Good Processor

James-

I forgot to add that I also have very revealing speakers. I have three Aerial Acoustics LR5's for my left, right, center. I am only running a 5.1 system with a seaton submersive sub and inexpensive in-wall speakers for my surround channels. I intend to upgrade my rears to full range Aerial Acoustics.

David

Thx guys. I have Merlin VSM MXRs and will be adding the tsm center and tsm for surround. When I mean they are revealing, I am trying to say they show the weak link in the audio chain.

OK-I can clarify with more information on my system.

I do not have a dedicated HT. I have a section of my open and very large basement I use with a projector, screen and my audio equipment. I have no sound treatment what-so-ever.

As far as the room correction goes; I compared the Lexicon against the Marantz with the room correction turned off. I much preferred the clearer and more natural "analog sound" of the Lexicon.

A good feature of the Lexicon EQ is that it only EQ's bass frequencies (I believe below 200hz). The Marantz uses Audyssey XT32 which EQ's the entire spectrum. I prefer the Lexicon's approach; at least with the acoustics of my room. Just EQ'ing the bass really improves the clarity of the mid and higher frequencies.

I do need the EQ for my subwoofer as I have some pretty significant bass peaks in my listening area. The Lexicon EQ does an excellent job of correcting those.

David,

A better comparison would have been analog output from the Oppo to the Marantz as well as the Lexicon. It may have been the analog processing of the Oppo that you preferred to that of the Marantz.

The comments at AVS re the Cary 11a had to do with bugs. I output analog from my 105 to my 11a, and the 11a inputs are set to bypass, so I am no longer bothered by the bugs. The critics at AVS agreed the sound from the 11a was excellent.

db

db-

Yes, I agree that it probably is the analog sound of the Oppo/Lexicon that I prefer compared to the all digital path.

I see where you have an Oppo 105. Do you think, considering that I am mainly using my system for HT, that the 105 would provide a noticeable improvement over my 103? The difference in cost is around $700.