Has anyone here spent time listening to the newer MC-12 HD? I'm getting upgrade-itis, though I don't have any specific complaints with the 990 (though it would be nice if it could support HDMI inputs/outputs instead of having to use DVI-->HDMI converter cables). :-)

Best,

I have not.

As I understand, the changes for the MC-12HD relate mainly to removing some composite or s-video inputs to make room for a bank of HDMI v1.1 inputs. Aside from that, reviews and comments relating to the original MC-12 should apply.

At 9-13 times the price of your 990, the MC-12 HD would make sense only if you plan to really (REALLY) make good use of its various proprietary technologies: surround processing, room correction, unique bass management, multi-sub support, etc.

For example: if you listen to 2-channel music using 2 speakers and 5.1 material using 5 speakers, then you're not going to take advantage of Lexicon's surround processing (let alone adjust 11 parameters to tailor the processing to your personal tastes).

It's especially overkill if your main reason to upgrade is getting HDMI connectivity. For that, I would look into using one of the higher end HDMI receivers as a pre-pro.

Or hang on a bit for the upcoming $7K Denon pre-pro: HDMI 1.3a, Audyssey room correction, Silicon Optics HQV scaler, true balanced outputs, multi-sub support, HD audio decoders (DD+, DTS-HD, Dolby TrueHD), etc.

Finally, if you're not in a rush, wait and see what Outlaw's HDMI solution turns out like. If history is any indication, it'll be a terrific value.

Sanjay makes some excellent points (not surprising, since he's infinitely more familiar with the MC-12 and its various capabilities and upgrades than I). For that matter, if HDMI capability was the driving factor and you wanted to do something now, there's also the Anthems (AVM40 or the AVM50, which adds the Gennum scaler).

Ah, I hadn't thought about the Anthem AVMXX stuff. Thanks for the suggestion!! I've been a bit out of the loop on the latest gear due to a crazy travel schedule, but I'm hoping to have some time to tune back in over the summer.

Best,

Just got the latest coupon book from Costco, and noticed that the soon to be announced Vizio 52" LCD TV will be available in late August. That will probably be my new HDTV. In the interum I've snagged a late model (TX-SR702) Onkyo receiver cheap on ebay. So I'm not in a hurry to make a rash decision on what to do for a pre-pro & amp or receiver. I'll going to wait to see what Outlaw does for their upgrade to the 990/970/1070 offerings. So maybe in a year or so from now, I'll move the Onkyo to the living room when Outlaw's new stuff is available. That will also give the bank account some time to recover after my daughters' Binot Mitsvah.

Hello there.
I own the 990, have an older MC12B which has been upgraded to V.5, and use the Lexicon MC12B-HD/EQ at an install I did at my job site. Gonk and Sanjay offer excellent points and I don't have much substance to add except, get what you think is appropriate for your level of financial resources and needs. To answer your question of comparison, I have compared the 990 and the MC12B at home extensively and usually come away impressed by the quality of sound of the 990 which is 1/10th(!) the price of the MC12B. Ok, sure there is a smidgen more air and depth in 2 channel music but for movie watching, I don't hear a difference that is qualitatively any better. (Interesting to note, if I add my external DAC and the X-Ray V3, the field is pretty level for 1/9th the price of the Lexi. So bottom line: I use the Outlaw because I love knowing I am getting extreme value and quality.) If you are looking for HDMI and are looking forward to parting with your hard earned cash, go with components that are specifically designed to suit your needs since you already have a great pre/pro, buy a nice scaler instead. I use both the Pixelmagic Crystalio II ($10k+) and the DVDO iScan VP50 ($3k) and think both are very good. At the office install, I actually bypass the HD in the MC12B and go straight to the Crystalio because it is a far better scaler than what is built into the MC12. (I use a Projection Design 1080p Projector via HDMI.) The one aspect that I do love about the Lexi is that it has very deep levels of controls. You can tweak the heck out of virtually everything type of adjustment you can think of. I’d love to infinitely adjust every surround processing choice for my specific output on the Outlaw but it isn’t critical to my enjoyment of music and movies. But hey, if you have $13k burning a hole in your pocket then by all means get the MC12B-HD/EQ and reap the benefits of a quality Swiss army of processers at, well, not Swiss army prices.

I would hope so, considering there is no video scaler built into the MC-12HD.

Heh, Sanjay. You got me. That's true, no scaler. Bad wording on my part for sure. Besides, obviously I had no choice but to bypass the mc12HD with a PD Action 1080p projector since the mc12HD can't output 1080p. Thanks.