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As ugly as the Lexicon things seems on the surface, I haven't seen anyone talk up the bright side-- Oppo. The fact that their $500 player could be put in a fancy chassis and sold for $3500 is a sign that they've done some very, very good engineering.

Ermmmmmmmm NO it just shows how Lexicon decided to pull the wool over the consumers eyes by doing so. If Oppo decided it's worth $500 then how does placing the guts in a "fancy" cover make it worth $3500? I'd wager to guess it's a combination of some audiophiles accepting anything that is shoved in front of their faces by certain manufacturers just because they have made a "name" for themselves and gullibility. Lexicon got caught trying to pull a fast one.
Maybe if I placed a Mercedes badge on my Toyota then it will be as good? Hey, if no one knows what's in the inside then where's the "harm"? If I sell my rebadged Toyota as a Mercedes some one and I'm guessing it might be the seller might be a bit angry when they find out different.

Interestingly though Lexicon never did try to pull the wool over the consumer eyes, because they mentioned in their forum last year they were using Oppo product.

I am not protecting what they did, but it was not deceit.
However IMO it could had been complacency, which is a trait sadly seen with some management structures.
I provided a link of that conversation in the main Lexicon thread awhile back.
Still shake my head that the management did not fully realise the implications of not communicating better or defining a more realistic profit margin on that product.

What is more bizarre is what the heck were Harman International management doing, especially when you consider ML were also developing their own SACD player and Harman Kardon have their own Bluray disc player.

Sounds like they are keeping these companies more as seperate entities rather than pooling expertise and design-manufacturing in common sense areas.
Thats my feeling on the subject.

Cheers
Orb

I knew a guy that plopped a Porche 911 engine in his VW Beetle, and man that thing screamed. That's kind of the reverse process I guess- expensive guts in a cheap chassis!

I also remember back in the 70's when Oldsmobile tried to drop Chevy 350's in their cars without a word to a soul. It was soon found out when a new owner needed early warranty repair service and the Olds dealer found out he didn't have the right parts. That was a big whoops and had GM sending out refunds to Olds owners.

HMMMMM? Wonder what might happen in THIS case once owners catch on? I'm just say'in!

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I also remember back in the 70's when Oldsmobile tried to drop Chevy 350's in their cars without a word to a soul. It was soon found out when a new owner needed early warranty repair service and the Olds dealer found out he didn't have the right parts. That was a big whoops and had GM sending out refunds to Olds owners.

Interesting. Eventually, that was(is?) a regular practice.
My '92 Buick Roadmaster has a Chevy 350; great engine! Not as great as my Buick 455, but I digress! No idea what's done with new cars.
As to the topic at hand, I appreciate JA's article this month;very enlightening! Thanks!

This sort of thing has been done with cars for generations. Now audio conglomerates are trying it.

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Interestingly though Lexicon never did try to pull the wool over the consumer eyes, because they mentioned in their forum last year they were using Oppo product.

I am not protecting what they did, but it was not deceit.

I don't agree. As I understand, they acknowledged that they were using Oppo's "guts" but claimed they had made audible improvements in the sound quality. All they did was put it in a fancier box. Deceit or snake oil? You be the judge...

Here is the original post I did with the URL:

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Amir nicely picked up that Todd Packer (Technical Product and Project Manager, Harman High Performance A/V) posted last year on the product before all hell let loose, dated Posted: 19 Sep 2009.
Interesting or informative wording.
http://www.smr-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=323&PN=1
Quoting post:

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The official Lexicon BD30 post:

Short Answer...Built in America...THX certified...Lexicon Quality and Support...Best Video...Fastest transport...Joe Kane likes it...first shipment expected in late October or early November.
What we bring to the table:

The REAL reason for this, is because of people, like many here, who do NOT believe in audio progress by using better electronics than what is already mass produced. AND they can prove it, with ABX testing, that HK (Lexicon) would regularly use, due to Floyd Toole.
Think about it, you want to make a universal player to sell in a certain price range. What to do? You certainly can't afford to design it from scratch. You MUST take an already existing design and ADD to it. However, REAL HI END people, like AYRE, do MORE, because they believe that what they are doing to the power supply, audio electronics, etc. makes for a better sounding product. Lexicon has no such 'delusions'. All they can do is make the electronics, prettier, faster, and with a better warrantee than a cheaper product. That is what they did, and they NEED a fat differential to feed the corporate coffers. (Trust me, I used to work for HK Intl.) That is why Matti's power amp, three decades ago, became a $5,000 power amp, when $2,000 was expensive for the same item, in the audio business. I laughed my socks off, at the time. And so it goes!

Yep agree.

Cheers
Orb

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Interestingly though Lexicon never did try to pull the wool over the consumer eyes, because they mentioned in their forum last year they were using Oppo product.

'Using the Oppo product!' Good heavens, that is like saying slapping a BMW hood ornament on your Taurus makes it a $50K car...

You missed the point and needs all I said (including the other posts that are part of the same discussion) to be taken within context, I was responding to the comment about Lexicon being deceitful, when the the link I provided showed they were being candid but very careful with their wording.
You did notice I said I do not agree with what they did or how their profit margin was silly

It seems you want to ignore what they said back last year, which when considered makes your last comment regarding cars being only partially accurate IMO.

Thanks
Orb