| Lexicon MC-12B Music and Cinema Processor |
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| Home Theater Preamplifiers AV Preamps | |||||||||||||||||||
| Written by Thomas Garcia | |||||||||||||||||||
| Sunday, 01 June 2003 | |||||||||||||||||||
Page 3 of 3 The Downside As is the case with most processors available today, bass management is absent when analog bypass is chosen for the multi-channel DVD-Audio and SACD inputs. Additionally, the supplied remote control does not quite match the overall superior quality of the Lexicon MC-12B. First of all, it does not provide the highest level of legibility in either a dimly lit or fully illuminated environment. This is due in part to the function identifiers residing on the buttons themselves, making for a small viewing area. The backlighting does not create enough distinctive lighting for the user to decipher the active function. Secondly, although the MC-12B allows user-changeable input names, those names may not match the fixed labels on the remote. For the potential casual user or the non-audiophile neophyte, the MC-12B requires a bit more calibration, setup and exploration in order to get it optimized and functioning to its greatest potential. The manual is quite clear and comprehensive, but with all the available setup options provided, the end user will most likely experience an extended learning period before exploiting the full power the MC-12B. On the flipside, this flexibility can lead to a far greater level of reproduction than a plug-and-play system that may initially be more user-friendly. However, after living with the Lexicon controller for a period of time, I became very comfortable with its operation, functions and capabilities. Conclusion Lexicon’s many years of research and development in both the professional and consumer arenas has culminated in the creation of the exceptional MC-12B Music and Cinema Controller. With its all-encompassing surround sound processing modes, extreme flexibility and proprietary LOGIC7 algorithm, this unit is undeniably among the best options for anchoring a truly reference-quality home theater and music system. The MC-12B is a world-class performer sonically, but the real payoff just might be its incredible flexibility and capacity to tailor the sound as required, meeting the needs of different environments and systems. Add in the extensive upgrade capabilities allowing incorporation of future looming multi-channel processing innovations, and potentially system and room calibration software, and this unit should reign as one of the world’s finest home theater controllers for many years to come. In short, the Lexicon MC-12B is both a reference-quality audio and video controller and the best cure I've yet seen for the format wars and threat of technical obsolescence. At just under $10,000, the MC-12B can hardly be considered inexpensive, but for those seeking the ultimate in home theater and music playback experience, the cost is justified by the end result. The Lexicon MC-12B Music and Cinema Controller is state of the art in virtually every respect, and finds itself in a class with very few peers.
3.26 Copyright (C) 2008 Compojoom.com / Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."
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