Any comparable speakers to Polk LSI9's? Same or Lower price range?

Sean_Heins

Considering new speakers. Polk LSI9's, maybe Def-Tech 40's, or any other suggestions? Does anyone know where I could find a good deal on some Audiophile grade speakers? Would like to spend $700 or less. I will listen before purchasing, just looking for some suggestions.

B Run

A few questions that will help everyone help you....Are they for a 2 channel system only? Do they have to be bookshelf speakers? What are you using to power them? How big is your room? Do you have a sub? Assuming they're for music, what kind of sound are you looking for? This helps everyone narrow it down a lot and find the perfect ones for you.

cnh

Welcome to Club Polk!

LSi-9s can be had for less than 700 on Polk's ebay site above!

Used Totem Rainmakers, maybe 700?

KEF Q300s

Focal Chorus 706V

Epos Epic 1 or 2 depending on whether you can find the 2 for 700 or not?

Dali Concept 2 (or Ikon bookshelves if you can get a SALE price)

Others can chime in (personally I don't like B&Ws 685b but you might want to take a listen)

cnh

polkfarmboy

You can get some used martin logan source for $700 ?

heiney9

I believe the OP is asking partly because of this thread. This might give more context

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?131317-Are-Polk-LSI9-s-and-Denon-AVR3312CI-a-good-match

H9

cnh

heiney9 wrote: »

I believe the OP is asking partly because of this thread. This might give more context

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?131317-Are-Polk-LSI9-s-and-Denon-AVR3312CI-a-good-match

H9

OK, you want to power this with the Denon only.

How about some Energy RC-10s (probably get them for less than 300 a pair if you can find some). Not quite at the level of LSi-9s or some of the others I list but for 300 or less it's hard to find much "better"!

Or in your price range the KEF's are 8 ohms loads, B&Ws are 8 ohms, Focals are 8 ohms

cnh

cnh

heiney9 wrote: »

I believe the OP is asking partly because of this thread. This might give more context

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?131317-Are-Polk-LSI9-s-and-Denon-AVR3312CI-a-good-match

H9

OK, you want to power this with the Denon only.

How about some Energy RC-10s (probably get them for less than 300 a pair if you can find some). Not quite at the level of LSi-9s or some of the others I list but for 300 or less it's hard to find much "better"!

Or in your price range the KEF's are 8 ohms loads, B&Ws are 8 ohms, Focals are 8 ohms, Dali Concept 2 are 8 ohms.

cnh

Lietuvis91

If you're looking for a laid back sound "like" the lsi9s then I would look at Paradigm studio 20s. Everything about those speakers should fit your bill. They can be had under $700 and are 8ohms so you can run them off your avr.

Sean_Heins

I listen to vinyl often (Music Hall MMf5) in stereo, I also plug in the Ipod occasionally. I would like to use the speakers as fronts in a 5.1 surround set up though that I will mainly watch movies and play some Call of Duty on PS3 when not listening in stereo. They don't have to be bookshelfs- I just thought they would be more affordable. I have a Polk DSW Pro500 sub already.

Found a good deal on a Denon AVR3312CI that I will probably use to power everything... eventually I'll add a separate 2 channel. Someone recommended Adcom 455 to me. I like the price but I want the system to be as crisp and clear as possible and am not sure if that will be the best option? I'm more concerned with what fronts to select at the moment.

Room is open layout probably around 300 sq ft. Ilisten to virtually every kind of music- rap, rock, jazz, etc... Just to name a few albums I've been enjoying lately- Decemberists, Buena Vista Social Club live at Carn. Hall, Kanye West, Steely Dan, Talking heads, Justice. I like tight, clear, punchy sound but still want the warmth and natural sound especially for live albums like Buena Vista Social Club. From what I have read and heard the LSI9's will be a good match but I am open to suggestions, especially if I can power them with a receiver like the Denon I mentioned earlier @ 105 watts.

Sean_Heins

Thanks for all the tips guys, especially the ones I don't need an additional amp for. It's a huge help! I need to go listen to some of thes now...

pietro944

Sean_Heins wrote: »

Thanks for all the tips guys, especially the ones I don't need an additional amp for. It's a huge help! I need to go listen to some of thes now...

