Incredible detail and soundstage. Excellent analog qualities in both 2/8 channel bypass.

My only complaint on the Soundstage is that it doesn't have an OSD.

For the last 15+ years I have been through my fair-share of high-end HT/audio equipment. Part of this reason has been to find the one box that performs as well on music as it does with home theater. The other part, of course, was just keeping up with the JoneES, EXs, PLII and Xs. My venture has taken me through Fosgate, Citation, Proceed, Lexicon MC1, Parasound Halo, Lexicon MC12B, Cary Cinema 6...and several demo brands in between. Having got discouraged with the HD-DVD/HDMI uncertainty, I even decided to pick up an HK AVR635 in the interim. Sadly, my wait didn't last long as I still wanted something more musical than the 635. Enter the newly acquired Soundstage, complete with the 7.1/HD upgrade. I figured this used piece would be a nice stop-gap to hold me over until things settled down in the industry. What I wasn't expecting was a piece of equipment that not only could hold me over...but could (IMHO) compete with some best products I had ever used and owned. It's hard to imagine that this is nearly a 6-year old platform. While I know the upgrade brought it further along, some of the basic functions and features were ahead of its time; little things, like to-the-inch speaker measurements, separate x-over and BM for 2-ch vs. multichannel, .05db volume and delay control...and even volume memory and mode recall for each input. These are things that some of my more-modern SSPs still didn't have. While the analog 2-ch sound on the Aragon is one of the best I've heard, the dac section is no slouch, either. It's been a while since I had the AVP and Halo, but these were always two of my favorites for digital music. They had a similar quality I enjoyed...a neutral to slightly warm presentation, loaded with dynamics and detail. And while the AVP was always a great overall performer, it just became a little dated for movie surround sound, lacking some of the peripheral detail I found in the newer Halo. What's amazing is that the Soundstage has all these great attributes; going out on a limb, I'd say the Aragon combines the best from many of these pieces...both in sound and functionallity. While it would be unfair for me to say that one is better than the the other (since I no longer have them to compare to...and it's been so long) what I can say is that Aragon gives up nothing from what I recall of the others. Both the 2-channel and the multichannel inputs/bypass on the Aragon are as clean as I've ever heard. In fact, here it competes very favorably with one of my favorite 2-channel analog pre/pros...the Citation 7.0 (which I still own). With the broad-band components used in the multichannel inputs, the Aragon is incredible with SACD/DVD-A...and should be right at home with the new high-rez formats. Even as a dac, the Aragon is impressive, imparting a large soundstage filled with detail. The low end just seems to be huge and much tighter than what I've recently heard, while the upper frequencies are crystal clear without any hint of brightness. I have a smaller room now, and I could never turn my system up to reference levels without being a little uncomfortable; with the Aragon, it not only sounded more clean and transparent...I had room to spare without cringing. For sure I thought the one area I might suffer was in DD/DTS for movies because of the advancement in DSP/surround technology. In fact until this time, I didn't think I was losing anything in HT when it came to using my HK/635. A comparison with my Cary Cinema 6 confirmed this as my wife couldn't pick which one was superior. While I could tell differences (especially for music), those differences in DD/DTS/surround weren't as great as I had hoped. The moment I hooked up and ran the Aragon, I could tell their were differences without even putting them side-by-side. The others just sounded lean and compressed by comparison. But just to be sure, another direct comparison using the wife had her instantly choosing the superiorty of the Soundstage. The Aragon sounds so good, that I don't even miss engaging any of the post processing for 6.1 or 7.1 channels. Ironically, I've never heard DD/DTS-EX/ES Matrix/Discrete, PLII and even Neo-6 sound so good. Whenever I engaged these on some of my other SSPs, they often sounded like they were attenuated, resulting in a slight loss of resolution. Yet, with the Aragon, there appeared to be no attenuation and the resolution and dynamics were the same as the original signal (I didn't have to turn the volume up to compensate). You can't even tell they're enabled, other than to notice the increased soundstage from the additional speakers. Even logic-7, which I love in both the MC12 and 635, seems a little veiled compared to the open, detailed reproduction in standard 5.1 by the Soundstage. From bass output (which is excellent) to center channel resolution, everything is incredibly clear and consistent. As an aside, I spent over a week putting it through the paces. Through all my button-pushing, switching modes, etc., it never hung up on me. In fact, unlike a few other SSPs I've used, I never got a pop, click or delay on any of the CDs (including DTS) or digital satellite channels that I tried. This is quite impressive considering the age of this unit and some of the bugs I've had with other SSPs. It appears that Mondial got this thing right, right from the start. While the Soundstage doesn't have all the bells and whisltes of the current crop (PLIIx, HDMI, etc), what it does have is still ahead of some, especially were it counts. In fact, it has a combination of complexity and simplicity that is unique among many of the processors I've owned. With its combination of music and movie sound quality, it is one of the best units I've had in my system.

