Should I sell my Lsi9's for RTI-A7's

Gottaheardat

Ok, have a thought stirring around in my head and need some feed back. As you can see I have the LSi9's and LSiC that I've had for 8 years and love them. Also have the mega beast PSW1200 sub. Had that thing about 10 years. What would I lose or gain by selling the LSi9's and LSiC for the RTI-A7 and CSI - A6? I'm thinking more mid bass punch with less detail in the treble department. My receiver is a JVC RX D702.

Sherardp

Get a pair of LSi15's and use the 9's as rear surrounds. Get rid of the JVC and get a nice Pio receiver with preouts and an amp. That JVC is just not capable of making those 9's sound there best. Regardless of what you get, I would recommend an amp.

jimmydep

Some people would say you have the perfect set-up. I think you'd be taking a step backwards by switching to the RTI's. If anything I'd think about getting a high quality power amp with a new receiver.

mdaudioguy

^^^^^
+100 to that. If that's all you have pushing those 9s, then you ain't heard 'em yet.
Do as Sheradp suggests and get a receiver with pre-outs and an amp (plenty of threads on that around here lately...), and you'll think you DID get new speakers!

And... Welcome to Club Polk!

Gottaheardat

So I'm getting the feeling my receiver needs to go back into the Cracker Jack box it came in. haha!! For real the 9's really do sound good even with that receiver so I can't imagine how they will sound with a separate amp. Next question, is there one receiver that can do the job for under $800 without me buying a separate amp?

leroyjr1

Gottaheardat wrote: »

So I'm getting the feeling my receiver needs to go back into the Cracker Jack box it came in. haha!! For real the 9's really do sound good even with that receiver so I can't imagine how they will sound with a separate amp. Next question, is there one receiver that can do the job for under $800 without me buying a separate amp?

4 ohm speakers really need an external amp to make them shine. Spend the $800 on a Pioneer elite receiver and budget for a amp in the future. A buddy of mine just bought a Pioneer sc-25 open box from best buy yesterday for $500. Check your local BB and see if they have any at that price.

BluBitRates

Buy a cheap receiver that passes sound through hdmi (Think $325) and get a emotiva xpa-3. Cant believe you are running those speakers with that jvc!lol

F1nut

A cheap AVR and a cheap amp for LSi's = fail.

Toolfan66

BluBitRates wrote: »

Buy a cheap receiver that passes sound through hdmi (Think $325) and get a emotiva xpa-3. Cant believe you are running those speakers with that jvc!lol

Not!!!!

F1nut wrote: »

A cheap AVR and a cheap amp for LSi's = fail.

Agreed!!!!

polkfarmboy

F1nut wrote: »

A cheap AVR and a cheap amp for LSi's = fail.

Nope it does not

Jetmaker737

Gottaheardat wrote: »

Ok, have a thought stirring around in my head and need some feed back. As you can see I have the LSi9's and LSiC that I've had for 8 years and love them. Also have the mega beast PSW1200 sub. Had that thing about 10 years. What would I lose or gain by selling the LSi9's and LSiC for the RTI-A7 and CSI - A6? I'm thinking more mid bass punch with less detail in the treble department. My receiver is a JVC RX D702.

If you're willing to spend $1000- $2000 in the next year or two then get a good quality AVR with pre-outs then plunk down for a separate amp. Pioneer, Onkyo, or Denon are good names for AVR's. You can get away with the AVR for awhile but the amp will really do the speakers justice. I've been down that path myself with my LSi's. I'd really recommend getting the AVR and amp together instead of waiting. Lot's of research for you to do for both AVR's and amps, but that's half the fun!

polkfarmboy

Keiko wrote: »

Fail!

Dont you have a cheap avr and amp that your happy with ?

My point is that for HT you can pay $500 for an sc receiver and a cheap 3 channel amp with plenty of power for the front 3 and enjoy true hd audio

Its all getting a bit silly round here these days

leroyjr1

polkfarmboy wrote: »

Dont you have a cheap avr and amp that your happy with ?

My point is that for HT you can pay $500 for an sc receiver and a cheap 3 channel amp with plenty of power for the front 3 and enjoy true hd audio

Its all getting a bit silly round here these days

I wouldn't call the pioneer sc series cheap, it retail for $1600+.

polkfarmboy

I should have been more expansive like jesse lol .... I was talking on the used market

leroyjr1

polkfarmboy wrote: »

I should have been more expansive like jesse lol .... I was talking on the used market

There's a difference between a cheap price and cheaply made. I think he was referring to cheaply made.

mdaudioguy

leroyjr1 wrote: »

4 ohm speakers really need an external amp to make them shine. Spend the $800 on a Pioneer elite receiver and budget for a amp in the future. A buddy of mine just bought a Pioneer sc-25 open box from best buy yesterday for $500. Check your local BB and see if they have any at that price.

Best Buys often have some fantastic deals on open box and clearance stuff, but you have to be patient and persistent. There are at least 5 within an hour of me, and I've been known to check all of them in an afternoon. But, you have to do your homework, because often the initial markdown is a measly 10%, which is probably not better than the sale prices. Talk to the sales people, too. Some of them are very helpful and know the inventory well. I've occasionally found deals on items that weren't even on display.

