JUST GOT THIS MC12 BALANCED V2.0 . I HOOKED IT UP WITH MY ADCOM 7805 WITH XLR SOUND AMAZING ANOTHER LEVEL ABLOVE MY B&K 50 S2 OR 50 PREAMP. THAT'S WHY IS 10000 FOR A NEW PREAMP. YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. REALLY DETAILS SOUNDSTAGE AMAZING SOUND.

Surround decoding

Price, No XLR Balanced inputs Analogue. Only one digital balanced input.

Awesome surround sound detail! Truely amazing. Only gripe is that i traded a Mark Levinson 380s for this. The Lex does not have balanced inputs which means you are stuck with the DAC's in the lex. Which are good i know, but this seems like a major omission to me. My stereo sound not as good as ML.

Unparalelled sound quality, expandability and versatility (and looks).

Hmmm.... Remote, audio filters.

Alright... Upgrading to the MC-12 from the McIntosh MX-130 (a very fine piece of equipment), The MC-12 offered substantially more dimension with regard to setup and listening modes, and features. First off, I'm going to pick out the weaknesses, because there are few, then move on. While the remote is quite nice, I would expect something more versatile, and programmable, such as the Home Theater Master remote. Secondly, The bass and treble are set at 20 Hz and 20 kHz filters. This works alright for 50% of the time, but with a product of this capacity, I'd expect several parametric filters. Also, I have more source equipment than this unit has analog inputs for, but the MC-12 does have decent capacity for analog inputs (8 stereo inputs OR 1 5.1 input and 5 stereo inputs), not to mention all the digital inputs (12 of them), and the video inputs (18 (8 S, 5 component, 5 composite )), and 12 input selections on the front panel. Now for more of the strengths.
The MC-12 offers the most versatile configuration chactaristics I have come across in a product in its class. All things considered. Bass management is most versatile with its individual X-Over settings for each speaker assignment, including Sub augmentation with the front mains. Input assignments are second to none, with limitless configuration characteristics. Speaker setup is straight forward and can be done manualy or automatically with optional mic kit, providing software is updated to version 3.1 or higher. This unit has expansion slots within to increase processing power for better audio and / or future features. The MC-12 has 3 output zones. Main, Zone 2 and Record. This provides even more versatility. Also 2 RS-232 ports for software upgrade and expandability. Now how does it sound / look? Well, I have to say the MC-12 has a sound like none other than and just shy of the Levinson No. 40. That said, this unit provides dead a silent background, imaging is pinpoint, with space and air around the instruments, very detailed and lifelike sound, explosive dynamics, need I go on? Video is lossless. Beautiful video switching. Need I go on? Inputs can be switched between digital and analog if you wish to connect both from one source. Now what about surround modes? Breathtaking! The MC-12 offers so many listening modes (surround and otherwise), I can't even tell you how many. Logic 7 is Lexicon's proprietary mode, which even improves upon Dolby and dts. Music modes can be shifted on the fly to find which one you prefer for a particular CD. Film modes, the same. The MC-12 is available in RCA only or RCA and XLR versions.
The MC-12 is very nice looking, with its matteted aluminum front panel and black chasis. Its not reflectively shiny, which tends to be annoying in certain room lighting.
I have expressed some additional improvements to Lexicon which they can implement in the MC-12. This unit is so powerful and versatile (there's that word again..), It's capable of so much more than it is currently. I hope the folks at Lexicon decide to implement some of these upgrades, because if they did, no one else could come close.
My MC-12 is powered with PS Audio Plus power cable, plugged into a PS Audio P-300. I use several different digital and analog cables from various source equipment. The outputs are fed to Mark Levinson No. 432 and Proceed HPA 2 and 3 via AudioQuest Pythons.

Customer Service

Always there when you need them.

Similar Products Used:

McIntosh MX-130 (auditioned many others, in home)

I love the the seperate Lt & Rt subwoofer outputs along with the LFE out. I have four subs in my system. I hooked up two of them in stereo and two to the LFE. Very flexible crossover points. This is a top notch unit. I has every bell and whistle you could want.

