Lexicon 224x

RobJB06 · 3rd June 2007, 10:50 AM

Hi,

I have the option to buy 2x Lexicon 224X units for a reasonable price.
They are not working but complete with larc and cable..

Are they fixable are there any parts in the 224X which are no longer sourcable?

Your help would be greatly appreciated!

RobJB06 · 3rd June 2007, 02:11 PM

Bump!

E Orjatsalo · 3rd June 2007, 03:21 PM

I do not know, but you might want to ask Jim Fabianos opinion:
Jimfabiano.com

At least on his webpage states that he fixes 224's.

RobJB06 · 3rd June 2007, 05:43 PM

Yeh, ive mailed Jim before, but hes not too great at replying to emails and his phone rings and rings and rings and rings... you get the idea...

Im sure hes great at fixing Lexicons, but doesnt seem too keen to take on new work...
Maybe his spare parts are running thin and hes not really interested in doing the repairs any more? Thats the sort of impression i get...
Ive no idea, but ive sent a lot of emails, had a couple of replies and when i try and firm up sending something in for repair, i dont get any replies!
But i dont want to speculate, im sure Jim is a great guy.. Just doesnt look like he is doing any repairs at this time...?

I get the impression there is nothing too difficult to source in the 224X, has anyone got the scematics/service notes and can give me some info?
I could really do with a scan of the user manual/ service manual if anyone has it? (Lexiconpro site has no 224 manuals)

Reading through the old posts i see Fletcher loves the plates on the 224X but id be interested to hear from other 224X users...
How does it sounds in comparison to say a 480L with the classic cart or a PCM70?

I have a Lexicon 480L with a classic cart, im not sure if i really need the hassle of picking up some non-working 224X's...?

I get the impression, the 224X has a definately more vintage tone, which is why im interested, a tone that would compliment the 480L...
Anyway, any thoughts would be useful!

Cheers

toolz · 4th June 2007, 08:48 PM

I know that 80's Lexicon mainfames use bespoke dsp chips, a total beast when you think of that era how fast computers were. If they've been stored for a long while... chances the Internal Nicads may have leaked onto PCB tracks, it would be worth checking this b4 you buy.

If It were me (and at the right price) I'd take the gamble and try build a good one out of the two! I build and repair equipment.. but a Lex mainframe is altogether a different planet, yet a modular one.

I take it has the metal Larc? as I think software v8 will give control via the LARC2 connector on the back of the 480L, 3 machines on one LARC.... very tidy.

RobJB06 · 6th June 2007, 03:28 PM

I have some pictures of these units now. Its somewhat confusing...

Turns out one of these units appears to be a 224 BUT its in a 224X rack case?
Has anyone seen this done before? I thought all standard 224s came in the big black rack case with the white lettering..

It have a NVS card in it, and the EPROMS on the SBC board say version 4.4 software (4 Eproms) 8 boards in there in total..

The other 224 appears to be a 224X, but the NVS card has 8.2 EPROMS installed. Not 8.1 EPROMS.
Its clearly not a 224XL as it still has the parallel connection for the older metal type remote.
It looks like this unit is a 224X which someone has swapped out a 224X NVS board and put a 224XL NVS board into it...
Dont know what EPROMS are on the SBC board yet in this unit..
Looks like i am going to need to find someone that can burn me some EPROMS!

Has anyone seen a standard 224 with 4.4 OS in a 224X case before?
Looks like this is going to be a lot of work getting these bastards working again..

Cheers!

Jim Williams · 6th June 2007, 04:24 PM

Yes, that's how I got mine. It was an X with ver.4 software. I upgraded it to an XL by replacing many chips to change it from 14 to 16 bit operation. New eproms are needed from Fabiano. It's now ver.8.2 with the splits and all the rooms, chambers, rich plate, etc.

Best verb I've ever used. I don't care for the 480/960 next to it.

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

RobJB06 · 6th June 2007, 04:37 PM

Jim, are you sure it changed it from 14 bit to 16 bit?

I have it down like this: (from what ive been told)

224, 12 bit, 9k
224X, 12 bit, 15k
224XL, 12 bit, 15k

All the above using the _SAME_ BB DAC80 digital to analogue converters?

Apparently the PCM60, 70 were the first 16 bit units, 480L too...

Maybe im wrong? Let me know...