If you look hard, I bet you could eventually find an amp AND AVR within your budget (forgoing the aforementioned "inexpensive" brand, which has become an easy cop-out for many people, IMO). Deals are out there. Good luck.

cnh

You'd be surprised at the quality bass LSI-9s can put out when pushed by a nice, 4 ohm capable, power amp!

I think your set up is fine. But a JVC AVR is NOT cutting it on those speakers.

Pick up the Pioneer Elite as a pre/pro...and a 2 or 3 channel power amp--YOU WILL BE AMAZED at what you ALREADY have there!!

cnh

bluecomet

Totally agree. I would get a used Pioneer, Yamaha or Onkyo AVR that was on the higher end of what they offer. Buying one that is a couple of years old, you will get good bang for your buck. I miss my old Lsi 9's they were very impressive paired with a high powered Carver or old Yamaha MX1000 amp that I used to make them sing. You will need a dedicated amp to make the Lsi 9's break a sweat. The Lsi 9's can dip below 4 ohms. Find a Quality amp and the forget the RTi-A7's. Trust me.

mantis

I like the idea of buying a last years model Pioneer Elite SC-05 or SC-07 or SC-25 or SC-27. These receivers can be had between 600-1200 tops used. They are able to drive a full LSi system without an amp. But the LSi's are a bit hard to drive so it's not a bad idea down the road to pick up a nice 5 or 7 channel amp of good quality.

This way you can listen to your speakers much better then you are now and then when you need more power , then get an amp. I think you will be surprised on how well the Elite SC model receivers handle 4 ohm loads , I was.

tonyb

I'm going to have to make a list of everyone driving LSI's with receivers so I know never to buy speakers from them.

Take the advice,get an amp for the 9's, even if you went with RTI 7 or 9, you still won't hear their potential on a receiver. If a receiver is what you want to stick with alone,hit up the monitor line or below the rti7's.

leroyjr1

tonyb wrote: »

I'm going to have to make a list of everyone driving LSI's with receivers so I know never to buy speakers from them.

Take the advice,get an amp for the 9's, even if you went with RTI 7 or 9, you still won't hear their potential on a receiver. If a receiver is what you want to stick with alone,hit up the monitor line or below the rti7's.

You have to be smart about it. Low volumes are ok without any damage to speakers or receiver.

mantis

tonyb wrote: »

I'm going to have to make a list of everyone driving LSI's with receivers so I know never to buy speakers from them.

Take the advice,get an amp for the 9's, even if you went with RTI 7 or 9, you still won't hear their potential on a receiver. If a receiver is what you want to stick with alone,hit up the monitor line or below the rti7's.

There are plenty of receivers that can drive the LSi's without external power amps.

B&K
Rotel
Anthem
NAD
McIntosh
Sunfire
Pioneer Elite ICE SC models
Integra
Arcam
Cambridge Audio
Just a few off the top of my head. What I'll never understand is why people go and buy very nice speakers and don't power them correctly.

tonyb

Yes I know Dan, but unfortunately those are never on the list of the ones complaining about SQ. Usually it's the low to midline avr's with a week power supply thats the problem.

rdb2001

I had a friend that recently got a nice package deal on rtia9, csia6 and fxia6 from sound distributors. It was around your budget. You have to call them to get that pricing though. Just an FYI.

Audioquest

Pick up a used Onkyo Integra DHC 9.9 and a 5 channel power amp like a Rotel or even Emotiva or something to get you going, which should fit close to the $2000 budget. That way you can always change amp or processor when it can be afforded or the processor when formats change yet again.

Crazyivan

http://www.jr.com/pioneer/pe/PIO_VSX1120K/
would fit your needs nicely and has the pre-outs to add an amp later.
I have this receiver and it is impressive. it's the same as the elite model with out the power trigger.

Gottaheardat

Thanks for the advice everyone. I'm going to keep the 9's and research what I want to buy to power them correctly. thanks again.

bluecomet

Glad to hear it. Hit them with some real power and then decide if the 9's are for you. I think you will like what you hear.

txcoastal1

Just a few off the top of my head. What I'll never understand is why people go and buy very nice speakers and don't power them correctly.[/QUOTE]

...because some of us were misinformed when purchasing...my dealer let me walk out w/pioneer 1020 and LSI25's that was on Friday by Monday between CP and research I sold 1020 and was shopping again

Found out later that I was there first Polk buyer and they had not been briefed on the product yet.

cfrizz

I don't think it matters if they were briefed on the product or not. They just want to make a sale, preferrably of the most expensive gear they can. If it turns out that the receiver can't handle powering the speakers...oh well.

They are not going to want you walking out without anything since most don't have the gear to properly showcase the LSI's anyway, and if they did, once you saw what it would cost, you would walk out anyway.

Gulfstrings

Here ya go. This will lite those speakers up and allow you plenty of time to think of more ways to spend your dough.

http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=1NAT747