Can I remove the side panels of my Lsi 15's?

angelsfann02

Is it possible to remove the wooden side panels ( ebony panels) and just have [PHP][/PHP]an all piano finish? Has anyone done so, and if so, are there any holes exposed or are they glued on?

TouchOfEvil

I know someone removed them on a set of the lsi7's but i'm unsure on the 15's. i'm sure someone will know though.

fatpiggy

The only way to find out would be to remove a speaker remove the insulation and have a look inside with a torch.If you dont see any screws or nails Id say the side panels would be glued.My guess would be that they would be glued.

If the side panels are glued on you would have a major job on your hands.If the side panels can be removed you would need to have the sides re lamanated with the same black gloss lamanate, you could of course use a diffrent black gloss on both sides but it would still be an expensive excercise as the old lamante on the upper part of the sides would need to be removed stripped off, so as a full piece can be glued on and trimmed to size.Either way it would be a major headache.

One option would be to remove all your drivers and cross overs and transplant them into a pair of custom made gloss black enclosures the same size keeping the internal measurents and wall thickness the same.

Keep your original enclosures stored away somewhere in a box.If you decide to sell your LSi15's down the track you just put the drivers and crossovers back in the LSi15 enclosures and sell them as mint units.

Changing the apperance of a speaker after it has been built is a real pain.I have just gone through the same excerise rebuilding a pair of old RT 12 floor standing speakers and its not fun.

Its not impossible just depends on how much money you want to spend to get the look your after..


Fatpiggy

TouchOfEvil

fatpiggy wrote: »

The only way to find out would be to remove a speaker remove the insulation and have a look inside with a torch.If you dont see any screws or nails Id say the side panels would be glued.My guess would be that they would be glued.

If the side panels are glued on you would have a major job on your hands.If the side panels can be removed you would need to have the sides re lamanated with the same black gloss lamanate, you could of course use a diffrent black gloss on both sides but it would still be an expensive excercise as the old lamante on the upper part of the sides would need to be removed stripped off, so as a full piece can be glued on and trimmed to size.Either way it would be a major headache.

One option would be to remove all your drivers and cross overs and transplant them into a pair of custom made gloss black enclosures the same size keeping the internal measurents and wall thickness the same.

Keep your original enclosures stored away somewhere in a box.If you decide to sell your LSi15's down the track you just put the drivers and crossovers back in the LSi15 enclosures and sell them as mint units.

Changing the apperance of a speaker after it has been built is a real pain.I have just gone through the same excerise rebuilding a pair of old RT 12 floor standing speakers and its not fun.

Its not impossible just depends on how much money you want to spend to get the look your after..


Fatpiggy

What are you smoking? Like i said it has been done on a set of lsi7's as they were glued on. No problems removing em. And the black is paint not a laminate.
Do note not every lsi7 is glued on some are, some not. The way to tell is the design of your box itself aka picture frame box or smooth.
I'm unsure if the 15's are glued on or not but if they are he shouldn't be spending any amount of money to remove em and might need a mild product to help remove the glue at best.
Then clean em off,maybe a nice buff.
None of which would require the work you are stating.

pearsall001

I think a shout out to Polk CS will get you the info you're looking for. Nothing better then going straight to the manuf. before taking on a project like this.

Slinger182

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=27613

Slinger182

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29800

angelsfann02

I was gonna call polk cs, but I dont wanna hear that altering my speakers in any way voids my warranty. I dont see why that would.

kawizx9r

angelsfann02 wrote: »

I was gonna call polk cs, but I dont wanna hear that altering my speakers in any way voids my warranty. I dont see why that would.

It would, because you are doing just that.....altering your speakers. :rolleyes:

fatpiggy

This is a great thread, Really good find slinger, well done.Looks like taking the sides off the LSi's is an easy job.I didnt think the enclosures would be fully painted before they glued on the wood panels.But there you go..I stand corrected.Double sided tape now thats cheeky.

Maybe POLK should look at a line that is all black gloss as an option.These days with everything else in black gloss it would attract more buyers, Especially the LCD buyers looking for speakers to match thier nice black gloss entertainment units and black gloss componets that seem to out these days.Me I like timber as I live in a timber floored house, got timber everywhere, but for the modern town apartment black gloss looks great.

Fatpiggy

EndersShadow

I think the new LSi's are all gloss black but I could be wrong....the Blackstone line is as well

fatpiggy

Where are the Blackstone line pictured , I havnt seen those speaker yet.Have they released the new all black gloss LSi series and blackstones yet.I wouldnt mind having a look.

Fatpiggy

kawizx9r

fatpiggy wrote: »

Where are the Blackstone line pictured , I havnt seen those speaker yet.Have they released the new all black gloss LSi series and blackstones yet.I wouldnt mind having a look.

Fatpiggy

http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/tl/contest/index.php

EndersShadow

fatpiggy wrote: »

Where are the Blackstone line pictured , I havnt seen those speaker yet.Have they released the new all black gloss LSi series and blackstones yet.I wouldnt mind having a look.

