Are lossless Codec's worth upgrading my processor

kennyt...I think the DC-2 was the only lexicon processor in it's time....with a few different models (upgradable). While it may not have been the premier processor at the time, it was lexicon's premier processor with their unique logic 7 logic.

The question is how does it stack up against even the integra 9.9 or cary 11a today.

GH,

I never liked the DC-2, in fact I haven't like Lexicon until recently, and then only for HT, they are a bit too 'digital' for lack of better description. Amazingly, the Integra is one pre/pro I have not had in my rig, I have heard many great things about it, and for the price, it's hard to beat. The Cary is a solid unit, and also pretty inexpensive.

This is exactly the dilemna I am in. Are the new Codec's worth upgrading for? Someone above mentioned that the dialog is better with the new Codec's. I thought it was due to my center channel that dialog always seemed to get lost or not be strong enough to hear. One of my biggest peaves when watching a movie is adjusting the audio up and down from dialog to action sequence and back 25 times with Dolby Digital.

THe standard DVD's audio is compressed, whether it is DD or DTS. Not that I haven't heard great sound from them, especially concert DVD's and well recorded movies. The new formats sound is supposed to uncompressed. If you check the audio bit rate with a Bluray player, a standard DVD plays at like 640kb. While a bluray plays audio at over 3mb. It offers the possiblility of much greater dynamic swings. I think you will have much greater clarity with any speaker, but it will really shine with speakers that can handle the wider dynamics without struggle. With a smaller speaker it might not be as dramatic of a difference.

It was worth it for me.

Here is what I noted when I went to the Integra 9.8 with the new HD audio codecs. For reference, I was previously using a Rotel RSP-1068 processor, which I thought was excellent in it's own right-

Bigger, more enveloping soundstage
More depth/layering to the soundstage
More relaxed/natural sound
More detailed sound

I wouldn't call it "night and day" difference, but I was not at all struggling to hear the difference, and it was quite impressive. I was somewhat skeptical at first, but now I have no regrets about rolling the dice on the new HD codecs.
Be warned- it is similar to making the switch to HDTV, in that SD cable stations just suck by comparison (I consider myself an HDTV snob). Pretty soon you won't want to watch movies unless they are Blu-ray discs recorded with the HD audio codecs.
Having said all that, you may be able to get the same or similar results by getting a Blu-ray player that internally decodes the new formats and send it out through the 5.1/7.1 analog inputs. This would be a cheaper option.

On a side note, the Integra also has Audessy room EQ/correction, which I am now a firm believer in- it is a wonderful thing.