Reviewers Find Oppo inside Lexicon Blu-ray Player
HomeReviewers Find Oppo inside Lexicon Blu-ray Player
Posted January 18, 2010 07:42 AM by Juan Calonge
Veteran audio/video site Audioholics received the high-end, THX-certified Lexicon BD-30 Blu-ray player (which lists for $3,499) for review and has now published its product analysis, which will come as a shocker to many. After a thorough review, they conclude that Lexicon "simply lifted the Oppo BDP-83 and threw it into their own chassis."
Lexicon claimed and continues to claim that, while the BD-30 took components of the Oppo, it had added technology and made improvements to it. Audioholics emphatically retorts that it is an Oppo BDP-83 player, "chassis and all, shoved inside an aluminum Lexicon wrapper" and that "as far as we could determine, Lexicon didn't change a single thing in terms of the hardware."
The Audioholics reviewer opened the player, examined all the components and tested the performance of the Lexicon using an audio analyzer. All results were virtually identical to those of the previously reviewed Oppo.
Admittedly, many AV brands reuse designs from other manufacturers, but Audioholics finds it objectionable that a company can simply take an existing model, put it in a heavy case and add $3,000 to the price tag.
When this player was announced, one of its key features mentioned was that it was the first Blu-ray player to received THX certification (see blu-ray.com, July 27, 2009). In the review, THX Ltd. also is criticized for taking Lexicon's money "to allow Lexicon to slap their badge on the front panel". The question is asked whether the THX badge has "simply degraded into a marketable commodity with no real backing or validity." In the meantime, all mention of the Lexicon being THX certified has disappeared from both companies' websites.
Audioholics has long defended a rational, fact-based approach towards reviewing AV equipment. Its use of double-blind testing has repeatedly debunked some deep-rooted claims regarding the purported advantages of components such as high-end speaker cables or interconnects.
Note that other review sites give credence to Lexicon's claims and insist that there is a substantive difference between both models. For example, Home Theater Review states: "I am sure people will attack this player as a 'rebadged' Oppo, so I went out and bought an Oppo BD-83 SE in order to fairly compare the two. First off, there is no comparison between the build quality of the two players. The Oppo is lighter and the buttons have a far less solid feel to them. The Lexicon is a taller, much heftier unit. Black levels were close, but the Lexicon had a more natural contrast and color palette than the Oppo. More importantly, the Lexicon was nearly totally silent when loading discs and changing tracks. Those familiar with the Oppo know it is a rather noisy player when loading discs, switching tracks and scanning, even sometimes for no apparent reason. The drive is in the Oppo is noisy enough to catch my attention during quiet passages in movies, while the Lexicon is inaudible during use at all times."
Lexicon claimed and continues to claim that, while the BD-30 took components of the Oppo, it had added technology and made improvements to it. Audioholics emphatically retorts that it is an Oppo BDP-83 player, "chassis and all, shoved inside an aluminum Lexicon wrapper" and that "as far as we could determine, Lexicon didn't change a single thing in terms of the hardware."
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Inside view of the Lexicon BD-30 (photo Audioholics) |
Inside view of the Oppo BDP-83 (photo Audioholics) |
The Audioholics reviewer opened the player, examined all the components and tested the performance of the Lexicon using an audio analyzer. All results were virtually identical to those of the previously reviewed Oppo.
Admittedly, many AV brands reuse designs from other manufacturers, but Audioholics finds it objectionable that a company can simply take an existing model, put it in a heavy case and add $3,000 to the price tag.
When this player was announced, one of its key features mentioned was that it was the first Blu-ray player to received THX certification (see blu-ray.com, July 27, 2009). In the review, THX Ltd. also is criticized for taking Lexicon's money "to allow Lexicon to slap their badge on the front panel". The question is asked whether the THX badge has "simply degraded into a marketable commodity with no real backing or validity." In the meantime, all mention of the Lexicon being THX certified has disappeared from both companies' websites.
Audioholics has long defended a rational, fact-based approach towards reviewing AV equipment. Its use of double-blind testing has repeatedly debunked some deep-rooted claims regarding the purported advantages of components such as high-end speaker cables or interconnects.
Note that other review sites give credence to Lexicon's claims and insist that there is a substantive difference between both models. For example, Home Theater Review states: "I am sure people will attack this player as a 'rebadged' Oppo, so I went out and bought an Oppo BD-83 SE in order to fairly compare the two. First off, there is no comparison between the build quality of the two players. The Oppo is lighter and the buttons have a far less solid feel to them. The Lexicon is a taller, much heftier unit. Black levels were close, but the Lexicon had a more natural contrast and color palette than the Oppo. More importantly, the Lexicon was nearly totally silent when loading discs and changing tracks. Those familiar with the Oppo know it is a rather noisy player when loading discs, switching tracks and scanning, even sometimes for no apparent reason. The drive is in the Oppo is noisy enough to catch my attention during quiet passages in movies, while the Lexicon is inaudible during use at all times."