Strymon Blue Sky vs Lexicon PCM80

Strymon Blue Sky vs Lexicon PCM80 Fender Stratocaster Vox AC30 Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive Mod

[ITheFight]

Pcm 80 all the way. I can't believe that this kind of sound existed in 92. I always thought the Strymon and Nuenaber are the first, but then again Mby they are for the pedal format. PCM81 on its way! Thanks for the video!

[adam]

They both sound pretty ace and I think it would come down to your preferred form factor (rack vs pedals). In my case, because I love the Lexicon sound so much I'd take the PCM 80. They can be had for reasonable money second hand too.

[pepecocastube]

Many thanks! Excellent demo.
The strymon was my favourite on the "ultimate reverb shootout video" and this confirms it. It sounds very, very similar to the lexi, but cleaner. This might be due to the difference in input impedances (strymon is more suited for guitar wich makes it stand up here, but might not handle studio levels that well), aswell as the improved AD/DA conversion quality.

[clusterchord]

seems that strymon has slight modulation/detunining in its trail, whilst the PCM80 preset you setup is set more subtle in this regard.

in this peticular example Strymon reminds me a little bit of standard pitched Eventide reverbs i got on Orville.

somehow i still prefer Lexicon. its just a bigger lusher sound from the get go, without going for much modulation (tho it certainly is capable of it). however, for live gigs, no question blue sky is the ticket..

my 0.02

[AnalogNoiseLab]

PCM 80 is 25 years old. Pretty amazing it holds up so well

[michael_caz_nyc]

Oddly enough . . . I thought the Strymon Blue Sky Sounded closer to the Lexicon PCM80 vs the Big Sky. I own the Big Sky and it is UnWorldly. I love all 3, but I will Never be without my Big Sky. Total Inspiration Machine.

[MARTIND]

IMO, the Strymon sounds brighter, punchier, but sounds "manufactured". The Lexicon sounds a bit more authentic. However, considering you get some many more features out of a Lexicon, the value is in the Lexicon. If you're a pedal nut, go with the Strymon, otherwise, if you like rack-mounted effects like I do, go with the Lexicon.

[gjc]

I'm listening to this through tiny laptop speakers, so I'm probably not hearing everything. Can you please tell me if the Strymon is clean & quiet enough to use in a studio setting, or is it more suited to live performing?

[OldEMGStrat]

not an accurate or FAIR test of either.

[aceohartz]

BlueSky all day. Sounds as good as the Lexi but you don't have to lug a rack around! I've heard the difference of these in person and the BS holds it's own very well.

[kdirty]

PCM all day. not that the BS is bad or horrible. Both are great but the PCM shined especially soon toward the end where he hits some more gain/overdrive. The detail in the PCM tail and how it sits in the mix even though its so wet just put it over the BS easily.
BS sounds congested here and restricted and the PCM just oooozes it out more naturally.
BUT! I wish the PCM80 (that I own) was as simple to tweak as the BS!!!
For guys that want a pedal and hate racks though? I don't think you can go wrong with the Blue or Big Sky at all.
Theres just a reason Lexicon had a team of very educated smart engineers together to create their reverbs. modeling is catching up but no way would it come close to the Bricasti ever. Which is todays newest real "lexicon". And that thing is untouchable. So thats what those engineers that have since left lexicon did these days.

[alexmagor]

The guitar sounds muddier to me with the lexicon. Strymon sounds like the guitar has better fidelity.

[cosmogang]

Sounds like a Fall of Troy riff!!

(PCM FTW BTW)

[RoyChartier]

You didn't gain stage the Lex properly.

[dumaflotchy]

Lexicon is regarded as the finest manufacture of Rev in the world. I honestly feel that the Strymon "competes". And when you factor in the cost differential ...
Is anyone legitimately producing a better sounding, more capable floor stomp Rev than Strymon ????Doubt it ! Can't wait to add another Strymon to my rig.

hideous freak/Dumaflotchy13

[ddermend]

with the blue sky the sun rises, lexicon sounds slightly weak and metalic to me in comparison. also the fact that he starts something new on the guitar everytime while on the strymon.... :)

[savanaviolenta]

Blue Sky wins, super lush wide stero sound that just evokes memories in one, the Lexicon is ok, generic sounding unit, but keep in mind is more than 20 years old, it's usable, but nothing special.