound decent. It will not sound the same as the 900 but will take you 90-95% of the way there for 1/6 th the cost...all in all, not a bad tradeoff.
Thread Starter
1000 Watt CAFz'r
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,783
The big differences are:
H900 3 way front stage, H700 2 way front stage
H900 has 24 bit burr brown K grade DACs, H700 20 bit M dac DACs
H900 has analogue volume control, H700 has digital volume control
H900 can play HDCD, H700 can't
H900 has PC software allowing individual control of each output(crossover,phase, EQ, and level), the H700 has NO pc software. Using this function, a person could have a virtually unlimited number of setups for the H900 ready to load with a PC.
Build quality of the H900 is simply on a another level.
H700 has function controls, and a volume **** built into it's remote display, the H900 does not(it has a larger display and a very classy remote)
Optical is definitely the way to go.
Yes the H900 costs six times as much as the H700.
My system is comprised of components that are marginally better than the next product down a specific line at many times the price. Yes I've got expensive stuff, but when you compound that extra 5 or 10% at every step of the signal path, it makes a big difference in the end. (Both to my ears and my wallet.)
I haven't done a direct A/B comparison between the H900 and the H700, it would be imposible. I run a 3 way front stage which the H700 doesn't support; unless you want to re-assign your rear channels. Where I'm going with my system, is to be able to play back super high quality software. This includes HDCD, 24 bit 96khz audio cds, DTS music cds, and Music DVDs. This obviously means I'm looking at rear channels and a center channel in the future...but that's down the road.
Back to working on the car...
Adam
H900 3 way front stage, H700 2 way front stage
H900 has 24 bit burr brown K grade DACs, H700 20 bit M dac DACs
H900 has analogue volume control, H700 has digital volume control
H900 can play HDCD, H700 can't
H900 has PC software allowing individual control of each output(crossover,phase, EQ, and level), the H700 has NO pc software. Using this function, a person could have a virtually unlimited number of setups for the H900 ready to load with a PC.
Build quality of the H900 is simply on a another level.
H700 has function controls, and a volume **** built into it's remote display, the H900 does not(it has a larger display and a very classy remote)
Optical is definitely the way to go.
Yes the H900 costs six times as much as the H700.
My system is comprised of components that are marginally better than the next product down a specific line at many times the price. Yes I've got expensive stuff, but when you compound that extra 5 or 10% at every step of the signal path, it makes a big difference in the end. (Both to my ears and my wallet.)
I haven't done a direct A/B comparison between the H900 and the H700, it would be imposible. I run a 3 way front stage which the H700 doesn't support; unless you want to re-assign your rear channels. Where I'm going with my system, is to be able to play back super high quality software. This includes HDCD, 24 bit 96khz audio cds, DTS music cds, and Music DVDs. This obviously means I'm looking at rear channels and a center channel in the future...but that's down the road.
Back to working on the car...
Adam
