Marantz 8400 and Lexicon RT-10- the same? (1 Viewer)

[TerryPM]

A Marantz dealer told me that the Lexicon RT-10 is exactly the same as the Marantz 8400 except for the faceplate. I was under the impression that the Lexicon had upgraded DACs- at least more than a different faceplate for an extra $2K. Anyone know the facts and specs?

 

[Kevin C Brown]

I doubt that is true: the Lex is a $3500 player and the 8400 is maybe $1600 list.

What is true, is that *both* players are based on the Pioneer DV-47a. Chroma bug and all.

As these players get reviewed by the mags and such, I imagine that the differences will become clear. I would be willing to bet they do have different DACs anyway. Marantz has Cirrus, but Lexicon typically uses Analog Devices or AKM (the MC-12 and MC-8 respectively anway.)

FWIW, I believe that the 8400 weighs in at about 15 lbs, and the RT-10 is 17.2. So they may have more in common that you'd think, but they are definately not the same player. (Unless the faceplate adds exactly what the difference in weight is! )

 

[gregD]

That is absolutely stupefying!,,, (if true -- is that confirmed?)

How can Lex roll out a $3500 box -- which is obviously targeted at systems with hi-def TVs -- with a visible defect that's been publicly kicked around for TWO YEARS???

Somebody -- somewhere -- had better come up with an idiot-proof (and I mean with a digital interface!) universal player pretty soon, or we can all kiss hi-res good-bye...I refuse to buy (and upgrade) any of this until I see a $1k player that does it right... one that will last 5-10 years.

Those DTS layers don't sound so bad after all...

 

[Kevin C Brown]

The Denon 2900 is close...

 

[Rob Tomlin]

The Denon 2900 is close...

Except for the major omission of a DVI output!

Like Greg said, we need a true universal player with DVI output that does it right. If the Marantz 8400 has the Chroma bug (and it looks like it will), the wait continues....

 

[Kevin C Brown]

I guess, personally, I don't see the benefit of a DVI output.

 

[Rob Tomlin]

I guess, personally, I don't see the benefit of a DVI output.

I assume that you do not have a digital front projector (such as DLP).

People that are running this combination indicate a very definite improvement in video quality. The picture is much cleaner with fewer artifacts which normally result from the analog/digital conversion. Since DVI is all digital, the video signal remains in the digital domain without any a/d conversion, thus fewer artifacts.

Even the $200.00 V Inc. Bravo D1 with DVI shows significant improvement in video quality over much more expensive DVD players that don't have DVI output.

You can check out this thread for a lengthy discussion on the benefits of DVI output to a digital projector.

There is no doubt that DVI output is the video connection to beat when it comes to picture quality (at least with digital display devices).

 

[Dalton]

we need a true universal player with DVI output that does it right.

Aside from the lack of a DVI output, the Denon 2900 "does it right" IMO. This is an all around excellent unit(aside from the omission of DVI of course).

 

[Kevin C Brown]

Re DVI: learned something new. But I also know you can't record from that output either. Yet, I guess.