Similar Products Used:

Citation, Proceed, Parasound Halo, Lexicon, EAD, HK.

SOUND QUALITY, SOUND QUALITY, SOUND QUALITY, flexible bass management that is memorized for each type of input - analog or digital

the remote, but I have a pronto and just looking for the CCF now

I''ve been looking to integrate my home theater system and 2 channel listening system. I had thought about just getting the ADCCOM preamp, which was stereophile A rated and has a home theater pass through that inactivates the volume letting the HT processor volume control the entire system for HT. I have spent the last year looking and testing various products to integrate and upgrade my system. I tested the B&K Ref 30, Denon 5800, Integra Research AV processor, Krell HomeTheater standard, McIntosh, Sunfire Grand Cinema and Anthem. The Aragon is absolutely at the top of this list. It offers great sound, good features such as flexibile bass management with various settings depending on your inputs, HT or Stereo Analog. The bass management is done in the analog realm. The sound quality is great especially in the stereo direct mode. It is at the top of the list for stereo analog by far. It even betters analog only preamps. For home theater, DD and DTS is so detailed and clear with a great soundstage. I''m extremely happy with this purchase and to think I purchased it for only $1500 from ubid. It is absolutely the steal of the century. It retails for $4000. I have purchased from Ubid before and some of the items I get that are shipped from Ubid is pretty shoddy. I was concerned with spending so much from Ubid since I usually limit the amount I spend there per item because of their shipping and return policies. However, I just couldn''t pass up this deal and on top of it all the shipping comes direct from Klipsch and to my surprise it was actually double boxed! Great Job Klipsch. (Klipsch just recently purchased Aragon.) Furthermore, there are planned upgrades to this unit soon from Aragon. Check out their website in the forum section. You can upgrade to DPLII, ES, EX and all the new standards soon. Plus it can be upgraded to component video processing. $1500 for a brand new with full warranty, was absolutely a no brainer. The double boxed shipping was icing on the cake. This is cheaper than the B&K Ref 30. I also thought about waiting for the Outlaw new preamp, but I think that it would be hard for it to outperform anything on that list. It might be comparable to some of those on the lower end but probably not the middle or top end of my list. Highly recommend it. Go get one before they are all gone!

Similar Products Used:

B&K Ref 30, Denon 5800, Integra Research AV processor, Krell HomeTheater standard, McIntosh, Sunfire Grand Cinema and Anthem

Upgradability (via both hardware and software), modular design, outstanding analog and digital processing, build/construction quality, number of inputs(flexiblity), outstanding technical support, balanced outputs, direct analog passthrough, ease of use, auto detect of surround sources, 6 channel analog input, large display (readable across the room), etc........

remote kind of cheap for such an outstanding product, owners manual is weak, hopefully Aragon/Mondial will come out with a more complete, professional manual in the future.

As you can tell by the strengths I listed, I really love this product. Based on sound quality alone, this unit is as good as any unit I've ever auditioned and much better than most regardless of price. If you're looking for a preamp/processor with outstanding sound regardless of source, this is the one.
I'm running a Sony SCD-1 through the Soundstage's analog input with stunning results. As close to a live performance as I've ever experienced. I just close my eyes, and I'm there.
The Soundstage is the only unit I auditioned that made me feel I was getting a product that was worth much more than it's asking price, would not be obsolete in the near future, and does not put anything between you and the music!
And if you are a spec lover as the previous reviewer seemed to be, Aragon has posted the Soundstage's specs on their website.
5 stars without hesitation.............

Similar Products Used:

Lexicon DC-1, Meridian 561, Sony TA-E9000es, EAD Ovation

Best Performance, Superbe Sound Quality in Stereo, dts and Dolby.

No EX-Performance & 192khz(96khz)/24 Bit-possibility now.

The best sounded preamplifier I,ve ever heard for so much money. That will be another High Quality Product from aragon that I have since the aurum at my home. I like it, it sounds crispy, detailed and dynamic. It`s not only the big brother of the Acurus ACT-3, it is a Aurum for 5 channels. Congratulation Mondial.

