Lsim 705 Paired with Cambridge Audio 651a and 651c

plainoledave

So... I checked out some 705's that were on sale for $2K pair with the intent of leaving with them but didn't. They were paired with a 75wpc Cambridge Audio 651a and a 651c CD player. I was not impressed. Was it the gear or the speakers? I was fine with the bass, not impressed with the treble. I was told by the salesman that my NAD 7600 would not drive them as well as the Cambridge gear, so i just decided to pass.

Any thoughts?

plainoledave

I am currently running my 7600 with some RTI10's and a middle of the road NAD cd player.

leroyjr1

What didn't you like about the treble? Are you satisfied with the treble on the RTI 10's? If so a brighter speaker than the lsim's might be needed. I've owned both and the RTI line doesn't come close. Where are you located?

nwohlford

The tweeter in the LSi (the older line and the newer LSim) are quite different from the RTi line. You may truly like the brighter speaker, or it may just be what you are used to. I personally think the LSi are such a jump in quality for music that it is worth listening to for a while, but I know practically it may not make sense to buy a $2k set of speakers hoping that you will love them once you get used to the different sound.

I really doubt that it is the electronics, and your NAD should do perfectly fine with them.

hochpt21

I think Leroy and nwohlford may be onto something. I own the LSi 15's and really like them. I went and auditioned a pair of LSiM 705's (also with a cambridge integrated) and was very impressed. I wanted to leave with them, but a little out of my price range right now.

So it may just be a different sound that what your used to or prefer.

plainoledave

leroyjr1 wrote: »

What didn't you like about the treble? Are you satisfied with the treble on the RTI 10's? If so a brighter speaker than the lsim's might be needed. I've owned both and the RTI line doesn't come close. Where are you located?

Hi Leroy,
I am in Madison WI. I think I talked to you about some rtia9's that you had for sale about a year ago?

Anyhow, i was expecting the lsi's to be considerably less bright than the 10's and i didn't find that to be the case. I think it had more to do with everything else than it did the speakers, to be honest. Anyhow, I didn't find them to be worth the extra $$ based on my brief demo. Maybe i'd be best off going for a smaller incremental improvement and just get some 9's or 15's off polks ebay store.

F1nut

Cambridge gear sounds bright to my ears. That and 75wpc of SS power isn't doing those speakers any favors.

leroyjr1

The LSI 15's are much warmer sounding and more than half the price so I'd give them a shot first. If you're ever in the neighborhood you're more than welcome to stop by and hear them with more power.

hochpt21

Did you hear them at American? That's where I went and they had them about 4 ft apart with a chair 10ft back and a TV turned up right in the same area. The salesperson had the volume turned all the way up on the cambridge and couldn't figure out why it wasn't playing.

Luckily I turned it down and pushed the "cd" input button. After I turned the TV down and messed with speaker placement a little I had a very enjoyable short listening session. I could only imagine they would sound better with my B&K (although I still need a pre). Difficult to compare exactly given the gear and environment, but I felt the bass was better than my 15's and that they were a 'fuller' speaker. If I find a good used pair in a few years I would be highly likely to pick them up. (Or maybe I'll be ready when Leroy moves on to something else :cheesygrin:)

EndersShadow

hochpt21 wrote: »

If I find a good used pair in a few years I would be highly likely to pick them up. (Or maybe I'll be ready when Leroy moves on to something else :cheesygrin:)

Let me know when that happens, I might be interested in picking up your LSi 15's (if they are cherry).... :cheesygrin:

plainoledave

hochpt21 wrote: »

Did you hear them at American?

Yes, on the Eastside of Madison. I was less than impressed with the salesman's knowledge of their products.

Thanks to all who replied. I can't figure out how to put multiple quotes in one reply and don't want to overpost.

plainoledave

leroyjr1 wrote: »

The LSI 15's are much warmer sounding and more than half the price so I'd give them a shot first. If you're ever in the neighborhood you're more than welcome to stop by and hear them with more power.

I think i will pull the trigger on the 15's. $850 shipped is a steal. I was contemplating the 9's but i don't want to deal with stands and possibly getting a sub. Thank you for your offer on the demo. I might have to take you up on that.

