LIPS

A common problem with modern audio components is their increasing complexity, particularly in home cinema installations.  This has made the everyday operation almost unapproachable for many owners who are left struggling with enormous remote control handsets, studded with dozens of buttons with unfathomable functions.

It was this problem that led Leema's founders, Mallory Nicholls and Lee Taylor, to develop LIPS®, the "Leema Intelligent Protocol System". 

LIPS® is a sophisticated system of control and communication, which is a standard feature in the majority of Leema components.  A small cable, which is provided with each product, allows the individual units to be connected and controlled as one.  When connected via LIPS®, a Leema system becomes intelligent, flexible and so easy to use that in many cases, the whole system can be controlled from just one component.  For instance, an audiophile quality Constellation series home cinema system could be controlled via a Leema CD player, while the amplification units could be sited remotely in a suitably ventilated cupboard.  The system intelligently controls the individual units.  An additional benefit is that the remote control only requires a small number of buttons with only functions that are really needed.

The unique and expandable Constellation multi-channel system uses LIPS® to great effect. The Antila CD player is able to act as a LIPS® master and can talk to other components via LIPS®.  It can intelligently configure them into a multi-unit home cinema system of uncompromised audio quality.  The Hydra II amplifier has exactly the same audio circuit topology as the Tucana II and when configured via LIPS® to drive the surround channels in a 5.1 home cinema system, the input selection and volume control automatically synchronise across the units, producing a multi-channel system without compromise.

The Corvus features both a mono amplifier for the centre channel and a studio quality subwoofer control processor, giving comprehensive control of mono, or uniquely, stereo subwoofers, for both multi-channel and stereo systems.  Like the Hydra II, the Corvus takes its commands from the LIPS® master.  This offers the same audiophile fidelity with multi-channel sources as is available with stereo.

The beauty of LIPS® is that the audio components 'understand' what the user is trying to do. For example, to play a CD in stereo, the Tucana II 'knows' that it is required, whereas the Hydra II and the Corvus remain powered off.  Then, to watch a movie, the appropriate units power up and configure themselves automatically when a multi-channel input is selected.  The individual units learn the desired settings for each source and configure themselves as required.

The Reference Series Pyxis preamplifier and Altair IV mono-block amplifiers also feature LIPS2® in addition to LIPS®. LIPS2® is a development of LIPS® adding further performance and extending the cable range to approximately 1 Km.  When Altair IV power amplifiers are connected via LIPS2®, the Pyxis can send a full volume audio signal through the interconnecting cable.  The actual listening level is then adjusted at the input stage of the power amplifiers via LIPS®. This ensures that the signal-to-noise ratio is always at its best and cable related losses are kept to an absolute minimum.  

The LIPS® system eliminates the need to search through menus and change settings. It was conceived with ease of operation in mind.

In addition, LIPS® can be interfaced to any of the leading home automation systems, such as Crestron™ or Pro Control™, via a Leema RS232 interface unit.  A complete Leema system may then be controlled by just one automation port.