Excellent surround processing, upgradeable,
good technical support.

Cheap remote, very large, no on screen
display, warrant not transferable.

Sound is very good with excellent
performance on surround sound. Very good
analog preamp.Remote is cheap though and
for 4000.00 I expect more. No published
specs. on the unit. What is Mondial hiding?
Contacted them and they refused to give any
specs saying," trust your ears and do not
worry about the specs." What kind of bull
is that? I stil think the unit is an
excellent one though but they will not get
my money until I can see stuff like THD and
signal to noise ratios. Because of this I
am only giving the unit 4 stars.

Similar Products Used:

Acurus ACt 3

Superb sound quality for both Music AND Home Theater.
Excellent analog preamplifier as well as a sophisticated digital engine.

Mediocre remote.....Bought a Pronto, and downloaded the CCF file from their website.

I waited for this preamplier to become available with much anticipation. The other preamplifiers in the class always lacked something sonically, or lacked a feature that was improtant, like the analog pass-through. This preamp/processor has it all.
I have it matched with Aragon Palladium monoblocks for the main channels, and an Aragon 8008X3B for the center and rears. My speakers are Martin Logan SL'3s for the front, the Logos center channel, and the Aerius for the rears. Cables are Audioquest Quartz, and Video Pro.
DVD player is a Sony 7700.
RCA 5451 Satellite Receiver.
Runco IDP 850 Front Projector


Although I have only had the preamp for about a month, what I have epxerienced so far is nothing short of amazing. I replaced a Theta Casablanca that was my previous processor. I changed nothing in my system but the preamplifier The difference was immediately noticeable. (even my wife noticed, and she could care less!) For music, there was no comparison. Using the digital out of the Sony DVD player, and using the Soundstage as my DAC provides excellent results. The Soundstage offers a more "full" sound adding depth, and suprisingly enough, a more open soundstage :) over the Theta. Bass seemed tighter, and the midrange did not have an added "zip" that the Theta had while listening to things like "The Art of Noise".

Movie soundtracks were much more detailed. I saw the Sixth Sense in the movie theater, and it was nothing in comparison to watching it at home, with the Soundstage. The system is extremely dynamic, and again, the bass seemed to have an added "punch" that was not there before.

The flexibility that this piece offers is what put it over the top (way over) for me. With the analog passthrough capabilities (6 channel, and 2 channel) already built in, I can take advantage of SACD now (I don't have a player yet....no software!), and DVD-Audio as soon as it becomes available, without worrying about the fact that they do not have digital outputs planned for the higher sampling rates for some time. When they do have a digital output for the higher sampling rate, there is an expansion port for the new digital interface, whatever that may be. It also has an expansion port available for Component Video switching (rumored to be 3 inputs, and 1 output) and a removable rear panel to allow analog output modules to be added for future formats that require more channels.

At only $4000, this piece comes HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! I don't think you'd need to spend any more money than that!

Similar Products Used:

Theta Casabalanca, Krell A/V Standard, Proceed AVP,Meridian 861

Outstanding ergonomics; very neutral sounding;sounds fantastic in stereo mode as well as home theater

None

This was purchased by me as a step-up from a Parasound pre-amp. The Parasound was very good; the Soundstage is great! Very neutral-sounding, achieving the majority of the remaining 10% in sound quality lacking with the Parasound. Integrated with the Conrad-Johnson MF5600 amplifier, the resulting sound is fantastic-slightly warm, natural-sounding and great in both stereo and home theater. In fact, this home theater pair produces stereo sound comparable to a high-end stereo system (very rare with current home theater systems).

Connections on the rear of the unit are fantastic-logically ordered and labelled with plenty of room! I have even wired (using a $4 Radio Shack cable) the trigger outlet to my amplifier and can turn on the amplifier-pre-amp unit remotely from my sofa! Other components in my system include B&W Matrix 804 front speakers, B&W Matrix HTM center speaker, Paradigm Reference Servo-15 Subwoofer, RBH MC-6 in-ceiling surround speakers, and Adcom GCD-700 CD player.

Although others on this site have criticized the remote, I enjoy using it and find it to be quite functional. I am using it as a universal remote and enjoy it so much that I have stopped using my universal Rotel remote. There are only a few DSP modes (which is fine with me, as I think they are gimmicks).

In summary, if you are looking for a beautifully laid out preamp-processor that values sound over gimmicks and sounds as great in stereo mode as it does with home theater, this is a wise purchase. Highly recommended!

