Advice regards purchas of Lexicon or Mereidian Processors

[GRANTY1970]

Looking for some help. I have a Lexicon DC-1 at present whats everyones ideas on the differance between upgrading to a DC-2 or purchasing a Meridian 561 or 565 any help would be appreciated as whether its worthwhile and which is the best of the lot.

cheers

 

[mutley]

look for a thread called: processor for 1k

it's in this forum. can't post a link right now.

I chose the meridian 561 and it's just amazing! wouldn't go back!

 

[kcw]

I'd say there's no point upgrading to a DC2 unless you need the extra couple of s-vid and digital inputs providing you've got v4 software. The change in DACS was more of a supply issue than a sound improvement one.

IMO the Lexicon is more atmospheric than the 565 for films but not as good for music. The Meridian 565 is next to useless for video switching. I've not heard a 561.

I don't think I could live without Logic 7 either.

 

[chrisgeary]

I just got a 561 s/h from a dealer for £950. Amazing piece of kit. Really revealing processor which is delicious with music AND movies. I have not heard the lexicon kit, but many say its biased towards movies. Quite what that means, I don't know. I have always thought that hi-fi should be about reproducing audio faithfully, not being biased in any way. Meridian kit is well known for being neutral in presentation (perhaps not so the speakers though).

The 561 is basically a 565 (processor - audio only) and 562V (video switching) combined. Sound wise the 565 and 561 will be indentical more or less. I have heard (not first hand) that the 568 is a significant set up in quality, but they are still fetching at least £2k on the second hand market AFAIK.

You won't be disappointed with a 561.

 

[buns]

except the 565 misses on the most recent of sound formats..... but this doesnt bother me with mine

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[GRANTY1970]

Thanks for all the help so far guys just need to decide whether to sell my DC-1 for £500 and put the extra towards it for the 561 and hope it merits the cost for improvements i will hear.

cheers

 

[chrisgeary]

why not see if you can borrow one from a dealer? there are still a few kicking about out there. that's what i did - i then had an proper demo in my own listening environment to make a proper assessment of it. as it turned out, it was a decision made in a matter of hours (but i was comparing it to my old Denon 3803 - a no brainer! )

 

[kcw]

Is it right that the 561 can only do 5.1 unless you have Meridian active speakers?

 

[mutley]

yes it is.

i had a Pioneer 2011, so no brainer either.

absolutly amazing, last night i understood that to make further ajustments like speaker size, i need to conect it to my laptop!

OOOOWWWW!

Haven't done it yet so, i can't imagine the possibilities i will have!

 

[buns]

well my 565 does 5.1 without meridian actives..... it will do 7.1 without....... i thought the 561 was pretty much the same on audio side

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[chrisgeary]

yeah i believe it can do 7.1 - AFAIK you can use any external DAC for the mainLR speakers and the main/side analogue outputs [of the 561] can then be used for the additional rear speakers. of course, it would have to be a pretty tasty DAC though =)

 

[337GUS]

Quite a difficult choice, but if you buy one of these types of unit at a good price then selling on later shouldn't cost very much / anything .

That's why I bought a cheap 565, I wanted to get a unit in my room and have an extended listen, if I wasn't impressed I figured I could get rid with no loss and go back to my 2011 content. Well once I'd actually lived with the 565 there's no way I could go back - it's here to stay, at least until I get a 568.2

I'm even thinking of getting a DC2 or MC1 to try against the 565, with a view to selling on in a few months without losing too much cash.

Regarding 7.1 and the 561 - I think I read somewhere (hitchhikers maybe) that only certain DAC's can do this and you can get a power on thump. http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=98260&highlight=561+7.1+dac

Upgrading from the DC1, I would look for a 565 Version 6 Z3/562V combo from £850 - 950 or an MC1 V4 about £1200 if you want 7.1 without too many hassles.

If you only need 5.1 then the 561 around £900 - 1000. Some dealers are still trying to sell these at £1700. The 561 unlike the 565 can be PC controlled, as can the 562V.2 and V.3 unlike the original V.

If you can stretch then a used AV8 / Tag / 568.2 is in reach around £1.5-2K

Gus