RobJB06 · 6th June 2007, 04:57 PM

Jim, pressumably on your 224 with the version 4 software you had to change the interface card too as the old version 4 224s had the parallel interface cards, you need a serial interface card to run a LARC on the 224XL software and 8.2 EPROMS?

Did you swap the interface card out as well?

LA-2A · 8th June 2007, 10:08 PM

Rob ;-) the question is what LARCs are avaible.?? the blue iron ones, or is one of them the plastic XL Larc.?? So tell me how many memory chips are fitted on the dmem board. Are they 4164 tpye??

Were there some mechanical changes made on the "dmem board ???
Scratches or replaced tantal caps??

By the way is there somebody out there running an 224XL 8.2 software with the BLUE IRON LARC.???

regards

alexstringer · 8th June 2007, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrox247

Jim is working for Bose now. The Lexi repair thing is a side thing.

Nonetheless, he still holds to more vintage Lexicon parts than anybody else in the country and he is doing top work!

Experiencing up to 3 weeks wait for a service job is not so rare, for instance, i've never worked with Alactronics but these guys have never answered the 4 or 5 last emails i've sent 'em to begin with and they run a full time business, at least, Jim Fabiano did, even if he also work for Bose now...
Bottom line, he may not do it full time, but he cares about customer service much more than some reputated service center with a full staff.

Jim Williams · 12th June 2007, 03:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobJB06

Jim, pressumably on your 224 with the version 4 software you had to change the interface card too as the old version 4 224s had the parallel interface cards, you need a serial interface card to run a LARC on the 224XL software and 8.2 EPROMS?

Did you swap the interface card out as well?

No, and if you don't have the larc I/O board you won't get 8.2 operation. Yes, I did get new Eproms for the SBC board as well as the new program eproms.
Jim Fabiano said replacing many of the chips to 8.2 would add an extra high and low bit for 16 bits, but 14 may be correct as those converters are 12.

I've been replacing the cheap sockets with machine types as that seems to fix a lot of error startup problems. It also lets me clean out all the dust and grime so after a pcb is washed it looks like new. I'm about 1/3 way through the whole thing, it's like restoring a car.

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

RobJB06 · 12th June 2007, 05:19 PM

Thanks for the info Jim.

Can anyone help me out with some 224X program eproms?
I have a 224X with 8.2 roms on the NVS and 8.1 roms on the SBC.

LA-2A · 12th June 2007, 08:22 PM

I have them all the 8.1 and the 8.2 ,but I guess we need both someone who is able to copy + burn 2716 eproms ;-) IS THERE ANYBODY ????

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3rd June 2007, 10:50 AM	#1
RobJB06 Gear maniac Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 233	Lexicon 224x Hi, I have the option to buy 2x Lexicon 224X units for a reasonable price. They are not working but complete with larc and cable.. Are they fixable are there any parts in the 224X which are no longer sourcable? Your help would be greatly appreciated!

3rd June 2007, 03:21 PM	#3
E Orjatsalo Gear nut Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Salo, Finland Posts: 85	I do not know, but you might want to ask Jim Fabianos opinion: Jimfabiano.com At least on his webpage states that he fixes 224's. __________________ What?!? http://www.sevikaudio.com http://www.noisecamp.fi http://www.myspace.com/sevikaudio

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3rd June 2007, 02:11 PM	#2
RobJB06 Gear maniac Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 233	Bump!

3rd June 2007, 05:43 PM	#4
RobJB06 Gear maniac Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 233	Yeh, ive mailed Jim before, but hes not too great at replying to emails and his phone rings and rings and rings and rings... you get the idea... Im sure hes great at fixing Lexicons, but doesnt seem too keen to take on new work... Maybe his spare parts are running thin and hes not really interested in doing the repairs any more? Thats the sort of impression i get... Ive no idea, but ive sent a lot of emails, had a couple of replies and when i try and firm up sending something in for repair, i dont get any replies! But i dont want to speculate, im sure Jim is a great guy.. Just doesnt look like he is doing any repairs at this time...? I get the impression there is nothing too difficult to source in the 224X, has anyone got the scematics/service notes and can give me some info? I could really do with a scan of the user manual/ service manual if anyone has it? (Lexiconpro site has no 224 manuals) Reading through the old posts i see Fletcher loves the plates on the 224X but id be interested to hear from other 224X users... How does it sounds in comparison to say a 480L with the classic cart or a PCM70? I have a Lexicon 480L with a classic cart, im not sure if i really need the hassle of picking up some non-working 224X's...? I get the impression, the 224X has a definately more vintage tone, which is why im interested, a tone that would compliment the 480L... Anyway, any thoughts would be useful! Cheers

