[wwittman]

my penny's worth:

The EMT 250 is my favourite reverb. I've used it on every record i've made for 25+ years.. often as the only reverb.
Nothing sounds like it.
ESPECIALLY the 251, which I think basically sucks.

The 140 plates sound like plates. they are THE plate, naturally, and if well tuned they can be incredible.
Certainly many records were made with great success with only reverb plates, especially before there WERE digital reverbs.
Definitely a classy sound.
but that's if it's in good shape and well TUNED (you need to tune the plate, like a drum head, periodically)

The Lex 224 is a decent digital reverb... not my fave but certainly flexible.

The AMS is probably a better sounding alternative to the Lexicon, and in the same ball park.. plus you get their signature non-linear program (basis of many an 80's drum sound)


It comes down to taste and what your basic idea is about reverb.

Me, I'd rather one grerat sound than a selectable palette of many average sounds.
But that's me.

Given your choices as stated I suppose I would lean to either the plate (if ONE reverb sound works for you) or the AMS.