LSi15s or LSi9s?

Mazeroth

Price is no object here. I will be doing 80% music listening with the remaining 20% for movies and playing XBox. Only doing a 5.1 setup for my room isn't really large enough for 7.1 and I don't think it's worth it. Will be powering them off an Outlaw Audio 950/7100 combo.

I listen to 70% rock music, 20% heavy metal, and 10% classical. Would I be better off getting LSi15s for my fronts, or LSi9s? I'm pretty much set on 9s for my rears and was set on getting LSi15s for my fronts, but some people were saying I'd get better mids and tighter bass from the 9s. I will more than likely be running an SVS 25-31 PC+ subwoofer as well to handle the really deep bass. Seeing as the Outlaw 7100 is a 7-channel amp I was thinking of running 2 channels per amp to each LSi15 if I get the 15s. I channel for the highs and one for the 8" woofer. I'm sure the top is rated at 8ohms and so is the 8" woofer, combined they yield a 4-ohm load. If I do bi-amp them, they'll get 100 watts RMS each instead of 165 watts combined running the amp at 4 ohms for the one channel.

ANY and ALL suggestions are welcome! Even if you think I should get 4 LSi15s, SPEAK UP! I really don't think the LSi25s are worth the extra money, but if you do, TELL ME! I may be going to audition some next week, but it's a 4 hour drive Like I said, price is of no matter here. I am SET on the LSis, so please only give comments on those speakers.

THANKS EVERYONE!

organ

If possible, find a dealer with a good demo room and listen to both models. I haven't heard the LSi15 but own the 9's and I hear them a little differently than ATCVenom. To him the speakers lacked presence and physical weight. On my previous amp/pre combo I felt their "weight" was a little too powerful and any more would have made them sound "boomy". Changing the pre amp to the ASL was better because it brougt the upper bass to life and it matched the weight of the lows. The lows went even deeper this time but it was a bigger improvemet over the NAD C160. When I changed the amp to the Dynakit, I lost some low end extension the NAD provided but to my ears, the weight and presence is now perfect.
That's why it's better to listen to both because the LSi are very sensitive and you WILL hear the sound change with different equipments. Find out which model sounds better with your amp.

Maurice

pjdami

I had the LSi 9 in my rig for about 3 months. Then I got the LSi 15's. I love them both, but the LSi 15 takes the cake for me. Bigger speaker = bigger sound even though the LSi 9 is no slouch. The LSi 15s will not disappoint at all. These are some serious speakers to contend with for the money. You really can't go wrong eihter way but the 15s to me offer taller soundstage and are not as finicky as the LSi 9 with placement.

My opinion only of course!

PJ

dorokusai

I am a small speaker man, LSi9 + subwoofer.

Bookshelves make my nether region itch with excitement, floorstanders just put me to sleep.

jimlb

I have heard both the LSI 15's and the 9's in the store with a high end receiver. The LSi 9's bass were impressive for their size but I heard deeper more accurate bass from the 15's as well as a clearer midrange. I don't believe it was close. Now I have a very finicky ear running a Musical Fidelity A300 integrated amp and very high end Harmonic Tech cables. This reminds me of the time I compared Joseph Audio Rm22's floor standing vs Dynaudio's $2300 bookshelf. So they are about the same price. The Dynaudio was more dynamic and had more bass but it seemed the bass was not distinct enough or separated enough from the midrange so I preferred the Joseph's for that reason. Seemed more accurate. So in my opinion the 15's are a more accurate speaker which could still benefit from a subwoofer. By the way I own the 15's and I believe this comparison is even more critical if you are listening mostly to music.

I do need to point out one more thing though. When auditioning the two speakers, I was not able to hear the LSI 9's on stands as they should be played. They were on bookshelf's.

Tour2ma

Originally posted by dorokusai
LSi9 + subwoofer.

If you're going with an SVS why spend the extra coin of the 15's?

Just my $0.02...

chunwangnyc

Agree with Tour2ma...

Yashu

The 9s are going to be less sensitive to placement. The 15s, with their side firing woofers, you have to be more careful where you put them.

I also think the 9s are better looking. They sure are nice looking with the cherry wood exterior.

I'll bet the 9s offer plenty of impact with a powerful amp. They are hungry speakers and will probably give you most of what the 15s offer, but with less hastle. You also have a sub, so the sub woofers in the 15s become even less useful for you.

zombie boy 2000

Well... after 4 years, I can't wait any longer. The suspense is killing me. Which did you decide to go with Maz?:D

engtaz

Dang were are sure looking at dated material.

polkatese

The art of digging up old posts, and get people to response. classic.

Yashu

Holy crap, I didn't even catch that... I saw the thread was up at the top so I made a comment... I wonder how it was dug up in the first place.

engtaz

chunwangnyc grabbed a bunch of LSi15s or LSi9s threads

Monster Jam

I'll add my 2 cents in another 4 years.

Mazeroth

I did a search for my name and saw this guy came back up. I went with the LSi15s but ended up selling them after a year or so. I got hooked on building my own speakers and after my first pair of line arrays there was no reason to keep the LSi15s around.

This topic is now closed!