Kthomas,
Yes, I thought about a used MC-1. Appreciate your comments on the sonic improvement over the DC-1, which is a good reason to get one. Since my goals include handling SACD/DVD-A, that would be a temporary measure and would only make sense if I later traded in the MC-1 on a new baby MC-12 rather than buying a competitor's unit.
Between Audiogon, SMR-Forums, and other sources it seems the release of the baby MC-12 is "just around the corner". Whether that is true or not, it makes the used MC-1 option less desireable, although I periodically look at the units for sale on Audiogon. The ones from the dealers, which I feel would be safer buys, all seem to be trade-ins and could not be applied to a baby MC-12.
Another alternative, which you may have been referring to, is to wait for the baby MC-12 to arrive and see if the price of used MC-12's drops significantly.
I don't know how Lexicon will price the baby MC-12. I'm sure that will depend on their business strategy compared to the MC-12, and how much influence the competitive marketplace has. Having Aragon and Krell release $4,000 units should be a factor in the consumer's favor.
Also don't know how well competing approaches to 7.1 compare to Logic 7. Units that are THX UltraII certified; e.g., Aragon, use ASA to synthesize 7.1 channels from 5.1 sources, but I don't know if they can synthesize 7.1 channels from 2 channel sources. The Krell Showcase manual says it simply duplicates the sound of the side speakers in the rear speakers when synthesizing 7.1 channels from 5.1 sources, and I don't know how well the music surround modes work.
Oh well, this is part of what makes life so interesting.
Thanks
Bruce
