Are Polk LSi 15's recommended for HT?

Bababouey
Bababouey Posts: 129
edited February 2011 in Speakers
I have a pair of LSi 15's for sale and someone is interested but is 50/50 home theater and 2 channel.
He is unsure if the LSi15's are recommended for home theater.
Anyone give me some advise?
Thanks Glen
Post edited by Bababouey on
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited February 2011
    I have 4 LSi15s in my HT and think they work great for HT, and surround sound music.
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,346
    edited February 2011
    Really?????????

    They are "OK" I think polk makes matching surrounds and a matching center speaker as well for the LSi15's

    Someone will chime in if they do..
    Polk Audio SDA 2.3tl Fully Hot Rodded. 😎

    SVS SB16 X2

    Cary SLP-05/Ultimate Upgrade.
    Cary SA-500.1 ES Amps
    Cary DMS 800PV Network
    OPPO UDP 205/ModWright Modification
    VPI Scout TT / Dynavector 20x2
    Jolida JD9 Fully Modified

    VPI MW-1 Cyclone RCM

    MIT Shotgun 3 cables throughout / Except TT, and PC’s
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  • DMara
    DMara Posts: 1,434
    edited February 2011
    I'm using a couple of them as the left and right channels of my HT set. They've been marvelous! No complaint at all from me icon14.gif
    Gears shared to both living room & bedroom:
    Integra DHC-80.3 / Oppo BDP-105 / DirecTV HR24 DVR /APC S15blk PC-UPS
    Living room:
    LSiM707's / LSiM706c / LSiM702 F/X's / dual JL Audio Fathom F113's / Parasound Halo A51 / Panasonic 65" TC-P65VT50
    Bedroom:
    Usher Dancer Mini 2 Diamond DMD's / Logitech SB Touch / W4S STP-SE / W4S DAC-2 / W4S ST-1000 / Samsung 52" LN52B750
    Other rooms:
    Audioengine AP4's / GLOW Audio Sub One / audio-gd NFB-3 DAC / Audioengine N22
    audio-gd NFB-10.2 / Denon AH-D7000
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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,468
    edited February 2011
    I run them as surrounds, and they are perfect.
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited February 2011
    TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »
    Really?????????

    They are "OK" I think polk makes matching surrounds and a matching center speaker as well for the LSi15's

    Is that sarcasm?

    Anyway, Polk makes the LSiC for the center. I did have one, but I upgraded it to a PSB Synchrony One Center. It blended perfectly with the LSi15s but is a 3 times bigger center with a more enveloping sound.
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,204
    edited February 2011
    Bababouey wrote: »
    I have a pair of LSi 15's for sale and someone is interested but is 50/50 home theater and 2 channel.
    He is unsure if the LSi15's are recommended for home theater.
    Anyone give me some advise?
    Thanks Glen

    Yes , they are recommended for Home Theater use. They will do a fine job running double duty. I'm very picky with my speakers and I can say that the Lsi's are a good choice for double duty music and movies on a budget but what something more out of their music. Yes the Rti line is better suited for theater use as they are more dynamic but they lack the detail and clarity the Lsi's have.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • cheddar
    cheddar Posts: 2,390
    edited February 2011
    I've been using a full LSi system for HT for years. They have many different speaker choices in the line. LSi25s and LSi15s for towers, LSi7s and LSi9s for bookshelf, LSi F/Xs for dipole/bipole, and LSiC for center.

    I'd say they are 'overkill' for HT, not 'ok'. Paired with a beefy subwoofer and proper amplification, there just isn't any reason why an LSi system can't hang with and exceed lines designed specifically for HT use. The slam and impact is delivered by the subwoofer. And the same qualities that make the LSis great for music make them great for the midbass and higher frequencies in lossless blu-ray audio tracks.

    But that's the catch. In order to use the LSis effectively, you have to build an audiophile system (with appropriate amplification, etc.) around them. Unless you're willing to make the investment, there are more cost effective options like the Rti line out there.
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited February 2011
    cheddar wrote: »
    But that's the catch. In order to use the LSis effectively, you have to build an audiophile system (with appropriate amplification, etc.) around them. Unless you're willing to make the investment, there are more cost effective options like the Rti line out there.

    Exactly. Why have a sub par HT?

