Lyngdorf MP-40 2.1 AV Processor Review

[Moonbase]

I think that’s very disingenuous its more inline with the marantz av10. When you factor in rp and branding it’s really on parr cost wise. No bargain for sure, but I’d definitely buy one if I had the money to spare.

 

[Cbdb2]

How long before Dolby puts out another new format and makes it obsolete?

 

[GXAlan]

How long before Dolby puts out another new format and makes it obsolete?

Surprisingly, home Atmos isn’t even being pushed to the limit yet, so unlike the era of Dolby Surround, Pro Logic, Pro Logic II, Digital, TrueHD, etc. Atmos is likely to stay current and if they ever bring cinema Atmos to the home, I bet downsampling from Cinema Atmos to 2024-era Atmos is the same.

EARC has also separated video from audio, so for the first time, you might really have an home theater audio processor that can last as long as a vintage tube amp.

Biggest risk would be something like Dante or AES67 being the only connectivity for speakers in the future at which point you just need a box.

 

[musicforcities]

Meh…it looks great. It performs great. But at that price, unless one needs the pro custom install features, it doesn’t make much sense to me given less expensive options by Denon and the NAD masters series. You could get a denon x3800 with a Dirac upgrade and buy 9 external amps if you felt the need for half this. Ok no balanced out but in most consumer applications it won’t matter, especially with surround codecs and in wall wiring runs etc. versions and surround codecs seem rather prone to obsolescence to me for a 10k outlay. But that’s just me.

 

[Moonbase]

I don’t disagree that it’s expensive. At this price point, RCA connectors don’t cut it. Any amp you normally match it with will expect balanced connections. Further, I don’t think linear power supplies cut it, either. In custom cinematic rooms, often the hardware is located at the back, so some long cable runs. Smaller companies have to charge more to cover their costs, so having good support and R&D teams bumps the cost up. Think more of Storm etc., than Denon.

 

[Dougey_Jones]

More and better bass management options - including use of “boundary subs” along with a main LFE channel, nicer outward build quality. 10s to hundreds of man-hours less to get good results. And what you lose (assuming you stick with Audyssey) is a pretty good (not HTP-1 or RME ADI-2 grade, but pretty good) loudness compensation.

But IMO these kinds of questions are besides the point. Yes there’s cheaper stuff from “mainstream” brands. But unlike a lot of expensive gear this one does have unique selling points that may be of real value to listeners.

I couldn't disagree more whole heartedly.

I have plenty of expensive gear, and could afford one of these AVP's if I wanted to. I use Dirac for my 2ch setup, and used Dirac previously on an RZ50 before selling it to try out XT32 on the x3700h. XT32 tuned on an iPad with the Audyssey app has provided more enjoyment and less futzing around than my former Dirac home theater setup, and I have extreme doubts that RoomPerfect would provide a better result.

I have exclusively been using AVR's as AVP's since nobody wants to sell an AVP at a normal price anymore. I'd happily pay $2-3k for a competent AVP, but everyone wants $5-10k for less performance and features just because they assume you can afford it if you can afford outboard amps.

This is (IMO) a product for custom installers (I used to be one) to sell to people with more money than sense.

 

[Titurel]

This is (IMO) a product for custom installers (I used to be one) to sell to people with more money than sense.

I can't really attest to my sense, but I am neither well-heeled nor a custom installer. Yet my own experience with Room Perfect (and the MP40-2.1) is substantially better than what I had with either Audyssey or Dirac equipped systems. Your mileage may of course be different. In terms of tweaking and the fun one might derive from it, I don't believe this platform gives up anything substantial to either Audyssey or Dirac. It allows complex filtering both pre and post Room Perfect (quickly swapped in an out) and speaker timing adjustments (in msec) both pre and post Room Perfect. The GUI is intuitive and integrating multiple subs was straightforward. Expensive? Yes. Good value for money? Probably. I want my experience when listening to music or experiencing home theater to go beyond contemplation of the next tweak. Plenty of time for that afterwards.

