I've found various freestanding processors on Audionet and Audiogon. The best Ive seen are from Lexicon. I've found cp-1s starting 125.00 and cp3s from 300.00. Are these good prices and whats the difference between the CP3 and the CP3+?
The prices are fine, but these are over a decade old. I think you can only process Dolby Prologic, not the newer formats, such as DTS, AC-3, and many others.
I don't think it processes Prologic II. When Prologic was the only game in town it was a great piece. Now it is not that useful for most people.
The CP1 was their base pro logic decoder. The CP3 was their THX unit, designed to be used with 7.1 channels. The CP3+ had additional music and tv surround modes. None would decode digital or switch s-vhs.
If it has the features and the formats you want, then it strikes me as nigh impossible to beat at that price.
But with modern 7.1 preamps that have that processing and more (with far more powerful chipsets), such as the Outlaw Audio at $799 that has everything but Prologic IIx, I would be hardpressed to recommend the much older Lexicon cp3, unless that is all the user ever wanted.
Who wants a processor that doesn't decode Dolby Digital, DTS digital, and other digital formats?
After looking at the prices for multi channel amps in addition to a used processor, I realized I could do better with a new receiver with pre-outs (Pioneer 912) , a good seperate phono stage, and an outboard speaker selector (Parasound). With discounts that would bring me under 600, 200 less than the amp alone. That leaves money for a sub and 2 more surrounds.
The Pioneer 912 is certainly one of the best at its price point. As long as not having OSD (on screen display) doesn't bother you, it gives you a lot of other features. OSD is mostly important during set-up---but I am sure set-up is easy without it. My Aragon separate preamp downstairs doesn't have OSD--and it was the easiest preamp or receiver to set-up that I hardly had to look at the manual.
At your price point receivers are the only sensible purchase for multi-channel home theatre experience. I would only recommend used separates for someone that was going to be starting a stereo system at an inexpensive price.
I have a mint CP3+ Processor for sale if anybody in this thread is interested. As far as sound goes, and it may be that I'm tone deaf..but I think it sounds better in THX prologic mode than my Rotel RB985 in DD mode. Its a warmer tone. The DD sounds good but harsher. For music mode the Rotel can't touch it...but I 'justified' the emperors new clothes to my wife so the Lexicon has to go... a bargain for someone else. (UK based)
Anonymous
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Stupid question: I would guess that the analogue bits of the CP3 are far superior to what youd get in cheaper / newer freestanding decoders. Possibly the D/A converters as well. Does anyone know if it would be feasable to drop a newer decoder into the CP3 to get the best of both worlds?