Fatpiggy

There is a thread about the new LSi's w/ the new marketing brochures in it. They look awesome, but cost 3 legs....

fatpiggy

Man those Blackstones are the ugliest Darth Vader welders helmets I have ever seen.But I suppose a diffrent style might attract a diffrent buyers.The style looks very Asian like Japanese car designs.

Too much of a shock for me if this is how all future speakers are going to look.If all future speaker designs end up looking like these I'll go for wall cieling mounted and hide them altogether.

Fatpiggy

dorokusai

fatpiggy wrote: »

Maybe POLK should look at a line that is all black gloss as an option.These days with everything else in black gloss it would attract more buyers, Especially the LCD buyers looking for speakers to match thier nice black gloss entertainment units and black gloss componets that seem to out these days.Me I like timber as I live in a timber floored house, got timber everywhere, but for the modern town apartment black gloss looks great.

Fatpiggy

All the formal Polk Audio LSiM press releases and information was posted by me the day following the actual "press day" at HQ, just do a search. There are no options to do a full piano gloss version at this time but you never know.

I've seen versions of early production runs of dozens of models over the years, some of which are plain fugly. Bamboo, all aluminum, tiger eye maple, etc etc. Polk runs focus groups for requests and ideas and it didn't rank high on the list from what I've seen. They've even run focus groups on here and the new lineup was influenced by their very own membership from earlier groups. It's one of the few manufacturers that I've been affiliated with that actually use their forums and owner feedback to create modeling for future products. That's pretty cool.

In regards to your comment regarding the panel removal on older LSi. You can't just keep your old cabinets and revert back to them, then call them "mint". I guess it depends on morality but it's not something I would do.

Angelsfann02 - The GEN1 sides are usually easy to remove and do not void the warranty that I'm aware of but keep that in perspective. You can't use a chainsaw to get them off and not expect some questions. I'll double check with CS just out of curiosity, ok?

fatpiggy

Heres an older post I dont know if it applys to your LSi's, but they are saying it can be a nightmare depending on the glue used.

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20435

Fatpiggy

dorokusai

fatpiggy wrote: »

Man those Blackstones are the ugliest Darth Vader welders helmets I have ever seen.But I suppose a diffrent style might attract a diffrent buyers.The style looks very Asian like Japanese car designs.

Too much of a shock for me if this is how all future speakers are going to look.If all future speaker designs end up looking like these I'll go for wall cieling mounted and hide them altogether.

Fatpiggy

Well, beings you just overhauled an ancient pair of vintage RT12's....was there really any doubt that you would dislike them Peter?

dorokusai

fatpiggy wrote: »

Heres an older post I dont know if it applys to your LSi's, but they are saying it can be a nightmare depending on the glue used.

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20435

Fatpiggy

Yep, seen all of them man. Not every job turns out to be a piece of cake. I'm only going on personal experience. It's certainly a serious choice the owner has to make because there is no turning back for sure.

angelsfann02

9

dorokusai wrote: »

All the formal Polk Audio LSiM press releases and information was posted by me the day following the actual "press day" at HQ, just do a search. There are no options to do a full piano gloss version at this time but you never know.

I've seen versions of early production runs of dozens of models over the years, some of which are plain fugly. Bamboo, all aluminum, tiger eye maple, etc etc. Polk runs focus groups for requests and ideas and it didn't rank high on the list from what I've seen. They've even run focus groups on here and the new lineup was influenced by their very own membership from earlier groups. It's one of the few manufacturers that I've been affiliated with that actually use their forums and owner feedback to create modeling for future products. That's pretty cool.

In regards to your comment regarding the panel removal on older LSi. You can't just keep your old cabinets and revert back to them, then call them "mint". I guess it depends on morality but it's not something I would do.

Angelsfann02 - The sides are usually easy to remove and do not void the warranty that I'm aware of but keep that in perspective. You can't use a chainsaw to get them off and not expect some questions. I'll double check with CS just out of curiosity, ok?

Cool thanks.

fatpiggy

Dorokusai

PM sent mark check your email.

Fatpiggy

McLoki

So do you have Gen 1 or Gen 2 of the LSi's? (if you take off the grill on the front, does it look like the sides were wrapped over the front creating a pictureframe like effect or is the front smooth all the way to the drivers?)

You can see what I am talking about in this image. (This is a Gen 1 LSI)


If Gen 1 - The sides are held on by tape and the side panels will come off fairly easily. (just take your time and be careful)

If Gen 2 - The sides are glued on and I would not recommend trying it as the glue bond is stronger than the paint used on the sides.

Any questions, just ask,

Michael

angelsfann02

McLoki, my LSi's must be 2nd Generation. No Wrap around, just smooth all the way around. Guess they're staying on as I'm not trying to ruin my speakers! Hey who did your LSIC upgrade? What improvements did ya see?

McLoki

Click the link in my sig to be taken to my build threads (for both my LSi7's and LSiC).

There were improvements in clarity, bass response and percieved volume level. No more than it cost to perform the upgrade, I thought it was well worth it.

Michael