 

[Dougey_Jones]

I can't really attest to my sense, but I am neither well-heeled nor a custom installer. Yet my own experience with Room Perfect (and the MP40-2.1) is substantially better than what I had with either Audyssey or Dirac equipped systems. Your mileage may of course be different. In terms of tweaking and the fun one might derive from it, I don't believe this platform gives up anything substantial to either Audyssey or Dirac. It allows complex filtering both pre and post Room Perfect (quickly swapped in an out) and speaker timing adjustments (in msec) both pre and post Room Perfect. The GUI is intuitive and integrating multiple subs was straightforward. Expensive? Yes. Good value for money? Probably. I want my experience when listening to music or experiencing home theater to go beyond contemplation of the next tweak. Plenty of time for that afterwards.

Do you realize how contradictory this post is? You're talking about wanting your experience to go beyond contemplating the next tweak right after lauding the benefits of allowing complex pre/post room correction adjustments and msec level speaker timing tweaks..

 

[Titurel]

Do you realize how contradictory this post is? You're talking about wanting your experience to go beyond contemplating the next tweak right after lauding the benefits of allowing complex pre/post room correction adjustments and msec level speaker timing tweaks..

Nothing contradictory at all. I want a system that is stable and convincing enough in its performance that I can separate the enjoyment of art from the pursuit (futile) of technical perfection. In simpler terms - the **** box needs to work well enough that I can turn off my engineering brain at will and become audience. Call me Dr. Tweak and Mr. Audience. (with apologies to Robert Louis Stevenson.)

 

[Dougey_Jones]

Nothing contradictory at all. I want a system that is stable and convincing enough in its performance that I can separate the enjoyment of art from the pursuit (futile) of technical perfection. In simpler terms - the **** box needs to work well enough that I can turn off my engineering brain at will and become audience. Call me Dr. Tweak and Mr. Audience. (with apologies to Robert Louis Stevenson.)

Whatever works, man.

I had a similar experience going from Dirac Live --> XT32. I performed countless mic revisions using Dirac on my 5.2 setup and never really loved the results, despite loving Dirac for pure 2ch on my stereo setup. Switched to XT32, removed the BBC treble dip and set the curve to resemble Harman and boom, enjoyable HT experience with very little effort.

 

[Moonbase]

I couldn't disagree more whole heartedly.

I have plenty of expensive gear, and could afford one of these AVP's if I wanted to. I use Dirac for my 2ch setup, and used Dirac previously on an RZ50 before selling it to try out XT32 on the x3700h. XT32 tuned on an iPad with the Audyssey app has provided more enjoyment and less futzing around than my former Dirac home theater setup, and I have extreme doubts that RoomPerfect would provide a better result.

I have exclusively been using AVR's as AVP's since nobody wants to sell an AVP at a normal price anymore. I'd happily pay $2-3k for a competent AVP, but everyone wants $5-10k for less performance and features just because they assume you can afford it if you can afford outboard amps.

This is (IMO) a product for custom installers (I used to be one) to sell to people with more money than sense.

I suspect that has lots to do with many of us who have moved on from budget AVRs like the 3700. While the 3700 is a good budget AVR. And I comment on the RZ50, I can on xt32, Dirac and rp.

Audyssey the oldest solution does work well with lovely and simple guide. Rubbish Mic and stand that most likely limit its effectiveness. Bass particularly hard to get acceptably integrated.

Dirac needs a laptop and a calibrated mic to give very good results. A steep learning curve and can be confusing at times. Once mastered many rooms issues and complex setups can be made to work really well. Custom curves can be created too.

With RP it is best to forget all what you already know from other manufacturers and follow the guides. So easy, and maybe the easiest one to use. It comes with a quality mic and you don’t need a laptop. Simply a phone or tablet to follow the instructions. In terms of results, provides everything Dirac does without the hassle. Voices can be used to customise the sound. It has to be said that Lyngdorf turn everything you think you know already on its head. In a very good way Peter Lyngdorf has changed the hifi world.

 

[elmoe420]

For context, I have never used Dirac. I have used MCACC, Audyssey, RoomPerfect and played a tiny bit with REW.

The only thing that you need to do with RP is measure the speaker distance manually. Everything else is automated. A high quality mic and stand come with the device and you just click a button and it does it's thing. My 80 year old father can run RoomPerfect.

Yes, you can use the Voicings to tweak all you want but in my opinion the core value proposition of Lyngdorf is you don't need to. It's set and forget. No buying extra mics, connecting laptops, using special apps, figuring out what a "target curve" or PEQ even means.

Lyngdorf customer niche is folks with a lot of disposal income who want a simple solution you can't screw up. No one else offers this as far as I know. Take one look at a Dirac help thread for contrast...

