[recruit]

Hello chaps,

I thought i would just post this and see if any of you had any ideas as to what would be the best Processors for Home Cinema / Music and in order 1-5.
I am going to put my suggestion as to what i would think would be the best but i must stress that i am only speculateing as i have not heard all of them but just guessing and would like to hear peoples opinions who have heard the below and share their views

My selection would be

1/ Meridian 861 V4 ?
2/ Lexicon MC12B V4 ?
3/ Krell showcase ?
4/ Meridian G68 ?
5/ Lexicon MC8B ?

Would you say that would be as near as possible or should there be others included instead of ?

Cheers
John

[JürgenNL]

Well I would put the German Audionet MAP V2 (or the little brother the MAP 1) very high.

In a German magazin (Audiovision september 2005)) the MAP 1 is the first processor which has got the highest appreciation of the AV-processors.
(And I have a MAP V2

[recruit]

Originally Posted by JürgenNL

Well I would put the German Audionet MAP V2 (or the little brother the MAP 1) very high.

In a German magazin (Audiovision september 2005)) the MAP 1 is the first processor which has got the highest appreciation of the AV-processors.
(And I have a MAP V2

Hi Jurgen,

Thanks for the reply

I have not heard of the MAP V2 i will have to look it up.

Regards
John

[JürgenNL]

Hi John,

If you interested in information by the maker (and some tests):
http://www.audionet.de/
There you can choose to get the site-information in English.

There is quite an extensiv test-report on:
http://www.areadvd.de/index.html
but alas only in German.
- You could try to translate it with a program on the internet like babylonia (I hope I got it right).

(I'm in no way connected to Audionet, except that I like - en enjoy - their devices.)

Regards, Jürgen

[MarkE19]

AFAIK the MC12 & MC8 are exactly the same except the 12 vs 8 inputs, 3 vs 2 zones and the software. Therefore I would think, that for movies at least, the 2 processors should sound about the same.
I know the MC12 software offers auto setup in version 4, and the new v5 offers DPL2x and a few other features, but the MC8 has no updates available and that will make some differences.

Other than the Lexicons I've only had a short demo of an old Meridian (can't remember the model) and so can't comment on how the others compare. The MC12 though does seem to be the processor of choice with those that can afford it. Although Meridian tends to be popular with those that want a good movies & music system.

Mark.

[rags]

I thought the MC12 was substantially different to the MC8 - I dont think Lex can get away with the premium they charge for the MC12 over the MC8 if those were the only differences. The MC12 in my experience also sounds substantially better than the MC8.

[MarkE19]

Taken from the MC8's specs on www.lexicon.com

At the heart of the MC-8 are four Analog Devices SHARC digital signal processing engines, one Cirrus Logic DSP engine, and ten 24-bit/192kHz digital-to-analog converters - an architecture that is nearly identical to the MC-12. As a result, the MC-12 and MC-8 share the same tremendous processing power and sonic soul.The MC-8 includes THX Ultra2 certification and dts 96/24 decoding, rounding out its impressive list of playback technologies: Dolby Digital EX, Pro-Logic II, dts-ES, dts Neo:6, and LOGIC7.

The above, to me at least, suggests that the 2 processors have the same processing etc.

Mark.

[recruit]

Thanks Again Jurgen & Mark & Rags

I would love to hear the MC12 & 8 together and be able to do the comparison to compare them.

Cheers
John

[MarkE19]

Well if anybody wants to donate an MC12B to me then I'll be more than happy to host the comparison

Mark.

[recruit]

Originally Posted by MarkE19

Well if anybody wants to donate an MC12B to me then I'll be more than happy to host the comparison

Mark.

Sounds good Mark i am also open to any offers for donation

[Scott3]

These may be in the running, in no particular order...

Theta Casablanca III
Mark Levinson No. 40
Meridian 861 V4
Meridian G68
Lexicon MC-12B
Halcro SSP100

Having heard the magic Meridian can do with standard 2ch music (Trifield and Ambisonics), my preference would have to go to the 861 V4 or the G68.

[recruit]

Hi Scott3,

I have heard good things about the Theta & Mark Levinson but never heard of the Halcro that's the beauty about this hobby there is always so much choice, but trying to get to all of them is quite a task.

Thanks for the input

Regards
John

[Gordon @ Convergent AV]

If you want movie bias then MC12 and it's partner/brother are best I've heard.
If you want music first and movies second the Linn Kisto is the guy I'd say. Different league on analogue compared to Lexicon.

