Perfect Vision/Absolute Sound reports on the Lexicon BD-30

[EWL5]

Originally Posted by Gremal

The idea of setting speaker xover in your disc machine is so alien to me that I can't believe this is an issue, regardless of THX certification.

Is this because you prefer sending a full range signal over the analog outputs or because you believe it's better for the prepro to handle bass management?

[gonk]

Originally Posted by EWL5

They took the easy way out and elected not to do a full review of the machine. No flames and no backlash by Lexicon.

I think that under the circumstances it is reasonable not to review the BD-30 if the effort has been made to verify that the performance is equivalent to the stock BDP-83. Technically, Audioholics did the exact same thing - although they used the opportunity to create a fairly alarmist article in the process that generated lots of attention.

Lexicon's comments to him brought a smile to my face. Lexicon "bore the costs" of getting THX certification - as if it was some favor they did for OPPO, when OPPO had no interest in certifying the BDP-83 and was doing the engineering work required to satisfy THX on the video performance. (I still haven't heard if the changes were made in firmware only or if they involved hardware - for any firmware changes that were involved, it would be cheaper and easier to integrate the changes into the BDP-83 code base than to create a parallel BD-30 firmware branch because it would simplify maintaining the BD-30 firmware going forward.) They also made reference to differences in firmware for ease of integration (presumably the RS232 interface that OPPO has always made available as a $79 option on the BDP-83 and included standard on the SE), the case that was sturdy enough for rack mounting, and the need to include DVE (never mind that the BDP-83 comes with Spears & Munsil and the AIX disc). That's a threadbare basis for such a huge jump in price. The dealer network necessitates some increase in cost, but not $3,000...

Originally Posted by EWL5

The question remains of what happened to the THX certification that has disappeared from the Lexicon website. Perhaps sharp readers pointing out that the Oppo/Lexicon not being able to do an 80Hz crossover for internal bass management forced THX's hand.

I think part of the issue is a result of Audioholic's original article and its "sky is falling" tone, coupled with the very real screw-up on Lexicon's part of over-pricing a stock BDP-83 with the RS232 port and a new faceplate. There's a stink around the BD-30 now that I don't think anyone wants to get too close to. That being said, there were design changes made to the video side based on feedback from THX - that has been acknowledged by THX and Lexicon. So were other changes required, or was that enough? Does THX require that the analog output provide THX-spec bass management? If so, then there's a case to be made against certifying the BD-30. However, if part of the point behind THX certification is to have an overall THX "suite" of gear (THX source connected to THX receiver or processor and amp, in turn connected to THX speakers and sub) then it makes sense for THX to push to use the digital path - they want the THX processing functions of the receiver or surround processor to be active, and for that they need a digital audio signal from the source. Why incur additional hardware cost and additional testing procedures for a source that they don't want you using? Or, to take the debate to an obvious extreme, do they also test the composite video output?

[Nick4Blu_81]

Composite video output? No you didnt!

[Gremal]

Originally Posted by EWL5

Is this because you prefer sending a full range signal over the analog outputs or because you believe it's better for the prepro to handle bass management?

I believe the Oppo has far too many video and audio settings that should be handled by the display and the preamp/receiver, respectively.

[EWL5]

Originally Posted by Gremal

I believe the Oppo has far too many video and audio settings that should be handled by the display and the preamp/receiver, respectively.

The Oppo is still supporting a target base that may not have HDMI receivers or who may own HTIB-size speakers (ie. not full range). The Lexicon crowd is the most likely to have separates and full range speakers all around. I guess Lexicon could have disabled the bass management but figured more flexibility to the end user is not necessarily a bad thing. Some people may own Carver's Sunfire CRM-2 bookshelf speakers and may need the internal bass management:

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/home-...em-review.html

The point is some folks who prefer finer equipment may also indulge in smaller speakers (WAF, limited space, etc.)

[Gremal]

Originally Posted by EWL5

The point is some folks who prefer finer equipment may also indulge in smaller speakers (WAF, limited space, etc.)

Of course, but I believe the only people buying the Lexicon BD-30 will have the Lexicon pre/pro and amps as well.

[Blacklac]

Originally Posted by EWL5

Is this because you prefer sending a full range signal over the analog outputs or because you believe it's better for the prepro to handle bass management?

Originally Posted by Gremal

I believe the Oppo has far too many video and audio settings that should be handled by the display and the preamp/receiver, respectively.

@Germal (quoted EWL5 for reference) - I could be wrong (I am an HDMI bitstream'er) but the crossover in the player is for analog audio. If you left the crossovers and such out of the player and left it up to the AVR/pre, the AVR/pre would have to re-digitize the signal to apply them. That is not desirable.