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