    I want as much detail from a movie soundtrack as from a music soundtrack. And I am not talking about explosions. I love watching a movie and hearing the wind slightly come up in the rear and the leaves slightly rustle, or a creak in the floor board, or any other small, subtle sound that was deliberately added in the movie for its effect. If all you want from a HT are booms then maybe LSi speakers are only okay. If you want the best from the BR lossless then the LSi speakers are a great step in that direction.

    Plus, my HT is also my SACD surround system so "HT" only speakers are unacceptable.
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited February 2011
    The LSI's strong point is music. For HT I like a cleaner more detailed speaker.
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  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited February 2011
    leroyjr1 wrote: »
    The LSI's strong point is music. For HT I like a cleaner more detailed speaker.

    So for music you prefer muddied and distorted?
    Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
    Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
    Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
    Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
    Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
    Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms)
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  • Bababouey
    Bababouey Posts: 129
    edited February 2011
    Thanks for the responses.
    Much appreciated.
    Glen
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  • megasat16
    megasat16 Posts: 3,521
    edited February 2011
    leroyjr1 wrote: »
    The LSI's strong point is music. For HT I like a cleaner more detailed speaker.


    ???????????????????????

    I think Mike got a valid question. If LSi strong point is music, what is the weakness you found that is less suitable for HT?

    Or you meant you prefer sharper tweeter of RTi (RTiA) lines than LSi?
    McLoki wrote: »
    So for music you prefer muddied and distorted?
    Trying out Different Audio Cables is a Religious Affair. You don't discuss it with anyone. :redface::biggrin:
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  • HHStuart
    HHStuart Posts: 263
    edited February 2011
    I recommend Lsi15's for both.
    Since you have 5.1 or better for surround sound for a decent HT, they also work great for multichannel SACD's.
    Front - Polk LSiM 705, Center - Polk LSiM 704c, Rear - Polk LSi 7
    Subwoofer - Epik Legend
    Receiver (as Preamp) - Sony STR-DA3400 ES
    Amplifier - Outlaw 7125
    Television - 58" Samsung Plasma PN58B860
    Blu Ray - OPPO BDP 83
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  • Jetmaker737
    Jetmaker737 Posts: 1,054
    edited February 2011
    I use LSi-15's for both and am very happy with the HT performance. But my system does around 80% music duty and I do my critical listening to music not HT. So if the guy is an HT fanatic he might have different standards.
    SystemLuxman L-590AXII Integrated Amplifier|KEF Reference 1 Loudspeakers|PS Audio Directream Jr|Sansui TU-9900 Tuner|TEAC A-6100 RtR|Nakamichi RX-202 Cassette
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  • cheddar
    cheddar Posts: 2,390
    edited February 2011
    Jetmaker737 wrote: »
    if the guy is an HT fanatic he might have different standards.

    For my 'HT' fanatic needs, I think the choice of subwoofer is more important than any subtle differences between the LSi and RTi lines. I would think 'critical' listening needs are similar for music as they are for HT. A properly amped pair of 15s has plenty of HT punch in the mid bass and higher frequencies, it just adds the musical strengths as well. IMHO.
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited February 2011
    cheddar wrote: »
    For my 'HT' fanatic needs, I think the choice of subwoofer is more important than any subtle differences between the LSi and RTi lines. I would think 'critical' listening needs are similar for music as they are for HT. A properly amped pair of 15s has plenty of HT punch in the mid bass and higher frequencies, it just adds the musical strengths as well. IMHO.


    It's all about preference.
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  • cheddar
    cheddar Posts: 2,390
    edited February 2011
    leroyjr1 wrote: »
    It's all about preference.

    Of course it is. Just never heard before that speakers that are good for music lack detail. Usually it's about removing veils and hearing things you've never heard before. So it may be just my preference, but I prefer the LSi 15s for the detail they reveal in both music and blu-ray lossless tracks. They have a good bass kick, tight and agile when amplified well. They are just a little weak on the lowest of the LFE level frequencies that a good HT track demands. I'd only describe them as not clean and detailed when running off an underpowered AVR.
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited February 2011
    leroyjr1 wrote: »
    The LSI's strong point is music. For HT I like a cleaner more detailed speaker.

    Music speakers can do HT well, but HT speakers can't do Music well in
    my opinion.
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited February 2011
    If your speakers excel at music, they will be just fine for HT as well. Make sure you have a sub for the real low stuff & you are all set.
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
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