Lsi15 amp

Brasiliaflyer
Brasiliaflyer Posts: 67
edited December 2011 in Speakers
I appreciate the help and suggestions I have received so far from everyone on the fourm! I just bought some LSI15's, and traded them out with my Klipsch RF-82's.
I am looking for a separate amp to drive the Lsi's. Everyone has the consensus that more power is always better, and that more power will open them up.
The question I have is: where is the point of diminishing returns? Is paying double for 350 watts going to be twice as good as 200 watts, or 180 watts? For a newbie like me, is there that much difference?
I want them to sound good, and I want to be impressed by them. Do I need 300+ watts to do that, or will I be impressed by a good quality amp that puts out 200 watts at 4 ohms?
Maybe I already know the answer, but I'd like some input on the issue.
Thanks everyone!
Post edited by Brasiliaflyer on
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Comments

  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited December 2011
    Welcome to CP, and congrats on the awesome speakers!:biggrin:
    Brasiliaflyer wrote: »
    ...Everyone has the consensus that more power is always better...

    This is not true. It's about quality of watts more so than quantity of watts.
    Do I need 300+ watts to do that...

    No. Again, quality over quantity.


    Give us a budget, and we can make some good bang-for-your-buck suggestions.
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • Brasiliaflyer
    Brasiliaflyer Posts: 67
    edited December 2011
    Not opposed to audiogon or ebay. Seen several Rotel, B&K, Adcom (had one once and didn't like it) under $500 in the lower wattages. Heard good things about Emotiva. I know their stuff is on sale right now.
    Seen a few multichannel amps from the "audiophile" brands in the $500 ish range, again with under 200 watts at 4 ohms.
    Parasound seems to be out of the price range except for the really old stuff.
    I guess the price range would be under $500 for two channel, $500-700 multichannel.
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  • nhhiep
    nhhiep Posts: 877
    edited December 2011
    just going from the RF82 to Lsi, you will need a lot more power to get the same volume. My rule of thumb is AMP's WPC = 1/2 speaker's max Watt. For example, right now, I am using a HK Citation 5.1 with 300 WPC to Rti12s, which is 500W max.

    keep checking audiogon , I bought that HK AMP from there a few weeks ago for $360 shipped. and I am sure I can easily sell it back for at least 500 on Ebay because I previously bid the HK Signature 1.5, which just 200WPC and lost at $500.
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited December 2011
    Brasiliaflyer wrote: »
    Parasound seems to be out of the price range except for the really old stuff.
    I guess the price range would be under $500 for two channel, $500-700 multichannel.

    You can find a Parasound HCA-1500A for under 500. It's a great Class A/AB design. 205 watts per channel into 8 ohms, 315 into 4 ohms. It's a pretty high current design at 60 amps per channel peak.

    http://www.parasound.com/vintage/hca1500a.php

    It's a special Parasound amp, and it'll drive those 15's nicely.:wink:
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited December 2011
    nhhiep wrote: »
    My rule of thumb is AMP's WPC = 1/2 speaker's max Watt. For example, right now, I am using a HK Citation 5.1 with 300 WPC to Rti12s, which is 500W max.

    I see no possible application for this rule.
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • txcoastal1
    txcoastal1 Posts: 13,336
    edited December 2011
    falconcry72 wrote: »
    I see no possible application for this rule.

    I 2nd that---I have had great listening sessions with low watt amps ex. Dynaudio Contour S3.4 (an inefficient 86db...270watt) speaker with a 50x50 integrated tube.....quality vs quantity also unless you are one that demands ear bleeding volumns
    2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
    Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
    Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
    Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC

    erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a
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