Definitive technology SM65 or Lsi9?

SolidSnake1988
SolidSnake1988 Posts: 38
edited October 2012 in Speakers
Which would be a better choice for 70% music and 30% home theater? Since def tech are "studio monitor" I'm assuming they sound good, lsi 9 great reviews everywhere. Any opinions will be appreciated. Thanks.
Speakers Polk Monitor 70's (Cherry) Cs2 (Black)
Subwoofer Polk Psw 505
Receiver/Amp Yamaha RX-V671
TV Samsung 46" LED
Entertainment/Blu-Ray Sony Playstation 3 1TB :smile:
Interconnects MIT Terminator 4-Emotiva Speaker Cables, Audioquest HDMI
Post edited by SolidSnake1988 on
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Comments

  • deronb1
    deronb1 Posts: 5,021
    edited October 2012
    Putting one system together to handle both duties can be trying. Often, things sound great for movies but not quite right for music and then visa-versa. I went through this for a while. Though I have never heard the Lsi9s, they get good reviews here, but more so for music. The Def Techs are pretty new and get great reviews for HT.

    I am pretty sure the Lsi9s are rated at 4 ohms. That is a major concern if they are going to be powered by a mid range AVR. I love my Def Tech for HT, but decided to piece together a solid 2 ch system for music.

    Comes down, as always, to personal taste and available funds. Highly recommend putting your ears on both sets of speaks if you can swing it. Good luck!
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  • deronb1
    deronb1 Posts: 5,021
    edited October 2012
    Also, you are going to have to add at least three more speakers and a sub. Recommend timbre matching for HT. Makes all the difference.
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,201
    edited October 2012
    I would take the Sm65's
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • btmower
    btmower Posts: 25
    edited October 2012
    I picked up the SM 55 for my living room 2 channel. I know the SM65s have dual woofers. But you will need a sub.

    The 55s have great mid and highs. Not quite as bright as the rti a7s I have in my HT. Very clear and punchy mids.

    I have not heard the lsi 9s to compare. But if the sm65 is like the sm55 with a little more bass extention.... Then I highly recommend them. Def tech has really impressed me with this new series.
    My HT Gallery
    My HT Build Log
    Yamaha A-1010 w/ Emotiva XPA-3
    Polk LSiM 707, LSiM 706c, FXi A4, Dual Deftech ProSub 1000
    Epson HC3500 w/ 100' SI Black Diamond
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  • decal
    decal Posts: 3,205
    edited October 2012
    You have to listen to them and decide for yourself. Sorry for the vague answer but everyone perceives sound differently, it's just the nature of the beast.
    If you can't hear a difference, don't waste your money.
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  • Devlon
    Devlon Posts: 355
    edited October 2012
    Don't even consider getting the Lsi9's without using an external power amp. I was was disappointed to the point of selling them hearing them through my 100wpc @ 8ohms AVR. They sounded dull and lifeless. I didn't understand what all the fuss was about.....reading the reviews about them sounding great and all. Then I heeded the suggestion that they needed power.
    Then after feeding them with 225wpc @ 4ohms....OMG! Only then did I hear the magic that people were talking about. They are power hungry devils. But once feed the reward is simply amazing. If you can't get a power amp capable of at least 200wpc @ 4ohms I would not get them.
    Living Room: HK AVR 354 as pre/pro, 2 x Polk Audio Micropro 4000, Adcom GFA-7500, 2 x Mirage OMD-15
    2 x Mirage OMD-5, 1 x Mirage OMD-C1, APC H15, Sony S790, Philips 52" LCD, Beogram 3000, FAT (Firestone Audio Tobby DAC), Harmony One

    Den: Sherwood R-972,as pre/pro, 2 x Velodyne SPL-1000R, 3 x Crown Drivecore XLS1500, 2 x Polk Audio Lsi9
    1 x Polk Audio Lsic, 2 x Polk Audio Lsifx, Sony S790, APC H15, Dspeaker Dual Core 2.0, W4S DAC 2, Keces DA-151
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  • SolidSnake1988
    SolidSnake1988 Posts: 38
    edited October 2012
    Yes I'm planning to use them with an emotiva xpa-3,Which is 300 watts in 4ohms I think. Right now I have monitor 70's and love their sound, that's why I want to stay with polk since I've never heard definitive tech but read some great reviews. Definitive tech to me looks more for home theater but their studio monitor are great for music I'm guessing.
    Speakers Polk Monitor 70's (Cherry) Cs2 (Black)
    Subwoofer Polk Psw 505
    Receiver/Amp Yamaha RX-V671
    TV Samsung 46" LED
    Entertainment/Blu-Ray Sony Playstation 3 1TB :smile:
    Interconnects MIT Terminator 4-Emotiva Speaker Cables, Audioquest HDMI
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  • decal
    decal Posts: 3,205
    edited October 2012
    SolidSnake1988 wrote: »
    Yes I'm planning to use them with an emotiva xpa-3,Which is 300 watts in 4ohms I think. Right now I have monitor 70's and love their sound, that's why I want to stay with polk since I've never heard definitive tech but read some great reviews. Definitive tech to me looks more for home theater but their studio monitor are great for music I'm guessing.

