cliffbig
Been here awhile...
I've praised the Genesis/Equus sound system's performance with DVD-A and 5.1 DVD discs, but now I need to go in the other direction and mention just how much this system adds to mono recordings!
I was listening to a mix of mono tracks this evening--early Rolling Stones, Jo Stafford, Donovan, Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra--and I was positively amazed at how rich and enveloping the sound was when the Lexicon system's surround setting was on. While the sound was definitely mono, the presence gave the image that the listener was in the middle of the sound, rather than having the sound coming from straight ahead. Instrument sounds were clear and distinct, voices were lifelike--it was perhaps the best presentation of mono that I've heard in years.
By contrast, my Acura MDX and its ELS surround system does a remarkable job with 5.1 recordings and an impressive job with stereo surround processing, but mono is lackluster and all seems to come from the front speakers; it's akin to stepping back in automotive history 30 years, when almost all car sound systems had front speakers only. (To be fair, the Acura IS pushing sound through all speakers, but it's not doing any processing on mono sound, so the closest speakers--that is, the front speakers--seem to be doing all the work.)
If you haven't listened to old mono recordings on your Lexicon, give it a try--you'll be amazed at how rich it can sound!
I was listening to a mix of mono tracks this evening--early Rolling Stones, Jo Stafford, Donovan, Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra--and I was positively amazed at how rich and enveloping the sound was when the Lexicon system's surround setting was on. While the sound was definitely mono, the presence gave the image that the listener was in the middle of the sound, rather than having the sound coming from straight ahead. Instrument sounds were clear and distinct, voices were lifelike--it was perhaps the best presentation of mono that I've heard in years.
By contrast, my Acura MDX and its ELS surround system does a remarkable job with 5.1 recordings and an impressive job with stereo surround processing, but mono is lackluster and all seems to come from the front speakers; it's akin to stepping back in automotive history 30 years, when almost all car sound systems had front speakers only. (To be fair, the Acura IS pushing sound through all speakers, but it's not doing any processing on mono sound, so the closest speakers--that is, the front speakers--seem to be doing all the work.)
If you haven't listened to old mono recordings on your Lexicon, give it a try--you'll be amazed at how rich it can sound!
