Lexicon PCM 90 Digital Reverberator – Internal Memory Battery Needs Replacement

Description:

Up for sale is a Lexicon PCM 90 Digital Reverberator, a classic studio reverb. It runs Lexicon’s dual Lexichip engines and has the halls, rooms and plates that made it a studio standard. It’s equally at home on vocals, drums, keys, guitar or mix buses.

Please read: about the battery
The internal memory backup battery needs to be replaced. Everything else on the unit works: all audio, presets, controls and the display. The only effect of the weak battery is that the unit doesn’t hold its memory when it’s turned off. Each time you power it back up, it resets to its factory state. That means:

• All 250 factory presets are always there and work normally.
• Anything you save or change (user presets, system settings) is lost when the unit is turned off.
• While it’s powered on, it works exactly as it should.

If you mostly use factory presets, or leave the unit on during sessions, you can use it as-is. I’ve priced it to account for the battery so you get a fully working PCM 90 for less, and you can fix the battery for very little money.

What it takes to replace the battery:

1. The battery is a 3V lithium coin cell soldered to the main board. It doesn’t pop out like a watch battery.
2. Unplug the unit, remove the top cover screws and take the cover off.
3. Find the coin cell on the main board and desolder the old one.
4. Solder in a new 3V lithium cell with solder tabs. They’re widely available and cheap. Confirm the exact type when you open the unit. Some techs put in a battery holder instead, so future swaps don’t need soldering.
5. Close it up and power on. The unit will hold your user presets and settings again.

This is a simple job for any electronics or audio tech, or for anyone comfortable with a soldering iron. Lexicon recommends having it done by a qualified service center. The part costs a few dollars, and most of the bill is a small amount of bench time.

Condition:

• Good cosmetic condition, some scratches and dents on the top from pulling in and out of racks.
• Fully functional and tested. All features, inputs and outputs work as they should. There is slight crackle on the input knob but just needs cleaning.
• Display works: bright, clear and fully readable.
• Knob and all buttons work properly and respond as they should.
• Internal memory backup battery needs replacement (see above).

Features:

• Five reverb algorithms: Concert Hall, Random Hall, Rich Plate, Chamber and Random Ambience
• 250 factory presets in five banks: Halls, Rooms, Plates, Post and Split
• KeyWord preset sorting, ADJUST knob, and Go and Pro edit modes
• Balanced analog inputs and outputs [XLR and 1/4" TRS / 1/4" TRS only – check the back panel]
• S/PDIF digital in/out (RCA)
• MIDI In/Out/Thru for full MIDI control
• PCMCIA card slot for storing programs and loading expansion cards

Included:

• PCM 90 unit