    Don't guess when it comes to these decisions, get out and listen to both with your own ears.
    You'll be money ahead and get the satisfaction of something that sounds good to you, IMHO of course.
    If you can't hear a difference, don't waste your money.
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  • Tankman
    Tankman Posts: 419
    edited October 2012
    @decal good point!Also look into other amps it is Not all about the watts.You can pick up a Carver,Parasound."decal is spot on with his poat wish I has waited and saved up a lil money on a better amp.BK Butler amp is high on my upgrade list.
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  • rooftop59
    rooftop59 Posts: 8,121
    edited October 2012
    I haven't heard either of those, but I have owned but the sm350s and the Lsi7s, basically both little brothers, and I would say that overall the Lsis are clearly better speakers, better parts, better build quality, very dynamic with good bass and delicate, extended highs. But the Lsis are warm and laid back, which many people (like Mantis) find boring for home theater. I was never bored when I had three Lsi7s are fronts in my HT; on the contrary I really enjoyed them. But the def techs are more forward and bright, and therefore may give the illusion of being more exciting and enveloping which is what people want for HT.

    And yes you will need an amp for the Lsi9s, adding to the overall cost. But you will also have the benefits of a much more refined setup for music. So there is my 2 cents...
    Living Room 2.2: Usher BE-718 "tiny dancers"; Dual DIY Dayton audio RSS210HF-4 Subs with Dayton SPA-250 amps; Arcam SA30; Musical Fidelity A308; Sony UBP-x1000es
    Game Room 5.1.4:     Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology Power Monitor 900 mains, CLR-3000 center, StudioMonitor 350 surrounds, ProMonitor 800 atmos x4; Sub - Monoprice Monolith 15in THX Ultra
    Bedroom 2.1     Harmon Kardon HK3490; Bluesounds Node N130; Polk RT25i; ACI Titan Subwoofer
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  • nhhiep
    nhhiep Posts: 877
    edited October 2012
    I have a Procimema600 Deftech. I used them as computer speakers before replaced with Lsi9s. if they have similar tweeters, then the Deftech sounds brighter, somewhere between Lsi and RTi.
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  • SolidSnake1988
    SolidSnake1988 Posts: 38
    edited October 2012
    Guys I was just shopping for speaker cables in ebay. I just got a second offer for the MIT NT4s M-Terminator4 12-Ft Speaker Cables (pair) for$125.00 . Is that a good deal? sorry I got off topic.
    Speakers Polk Monitor 70's (Cherry) Cs2 (Black)
    Subwoofer Polk Psw 505
    Receiver/Amp Yamaha RX-V671
    TV Samsung 46" LED
    Entertainment/Blu-Ray Sony Playstation 3 1TB :smile:
    Interconnects MIT Terminator 4-Emotiva Speaker Cables, Audioquest HDMI
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,748
    edited October 2012
    At a minimum, you want the MIT T2's.

    As for your amp and speaker choices. Keep in mind that the emo is bright and forward, which may work for HT, but not so good for music. That said, since the LSi 9's are a bit laid back, that amp may work for you. However, paired with the Def Tech's, you'll probably want ear plugs.
    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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  • Loud & Clear
    Loud & Clear Posts: 1,538
    edited October 2012
    Have had both the LSi9s and SM55s in my home theater. For a home theater I prefer the SM55. If it were strictly for music, I'd pick the LSi9, but with a subwoofer to get rid of that overly aggressive deep bass via crossover setting. These deftech studio monitors are so detailed and transparent, really makes movie watching exciting. Also great to not need a separate amp to run them, and I kind of resented the fact that the LSis basically required one, unless you have an extremely robust AVR. Anyway, enough about me. Good luck.

    Two Channel Setup:

    Speakers: Wharfedale Opus 2-3
    Integrated Amp: Krell S-300i
    DAC: Arcam irDac
    Source: iMac
    Remote Control: iPad Mini

    3.2 Home Theater Setup:

    Fronts: Klipsch RP-160M
    Center: Klipsch RP-160M
    Subwoofer: SVS PB12NSD (X 2)
    AVR: Yamaha Aventage RX-A2030
    Blu Ray: Sony BDP-S790
    TV Source: DirecTV Genie
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  • Monster Jam
    Monster Jam Posts: 919
    edited October 2012
    decal wrote: »
    Don't guess when it comes to these decisions, get out and listen to both with your own ears.
    You'll be money ahead and get the satisfaction of something that sounds good to you, IMHO of course.

    Best advice on this thread right here.
    Do you hear that buzzing noise? :confused:
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