Lexicon MC-12 and high end processors, you pay for the name.

**sub_crazy** · **11-04-09, 03:12 AM**

I don't think it is still the case but I do know that Bryston made the amps for Lexicon in the past. I have never tried a Lexicon or Bryston amp but have always heard good things about them.

HK is the parent company of Lexicon among other brands so it is not a surprise they sound similar.

I do think Lexicon makes some great software for there pre-pro's as I was a big fan on Logic 7 before PLIIx. It has to be there hardware that leads to such a grainy character for music which is very apparent when I compared it to a Proceed AVP.

These are just my impressions in my system though and I have no doubts that in some other systems it sounds great. I am a big believer in system synergy as it would be a big mistake to match bright electronics with bright speakers but those same speakers may sound like the best with smoother sounding electronics. The opposite is also true in that dull speakers would benefit from bright sounding electronics to liven them up.

I try to never be too dismissive of certain products as set-up and especially the room plays such a huge role in what it will sound like. I had a pair of speakers a long time ago that I loved listening to in the dealers showroom and liked even more in a fellow enthusiasts home. In my own listening room I could never get them to sound right and even tried the same electronics that the dealer used but it was just not the same. In my set-up those speakers were junk but in 2 other spaces they were great.

Threads like these that are so dismissive of pre-pro's or other high end gear just based on photo's of circuit boards are laughable if they have never tried them. The OP is correct that some of them are not worth the money they charge but some are. Which are worth it or not is entirely dependent on the end user as it should be.

**Lordoftherings** · **11-04-09, 03:40 AM**

Lexicon, Bryston, Anthem, Sonic Frontiers, Paradigms, PSB, Mirage, Energy & other Canadian companies
make excellent audio products.

Canadians are at the forefront in technology, and are among the best audio designers and
audio software programmers in the world.

* And I'm proud to be a Canadian.

-> Just my two cents.

**sub_crazy** · **11-04-09, 11:43 AM**

Quote:

Lordoftherings wrote:

Lexicon, Bryston, Anthem, Sonic Frontiers, Paradigms, PSB, Mirage, Energy & other Canadian companies
make excellent audio products.

Canadians are at the forefront in technology, and are among the best audio designers and
audio software programmers in the world.

* And I'm proud to be a Canadian.

-> Just my two cents.

Lexicon a Canadian company? I thought they were out of MA or Indiana, somewhere around there. They are owned by Harmon anyway which I believe is a US company.

You are right about Canadians making good audio stuff though, bravo to my friends in the North!

**Kal Rubinson** · **11-04-09, 01:50 PM**

Quote:

sub_crazy wrote:

Lexicon a Canadian company? I thought they were out of MA or Indiana, somewhere around there. They are owned by Harmon anyway which I believe is a US company.

Yes but they are in Elkhart now. http://www.lexicon.com/company/index.asp

**recruit** · **11-04-09, 02:44 PM**

It would be nice to see some newer products from Lexicon as IMO with the HD revolution taking the lead, they need some newer breeds of processors supporting the lossless formats, although I did love Logic 7 on my MC4, that is so much better than the Dolby Prologic II offering...

**Lordoftherings** · **11-04-09, 08:11 PM**

Sorry to inform you of this, but Lexicon amps are "Made in Canada by Bryston Ltd."

* Also, Lexicon processors contains audio circuits and parts from Canada.
Plus, the DSP chips are designed and programmed by Canadians, unless they changed their design.

Just so you know.

**Kal Rubinson** · **11-04-09, 08:56 PM**

Quote:

Lordoftherings wrote:

Sorry to inform you of this, but Lexicon amps are "Made in Canada by Bryston Ltd."

I know that was once the case but I doubt if that is so now. Have you checked on a current model? (I would assume that, with JBL, Crown and Levinson amps coming out of Elkhart these days, the Lexicons would, too.)

**Lordoftherings** · **11-04-09, 09:28 PM**

Quote:

Kal Rubinson wrote:

I know that was once the case but I doubt if that is so now. Have you checked on a current model? (I would assume that, with JBL, Crown and Levinson amps coming out of Elkhart these days, the Lexicons would, too.)

Hi Kal,

From my last source of information, Lexicon amps are still built by Bryston.

* And no, I did not have the chance to see in the back of a newer Lexicon amp about it's source of origin (where it's made in).
But I will for sure research this, and let you know of my findings.

Regards,
Bob

**Jungle Jack** · **11-04-09, 10:25 PM**

Hello,
I am pretty sure what Kal is saying is spot on. I have been under the impression that Lexicon has not been using Bryston to produce their amplifiers. About 5 Years ago, I do remember the Lexicon versions of Bryston's being blown out. However, although internally identical, these amplifiers lack Bryston's no questions asked 20 Year Warranty.

