Halcro SSP100 Digital A/V Controller

Meanwhile, the remainder of this controller’s audio feature complement is admirably thorough. For those collecting DVD-As, with their abysmal user interface, the front-panel TFT display is a godsend. Bass management is its own treat; kudos to Halcro for permitting crossover points to be set with 5Hz precision. I was able to achieve a very fine blend between my sub and main speakers. Likewise, speaker levels may be tuned to within .5dB rather than the usual full decibel increments. There is even an oh-so-rare provision for stereo subs. But I would not recommend trying to access these capabilities yourself, because the SSP100 can be frustrating to configure. My advice; let your dealer earn his keep.

My last caveat concerns this controller’s production immaturity. Frankly, it is still experiencing teething pains. The unit Halcro originally provided, one of the first on these shores, suffered from strange sonic and operational anomalies. The manufacturer declared that sample defective and provided an updated replacement. Yet this second unit still exhibits glitches. To wit, the front panel display flickers whenever a new screen comes up, the calibration microphone jack is incompatible with its intended plug, and midway through the review process the remote “forgot” all its commands. There are also a few ergonomic design goofs, including the confusing and incomplete owner’s manual, and the touch screen remote that spreads basic commands across three pages, forcing constant toggling to access the desired screen.

Given the manufacturer’s reputation, and the SSP100’s downloadable software upgradeability, Halcro will hopefully eradicate these operational and ergonomic gremlins in short order. Based on its groundbreaking video features and excellent audio performance— particularly with film sources— the SSP100 is set to assume a place in the top echelon of controllers.