Lsi15 Towers still good speakers?

Fast_Fox

I'm looking into buying a pair of used Lsi15 Tower speakers tomorrow for $550 out the door and I was curious if these are still a great speaker and would they be a major upgrade from Monitor70's?

I currently have this setup:
-Monitor70's as fronts
-CS2 center channel
-Monitor 60's for surrounds
-Energy EF-500 for rear surround backs
-HSU Research STF-1 subwoofer

I'm powering all of this with a Pioneer VSX-1121-k receiver...from research I've learned that this receiver probably couldn't handle the LSi15 Towers, so I thought about getting a separate amplifier to power them at 4ohm's. Would I be better off getting a 2-channel amp, such as Adcom's GFA-555 or a multi-channel amplifier (5 or 7) such as Adcom's GFA-7500 or Emotiva UPA-5/UPA-7?

Any help would be great, thanks!

Geoff4rfc

Fast_Fox wrote: »

I'm looking into buying a pair of used Lsi15 Tower speakers tomorrow for $550 out the door and I was curious if these are still a great speaker and would they be a major upgrade from Monitor70's?

They should be. My RTiA9's were a huge upgrade over my M70's and I'm told the LSi's would be an upgrade over my A9's.

Welcome aboard. :cool:

hertz9753

Your receiver doesn't have pre outs. You will need them to connect to a seperate amp.

PrazVT

Yeah it does.

hertz9753

Yes it does. Thank you for your post.:redface:

BeefJerky

PrazVT wrote: »

Yeah it does.

PrazVT seems to be correct on this. Pioneer does seem to have some contradicting information, though. If you look at the product specs here (under connectivity):
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Home/AV-Receivers/Pioneer+Receivers/VSX-1121-K
it says it only has a sub output, however, the picture of the back of the unit on the same page shows pre-outs. In addition, both the manual and product sheet show that there are 9.2 pre-outs.

Fast_Fox

Yeah it definitely has pre outs but I'll look over the manual for more information...Is the LSi15 a good buy at $550? I'm going to get them later today and I'm leaning toward getting them but if they're outdated, then I'll save my money up for a better tower.

Also any recommendations on a good amplifier? Thanks!

hochpt21

Good buy depends on if you like them or not. Hopefully, you get the chance to hear them. And if you do like them...then yes $550 is a great buy in the current market.

As far as outdated, they are not Polk's most current model, but they are not outdated. They came out in '02 and are now just selling the end of the new stock.

PSOVLSK

I love my 15's and wouldn't sell them for $550.

As far as the amp goes, I'd say you would be better off going with a 5-channel amp, but it would definitely work to get a two channel and let the AVR power the rest.

Enjoy the speakers, but don't crank them up too much before you get an amp. And in all honesty, be prepared to be underwhelmed by them powered by the AVR. You might be a little disappointed in your purchase until you get an amp behind them.

Fast_Fox

Just curious in terms of amplifiers is the Adcom GFA-555 a good amplifier to run the LSi15's? I won an auction for one on eBay for $300. It's rated for 200watts at 8ohms and 325watts at 4ohms.

Thanks again!

Tankman

Nice pickup!That Adcom will drive them well.

Fast_Fox

Great I should have the LSi15's in the next few hours, however my amp won't get here until next week sometime...will definitely keep you guys updated!

I plan on selling my monitor70's now....any idea how much I should sell them for? They're only about a month old and in great condition. Thanks again!

hochpt21

Check out Amazon, Newegg and Ebay to get a feel for the value.

michael1947

Where are you buying LSI-15's for $550.00 and welcome.

Fast_Fox

Just got the Lsi15's! Look great! Have some minor light scratches on the top, but other than that they look great!

Fast_Fox

Locally in Utah...

Tankman

Fast-Fox..you made some great pickup's there!That Adcom for 3 bills and them Lsi-15's for 550,Good match i say.I think you will like it a like.I have the M70's and upgraded for them LSi-15's too it was a Hugh Improvement!

Fast_Fox

Thanks I cannot wait to test them out...unfortunately it won't be until next week when the adcom comes in but I'll keep everyone posted! Thank you for the information and help everyone, I really do appreciate it.