Another 70ish posts and i will be able to get rid of my gear. At the rate i'm going, that'll be in 10 years. lol.

EndersShadow

plainoledave wrote: »

I think i will pull the trigger on the 15's. $850 shipped is a steal. I was contemplating the 9's but i don't want to deal with stands and possibly getting a sub. Thank you for your offer on the demo. I might have to take you up on that.

Another 70ish posts and i will be able to get rid of my gear. At the rate i'm going, that'll be in 10 years. lol.

Whenever you have some spare cash, look at replacing the stock 8" woofer in the LSi 15's with the Polk db840 SVC car sub. Its a drop in replacement and helps out a LOT with cleaning up the low end. This is not to say the LSi 15 isnt good in its own right. I also would wait till Crutchfield has a buy one get one free or half off sale on their Polk stuff (which they do often) so you can save a couple bucks.

I have done this mod and its easy (there is a thread about it too).

BlueFox

EndersShadow wrote: »

Whenever you have some spare cash, look at replacing the stock 8" woofer in the LSi 15's with the Polk db840 SVC car sub.

Is that the one on the side? I always thought that was just a radiator (or whatever they are called), and not an actual speaker.

hochpt21

It's a passive woofer. The one in the 25 is active.

gdpeck

plainoledave wrote: »

I think i will pull the trigger on the 15's. $850 shipped is a steal. I was contemplating the 9's but i don't want to deal with stands and possibly getting a sub. Thank you for your offer on the demo. I might have to take you up on that.

Another 70ish posts and i will be able to get rid of my gear. At the rate i'm going, that'll be in 10 years. lol.

That IS a steal. I'm into my LSi9s more than that after buying stands, and I got the speakers used.

EndersShadow

BlueFox wrote: »

Is that the one on the side? I always thought that was just a radiator (or whatever they are called), and not an actual speaker.

Yes, its a 8" speaker that is powered by your amp. Its not a passive radiator. Thats why most many folks suggest the LSi 9's with a sub v the LSi 15's as they are a little bit harder to drive given you have 2 6 1/2's, 1 1" tweet and a 8" speaker.

If you look at the spec's on the LSi 15's you see the below:

Mid-High Array Crossover
Driver 1: HPF at 150Hz 6dB/oct, LPF at 800Hz 12dB/oct.
Driver 2: HPF at 150Hz 6dB/oct, LPF at 2.4kHz 12dB/oct.
Tweeter: HPF 2.4kHz 18dB/oct.
Subwoofer Crossover
LPF at 150Hz 12dB/oct.

The 8" speaker is what is refered to as the Subwoofer Crossover in that list.

F1nut

I think i will pull the trigger on the 15's.

The 705's are a much better speaker.

cnh

F1nut is right. If you're going to go LSi, you should just go with the LSiMs! Also, what is that salesman talking about? As Jesse points out that Cambridge Audio integrated is about HALF the power of the NAD receiver you have, if I'm not mistaken. So HOW is the C.A. going to drive the 705s but the NAD can't? That's nonsense!

I also, find C.A. to be bright compared to the NAD equivalent! YMMV.

cnh

plainoledave

I think i will just wait for the lsim to go back on sale. The salesman was nice, i just don't think he was real familiar with my gear vs. theirs and didn't want to rubber stamp my opinion that my gear was better and would make things sound better. I suggested it would sound better with mine bc his was underpowered and he wouldn't agree to that. In my haste to post my question i should have wrote "he did not agree or disagree that my nad would drive them better" as opposed to " NAD 7600 would not drive them as well as the Cambridge gear".

tonyb

He's a salesman, doesn't that tell you enough ?

Current Dave.....thats what power hungry speakers thrive on, not watts. Be patient, your huckleberry will show up. Look on audiogon.com or your local craigslist.

EndersShadow

Dave: Just a thought, but why not bring your NAD down and see if they will let you hook it up and try the LSiM's out with it?

I know one of the local hi-fi shops here in town told me I was welcome to bring in my gear to try out on their speakers (provided I tried to make it during a somewhat slow time with advance warning)

warren

Slim 705 are in the house! They sure look very nice.. I’ll hook them up tomorrow..