None, price, maybe!

I upgraded my Lexicon DC-1 to the MC-12 and I want to say it is everything I expected it to be. So much flexibility and it was a cinch to upgrade the software. The menue is very easy to navigate through. This is the last pre-amp I will ever purchase.

Similar Products Used:

Lexicon DC-1 V4

Clarity... Sense of immersion into the sound field... Upgradability.. Processing power... Solid Company!!!

Price... looks still do not beat the funky retro, modern look of the Proceed..

Just wanted to chime in here. I recently auditioned the MC12 (I am about to purchase an MC12 B). I have owned several HT setups and also listened to many more, and although the processor quality DID vary each time I upgraded, I was NOT prepared for what I heard from the MC12. Transparency is a big issue with me when I choose electronics... yes, the support that you get with power is nice and necessary, but the transparency is #1. The Lexicon showedd off in several areas. The Logic 7 wrapped the sound around me like never before. NO, it did not sound like BAD multi-channel audio. It just sounded like you were immersed in an incredibly rich field of 'sound'... each sound defined like never before. Chair creeks, birds flying and dialogue were reproduced at a level that is FAR beyond what I had ever heard. I hate when someone shows you their HT system and automatically blast it to impress with volume. If I want to be blasted, I'd go to a commerical theater. When I opt for a home setup I want my system to perform heads and shoulders about the fancy theaters. The dialogue was impressive in that it was pinpoint without the echo effect that comes from congesed gear. The spacial cues were so refined, detailed and seperated. I returned home to give my (son to be x) system another listen. What I was once satisfied with ( I guess through ignorance) was no longer listenable. I am spoiled. I would love to be able to get a pre/pro like the MC12 for 2K ( I don't NEED to own the most expensive ), but they just don't compare. I also listened to the Proceed AVP2 and all Proceed electronics. NOISE, NOISE, NOISE (IN COMPARISON TO THE MC12) The Proceed did not make me want to uograde... The Lexicon DID. If you have the means AND want the current State of The Art ( By a wide Margin), then find someplace that has this on display. I was listening through the LX7 amp.

Similar Products Used:

Moved from HT Receivers, to Adcom, to B&K, to Myryad and a few others after that in the higher price ranges...

Sound is dazzingly, configurability, ease up upgrade (did it myself without breaking a sweat), fantastic customer support, lots of options to tweak to get the best performance.

Remote is a bit of a kludge, cosmetics (I know everybody loves the brushed aluminum look, but I preferred the appearance of the MC-1), pricy.

Beautiful. I upgraded my MC-1 to this, and I have to say that I''m really impressed. There were some initial bugs in the MC-12, but with the latest 1.10 firmware (4/02) I think this unit tops anything else I''ve ever heard. I''m a predominantly movie person, and find the sound to be completely immersive and initimate. Bass is thrilling, yet tight. It feels like I''ve been listening through an opaque pane of glass and that suddenly, having bought the MC-12, the pane of glass was removed and I can hear the sound much clearer. It''s great!

Similar Products Used:

Lexicon MC-1, CP-3, various HT receivers.

