Lexicon Sound System Review 2012 V8 Genesis

[elshagon]

Re Musher's question:
Isn't that where the surround processing of the Lexicon would come in? If iTunes really is offering a less or non compressed option, wouldn't the Lex have a better chance of turning it into something closer to a DVD-A than a CD? Wouldn't it at least sound better in the Gen? Theoretically?

The Lexicon's surround processor just takes stereo sources and expands it to simulate surround. The Apple Lossless is just taking an already lossy source (CD) and compressing it without losing more. I have a dvd-audio sample disc which actually has various forms of some songs for comparison. It has a cd quality followed by dvd-audio quality.

 

[DominicJE]

How does the DVD-A disks sound in the 14 speaker Lexicon? I haven't tried it yet.

 

[elshagon]

How does the DVD-A disks sound in the 14 speaker Lexicon? I haven't tried it yet.

I believe the DVD-A is only with the 17 speakers which comes with the 4.6 Genesis and the 3.8 with the tech package.

 

[robcar]

Great review elshagon of the Lexicon. This is quite possibly the best feature of the Genesis. In fact, there is only one other car on the planet that has this amazing sound system: the Rolls Royce Phantom.

To fully appreciate the Lexicon you are absolutely correct: everyone should do themselves a favor and type in "DVD-A" under music at amazon.com and choose from hundreds of pop, rock, jazz, and classical DVD-Audio discs. A good one to start with is the Beatles "Love" DVD-A. For more recommendations see the "Music for the Lexicon" thread.

The full, rich, uncompressed sound of a DVD-A is dramatically superior to ordinary CD's. And the Lexicon is a dramatically superior sound system to any other car (unless your other car is a Rolls Royce).

 

[LouKango]

After reading this thread, I ordered my self The Beatles: Love DVD-A from Amazon.

 

[Admckillip]

I'm going to give a couple a shot... but man, they aren't cheap...

 

[LouKango]

I'm going to give a couple a shot... but man, they aren't cheap...

Yeah they're pricey. The Beatles album was ok. I paid $19 and change.

 

[PMCErnie]

Let's see, the 17 spk system can play DVD-A audio, but only the 14 spkr system and 7 spk system can play Bluetooth streaming audio. I'll stick with the Bluetooth. On my high-tech scale, that's much more important.

 

[PMCErnie]

Let's see, the 17 spk system can play DVD-A audio, but only the 14 spkr system and 7 spk system can play Bluetooth streaming audio. I'll stick with the Bluetooth. On my high-tech scale, that's much more important. Life is a compromise.

 

[stuofsci02]

Just as a note, DVD-A does not gaurentee you a better audio experience then a CD. Most of it comes down the recording and mastering. That said, most artists do not release a DVD-A unless the recording benefits from it.

Now, another side note on DVD-A is that the recordings are simply 96 kHz/24-bit or 192 kHz/24-bit. This is much higher then redbook CD which is 44.1 kHz/16-bit.

But DVD-A is not the only format that offers this "hi-rez" sampling and bit depth. FLAC files (my recommendation instead of MP3) can off this too, and there are lots of places where you can buy this music and download it such as HDtracks etc. These can be stored on a USB drive or burned as DVD-A using something like Media Monkey. As DVD-A is a dying format, this might be the best way to get hi-rez music.

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[elshagon]

Just as a note, DVD-A does not gaurentee you a better audio experience then a CD. Most of it comes down the recording and mastering. That said, most artists do not release a DVD-A unless the recording benefits from it.

Now, another side note on DVD-A is that the recordings are simply 96 kHz/24-bit or 192 kHz/24-bit. This is much higher then redbook CD which is 44.1 kHz/16-bit.

But DVD-A is not the only format that offers this "hi-rez" sampling and bit depth. FLAC files (my recommendation instead of MP3) can off this too, and there are lots of places where you can buy this music and download it such as HDtracks etc. These can be stored on a USB drive or burned as DVD-A using something like Media Monkey. As DVD-A is a dying format, this might be the best way to get hi-rez music.

So will the Genesis play multichannel FLAC off a usb drive?