Similar Products Used:

Parasound, Rotel

Balanced Outputs, Full Upgradability, Superb performance for BOTH Music, and Home Theater in one.

Remote....replaced with Pronto

First......My Review:
The Aragon Soundstage allowed me to replace my two channel analog preamplifier with a single unit offering Audiophile quality two channel performance as well as digital surround sound. I have yet to find a processor that sounds as good as this does, and offers the flexibility that this does, yet remains simple so everyone in my family can enjoy it. Each analog input can be selected as an analog pass-through allowing my phono stage, and my tape deck to pass through as it would in my previous high end two channel analog preamplifier. Previous preamplifer was an Audio Research LS10, and I feel like I have made a step sideways in two channel analog performance.(Which is GREAT when you figure in the $6000 price tag of the LS10) Combine that with the Digital surround capabilities, and you can't beat this preamp. Operation has been noise free and flawless, and the Dolby Digital, and DTS from this unit are simply stunning. We watched Stir of Echoes last night, and I was amazed at the channel separation, and overall surround effects. The system makes my Aerial Acoustics speakers come alive like they have never come alive before.

I too compared with the Theta Casanova (as well as the more expensive Casablanca)

The previous reviewer mentions that the Soundstage has balanced outputs, but no balanced inputs, so he chose the Casanova. By the way, the Casanova does not have Balanced Inputs OR Balanced Outputs.

The Casanova can have an external RF demodulator connected to it, as an option. Hmmm.....The Soundstage can too.

The Casanova has NO ANALOG PASS-THROUGH. They make such a big deal about how they use an analog domain volume control, when all analog inputs are converted to digital, and then back to analog.

There are ZERO advantages to the Theta Casanova over the Aragon Soundstage. The Theta has 24/96 DAC's. Too bad DVD Audio will have a maximum sampling rate of 192 kHz. Can't decode that with the Casanova, and there is no analog bypass to allow decoding of DVD Audio in the DVD player. Hmmm.......too bad.

Reserve judgment for yourself, but this preamp is definitely an excellent recommendation.

Similar Products Used:

Theta CasaNova, Casablanca, Krell AV Standard

Increase Upgradeability & improved sound over the Accurus ACT3

lock in Inputs & Outputs, Full upgradeability is not in place, Balance Outputs with no Balance Inputs to match

After being disappointed with the Accurus ACT3 with its analog sound stages (I use it only for TV, it lowers the sound value with Laser Discs in Analog mode), I received a notice from Mondial (the parent company of Accurus and Aragon) that I could turn in the Accurus ACT3 for $1500.00 in exchange for the Aragon Sound Stage. I jump at the chance and read all the information I could get and went down to see my friends (salesmen) at Digital Ear in Tustin CA. This unit had only one analog sound processor (Hall) and it had Balance Outputs but no Balance Inputs (One would think that to have Balance Out's, an unit should have Balance In's for example Audio Research LS-16). The sound played well through Pass Lab Amps into Martin Logans newest model speakers. I was disappointed and show the salesman my dream machine: 3 types of Inputs 1. VSR, 2. DVD, & 3. Laser Disc with RF Mod inside. 5 or 6 Outputs for Center, Main, Rears & Sub and other odds and ends... he said "When these types of processors 1st came out, some companies did this for people with good Stereo PreAmps, but no one bought them" I said "WHAT!!, I have to pay $1000 to $2000 dollars for Inputs and Outputs that I will never use. What else do you have." And then he lead me to the Theta Cosa Nova and show me on how I can program exactly what I wanted to put in and out at about the same cost as the Aragon Sound Stage. After 2 weeks of reading over the Cosa Nova verus the Soundstage, I went with the Casa Nova and will trade in my Accurus ACT3. This maybe a good unit for those with no other PreAmp and want but one multi purpose unit. Therefore I give it a 4, but not my cup of tea.

Similar Products Used:

Act3, Cosa Nova

NO GIMMICKS

REMOTE
OWNERS MANUAL

THIS PRODUCT HAS BROUGHT ME FULL CIRCLE. AFTER TOYING WITH THIS SOUNDFIELD AND THAT SOUNDFIELD, ALL OF WHICH DISTRACTS FROM THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS, THE MUSIC, I'VE COME HOME TO THE SOUNDSTAGE WHICH IS ABOUT THE MUSIC AND ONLY THE MUSIC.
SOUND MATTERS........NOT GIMMICKS

Similar Products Used:

GIMMICKS