Lexicon DC-1 and DC-2 family

[lexiholic]

I have owned a Lex DC-2 for about a year now and absolutely love it. I've been collecting data and getting to know everything I can about this unit in the effort of getting the perfect setup. I've noticed from reading posts on several forums that most of them are from 1999 to about 2005/06. I started this thread to keep 2009 current Lexi owners in the loop and as a little family here to discuss concerns and tips with our prepros. I have lots of info and tips which I'd like to share and maybe I can learn something new. These Lexis may be a bit outdated but they still kick the crap out of anything modern with their uncanny ability to basically modify everything according to specific room dynamics or personal taste. Got a DC-1 or DC-2? Come on in and let's keep our little units going strong! Looking forward to hearing from you!

 

[Lordoftherings]

Hi lexiholic, and Welcome to Audioholics Home Theater Forums.

I'm not sure if you'll find many Lexicon products' owners around, but wish you luck.

* By the way, did you check at AVS forum, in the Lexicon pre/pro owners thread?

Here's few links:

* Lexicon MC-12 HD compared to others *
1 -> http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1158555

* The "Official" Lexicon MV-5 thread *
2 -> http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/archive/index.php/t-908561.html

* Lexicon MC-12 and High End Processors, you pay for the name *
3 -> http://www.hometheaterforum.com/forum/thread/268203/lexicon-mc-12-and-high-end-processors-you-pay-for-the-name

Cheers,

Bob

 

[lexiholic]

hi Bob,

Thanks for the welcome. I haven't checked your suggested forum. Is it recent? I find most threads are from early 2000's. Not many recent ones. I will check anyhow. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[davidtwotrees]

I have a DC-1 that's pretty gosh darn old. I had it modded by Sean Fogg to add analog inputs for a 7.1 channel source. (bluray). Mine has some quirks in the digital inputs so it is currently retired. I finally relented and just yesterday bought a Onkyo 706.
I am keeping my DC-1 as a backup with parasound Hca 750 two channel amp just in case. The lexicon is a cool piece of gear. Ahead of its time. I personally like it's simplicity and ease of use and set up. The software was setup by someone who beleived that simple is best, and that form follows function. I think the Japanese are enamoured of gadgets and gadgetry. They like complicated things to play with and mess around with. The Lexicon is a great example of simple, well designed gear that goes against the whole Japanese view of tweaking and complicating things. David

 

[Lordoftherings]

hi Bob,

Thanks for the welcome. I haven't checked your suggested forum. Is it recent? I find most threads are from early 2000's. Not many recent ones. I will check anyhow. Thanks for the heads up.

The first (1) and the third (3) links for these threads are quite recent (2009 & 2008 respectively), because they are about the MC-12 pre/pro. And the second (2) one is from 2007, quite old.

I don't keep track too much from pass 2007 or so, only for archives purpose.

Cheers,

Bob

P.S. By the way, here's David from above, your first Audioholics member and owner of a DC-1.

 

[lexiholic]

I think that Shawn Fogg in addition to the 8 channel bypass upgrade also updates power supply and also updates these units' connectors. You might want to ask him about it. How do you like the 8 channel upgrade. I'm itching to get it done but I love the logic7 dts so much that I don't know if its worth it. I read an article about a comparison done at the dolby labs and the DTS labs to determine whether these new true HD and DTS master audio formats hold water and the results (performed in theater setups far more complex any of us can ever duplicate) were that there is very little noticeable difference if any on the high end setups let alone the far less superior setups used by the average joes. The bypass doesn't allow you to tweak things like surround roll off and speaker HZ and vocal enhancements does it? I'd really miss being able to tweak all that. Besides, blurays contain core DTS codecs anyway so I can still watch blurays, get the hdmi picture by hooking up direct to the tv and still have my personalization menu. Any thoughts?

Thanks for replying.

 

[lexiholic]

As far as moving to new gear, i doubt any of the new stuff offers the flexibility of the Lex, even an older one. Get that digital connector fixed and go with it. Let's be honest. Movie sound can only get to sounding so good. There will always be new gimmicks but honestly, I believe if a movie sounded incredible in 2005, there is very little that can come out in 2009 that makes the 2005 version of incredible not so incredible. The article was on Cnet and is called "are the new schemes worth it? You should read it. It's a real eye opener as to how everyone is getting duped. everyone gets so excited when a new format comes out that they suddenly think the previous format is no longer any good.

