Are the new LSIM reference quality?

digitalvideo

I'm thinking of building a new HT. Are the new Polk LSIM's reference quality and able to offer quality audio in the same league as B&W, PSB, Paradigm, Definitive Technology for HT and music?

vc69

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say "yes".

heiney9

What is reference quality? Just a buzz word.

Emotiva uses it alot in their advertising which means absolutely nothing.

H9

SolidSqual

If it's the best speaker you've ever heard at its given price . . . then yes. You can see how the phrase instantly becomes subjective.

Moose68Bash

My wife and I recently went through a long, drawn-out process of auditioning contemporary high-end speakers to decide whether to move away from our Polk SDA SRS1.2s and SAD1Cs. Recently, at Polkfest I listened to the LSIM707s.

In my view the LSIM707s hold their own with B&Ws (800D-804D), Nolas (Baby Grand Reference), Thiels, Harbeths, Lansches, and Wilson Maxx 3s that my wife and I auditioned.

We decided to stick with our vintage Polks, and I am now doing modifications on both the SRSs and 1Cs. If I were moving to new speakers, I would have no compunction about buying the LSIM707s. The sounded great, and the price is far more attractive than the other speakers I listed above.

I don't know what "reference" means, except that it is a marketing term.

sponger

It means they come with a manual that you can "reference" if you need more information like how to connect them and so on. Other speakers you just have to "monitor" to see how things works out.

ravaneli

Reference is supposed to be the line with most realistic, true sound. The speakers that reproduce the sound with the smallest alterations. Something like Monitor. Of course everyone can use it as they please because there are no standards for that - for example call a speaker with less than 2% error in the 20 to 20k range Reference. Emotiva calls their very inexpensive speakers Reference, but Polk also calls their cheapest line Monitor, when they really are not Monitor at all

sponger

ravaneli wrote: »

but Polk also calls their cheapest line Monitor, when they really are not Monitor at all

R/T/M is their cheapest line, but I understand what you mean.

hochpt21

sponger wrote: »

it means they come with a manual that you can "reference" if you need more information like how to connect them and so on. Other speakers you just have to "monitor" to see how things works out.

lol...

TroyD

Yes, I see them as a destination speaker...

BDT

gdb

"Polk also calls their cheapest line Monitor, when they really are not Monitor at all "

Pure Drivel ! The term "monitor" doesn't denote any inherent performance or quality characteristics.
Read a dictionary every once in a while, would ya?

Audio and music production
Studio monitors, loudspeakers designed specifically for audio production and engineering
Stage monitors or foldback (sound engineering), loudspeakers for performers on stage
In-ear monitors, earpieces for performers on stage or in a studio
I'd like to find a first rate Hall Monitor !:razz:

gdb

I guess it's time to whip this link out again ! :cheesygrin:


lifted-a-veil-from voluptuous dimensionality


http://essentialaudio.com/humor/cliche.htm

gce

righteous musical eargasm

gdb

gce wrote: »

righteous musical eargasm

I like that one !!!!

tonyb

Are they reference quality ??

Does a bear crap in the woods ?

Drenis

My speakers are "Signature Reference Series" so I guess I'm cool. :razz:

halo71

Polk needs a Signature Reference Monitor series!

codyc1ark

So my LSi's are crap now?!? Damn... I need something reference. Any suggestions?

Drenis

codyc1ark wrote: »

So my LSi's are crap now?!? Damn... I need something reference. Any suggestions?

Yeah,

The modified "M" version of your LSi's :razz:

gdb

codyc1ark wrote: »

So my LSi's are crap now?!? Damn... I need something reference. Any suggestions?

How about a dictionary or encyclopedia, they're both considered "reference".:cheesygrin:

Obsession18

I have heard the new Polks and I will say this - they will compete with anything that B&W, PSB, Paradigm, and Definitive Technology has to offer in the same or even higher price range.

I have listened to the Paradigm Studio 100's (yes I know they are cheaper) and thought the Polks were in a whole different league, the Paradigms were headache inducing bright, while the Polks were smooth and musical.

Dawgfish

Without a doubt they easily compete with the speakers you mentioned.

ravaneli

gdb wrote: »

"Polk also calls their cheapest line Monitor, when they really are not Monitor at all "

Pure Drivel ! The term "monitor" doesn't denote any inherent performance or quality characteristics.
Read a dictionary every once in a while, would ya?

