Proceed PAV/PDSD Review
Dear Gary: In Issue 34 of Widescreen Review, Richard Hardesty reviews the Proceed PAV/PDSD. I own this equipment and am very familiar with its operation. I am therefore puzzled by his statement on page 40, column 3, last paragraph. There he suggests that this unit will accommodate a six-channel input from an outside source. I fail to see why this is possible. Perhaps Mr. Hardesty could indicate precisely how such a hookup could be accomplished. As a matter of fact, I have talked with the local dealer about this very issue. This gentleman is extremely competent, and it is his opinion that this can be accomplished only by the installation of an additional card in the PDSD. Perhaps we are both missing something obvious, and I’d appreciate it if Mr. Hardesty could shed some light on this question.
Garth Warner
Madrigal Audio Laboratories’ Jon Herron Comments:
I think this confusion stems from the fact that the PDSD uses a six-channel analog connection to interface with the PAV’s six channels of outputs. Anyone looking at the (empty of wires) rear panel of the unit might see the six channels of RCA inputs and come to the conclusion referred to. It isn’t until you actually set things up that the normal use of those inputs becomes more obvious. In point of fact, no customer has ever even asked us for this six-channel input capability, to my knowledge. Why would anyone accustomed to the really good multibit DACs and balanced outputs of the PDSD want to step backward to six channels of Sigma-Deltas? (I suppose you could make an argument for the first generation of DVD-Audio, but you still have the DAC-quality problem. Not to mention that DVD-Audio units and players are not yet available.) Having said this, we may have to accommodate it at some point in some future system configuration. Without disclosing information that I ought not disclose, we are aware of the possibility and have plans to deal with it as part of our regular product development process. The conclusion is: you can’t do it yet.
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