jhaan92
A Work In Progress...
This thread is to help answer the questions that many of you AK'ers have had regarding the Lexicon CP-1 Digital Environment Surround Processor:
Okay, many of you have heard of these units, and were around when they were first introduced. I first heard of them when I read the review in Stereophile, and two weeks after that, our store began stocking the CP-1 & 2 units (I worked for Market Speaker-now Midwest Speaker), and they had an incredibly high price tag of nearly $1500! Nobody wanted to really spend that kind of money on a unit, and most of them didn't really grasp how it worked, so I have decided to explain it to everyone, as I get quite a few emails asking me how this thing works, so here goes....
Most of us audiophiles know that Lexicon is well-known for their reverb and echo equipment in the late 70's and early 80's. They are really well-known and respected in the studio world, but make no equipment for the home audio industry, until 1986 came around.
You see, with their Dolby Pro-Logic surround design and effects processors, they did tests on real-room environments and designed the effects based on their findings, and with the 5.1 & 7.1 surrounds on the CP-1 units, it also has a very accurate Auto-Azimuth Correction circuit that corrects time-delay errors, and I found it to be far more accurate that the Yamaha DSP 300 (I think that is the model number, I'm not sure....getting old sucks!), and had a smoother delivery as well.
Now, not many people realize that the CP-1 is still a usable unit in this day and age, even though Dolby DTS has eclipsed Pro-Logic, and that most movies are no longer recorded with Pro-Logic (DVD's are a prime example). There is an option on the Lexicon that allows you to put it into two channel mode, called PANORAMA, and with only two speakers (left & right but you can use more than that!), give the music the impression that not only are you running a center channel (if you don't have one, there is a button on the back of the unit to shut the center channel off-called PHANTOM IN/CENTER OUT), when you don't actually have one-if you do, you can use it. However, it's effects/sounds are unknown to me at this time(I only have a two channel setup at the current moment).
With that said, the whole design of the PANORAMA mode is to eliminate "stereo crosstalk" which is what the Carver Sonic Hologram Generator (offered on both the C-4000/C-1 Preamplifier and as a seperate unit), does, but has a better adjustment concept. With the Carver design, you have to find the sweet spot and adjust your room/EQ/Volume accordingly. With the CP-1, it has a setting in the PARAMETER menu that adjusts what is called the LISTENER POSITION (where you are sitting), and allows you to adjust the negative imput signal that is employed to eliminate crosstalk, so that the soundstage doesn't sound like it is coming from one side or another. It has a calibration option, and I use it to get it generally set up, but after I get things rolling good, I like to use my ears to fine tune the system. It also has a SPEAKER ANGLE setting that allows the unit to compensate for close speaker placement, or wide speaker placement.
Basically, the adjustments on this unit are infinite. I see these units going dirt cheap just due to the simple fact that nobody understands how they operate, and how much of a benefit (in my opinion) they have on the listening pleasure that you might have.
Here is a direct quote from the owners manual:
"When a listener is in the correct spot, the PANORAMA mode provides an almost ideal re-creation of the original recording space. It works by using digital processing to cancel the crosstalk between the listener's ears, effectively spreading the sound from the two front loudspeakers in a wide arc in front of the listener. With the optional addition of rear speakers, PANORAMA can be almost spooky in it's realism."
Most people didn't understand how this unit actually worked until they listened to it after it was set up. I did not sell many of these units, due to it's price tag, but those that could afford it were hooked as soon as I demonstrated it in one of the listening rooms. The design of this unit not only enables you to use it in a processor loop, but also allows you to use it as a unit go-between for your amp and pre-amp-essentially turning the Lexicon into a Pre-amp, and it has the capability to control all of the volumes for each of you power amplifiers (should you use it for Pro-Logic), but I personally preferred to use it in the processor loop.
These units are not all too uncommon, as I see one on ebay about once every few weeks....the only problem is that you HAVE to make sure that it comes with the Lexicon (NOT A UNIVERSAL, AND I MEAN IT!!!) remote, otherwise you cannot access any of the options on this unit (there has to be a pitfall somewhere!), therefore rendering the unit generally worthless-unless you happen to know someone who has a remote. These units go really cheap on ebay (usually at about 30 to 70 dollars apiece, depending on their condition). However, people are finally starting to realize what this unit is capable of, and the price is starting to climb on these things. It's like the dbx equipment. I bought my 3BX III Dynamic Range Expander about 4 years ago, and I only paid about $125 for it. Now you can't touch one for less than $400, and even then it is the unit might be in kind of rough shape.
On another note, you can download the owners manual for this unit and get a more in depth reading at their website, www.lexicon.com Make sure that you look up the CP-1, as the CP-2 does NOT have the LCD display, nor does it have nearly as many options that it's big brother has.
Now, I hope that this answers the questions that any of you had about this unit. If it doesn't, just get the manual from the website-it's free! I suppose that you could post a reply and I could answer if you would rather talk to me instead of a corporate website.
Happy Listening,
Jason
PS-If you can get the CP-1 Plus instead of the standard CP-1, it is worth the price...I own the Plus edition (it has internal firmware upgrades-which is rare).