If you're looking to drive 8ohm speakers,I would back off from putting $$$ in power amps/recv'r and go for a Tube pre-amp or a Yaqin Tube Buffer,like I have.Imho,the pre-amp has much more to do with shaping the sound characteristics than the amplifier...... tubes rule,my friend....peter

Lietuvis91

Sean_Heins wrote: »

Room is open layout probably around 300 sq ft. Ilisten to virtually every kind of music- rap, rock, jazz, etc... Just to name a few albums I've been enjoying lately- Decemberists, Buena Vista Social Club live at Carn. Hall, Kanye West, Steely Dan, Talking heads, Justice. I like tight, clear, punchy sound but still want the warmth and natural sound especially for live albums like Buena Vista Social Club. From what I have read and heard the LSI9's will be a good match but I am open to suggestions, especially if I can power them with a receiver like the Denon I mentioned earlier @ 105 watts.

Quality tightness and punchyness will only come from lsi9s (or any other speaker) when you feed them the "right" amount of power, and to get lsi9s "right" requires good amplification. I personally think my parasound hca 1000a BARELY gets it done with my LSI9s. So given the fact that you are not going to run an amp for a while, I would stay away from lsi speakers. Lsi speakers are great ONLY when you have the right gear to run them, and running a 5.1 ch lsi setup can get expensive QUICK. You're obviously on a budget, so get speakers that will go well with your existing sub and avr choice, without breaking the bank.

There are just SO many options out there, go listen/play and I'm sure you will find something that will run off your avr and sound great doing it. Your room isn't huge either, so you don't need a huge speaker, you just need a quality one

brianle

How about a pair of used Ascend Acoustic Sierra 1 ?

rooftop59

I second lsi7s. 6 ohm and can be driven well by a beefier receiver.

Sean_Heins

anonymouse wrote: »

Consider LSi7s. They are much easier to drive than LSi9s, and do not scream for crossover mods like LSi9s do. Stock 9s do need a lot of power, but modded 9s in my experience do not. Even a modest amp can drive modded 9s quite well.

Can you tell me more about the modded 9's? What would that entail and would it change any sound qualities? I'm a total newb!

Sean_Heins

I would consider the 7's but won't I loose some of the depth and punch that the 9's put out?

gdpeck

Sean_Heins wrote: »

I would consider the 7's but won't I loose some of the depth and punch that the 9's put out?

I think so. I've only listened to the 7s briefly and I liked them a lot, but I would want a subwoofer with them for music listening. I don't feel that way about my LSi9s at all. Even though I have a sub for my LSi9 system, I don't believe it is necessary for music.

markmarc

The LSi7's don't have the bottom end detail of the 9's. But as has been pointed out, they are easier to drive. Two things to consider is matching up with rear and center channel speakers. That can be a bit of a mess. Also, you haven't mentioned room size.

I have the Totem Rainmakers in a 2.1 HT setup in a 13x18 room and I couldn't be happier.

rooftop59

Sean_Heins wrote: »

I would consider the 7's but won't I loose some of the depth and punch that the 9's put out?

If you plan to run them full range, you will most likely get lower extension and upper bass/mid-bass punch with the 9s. But you have bought a dsw500, which if used in conjunction with the 7s should be nice. If you plan to listen to music in pure two channel, it just depends on how much bass you want. Th e7s are really dynamic, and have good punch and extension down into the low 50s. I rarely want more bass when using them in my office with a NAD 317, but when I had them in my main dual ht and music setup, I always used them with a sub. There are folks on the forum who actually prefer the 7s to the 9s for pure 2 channel (troyd and russman are two exmaples if I'm not mistaken). Here is good thread to get a feel for the differences:

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?129656-Thinking-hard-about-LSi7-s-%28or-9-s%29&highlight=lsi+rick88

heiney9

I have been impressed with the few EPOS speakers I have heard. The little mini-monitor EPOS ESL-3 gives the LSi 7 a run for it's money

The new Epic series is getting nice praise

http://www.epos-acoustics.com/products/epic-2/

H9