I've heard a few 861's and never found them as great as I'd hoped they'd be.....it may have been their partnering equipment though.

Can't comment on Theta/Levenson as I haven't heard them recently.

Gordon

[recruit]

Thanks Gordon - I have always known and heard from many people that Linn equipment is rather special but never been quite fortunate to hear any up and running, i will though eventually as i want to get to hear and compare as many as possible.

Cheers
John

[Kenny Glasgow]

I'd go along with Gordon. Pity TAG McLaren wasn't still alive as their AV32DP and AV192 STILL give the others a run for their money, especially on the audio side

[JürgenNL]

Now I have read test of the Audionet MAP I / AMP VII, before I had read about it in an contribution of another guy.
I'll try to give some translations:

This combination got the highest possible marks for the sound (25 of 25 marks, for music and film). It has a natural, temperamental and dynamic sound in highest perfection.
It's evidentally has a much better sound than the Denon AVC-A1 XV, but is also better than Lexicon (MC-8, MC-12) and TAG MacLaren. Compared to these the sound of the Audionet is more natural and less hard (with s-pitches), and furthermore more controlled (calmer) and with a beter spatial resolution of the sound.

By the way the price for both devices together is: 13.000,- Euro.

Jürgen

[recruit]

Thanks Lads for the reply's.
From what i can Gather idealy the List for Movies is:-

1/ Lexicon MC12B
2/ Meridian 861 V4
3/ Linn Kisto
4/ Meridian G68
5/ Krell Showcase / Lexicon MC8

And for Music Only:-

1/ Meridian 861 v4 or Linn Kisto
2/ Theta Cassablanca
3/ Meridian G68
4/ Audionet MAP2
5/ Mark Levinson

I will try and get some more comparisons or demo's if i can but i think i will buy another processor to use and seeing that the Lexicon MC4 has just more or less been released i will get one of these to compare to my Meridian G68 for Movies, Just got to check the bank balance 1st

Regards
John

[Daneel]

Recuit, I take it then you are no longer as happy with the G68 as you were?

What do you feel its problems are?

[recruit]

Not at all Daneel, it's just that i love this hobby too much and like to try as much as possible if possible.
It will not be for a while though but i will try a Lexicon processor eventually.
The actuall combination of M&K and Meridian works superbly

[lfletcher]

I'd like to throw the Chord DSP8000 into the mix.
Compared it to the MC12B on music and the Chord was better (imo) - didnt get a chance to compare on movies.
Also two thumbs up for the Linn Kisto.
Never been the biggest fan of the Meridian 861 - having heard it several times, I was never impressed with it enough for it to justify its cost.
Theta Casablanca is also rather good.

fully loaded TAG McLaren AV192R should be in that list

[recruit]

Originally Posted by lfletcher

I'd like to throw the Chord DSP8000 into the mix.

That is a good choice i forgot about the Chord range, very expensive too but also very highly regarded.

[recruit]

Originally Posted by roversd1

fully loaded TAG McLaren AV192R should be in that list

I have never had the pleasure of hearing the range of Tags but the one to go for seems to be the Dual Processor.

[Steve.EX]

Originally Posted by recruit

I have never had the pleasure of hearing the range of Tags but the one to go for seems to be the Dual Processor.

No other AV processor manufacturer ellicits such a love/hate consumer base here in the U.K imo.
Tag does not share the almost universal love felt by most for the newer Lexicon products (which have had software issues)
If you like kit induced emotion to your sound then Tag is not for you.

[JürgenNL]

Originally Posted by lfletcher

I'd like to throw the Chord DSP8000 into the mix.
Also two thumbs up for the Linn Kisto.
Theta Casablanca is also rather good.

Fully agree, Jürgen

Hi Recruit

I have heard all but the MC8 and I'd place them in the order you have. But the partnering equipment was different every time so it's very tricky. Obviously I have also voted with my wallet!

[recruit]

Hi David,

You know you have the best Processor ever created and you will have access to upgrades as the Meridian is so Modular and can adapt when new formats come in

It will be interesting to see whether you go fully Digital or stay with Anologue speakers.

Regards
John

Sadly a complete lack of cash is holding me back from making that decision at the moment. But I have kept my options open by buying the second OA13 from Colin which now gives me the choice of full digital or full balanced analogue whenever I win the lottery!

[recruit]

Originally Posted by dmurfet

Sadly a complete lack of cash is holding me back from making that decision at the moment

I know that Feeling

[gizlaroc]

Originally Posted by roversd1

fully loaded TAG McLaren AV192R should be in that list

You reckon?!