 

[davidtwotrees]

Believe me, I thought long and hard about this. I was a seperates die hard, but you know what, I don't need amps and pre pros and all the wiring that was involved. I just swapped out my seperates for the Onkyo yesterday. The pile of cables was REALLY ALARMING. I mean huge. Component, Svideo, analog patch cords, it was an eyeopener. My new rig is cleaner and neater and sounds just as good. I don't really care about the new codecs unless Blu Ray develops as a music format. I DO think the blu ray picture is stunning and that is what I like about it. Most of the movies I watch are dramas and comedies where the sound isn't all that. If I was into big action flicks I think the codecs might be worth digging into.
Bottom line? The Onkyo is better in performance than the old Lexicon. These are my subjective opinions, of course. Is it better than a new Lexi? Gosh, I don't know, nor could I afford one even if I wanted to. If I got rich I would love boutique exotique gear but until then I am just a lil' audioholic making his way as best he can. Frankly I'm tired of swapping gear and trying "used/old/affordable" stuff that has quirks and glitches. I'm happy with the new Onkyo. I will be selling off my Parasound 3x200w. I am happily inserted into the audio matrix. Happy as a clam!

Re: S. Foggs update........it allowed me to listen to HiRez musik through the Lexi. And then later BluRay...............but you know what............HDMI just blows all that out of the water.

 

[lexiholic]

I will agree that musically the Lexi isn't all that. If I were in it for the music aspect I'd probably go your route or maybe even go analog tube amp. But my system is more for the movie experience. Not a lot of people would agree but i find using powered studio monitors is the way to go at least for me. It helped me avoid the huge mess of cables you spoke of since i don't need an amp. I use Tapco monitors engineered by Mackie which have two amps in each built in. (60wts for high end, 60Wts low end). I like the monitors because i can visually set the levels since they have two LEDs. One is green which means everything is good, and one is red which blinks if the amp is clipping or reaching the limit. This lets me control the levels so I know when I'm pushing it. I use two tapco s5's lying down for centre channel, two tapco S5's for mains and two tapco S8's for sides which i roll off at 40hz to utilize the bass enhance feature. I will be adding two rears when i pick up a decent 2 channel amp. I love the lexi dc-2 for the ability of allowing me to taylormake my configurations depending on my speakers' capabilities and my room's acoustics. Your receiver no doubt sounds amazing but once I went seperates I can never go back to receiver. Unless I get married and am not allowed my own ht room anymore.

 

[lexiholic]

also, the tapcos are all the same line so timbre matched as well. Can't go wrong for around $300 per pair. And they pound like mad!

 

[MidnightSensi]

I will agree that musically the Lexi isn't all that.

Lexicons music modes are awesome. I like Logic 7 with good two channel media better than a lot of native 5 or 7 channel mixes. It doesn't seem to smear the front image as much as I've found with a lot of 5 or 7 channel music media. My Onkyo Pro's upconverting modes are absolute garbage.

And Lexicon LIVE was expecting to be gimmicky, and I think its pretty trick. Certainly better than Audyssey.

I'm not really up for spending the bank on a new Lexicon though. 12 grand or something crazy for one with balanced inputs. When their pro audio stuff is actually pretty affordable, so you know your getting ripped on the home audio stuff.

I had a DC-2 way back, it was a great pre, but, it's dated.

 

[lexiholic]

It is true it is dated, but I've listened to some modern gear and the separation of effects was not as noticeable as it is on my dc-2. If it sounds amazing, it sounds amazing period. It's not because of something new that comes out that the dc-2 will all of a sudden sound inferior. I know people that own 7000 dollar MC-12's that claim it's not as superior than one might think. Logic 7 is still logic 7 whether it is in a 10000 MC 12 balanced HD or in a version 4 DC-1. That's my opinion after auditioning some pretty high end stuff. I mean after all, the DC-2 cost almost $6000 originally for a reason right?
As for your comment about us getting ripped off you're absolutely on the money. I have a friend who is a dj that has top end reverberation lexicon processors which cost under 1000. Yup! ripped off are those who shell out 10000+ for really, sound that can be had for under 1000. I got my DC-2 last year for 300 bucks and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

 

[Lordoftherings]

HIGH RECOMMENDATION of BLU-RAY MUSIC CONCERTS.

