Are lossless Codec's worth upgrading my processor

GHStudio,

If you run a digital out from your blu-ray player you will only get DD and DTS, and NONE of the lossless codecs, it will be the same as any SD DVD, the new codecs can only pass over multichannel analog if the player decodes them or via HDMI.

I strongly disagree with RW, having had the new codecs in both my bedroom system (for > a year now) and in my reference system for several months now), the difference is HUGE. Once you hear DTS HD MA vs DTS or Dolby TrueHD vs DD you will never want to go back! When I first got a pre/pro that did them, I immediately stopped using SD DVD's as they sounded compressed and lifeless after the new codecs.

FWIW the DC2 is a pretty old unit, and I would recomend you replace it, but it's still a bit away for many of the new AV preamps to be released. The Denon, Integra and Marantz are out, so is the Krell Evo 707 (what I am using now) and I think Mark Levinson is shipping the #50 too, I hope by CES we have firm release dates for more, but they are coming, but I would start shopping for a new pre/pro, you are ready for one!

Javachip,

No, I have nothing to do with retail audio sales.

The DC-2 doesn't have a multichannel analog input as I recall, but your point is correct if it did/does.

I would encourage him to replace the pre/pro as that was a low model of early Lexicon and to me always sounded harsh and overly digital, and as you said, 'it is hard to imagine' you really need to TRY it and see if you don't notice a huge difference, I suspect you will as even on my receiver based bedroom system the difference is huge, even to my wife, forget about the reference rig!

Ghstudio,

The DC-2 was not the premier piece of it's day. It was pricey and better than many, but not the top of the Lexicon line up. I think the remainder ofthe inputs concur with my thinking.

RW,

If you don't feel the new codecs are much better, please drop by and visit me in Florida and I will show you why I feel this way, I'm sure you'll agree with me after any demo I put together for this event.

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.

GH,

Sell the DC-2 for whatever you can get for it and buy the Integra and a Sony BDP-S350, it's the best acting (fastest load times, response time etc) player I have had and it can be had for ~$200 if you hunt, retail is only $299 and it will output bitstream for all codecs to the Integra.

The nearly ten year step forward in technology and Audyssey room correction alone will sound WAY better than the DC-2 even on it's best days, and you can do it for a very low cost out of pocket.

Tlg,

NO DVD's are encoded in Dolby TrueHD or DTS HD MA, only Blu-ray's can handle the bandwidth necessary for these, and most do have one or the other, especially on the new releases.