Lexicon makes a quality product. They also have deep roots in Professional Audio as well. HDMI and the permeations of the standard has presented a nightmare to smaller outfits. Keeping up with all of the licenses of a modern SSP/AVR is not easy for products that are relatively low production. HDMI 1.4 is rearing it's head sooner than later to add insult to injury. In addition, with Room Correction being virtually compulsory, SSP/AVR's are having to run serious processing power to run all of the modes. Even though Lexicon is part of Harman International, I am pretty sure their development budget is fairly tight especially in these times.

Logic 7 is still an excellent codec. While H/K offers it, Lexicon really brings out the best in the codec. And for people running balanced (XLR) connections, the Balanced Model is quite popular.
Cheers,
JJ

**Lordoftherings** · **11-04-09, 10:31 PM**

Is Floyd O'Toole at the head of Harman Kardon technical design team, for acoustic audio new technologies?

He is Canadian too, isn't he?

**Kal Rubinson** · **11-04-09, 10:36 PM**

Quote:

Lordoftherings wrote:

Is Floyd O'Toole at the head of Harman Kardon technical design team, for acoustic audio new technologies?

Was. Now retired.

**daniel** · **11-04-09, 10:40 PM**

Eh! Those Canadian. Lol

p.s. I might live in "Canada" but I've never been, like you, a proud Canadian. However, I'm a proud Québécois

.

p.p.s. Canadian and American products are great!

**sub_crazy** · **11-04-09, 10:49 PM**

Quote:

daniel wrote:

Eh! Those Canadian. Lol

p.s. I might live in "Canada" but I've never been, like you, a proud Canadian. However, I'm a proud Québécois

.

p.p.s. Canadian and American products are great!

There you go, how about more North American products!

**daniel** · **11-04-09, 11:31 PM**

Quote:

sub_crazy wrote:

There you go, how about more North American products!

Well, Canadian and American are North American Products.

I could also say France, England, Italy... make great products.

However, those Canada and USA are near.

p.s. I was teasing Lordoftherings.

**Lordoftherings** · **11-05-09, 07:42 AM**

Quote:

daniel wrote:

Eh! Those Canadian. Lol

p.s. I might live in "Canada" but I've never been, like you, a proud Canadian. However, I'm a proud Québécois

.

p.p.s. Canadian and American products are great!

Salut Daniel,

Moi aussi je suis Quebecquois. Je viens de Montreal, mais je demeure maintenant en Colombie Britannique.

It's interesting how things change with time; people change provinces, audio electronics change countries, and things are made in whichever place it is cheaper to build them.
* And people retire too (Thanks Kal).
Even films are made less in Hollywood, and more in Canada.

Yesterday is today's economy... and this, all across the globe.

**sub_crazy** · **11-05-09, 11:31 AM**

Quote:

daniel wrote:

Well, Canadian and American are North American Products.

Thanks for the geography lesson, I never realized that

**tonyvdb** · **11-05-09, 12:03 PM**

Quote:

sub_crazy wrote:

There you go, how about more North American products!

BASH amps are also manufactured in Canada.

**sub_crazy** · **11-05-09, 01:12 PM**

Why did this thread morph into "Name that Canadian product"

I don't recall anyone bashing or saying anything regarding Canadian products prior to LOtR's stating his pride in being Canadian which is perfectly fine.

Canada makes excellent products, every Canadian should be proud of that fact, with that said lets get back on topic.

**daniel** · **11-05-09, 01:23 PM**

Usually, whatever you buy, if you need quality, you will have to pay for it. That's a fact.

However, paying more does not assure you that it will be better.

**Jungle Jack** · **11-06-09, 01:26 PM**

Hello,
Daniel, I do agree with you that not always does spending more equate to better performance, as there are many examples of High End Companies rebadging Chinese built components and slapping a pedigreed name, a fancy faceplate and so forth.

However, when researched, there are times that spending more will give you higher levels of performance. Just depends on the component under investigation. Certainly with speakers, spending more can make profound changes in your overall experience.

There is a point in all audio categories that you reach the level of diminishing returns. The trick is to be on the bleeding edge. With Blu Ray Players, this point is reached quite soon. With Receivers, there are more variables. Namely if you are using speakers that are inefficient and require high levels of current and power to sound their best. And the size of your room.
Cheers,
JJ

**tonyvdb** · **11-06-09, 01:58 PM**

Lexicon products although very well made do cost a lot more than they need to. Again its all about how much a company sells, if it sells a lot of one product the price goes down. Lexicon is not a mainstream product and many have never even heard of them.
Sony was really bad for this back in the 80's and 90's you payed allot for the name an did not get any more then the competition that sold for less. Bose is another perfect example of this and they still have not learned.

Advertisement