The Lexicon RT-20 is a repackaged Marantz DV9500 with an AES/EBU digital port added. The McIntosh MVP861 is a repackaged Denon DVD-2900 with a balanced analog output stage and beefed-up power supply.
The Lexicon is a very good DVD-V player, a very good DVD-Audio player, a decent SACD player, and a mediocre CD player.
The McIntosh's DVD-V features are somewhat outdated. It is a slightly better SACD player than the Lexicon, but it's also only mediocre on CD.
Given the rapid churn in DVD-V technology, unless there is some feature of either of these players that really appeals to you, I wouldn't buy either one. I'd get an upscale Marantz, Pioneer, or Denon instead.
If music is really your primary focus, I would suggest you skip getting a universal player, unless it's something that was purpose-built for music like the Ayre C5xe or the like.
The Lexicon is a very good DVD-V player, a very good DVD-Audio player, a decent SACD player, and a mediocre CD player.
The McIntosh's DVD-V features are somewhat outdated. It is a slightly better SACD player than the Lexicon, but it's also only mediocre on CD.
Given the rapid churn in DVD-V technology, unless there is some feature of either of these players that really appeals to you, I wouldn't buy either one. I'd get an upscale Marantz, Pioneer, or Denon instead.
If music is really your primary focus, I would suggest you skip getting a universal player, unless it's something that was purpose-built for music like the Ayre C5xe or the like.