One last thing....to connect the amplifier to my Pioneer receiver do I just use basic Red/White RCA cables? Is it better to use a better brand/higher quality RCA or will basic ones work just fine? Thanks!

Fast_Fox

Another question will the CS2 be fine as my center channel now that I have the LSi15's? What would the advantage being in upgrading from my CS2 to say a LSiC?

thanks again!

Tankman

Yes you can use the basic cables to start with but i would upgrade too some better ones.Bro, i think you are really going too like the power of that Adcom with them LSi-15's!I got some great tips from the Old Timers in here.I was going to upgrade too a other brand of speaker but someone posted a link too ASD in here who was running them New at 934.15 with the free shipping too so i jump on it,so glad i did.Your LSi-15's are even a better deal then what i got mine for.Paying $300.00 for that Adcom amp is about as good as it gets for an amp like that.I am using the CS1 for now as my center and have too say its ok..but it doesn't voice match with the LSi's.I will upgrade too the LSiC within the next few weeks,and add a three channel amp for my HT set-up.I am using Emo monoblocks for my 2.1 set-up.But going with the LSiC would be better for HT
because of the Voice matching across the 3 fronts,and let your AVR drive the surrounds it should do a good job of it since it won't be powering the front main's.

cnh

Fast_Fox wrote: »

Just curious in terms of amplifiers is the Adcom GFA-555 a good amplifier to run the LSi15's? I won an auction for one on eBay for $300. It's rated for 200watts at 8ohms and 325watts at 4ohms.

Thanks again!

A very good pairing, in fact. The Adcom is a little "forward" sounding which is "exactly" what those LSi-15s need, IMO! You'll be happy and for 300 smackers you can't do much better.

Enjoy!

cnh

mole'

look into the EMO amps.


my LSi speakers sounded great with the XPA amps. xpa2 or 3 will be good. the 3 will work good for when you get a LSiC

Fast_Fox

Got the Adcom GFA-555 today! Hooked everything up and it sounds amazing! Love it!

Does it make sense for my surrounds and center channel speaker to sound better now that my receiver is handling them alone without my fronts? It seemed like they sounded leaps and bounds better with my Lsi15's being powered by a separate amp.

Anyway love the new speakers! I'll try to post some pictures! Thanks again everyone for the advice!

tonyb

the reason the surrounds sound better with the LSI's on the amp is because the receiver now has more power for the surrounds without having to worry about the fronts. Reserve power, it's the bomb.:cheesygrin:

Tankman

Fast_Fox,...I knew you would like that set up alot!Like Tonyb said, may the power of the watts be with you!Them LSi-15's let you know real quick how much you have be missing from your system and with that Adcom amp..Oh Boy!.Them CD's are like..all that sound that has been hidden has now come too life!.

acmf74

Congrats and nice combo!

Fast_Fox

My new speakers and amp hooked up. Love them so far!

tonyb

Looks nice, gonna throw out a suggestion on that center. Maybe get it on a stand or at least put something under the front to point it towards your head in the listening position. Also play around with the toe in on those LSI's, seems a tad extreme to me but it's hard to figure where your sitting by the pics.

Fast_Fox

I actually did get a stand for the CS2...just waiting on it now.

What do you mean by "play around with the toe" on the LSI's? I'm about 7-8ft away from the LSI's on LP, but in the picture it was only about 3ft or so.

tonyb

Good man on the stand for the center. By toe in, I mean the angle at which the speakers are facing. Seems like alot to me just off the cuff given the pic. The front speakers angle, if you drew a line, should intersect at your listening position. This of coarse is not written in stone as each room varys along with taste but it's a good placement to start with.

leftwinger57

my 555 also cost $300 w/ shipping thrown in from Audio Classics.It's a quiet amp w/ no thumps when turned on or off. One thing I did notice about your stack I think I would reverse the set up.My amp doesn't get even warm and is heavier than my Yamaha RX-V665 which needs some room to breathe.You did very well w/ that set you got,good luck.