4th June 2007, 08:48 PM	#5
toolz Gear nut Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Bristol UK Posts: 108	I know that 80's Lexicon mainfames use bespoke dsp chips, a total beast when you think of that era how fast computers were. If they've been stored for a long while... chances the Internal Nicads may have leaked onto PCB tracks, it would be worth checking this b4 you buy. If It were me (and at the right price) I'd take the gamble and try build a good one out of the two! I build and repair equipment.. but a Lex mainframe is altogether a different planet, yet a modular one. I take it has the metal Larc? as I think software v8 will give control via the LARC2 connector on the back of the 480L, 3 machines on one LARC.... very tidy.

6th June 2007, 03:28 PM	#6
RobJB06 Gear maniac Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 233	I have some pictures of these units now. Its somewhat confusing... Turns out one of these units appears to be a 224 BUT its in a 224X rack case? Has anyone seen this done before? I thought all standard 224s came in the big black rack case with the white lettering.. It have a NVS card in it, and the EPROMS on the SBC board say version 4.4 software (4 Eproms) 8 boards in there in total.. The other 224 appears to be a 224X, but the NVS card has 8.2 EPROMS installed. Not 8.1 EPROMS. Its clearly not a 224XL as it still has the parallel connection for the older metal type remote. It looks like this unit is a 224X which someone has swapped out a 224X NVS board and put a 224XL NVS board into it... Dont know what EPROMS are on the SBC board yet in this unit.. Looks like i am going to need to find someone that can burn me some EPROMS! Has anyone seen a standard 224 with 4.4 OS in a 224X case before? Looks like this is going to be a lot of work getting these bastards working again.. Cheers!

6th June 2007, 04:24 PM	#7
Jim Williams Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: beautiful Carlsbad, CA Posts: 3,888	Yes, that's how I got mine. It was an X with ver.4 software. I upgraded it to an XL by replacing many chips to change it from 14 to 16 bit operation. New eproms are needed from Fabiano. It's now ver.8.2 with the splits and all the rooms, chambers, rich plate, etc. Best verb I've ever used. I don't care for the 480/960 next to it. Jim Williams Audio Upgrades

6th June 2007, 04:37 PM	#8
RobJB06 Gear maniac Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 233	Jim, are you sure it changed it from 14 bit to 16 bit? I have it down like this: (from what ive been told) 224, 12 bit, 9k 224X, 12 bit, 15k 224XL, 12 bit, 15k All the above using the _SAME_ BB DAC80 digital to analogue converters? Apparently the PCM60, 70 were the first 16 bit units, 480L too... Maybe im wrong? Let me know...

6th June 2007, 04:57 PM	#9
RobJB06 Gear maniac Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 233	Jim, pressumably on your 224 with the version 4 software you had to change the interface card too as the old version 4 224s had the parallel interface cards, you need a serial interface card to run a LARC on the 224XL software and 8.2 EPROMS? Did you swap the interface card out as well?

8th June 2007, 10:08 PM	#10
LA-2A Gear interested Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Germany Posts: 10	Rob ;-) the question is what LARCs are avaible.?? the blue iron ones, or is one of them the plastic XL Larc.?? So tell me how many memory chips are fitted on the dmem board. Are they 4164 tpye?? Were there some mechanical changes made on the "dmem board ??? Scratches or replaced tantal caps?? By the way is there somebody out there running an 224XL 8.2 software with the BLUE IRON LARC.??? regards

12th June 2007, 05:19 PM	#13
RobJB06 Gear maniac Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 233	Thanks for the info Jim. Can anyone help me out with some 224X program eproms? I have a 224X with 8.2 roms on the NVS and 8.1 roms on the SBC.

12th June 2007, 08:22 PM	#14
LA-2A Gear interested Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Germany Posts: 10	I have them all the 8.1 and the 8.2 ,but I guess we need both someone who is able to copy + burn 2716 eproms ;-) IS THERE ANYBODY ????