Sony G90 manual Lexicon MC-1 Controller, Sonic Flavors To Slake Every Thirst, R L E Y

A U D I O

F E A T U R E D P R O D U C T

Lexicon MC-1 Controller

Sonic Flavors To Slake Every Thirst

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exicon is unique among companies building multi-chan-		DACs and analog circuitry (which increased the signal-to-
nel digital controllers (see “What You Should Know		noise ratio from 98 dB to 110 dB), a “broadcast spec” video
About Controllers,” which follows this review). Rather		board, and the unit will receive and decode 24-bit/96-kHz
than approach the product category after designing two-chan-		input signals.
nel analog preamplifiers, Lexicon enters the multi-channel		The MC-1 is an eight-channel device, with line-level out-
arena with a decades-long history of creating professional dig-		puts for the usual left, center, right, surround left, surround
ital-signal-processing gear.		right, and subwoofer signals, plus additional outputs for rear
Lexicon introduced the world’s first digital-delay line in		left and right signals. In its optimum configuration, the 7.1-
1971, the Precambrian era in digital audio. Lexicon’s chief		channel MC-1 will drive seven power amplifiers and seven
technologist, Dr. David Griesinger, has spent his career study-		loudspeakers (plus any number of subwoofers).
ing surround sound, reverberation, human hearing, and the		Three RCA jacks marked “Expansion Ports” accept stereo
relationship between the physical properties of sound and our		PCM signals at up to 96kHz sampling and 24-bit word length.
perception of them. In the academic audio community,		Expansion Port A feeds the left and right channels, Port B
Griesinger is considered one of the leading authorities on the		feeds the center and subwoofer channels, and Port C drives
perception of acoustic environments.		the left and right surround channels. These inputs bypass the
It’s no wonder, then, that Lexicon’s new flagship MC-1		DSP in the MC-1, including the bass management functions.
Music and Cinema Processor is packed with an extensive array		The idea is to provide an input for high-resolution multi-chan-
of multi-channel surround-sound modes. Moreover, many of		nel digital sources. Unfortunately, it’s unlikely that DVD-
these surround modes are designed for music listening, not		Audio and SACD players will provide unencrypted high-reso-
just multi-channel film-sound. With 7.1 channels and signal		lution digital output on RCA jacks. Still, you can use one
processing that is unique among surround-sound controllers,		expansion port to connect those DVD players that can output
the MC-1 raises some interesting questions about multi-chan-		24/96, realizing a simpler signal path than is available through
nel music reproduction.		the MC-1’s conventional digital inputs.
For those of you familiar with Lexicon’s DC-1 and DC-2		Bass management in the MC-1 is a little more flexible than
controllers, the MC-1 is a significant re-			usual, offering three crossover frequencies
design. The MC-1 has more inputs, better	R O B E R T	H A R L E Y	(40 Hz, 80 Hz, 120 Hz), but no slope adjust-