Lexicon MC-1; DC-1 Power supplies


Has anyone else had a power supply die in their Lexicon MC-1, or DC-1 or 2?

It's happened to me twice now. They use what appears to me to be a pretty cheap switching power supply. Lexicon won't service these units for less than $600 (though for that they do a complete refurb). I had my DC-1 repaired a couple of years ago by local reputable shop and it cost $200.

I love the units for home theater. They sound great and are very user friendly for setup and control, but wonder about the reliability.

Am I just unlucky?
bdgregory

Showing 6 responses by bdgregory

ouch. I guess I was lucky I bought when I did. I read somewhere that this is a standard PS unit that can be bought elsewhere (ie through standard component sellers like Mouser). I don't know what P/N to look for though. You may want to google . . .
here I am answering my own post . . . if I could delete it I would at this point. After posting, I did a little google work and discovered this is a common problem. It seems that the usual problem is capacitors and a number of folks have recapped and were good to go. Also, Lexicon sells a replacement PS that's an upgraded "hospital grade" PS. Installation is similar to installing a hard drive in a PC - just remove the cover, remove 4 screws, disconnect 2 plugs, and reverse the procedure. The price on the new PS is $65, so that's the way I'm going.
Crwilli - you're correct on both counts - my PSU failed when I had a power outage and it came back on. You'll also notice that when first powered on there's a hi frequency squeal that it puts out for probably 20-30 minutes until it warms up I assume. This may be a hint.

Second - replacement is very my like replacing a hard drive except there's a few more screws to deal with. It any even it's a piece of cake unless you're a total DIY klutz.
If it's not a fuse (check that first), it's very likely the PSU. You can verify with a VOM meter if you know how. I don't recall exactly what the connections are, but you should be able to trace where the PSU power output connects to the main board and measure if you have any voltage there.