Hey David and also lexiholic, here some highly recommended titles on Blu-ray of Music concerts.

1. John Mayer - Where the Light is - Live in Los Angeles.

2. The Police - Certifiable - Live in Buenos Aires.

3. Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds - Live at Radio City.

4. Jeff Beck - Performing this Week... live at Ronnie Scott's.

5. David Gilmour - Remember that Night - Live at the Royal Albert Hall.

6. Celine Dion - A New Day - Live in Las Vegas. (For the excellent Sound.)

7. Nine Inch Nails Live: Beside You in Time [Halo_22 HD]

8. Jethro Tull - Live at Montreux (2003).

9. John Legend - Live at the House of Blues.

10. Roy Orbison - Black & White night.

11. Paul Rogers - Live in Glasgow.

12. Queen - Rock Montreal & Live Aid.

* Legends of Jazz with Ramsey Lewis - Showcase.

*** This is just to give you a good idea of what Blu-ray is all about.
And I'm the guy that knows. I got a fair selection of Multichannel SACD and DVD Audio discs. But these Blu-ray titles with the additional high resolution picture, are leaving the other audio formats in the dust.

BLU-RAY MUSIC CONCERTS are the new Ultimate Audio Surround Experience.

UOSE

 

[lexiholic]

Wow! Thanks for that illustrious list Lord. Oh Lord how great thou art!

 

[Lordoftherings]

Wow! Thanks for that illustrious list Lord. Oh Lord how great thou art!

LOL. One Ring to rule them all.

LOTR

LOTR = Laughing Out Till Resting.

* By the way, Lord of the Rings comes right after OverLord, which is the highest title here at Audioholics (of course, below Administrator and Mods).

 

[phil47952]

Dc-1

Hello all, I have an old DC-1 that I bought new in 1996, $4500.00 and loved every minute of it.
About a year and a half ago I got the Shawn Fogg upgrade plus he replaced the power unit and did the inputs. Now it's failing and I'm heartbroken[so I'm looking into a receiver because I can't afford to repair the Lexie.
I'm looking at the Emotiva UMC-1 and hoping I can just be in the same ball park as the DC-1
I'd really like to talk to Shawn Fogg about it, anyway, thank you for letting me whine about my loss.

Phil/B]

 

[phil47952]

Dc-1

Well, I finally got my Lexicon running right, I have no idea what happened to it but its back to 100%...

Phil

 

[deangrazy]

re

I have a DC-1 that's pretty gosh darn old. I had it modded by Sean Fogg to add analog inputs for a 7.1 channel source. (bluray). Mine has some quirks in the digital inputs so it is currently retired. I finally relented and just yesterday bought a Onkyo 706.
I am keeping my DC-1 as a backup with parasound Hca 750 two channel amp just in case. The lexicon is a cool piece of gear. Ahead of its time. I personally like it's simplicity and ease of use and set up. The software was setup by someone who beleived that simple is best, and that form follows function. I think the Japanese are enamoured of gadgets and gadgetry. They like complicated things to play with and mess around with. The Lexicon is a great example of simple, well designed gear that goes against the whole Japanese view of tweaking and complicating things. David

i love its long range db 100 factor which is a good range for sound propagation/amplification.!i prefer dc2 or dc1 just becoz one can reassemble diff channel logics. cool

 

[brad1138]

Nice to stumble across this thread. About 2 months ago I purchased a DC-2 V4 from ebay, and I love it. I use it for HT as well as Stereo music. I get that there are better music preamps out there, but this sounded better than my PS Audio 4.6/SoundStream DAC combo, and also sounded just as good if not better than the PS Audio when I used the DC-2 as the DAC. Not as Warm, but more detailed w/better imaging and bass.

I am curious about the 8 chan analog bypass by Shawn Fogg. More for SACD than BluRay. It would also allow me to connect a Phone preamp and not have it converted to digital. Can anyone tell me anything about his other upgrades, like power supply?

Also how do you get a hold of Shawn Fogg and is he the only one doing analog bypasses?

Thanks,
Brad