 

[GXAlan]

For context, I have never used Dirac. I have used MCACC, Audyssey, RoomPerfect and played a tiny bit with REW.

The only thing that you need to do with RP is measure the speaker distance manually. Everything else is automated.

Every other system is able to figure out distances automatically, so the need to measure is an unusual one. In the era before room correction, just level calibration level and delay are so easy to do when trying to “even” out the response.

I wonder if this knowledge lets RP know precisely what direct versus reflected sound. RP’s tones are musical, non standard test tones. (Not log chirp, not MLS).

 

[elmoe420]

Every other system is able to figure out distances automatically, so the need to measure is an unusual one. In the era before room correction, just level calibration level and delay are so easy to do when trying to “even” out the response.

I wonder if this knowledge lets RP know precisely what direct versus reflected sound. RP’s tones are musical, non standard test tones. (Not log chirp, not MLS).

Yeah I've always wondered this myself. It feels like this time alignment aspect could easily be automated but they seem to explicitly choose not to do so for some reason. Interesting hypothesis on your part.

 

[Holmz]

I couldn't disagree more whole heartedly.

I have plenty of expensive gear, and could afford one of these AVP's if I wanted to. I use Dirac for my 2ch setup, and used Dirac previously on an RZ50 before selling it to try out XT32 on the x3700h. XT32 tuned on an iPad with the Audyssey app has provided more enjoyment and less futzing around than my former Dirac home theater setup, and I have extreme doubts that RoomPerfect would provide a better result.

You might be right.

I have exclusively been using AVR's as AVP's since nobody wants to sell an AVP at a normal price anymore. I'd happily pay $2-3k for a competent AVP, but everyone wants $5-10k for less performance and features just because they assume you can afford it if you can afford outboard amps.

Good for you.
I did not see many AVRs that had XRL outputs.

This is (IMO) a product for custom installers (I used to be one) to sell to people with more money than sense.

You might be right about having no sense.


But still, I could not disagree more

The other solutions in this arena are for custom installers.
I have a few tape measures, and some do both inches and metric.

I entered the number, and some PEQ settings for my center channel and ste the mic up.
I hit the button, and it did its thing.


This was all after I called the nearest installer, which is 450km away, and he said, I am headed down there in a month, but just read the manual.
These are made so we can either answer a question over the phone, or you can set it up yourself.

 

[Moonbase]

Every other system is able to figure out distances automatically, so the need to measure is an unusual one. In the era before room correction, just level calibration level and delay are so easy to do when trying to “even” out the response.

I wonder if this knowledge lets RP know precisely what direct versus reflected sound. RP’s tones are musical, non standard test tones. (Not log chirp, not MLS).

It’s an interesting question why manual measurements. Regardless of system I do manual measurements and correct the results. I like the system to sound as best as possible before I eq.
The test tones has two sets speakers/subwoofer which makes a lot of sense and hence maybe why the bass integrates so well. The tones last a while too and repeat. I assume this prevents random noise from screwing up the setup. RP also recommends the sound level prior to calibration which is handy too.

 

[Holmz]

One can figure out what the tweeter distance automatically.
How does one do a woofer or subwoofer automatically?

Secondly, the difference between the MR and tweeter distance error need might need to be on the order of a cm or less.
But the woofer distance probably needs to be with a foot, or 1/2 meter.

It seems easy enough to measure them, and more accurate for the sub at least.

 

[Moonbase]

It does seam easy, but then again why does the "automatic" sometimes get it wrong? Yamaha's ypao was for ever telling me that speaker were wired back to front (out of phase). If the speaker and Subwoofer are next to each other all systems will correctly time align (all things be equal). If you have the sub(s) in a different location, maybe behind you, then things become more tricky and the distance + sub or subs delays need considering. RP simply has the option to measure.
You may have guessed it's always spot on measurements for me (nearest mm).

 

[GXAlan]

One can figure out what the tweeter distance automatically.
How does one do a woofer or subwoofer automatically?

Sound - Attenuation and Speed vs. Sound Frequency and Air Humidity

The speed and attenuation of sound in moist air varies with sound frequency and air humidity.

www.engineeringtoolbox.com

 

[CJW]

How many people here wining on how the Lyngdorf is not worth it listened to it with Room Perfect activated in a home theatre? 1, 2, 3 , 4. 0?