help-lexicon mc 12v5 vs. mac mx135

Slvrtravel,

To expand on the above comments with my $0.02 worth, I used to own a Lexicon MC-12V5EQ. It's surround processing capabilities are impressive. Mine had both Logic 7 and DPLIIx, which are the premiere processing capabilities for 7.1.

From my perspective, room size is not an issue in deciding on 7.1 verus 5.1. My own room is relatively small, at 13' x 17' x 9.5', and I found a significant improvement in surround envelopment when I expanded from 5.1 to 7.1. However, room layout can be an issue. Your room is relatively large at 16 x 25, but without room behind your listening position, then 7.1 is not a good choice.

However, do you have any flexibility in relocating your sofa so there is room behind the listening position? If so, then I would definitely recommend going to 7.1 as that is a particular sweet spot for the Lexicon.

My former speaker system had tripoles for sides, very similar to using dipoles for sides, and monopoles for rears and that combination does provide a good surround environment. When I recently upgraded my speaker system, the new line did not offer dipoles / bipoles / tripoles, so I was limited to monopoles for both sides and rears. So far, I have not found this be a problem, although if I had the option I would have chosen dipoles / bipoles / tripoles for the sides.

FWIW, I listen to everything in 7.1, independent of source.

Thanks
Bruce

thanks for your thoughts-would really like to have 7.1 and am buying equip. to handle it but unfortunately can't move the sofa- could put 2 speakers parallel to back of sofa on each side against the wall and 2 more 4-5 feet forward of those but will this accomplish anything as to surround? (sofa is on south wall( 25 feet), east wall is all glass( 16 feet) and north wall(25 feet) is where all equip and tv are located)

ps- suppose i could move sofa out about 1 foot and then fit 2 speakers right behind it--would that accomplish anything?-i figured no as speaker would be right in your ear and directionally sound wouldn't really be behind listener

Slvrtravel,

Per the Dolby recommended layouts, I do not think you want your side speakers ahead of your listening position. The side speakers should be at plus & minus 90 degrees from top center, directly to the sides of your listening position.

Sorry, I may not have been clear, but I was asking about moving your sofa a bit forward of the back wall, not to a different part of the room. If, for example, you could move your sofa forward by 5 feet, that would allow you to have rear speakers behind the listening position and side speakers directly to the sides of the sofa.

I don't know if that would impose any challenges in mounting / placing the surround speakers, but there are options to accomodate many situations like on-walls, in-walls, etc.

In my own case, due to room layout, both my sides and rears are mounted suspended from the ceiling using Omnimounts. I have them aimed downward and toward the listening area, and that works pretty well.

Thanks
Bruce

thanks but unfortunately the most would be one foot out from the wall so i think i'm stuck with 5.1 unless i wait for the new mac ap 1000 which theoretically allows you to place speakers anywhere and it'll eq them to sound as if they're where they would be optimally