Audio and music production
Studio monitors, loudspeakers designed specifically for audio production and engineering
Stage monitors or foldback (sound engineering), loudspeakers for performers on stage
In-ear monitors, earpieces for performers on stage or in a studio
I'd like to find a first rate Hall Monitor !:razz:

This is the same dictionary that you quote "Studio monitors, also called reference monitors, are loudspeakers specifically designed for audio production applications such as recording studios, filmmaking, television studios and radio studios where accurate audio reproduction is crucial.
Among audio engineers, the term monitor usually implies that the speaker is designed to produce relatively flat (linear) phase and frequency responses. In other words, it exhibits minimal emphasis or de-emphasis of particular frequencies and the loudspeaker gives an accurate reproduction of the tonal qualities of the source audio ("uncolored" or "transparent" are synonyms), and there will be no relative phase shift of particular frequencies meaning no distortion in sound stage perspective for stereo recordings."

gdb

I don't deal in "implied" anything, monitor is a broad, nebulous term at best. To state that some things "are not monitor" is best done in a grade school setting, IMO. (where a lot of other meaningless crap is uttered)

cnh

You want to argue semantics, get a medium and channel Dr. Morris Raphael Cohen and his cohort! You'll have all kinds of fun. Then have Paul Tillich spend a week with you and show you that you're not as stable as you think you are! Oh, he's dead too!

B&W, never thought much of them! PSB and Paradigm make competent Monitors (care to use the "R's" definition above? Be my guest!). Def Tech headed by Polk dudes, so what does that tell you?

In short, LSiMs can compete with "anything" in their price range, and a lot of speakers at twice their price point. These are great speakers. You want to call them reference or have a positivistic discourse on that term, that's your problem! Any term, and I mean "any" can be debated. It receives its meaning historically through its usages and contexts and changes with time!

My advice is STOP worrying about what is "reference" and get your "ears" on a set of LSiMs and don't even bother with B&Ws at the same price point unless you like ice pick highs!

cnh

gdb

Also.....do you see the prefix "studio" anywhere in relation to Polk's desciption of their Monitor series speakers,in either the new or vintage iterations?

OOPS ! I missed cnh's pontification while I stepped away to check the clothes dryer!

Devlon

digitalvideo wrote: »

I'm thinking of building a new HT. Are the new Polk LSIM's reference quality and able to offer quality audio in the same league as B&W, PSB, Paradigm, Definitive Technology for HT and music?

About six months ago I read an article where a guy took is LSIM's over to his friends house who had modded his Lsi9's. After comparing them they both came to the conclusion that the modded Lsi9's sounded better. No mention was made of what the upgraded components were. I think it would interesting to compare what Vr3 usually uses to mod the Lsi9's say to the components of the LSIM's. Anybody here ever heard the LSIM's compared to modded Lsi9's?

nhhiep

i'd be very surprised if someone can make the lsi9 better than lsim for just a few hundred bucks. Given the tech of the drivers is like 10 yrs old. if this is true, then what is wrong with engineers at Polk?

Devlon

You're probably right. I did think it was interesting that the LSIM guy would say that though. I am going to try to find that article again and post a link to it. I've owned my Lsi9's for years and never understood why some implied that the Lsi9's had a "veiled" sound. Darqueknight's mod thread is when I first heard this term applied to them. He and others were very impressed by what the mod did to their sound. Most, that had it done, agreed that the the bass got tighter, and it opened up the midrange and treble. Clarity greatly improved. It was like a "veil" had been lifted off the sound several said. Look at Darqueknights thread on this and see the pics of what caps were originally used on the stock Lsi9's. Then look at what replaced them. Polk could have done that, but probably choose not to because of the extra cost involved. A manufacturer has to draw the line somewhere on the cost for sure. This is an interesting video on youtube where a guy is comparing a modded Lsi15, to a stock Lsi15. Listen to it with your eyes closed to see if you can tell the difference in the clarity. Even with a Sony camcorder mic I think the difference is impressive. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFNPrqSxAgw

Dawgfish

The article you are refering to was actually a thread that was posted here on CP last summer I believe. One of the members compared the LSiM-703 to their modded LSi-9s and posted their findings. I think the title of the thread was LSiM-703 review or something like that. At any rate I've never heard any modded LSi-9s, but they have to sound damn impressive to sound better then the LSiM-703s. I'm blown away by their performance everytime I listen to them.

mantis

I've only heard the LSIM703's and from that experience I can honestly say they are an amazing speaker. Compared to others you listed IMO they do very well. They hold their own and are worth the asking retail price as they don't get embarrassed by others in the price range.

Reference ? As far as Polk audio is concerned , they are the Flagship or Reference series speaker line. So they should be compared to others in the same league.