When I interview custom installers for Robb Report Home Entertainment’s Home Portfolio section, I love to ask why they chose each piece of equipment. Every component seems to have its own story. This projector was selected for its high light output and low maintenance; that screen gives the best contrast for this room; those speakers complement the owner’s taste in music.

However, I have stopped asking, “Why did you choose the Lexicon?” because I always get the same answer, delivered as if I had asked why the seating faces the screen: “It’s the best.”

I can tell already that I am going to have to remove another question from my standard battery: “Why use an integrated receiver instead of a separate surround processor and amplifiers?” The Lexicon RV-8—the first receiver from one of the true pioneers in surround sound—renders that question moot. By combining the inner workings of its CX-7 amplifier and the functionality of its renowned MC-series processors, Lexicon delivers a single-box solution for home theater audio that in no way compromises the sound you hear.In fact, the RV-8 sports a feature set that puts many high-end processors to shame. In addition to the standard complement of sound modes—Dolby Digital EX, Pro Logic II, DTS ES, et cetera—there is also Lexicon’s own Logic7 processing and a host of THX Ultra 2 configurations. But this hardly skims the surface of the receiver’s configurability. Moments after calling up the amazingly intuitive onscreen menus, I have reconfigured analog inputs 3 through 5 as a six-channel external input, renamed the DVD2 input as “DVDAUDIO” and set the default mode for that input to benefit from the superior bass management and digital delay of the RV-8. Even if you are not familiar with these arcane surround-sound parameters, your installer will be—and he or she will find every necessary option in the RV-8’s menus. It even offers a wonderful little mode called “5 Speaker Enhance,” which mimics the sound of a seven-speaker configuration with only five speakers.

A versatile universal remote, which is in fact made by the company named Universal Remote, accompanies each RV-8. It can be programmed to control other components as well. (Click image to enlarge)

With the level of customization provided by the RV-8, it comes as no surprise that the instruction manual resembles the phone book of a small city. Thankfully, the receiver’s on-screen menus are so intuitive that I consult the 235-page tome only once or twice, and even then merely out of curiosity. Setting up separate custom configurations for each input is easier than changing the ring tones on my cell phone.

Of course, features and modes hardly mean a thing if sound performance is not up to snuff. At the risk of sounding hyperbolic, the RV-8 is by far the sweetest-sounding receiver I have heard. I love its rich, luscious midrange, neutral dialogue delivery and revealing detail, but I am almost as impressed by the fact that “revealing” does not equate to “unforgiving” with the RV-8. It even manages to tame the harsh, midrange-intensive sound of the old monophonic Cary Grant films my wife insists upon watching, as well as the Three Stooges shorts that I in turn force upon her.It is doubtful, though, that anyone would buy a receiver based upon its performance with old movies, so let us touch upon the RV-8’s most exceptional surround mode: Logic7. Logic7 converts any incoming source—stereo CDs, Dolby Surround-encoded TV shows, 5.1-channel Dolby Digital and DTS DVDs—into 7.1-channel surround sound. In addition to the front left, center and right channels, you have both side and rear surround speakers, each fed with different sounds that add up to a more natural and lifelike presentation than in any other surround-sound process I have heard.

Although the RV-8’s 140 watts of power per channel may seem tame in comparison with the 200-watt channels found in many stand-alone amps, it is more than sufficient for living rooms, casual media rooms and even many large home theaters. My medium-sized room cannot tax the RV-8’s capacity, even at high volumes. Even after an intense eight-hour DVD-watching marathon, the surface of the receiver is barely warm enough to melt ice. The RV-8’s cool demeanor demonstrates Lexicon’s attention to the minutest of details. Throughout weeks of listening, my ears never detect the receiver’s three tiny cooling fans.

In the arena of high-end audio, the RV-8 will no doubt be seen as the little brother of the Lexicon line, and in some ways that is a fair assessment. It does not offer the professional-style balanced inputs and outputs found on many of the company’s stand-alone surround-sound processors, and it packs less power than Lexicon’s upper-echelon amplifiers. But most of us can easily live without those luxuries. Given that the RV-8 sports some features shared only by Lexicon’s flagship MC-12 processor, and adds full conversion of composite and S-video to component video—a first for Lexicon—at just over half the price, it ranks among the highest achievements of the company with the world’s best reputation for surround sound. But more important, it sounds simply sumptuous.DESCRIPTION
THX Ultra 2 audio/video receiver. Decodes surround sound, controls volume, routes audio and video from source devices (DVD, satellite TV, etc.) to TV and speakers. Provides amps for a 7.1 system, or a 5.1 system with second stereo zone. Includes AM/FM tuner and three-zone control.

POWER OUTPUT
Seven 140-watt channels of amplification.

SURROUND MODES
Dolby Digital EX, Pro Logic II and Pro Logic, DTS ES and Neo:6, THX SurEX, THX Music, L7 Film, L7 TV, L7 Music, 5.1 L7 Film, 5.1 L7 TV, 5.1 L7 Music, 5.1a L7 Film, 5.1a L7 Music, 5.1a THX SurEX, 5.1a THX Music, 5.1a Bypass, 2CH Bypass, Headphone L7, Headphone 5.1, Headphone DTS, Headphone 5.1a, 5.1 Mono Logic, 5.1 Mono Surround, Nightclub, Concert Hall, Church, Cathedral and Panorama.

CONNECTIONS
Three component video inputs, five S-video inputs, five composite video inputs, eight RCA-type stereo analog audio inputs (inputs 3-5 and 6-8 can be configured as separate 6-channel audio inputs for DVD-Audio/Super Audio CD), RCA-type phono input and ground, four coaxial digital audio inputs, four Toslink optical digital audio inputs, 7.1-channel analog audio outputs (to amplifier), coaxial digital audio output for second zone or recording, Toslink digital audio output for second zone or recording, two stereo analog audio outputs for second zone or recording, stereo analog audio output for third zone, component video output for main zone, two composite video outputs for Main Zone, two S-video outputs for Main Zone, two composite video outputs for second zone or recording, two S-video outputs for second zone or recording, composite video output for third zone, two 3.5mm minijack microphone connections for future use, 3.5mm minijack for IR input, two 12-volt DC triggers, binding posts for AM antenna and ground, coaxial connector for FM antenna, seven pairs of five-way binding posts for speaker output, two RS-232 connections (one for serial control and upgrades; one reserved for future use)

DIMENSIONS
7.76 x 17.3 x 21.2 inches (hwd)

PRICE/CONTACT
PRICE: $6,995
CONTACT: 781.280.0300, www.lexicon.com