Polk LSi 9's vs B&W CM5's Which would you Choose?

AVTONY2510
AVTONY2510 Posts: 31
edited August 2012 in Speakers
I'm Starting a 2 ch. Stereo System Only & was Wondering
which Speakers would Sound Better, Polk LSi 9 or B&W CM5?

Also which Integrated Amp. or Pre/Amp Combo would Sound
Best with the above Speakers?
Post edited by AVTONY2510 on
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Comments

  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited June 2012
    Depends on personal taste. The lsi9 is more laid back while the cm5 is on the brighter side. I haven't heard the cm5's but I have heard the cm9 towers and would take that sound over the lsi's.
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  • Kevinvb11
    Kevinvb11 Posts: 105
    edited June 2012
    My Lsi 7's were truly great for two channel...The LSi9 up front were realy good, but didn't have the same feel to them. This said, I still have the 9s upfront with the 7s for back fill...only for spacing purposes..

    Kevin
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  • mystik610
    mystik610 Posts: 699
    edited June 2012
    Buy the Lsi9's. Mod them. Win.

    edit: It really does come down to personal preference. Musically, I'm a fan of both, but they're very different. In terms of timbre, the CM's are somewhere in between the LSi's, and the Paradigm Studios (both of which I have experience with). The LSi's have a warmer timbre, which sound great when voicing acoustic instruments and vocals. The CM's are a little brighter, but still very, very smooth to my ears.

    Musically I tend to prefer the LSi's, as I like music with a lot of acoustic instruments and vocals.

    What suprised me about the CM's is that despite being a somewhat 'bright' speaker, was the lack of dynamic range (ie, they're terrible HT speakers IMO). Very detailed on the top end, but very flat sounding. Not necessarily a bad thing unless you're big on HT, or like a lot of 'high energy' music. (the stock LSi9's are guilty of this too, which is why I had them modded!)
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  • bookshelf^love
    bookshelf^love Posts: 10
    edited August 2012
    What kind of nearfeild results can we expect with the lsi9's over the 7's?
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,201
    edited August 2012
    I like the Cm5's way better then the Lsi9's. I feel they are not even in the same league. While the Lsi9's are nice , I find them to be very flawed. I owned them for awhile and really studied them. Personally the Lsi7's and Lsi15's are a better sounding speaker.

    The Cm series from B&W are extremely hard to beat. They have a clarity most can not achieve. They have a balance they most strive for and fail. I would check out the LSIM703 which to me are a closer performing speaker. They also are a way better sounding speaker then the Lsi9's. I feel they really tweaked that design and improved in every way. I had them here for a few weeks and personally I would buy them.

    Unless your getting a stupid good deal on a pair of Lsi9's , I would pass.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,751
    edited August 2012
    Very detailed on the top end, but very flat sounding.

    That is the B&W house sound in a nutshell and it's down right awful.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • nhhiep
    nhhiep Posts: 877
    edited August 2012
    bookshelf^love wrote: »
    What kind of nearfeild results can we expect with the lsi9's over the 7's?
    Lsi9s can go very low for the size. more than once I had to check if the sub was on during late night low vol while working. I am using lsi9s for front and lsi7 for rearfill in my room
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited August 2012
    With Dan (mantis) on preferring the LSi-7s (stock) to LSi-9s (stock). But couldn't agree more with F1nut about the B&Ws, I just don't like them, period! YMMV.

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
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  • tommyt21
    tommyt21 Posts: 685
    edited August 2012
    Never heard the LSi's but wasn't to terrible impressed with the B&W cm8. It was estremely clear and clean almost sterile and would cream my A7's in music on the tweeter side, however I also felt the sound was flat, thin and lacked warmth. The sound definetly wasnt "hey I got to take these home". The B&W PM-1's on the other hand left me salivating they were so smooth!
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited August 2012
    cnh wrote: »
    With Dan (mantis) on preferring the LSi-7s (stock) to LSi-9s (stock). But couldn't agree more with F1nut about the B&Ws, I just don't like them, period! YMMV.

    cnh

    Well I agree with Dan.....:cheesygrin:
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