March 5, 1999
New Product: Lexicon ships flagship MC-1 home theater preamp / processor, with high-end DSP and broadcast-quality features.

Bedford, MA. Lexicon has begun shipping its new flagship home theatre controller and processor. The MC-1 was announced in January at the Winter Consumer Electronics Show (CES'99): it's a surround preamp/processor, featuring the latest audio and broadcast-quality video technologies, carrying a suggested retail price of $5,995 (US).

Lexicon vice president of consumer products Buzz Goddard explains the philosophy and concept behind the MC-1: "Our development program for the MC-1 was very straightforward... take all of our best systems, refine everything that was receptive to improvement, and combine it all in a single product. We're confident that it's the best processor/preamp available at any price, even though it's by no means the costliest."

Central to the MC-1's design is Lexicon's DSP expertise, common to both its pro audio and consumer audio product lines. In the MC-1, DSP is used in all surround and ambience modes (and all other digital audio processing functions). More than two dozen such modes are on board, including both the Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel digital-surround decoding systems in state-of-the-art implementations.

Lexicon says that the new processor incorporates the full range of THX 5.1 enhancements and it is THX Ultra certified.

The MC-1 features a refined version of Lexicon's proprietary LOGIC-7 surround algorithm. LOGIC-7 has been praised as the finest surround process yet devised for film-sound and pure-music playback of both matrix-encoded and un-encoded stereo recordings. According to Lexicon, this system develops 7.1-channel, surround/ambience, employing discrete surround and side channels, that rivals (and in some cases out-performs) 5.1-channel discrete reproduction.

The MC-1's LOGIC-7 processing is also able to "down-convert" 5.1-channel recordings to 2-channel media such as MiniDisc, CD-R, or even Hi-Fi videotape, such that yet when re-played via LOGIC-7 these will recover the full discrete content and performance of the original discrete recording.

To optimize performance under real-world conditions, the MC-1 features several newly-developed options: if necessary, it can create additional "virtual rear" speakers to provide the seven channel experience even if only five channels are used; a low-frequency enhancement algorithm delivers smoother, more enveloping bass when used with large full range speakers at the front, side or rear; and in addition to the THX-specified 80-Hz crossovers, the MC-1 provides 120-Hz and 40-Hz double precision crossovers, optimized for high-end systems that combine extended-bass main speakers, subwoofers and smaller satellite speakers. The unit sports five independent DSP "engines," individually dedicated to surround format and major audio functions.

Complementing the MC-1’s DSP power are high-quality analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion systems, plus a sophisticated anti-jitter circuit for digital sources. An enhanced dual-bit delta-sigma analog-to-digital conversion design (24 bit) achieves wide dynamic range, while retaining the superior low distortion characteristics of conventional single bit delta-sigma A/Ds.

A new multi-bit 24-bit delta-sigma digital-to-analog converter design is employed on all eight output channels, providing high-end performance and 96kHz compatibility. Separate digitally controlled analog volume attenuators complement the high performance DAC's with their internal 24-bit 8x digital interpolation filters and multi-bit modulators. Refined circuit design and carefully selected analog componentry further contribute to sound quality that Lexicon encourages be compared to any "esoteric" stand-alone D/A converters.

MC-1 modes and settings are extensively customizable by owners and/or designers/installers, for tuning to room acoustics, system configuration, and personal preference. Numerous memory options remember favored settings and balances, and can automatically associate these to the selected input or other system context, with customized labeling at both the front-panel and on-screen displays.

Lexicon also designed the MC-1 to state-of-the-art in video capabilities. It incorporates an all-new, broadcast-quality video-switching section that ensures loss-free routing of images for convenient, centralized system control with zero performance penalties. This accommodates eight video sources, in composite or S-Video formats, while identical numbers of stereo analog-audio inputs of digital paths—five coaxial and three optical—combine for completely flexible system configuration. A digital output for digital input sources allows direct dubbing when used with a digital-recording component (DAT, MiniDisc or CD-R). The MC-1 also incorporates two Zone 2/Record outputs that permit both multi-zone/multiroom system design and flexible media-dubbing, simultaneously.

The MC-1 comes with a remote handset that features a glow-in-the-dark feature that instantly illuminates all its controls with cool blue light. The MC-1 menu system incorporates virtually every function, option, and parameter setting. An attractive blue vacuum florescent front panel readout allows easy viewing from any angle, in any lighting conditions. Two 12-volt "trigger" blocks, a direct infrared-data input, and dual RS-232 serial ports combine to extend this eminently usable system over an enormous potential range of remote functions and system-control options when integrated with whole-house media-control or home-automation systems.

Website: Lexicon

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