 

[stuofsci02]

So will the Genesis play multichannel FLAC off a usb drive?

I don't have a Genesis (looking to buy one) so I am not sure.. It would be nice if it did but it is unlikely..

 

[elshagon]

I don't have a Genesis (looking to buy one) so I am not sure.. It would be nice if it did but it is unlikely..

Just tried it, unfortunately it won't play multichannel flac off a usb

 

[BacktoHyundaibychoice]

Readily available DVD-A's:

Love by the Beatles

Black And White Night, Roy Orbison. (Wait until you hear Bonnie Raitt and kd Lang providing backup vocals from behind you.)

Numerous Porcupine Tree albums. Prog Rock, beautifully mixed in 5.1 by front man Steven Wilson.

King Crimson. Anybody remember them? Steven Wilson (mentioned above) has redone the original albums in surround, all new releases over the last 2 years.

Aretha Franklin, released as a "quaddio" last year by Rhino.

6 String Theory, an album of some of the greatest guitarists alive released by Monster Music, all musical styles included.


And a reminder:
Your car plays DVD's too. There are numerous releases that have great music, and you don't have to watch them to hear them.

 

[Admckillip]

Readily available DVD-A's:

Love by the Beatles

Black And White Night, Roy Orbison. (Wait until you hear Bonnie Raitt and kd Lang providing backup vocals from behind you.)

Numerous Porcupine Tree albums. Prog Rock, beautifully mixed in 5.1 by front man Steven Wilson.

King Crimson. Anybody remember them? Steven Wilson (mentioned above) has redone the original albums in surround, all new releases over the last 2 years.

Aretha Franklin, released as a "quaddio" last year by Rhino.

6 String Theory, an album of some of the greatest guitarists alive released by Monster Music, all musical styles included.


And a reminder:
Your car plays DVD's too. There are numerous releases that have great music, and you don't have to watch them to hear them.

So I can play concert DVD's while driving and still hear them?

 

[PMCErnie]

Premium and Tech packages can play DVD video/audio (in park) and audio only on the move. Supah!

 

[stuofsci02]

Just tried it, unfortunately it won't play multichannel flac off a usb

Will it play FLAC in stereo? I would love to be able to play lossless audio files through the system. I have no desire to listen to MP3 format.

Cheers,

Stuart

 

[LouKango]

Readily available DVD-A's:

Love by the Beatles

Black And White Night, Roy Orbison. (Wait until you hear Bonnie Raitt and kd Lang providing backup vocals from behind you.)

Numerous Porcupine Tree albums. Prog Rock, beautifully mixed in 5.1 by front man Steven Wilson.

King Crimson. Anybody remember them? Steven Wilson (mentioned above) has redone the original albums in surround, all new releases over the last 2 years.

Aretha Franklin, released as a "quaddio" last year by Rhino.

6 String Theory, an album of some of the greatest guitarists alive released by Monster Music, all musical styles included.


And a reminder:
Your car plays DVD's too. There are numerous releases that have great music, and you don't have to watch them to hear them.

I been looking for 6 string theory dvd-a but I couldnt find any. but on bestbuy site I saw 6 string theory in "superdisc". I already ordered it. Is it the same? Will it play? I already ordered but gonna cancel if it's not compatible. Thanks

 

[elshagon]

I been looking for 6 string theory dvd-a but I couldnt find any. but on bestbuy site I saw 6 string theory in "superdisc". I already ordered it. Is it the same? Will it play? I already ordered but gonna cancel if it's not compatible. Thanks

I believe superdisc is simply DTS audio on a dvd. It's not lossless like dvd-audio, but should play fine and still sound great if mixed and mastered well. I find that high bitrate DTS gets you most of the way there quality wise vs. dvd-audio, unlike dolby digital which is way more compressed and lower bitrate.

 

[elshagon]

Will it play FLAC in stereo? I would love to be able to play lossless audio files through the system. I have no desire to listen to MP3 format.

Cheers,

Stuart

I will try flac in stereo tomorrow along with a few other formats to see if they will play via the thumb drive.