News

Lexicon Launches Flagship RV-8 A/V Receiver (21/7/2004)

Lexicon, Inc., a Harman International company (NYSE: HAR), has announced the introduction of the RV-8 Receiver, an eight-channel audio/video control centre with independent zone monitoring that provides control of audio and video source selection in three zones.

Created to match the innovative industrial design of Lexicon's award winning home theatre products, the RV-8 includes eight configurable inputs, and a built-in tuner. Inputs comprise eight digital audio, eight analogue audio, one phono, five composite video, five S-video, and three component video inputs. The analogue connectors can be configured for up to two 5.1-channel sources. In addition, RV-8 comes with an intuitive pre-programmed/learning IR Remote Control that provides full operation of the unit and can also provide complete control over the entire audio/video system.

The RV-8 Receiver - Separates in an Integrated Package

The RV-8's massive power amplifier section outputs an impressive 140 watts on each of its seven amplified channels across the entire audible spectrum, all channels driven. Equipped with an enormous toroidal power transformer, the amplifier also includes thermal and DC protection.

An integral AM/FM stereo tuner allows for the automatic or manual storing of up to 40 preset stations, and is fully configurable for ease of operation. Further extending its capabilities, the RV-8 offers the latest version of Lexicon's critically acclaimed LOGIC7(r) decoding, which creates a 7.1- channel output signal from stereo, 5.1- and 6.1-channel sources. Unlike other decoders, LOGIC7 decoding is compatible with all input sources and requires no special encoding.

In addition to LOGIC7, the RV-8 offers a host of today's most popular audio and video playback formats with support for Dolby(r) Digital Surround EX, Dolby Pro Logic(r) II, DTS 96/24, DTS-ES, DTS neo:6, THX(r) Ultra2, and THX Surround EX(r) decoding.

With two 32-Bit Sharc Hammerhead(tm) Digital Signal Processing (DSP) engines, the RV-8 boasts enormous processing power. These powerful processors perform custom Lexicon processing such as LOGIC7 decoding, bass enhancement, dialog enhancement, auto azimuth, five-speaker enhancement, bass management, high-precision digital crossovers, and audio controls. These features are available at sample rates up to 96 kHz, with 24- bit resolution to retain top performance from all sources. In addition, a third DSP engine is dedicated to decoding multi-channel compressed audio sources.

The RV-8 is one of the most advanced audio and video control centres available. High-precision 24-bit/96 kHz A/D converters can be used to convert stereo analogue audio input signals to digital signals, allowing the RV-8 to realize the advantages of exceptional digital signal processing without sacrificing signal integrity. 24-bit/192 kHz D/A converters are utilized for all output channels. Alternatively, 5.1-channel and stereo analogue signals can bypass A/D conversion and internal processing, allowing a pure analogue signal path from input to output.

The RV-8 - Technologically Advanced Video Conversion

Complementing its audio performance, the RV-8 features two broadcastquality video switchers. A wide-bandwidth component video switcher accepts analogue component or RGB High Definition TV (HDTV), Enhanced Definition TV (EDTV), and Standard Definition TV (SDTV) video signals, while a composite and S-video switcher accepts high-quality SDTV video signals. Composite and S-video inputs can be converted to SDTV component video output. Both switchers are designed to pass video signals without alteration or degradation.

The Lexicon RV-8 Receiver comes with a three-year warranty and joins Lexicon's renowned line of home theatre products, which includes the MC-12 and MC-8 Digital Controllers, RT-10 Universal DVD/SACD Disc Player and LX and CX Multi-channel Power Amplifiers.

Additional notes

A LOGIC7-encoded down-mix of multi-channel source material is also available when using the Headphone listening modes. If a stereo source is present, the HEADPHONE L7 listening mode processes it using LOGIC7, then uses Head Related Transfer Functions to create a headphone output that introduces a subtle sense of surround sound, while preserving the original stereo image.

Featuring an expandable design for future upgrades when available, the RV- 8's rear panel has two RS-232 connectors; one capable of performing configuration downloads and flash memory software upgrades and the other capable of supporting possible future product enhancements. The rear panel also includes a removable access panel to accommodate new connectors, should Lexicon decide to offer them.

Digital audio input signals are processed through a two-stage phase lock loop for extremely low intrinsic jitter and high jitter rejection. Lexicon's proprietary Auto Azimuth Technology corrects timing and level imbalances in stereo sources, ensuring exceptionally accurate playback of surround-encoded sources. A digital audio pass-through output is available for recording digital signals with a CD recorder or similar component.

Lexicon RV-8 Availability: August 2004
Approximate retail price inc VAT: £5500

www.lexicon.com
www.csesolutions.co.uk