Okay, many of you have heard of these units, and were around when they were first introduced. I first heard of them when I read the review in Stereophile, and two weeks after that, our store began stocking the CP-1 & 2 units (I worked for Market Speaker-now Midwest Speaker), and they had an incredibly high price tag of nearly $1500! Nobody wanted to really spend that kind of money on a unit, and most of them didn't really grasp how it worked, so I have decided to explain it to everyone, as I get quite a few emails asking me how this thing works, so here goes....
Most of us audiophiles know that Lexicon is well-known for their reverb and echo equipment in the late 70's and early 80's. They are really well-known and respected in the studio world, but make no equipment for the home audio industry, until 1986 came around.
You see, with their Dolby Pro-Logic surround design and effects processors, they did tests on real-room environments and designed the effects based on their findings, and with the 5.1 & 7.1 surrounds on the CP-1 units, it also has a very accurate Auto-Azimuth Correction circuit that corrects time-delay errors, and I found it to be far more accurate that the Yamaha DSP 300 (I think that is the model number, I'm not sure....getting old sucks!), and had a smoother delivery as well.
Now, not many people realize that the CP-1 is still a usable unit in this day and age, even though Dolby DTS has eclipsed Pro-Logic, and that most movies are no longer recorded with Pro-Logic (DVD's are a prime example). There is an option on the Lexicon that allows you to put it into two channel mode, called PANORAMA, and with only two speakers (left & right but you can use more than that!), give the music the impression that not only are you running a center channel (if you don't have one, there is a button on the back of the unit to shut the center channel off-called PHANTOM IN/CENTER OUT), when you don't actually have one-if you do, you can use it. However, it's effects/sounds are unknown to me at this time(I only have a two channel setup at the current moment).
With that said, the whole design of the PANORAMA mode is to eliminate "stereo crosstalk" which is what the Carver Sonic Hologram Generator (offered on both the C-4000/C-1 Preamplifier and as a seperate unit), does, but has a better adjustment concept. With the Carver design, you have to find the sweet spot and adjust your room/EQ/Volume accordingly. With the CP-1, it has a setting in the PARAMETER menu that adjusts what is called the LISTENER POSITION (where you are sitting), and allows you to adjust the negative imput signal that is employed to eliminate crosstalk, so that the soundstage doesn't sound like it is coming from one side or another. It has a calibration option, and I use it to get it generally set up, but after I get things rolling good, I like to use my ears to fine tune the system. It also has a SPEAKER ANGLE setting that allows the unit to compensate for close speaker placement, or wide speaker placement.
Basically, the adjustments on this unit are infinite. I see these units going dirt cheap just due to the simple fact that nobody understands how they operate, and how much of a benefit (in my opinion) they have on the listening pleasure that you might have.
Here is a direct quote from the owners manual:
"When a listener is in the correct spot, the PANORAMA mode provides an almost ideal re-creation of the original recording space. It works by using digital processing to cancel the crosstalk between the listener's ears, effectively spreading the sound from the two front loudspeakers in a wide arc in front of the listener. With the optional addition of rear speakers, PANORAMA can be almost spooky in it's realism."
Most people didn't understand how this unit actually worked until they listened to it after it was set up. I did not sell many of these units, due to it's price tag, but those that could afford it were hooked as soon as I demonstrated it in one of the listening rooms. The design of this unit not only enables you to use it in a processor loop, but also allows you to use it as a unit go-between for your amp and pre-amp-essentially turning the Lexicon into a Pre-amp, and it has the capability to control all of the volumes for each of you power amplifiers (should you use it for Pro-Logic), but I personally preferred to use it in the processor loop.
These units are not all too uncommon, as I see one on ebay about once every few weeks....the only problem is that you HAVE to make sure that it comes with the Lexicon (NOT A UNIVERSAL, AND I MEAN IT!!!) remote, otherwise you cannot access any of the options on this unit (there has to be a pitfall somewhere!), therefore rendering the unit generally worthless-unless you happen to know someone who has a remote. These units go really cheap on ebay (usually at about 30 to 70 dollars apiece, depending on their condition). However, people are finally starting to realize what this unit is capable of, and the price is starting to climb on these things. It's like the dbx equipment. I bought my 3BX III Dynamic Range Expander about 4 years ago, and I only paid about $125 for it. Now you can't touch one for less than $400, and even then it is the unit might be in kind of rough shape.
On another note, you can download the owners manual for this unit and get a more in depth reading at their website, www.lexicon.com Make sure that you look up the CP-1, as the CP-2 does NOT have the LCD display, nor does it have nearly as many options that it's big brother has.
Now, I hope that this answers the questions that any of you had about this unit. If it doesn't, just get the manual from the website-it's free! I suppose that you could post a reply and I could answer if you would rather talk to me instead of a corporate website.
Happy Listening,
Jason
PS-If you can get the CP-1 Plus instead of the standard CP-1, it is worth the price...I own the Plus edition (it has internal firmware upgrades-which is rare).