Flexible, Upgradable, Logic 7, Base Management

Remote

Over the years, I think I have heard about every high-end processor on the market. I have an advantage because I am a dealer and I can do an A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H side by side comparison. What I have learned is there are several trade-off between products, and everyone has a different sound. Some are better in Home Theater, some better in Stereo 2 channel. Some are warm and dark sounding (EAD, Class’e, Bryston), some more neutral (B&K, Integra, Lex). Some lack features but do a great job in 2 channel (Sim Audio, EAD, Integra) while others miss key features like base management (Integra) that will hurt the overall performance. The list of trade-offs goes on and on! In order to do an accurate comparison, you really need study them side-by side using the same room, same speakers, same amplification and same source material. Assuming the processors were set-up correctly, only then can you accurately pick the “better” processor. Since magazine reviewers rarely have two products in their possession, how is it that they conclude one was better than the other after months pass between reviews?? Answer… They guess or they assume they remember. Never mind they use different amps and speakers. The answer they give in the review is right with a probability, not a guarantee. I diverge….. The Lexicon MC-12 also has its strengths and weaknesses. It does two things extremely well…. 1.) Current Steering and 2.) Software flexibility. These two reasons are why the Lex MC-12 is THE quintessential Home theater product. I will cover these two strengths in more detail. Current Steering: Lexicon developed a proprietary hardware technique back in the Fosgate days (inverter of PLII and the Citation Product) that steered information to the channels like no other processor. What this means to us in Home Theater is the Lex will ascertain detail in your speakers that you simply will not hear in ANY other processor. The test I like to use is and have memorized is a Casper Movie (DTS Laser Disk) that I listen for rocking chair creeks and other detail and I can only hear this with the Lex. Both the MC-1 and MC-12 can resolve this difference (the MC-12 does it better) while all other brands that I have tested cannot. These are not subtle differences, they are obvious. Even information that other processors can barely hear will be much more pronounced on th

Similar Products Used:

B&K, Bryston, Krell, Parasound, Aragon, Class''e, EAD, Sim Audio, others.

Speed, sense of space is well defined, Logic 7, seemless transitions, build quality, flexibility, almost endless configuration in set-up, designed for the future and up-gradability...? Lexicon really takes care of thier customers.

Has locked up 3 times, where I had to turn it off/on on the main swich on the back. I am not using it for music right now, so I cannot comment on that. But will compare it PA1, PA3 thru my CJ 17LS and the anlg. pass thru.

The second software upgrade is in the works which they say will prevent the locking up glich.

Since I was an MC1 owner and the trade-in/upgrade program that is/or was, made it much less painless buying this expensive piece of gear. Lexicon really treats you right.

I have owned "big Lexi" for just over a month and am very pleased with it's overall performance. Every complaint about the under-rated MC1 was addressed in the MC12. So I believe that some manufacturers do read these reviews and listen to feedback given them by thier end-users. What a nice idea.

The first thing I noticed was how much better the picture seemed. This was with an s-video connection and not even the component. Less artifacts with deeper colors and grerater contrasts.

If you have never heard Lexicon's Logic7 processing in a 7.1 configuration set-up right, you need to. A woman friend of mine needed to take a break during the Pearl Harbor battle scene, too intense. I am just starting to go through DVD's I know well and noticing the differences from the MC1. Too early for direct comment on the comparison.

If you are looking for a DVD movie monster, the MC12 deserves a listen. Or if you like surround mode listening to music/multi-channel SACD/DVD-A. Or something to manage a whole house system, this may be your machine.

Personally I prefer 2-channel for music listening. And like I said earlier I have not done any 2-channel listening with it yet.

All the inputs, set-up ease, flexibility, sound, picture, build quality, upgradeable.... and Lexicon backing it up.

Similar Products Used:

MC1

movies

music

While listening to movies through this thing is spectacular,listening to music is a disaster! I listened to this unit with an SACD Sony player .Let me tell you ,it sounded BAD!Even with Vandersteen spkrs. and a BAT amp.The bass was loose and the highs were heavily veild.Look elsewhere at this price.

Similar Products Used:

Krell, AVP, CLASSE, Tag Mclaren

Very versatile

Pricey

Excellent product, easy to operate. Does everything my MC-1 did plus has more in/outs and more intuitive front panel. The price increase is significant over the MC-1. Whether it's worth it to you depends on if you need the extra versatility--I did, but you may not. It is cleaner than the MC-1 but not dramatic. Although I have heard many of the competing products, it is always hard to have direct A/B comparisons for A/V units since the units are not set up to compare each unit on the same set of ancillary equipment and speakers without disconnecting them. I can say that I have not heard a better sounding unit and certainly there are none that have such an easy user interface. Additional front-end equipment in my system: Theta Dreadnaught, Rane eq for each channel, Pioneer Elite DVD, line conditioner.

Similar Products Used:

Lexicon DC-1, MC-1