LSiM 705's or Salk Songtowers
I have been struggling with Polk vs. Salk for a long time. I enjoy the decision process almost as much as the buy, I guess.
I know the SongTowers are great for music. Not totally sold on their HT abilities, I never seem to hear great things about their SongCenter. I never hear bad about it either.
I like the Polk sound, however the Polk setup (a pair of 705's and a 706 center) will probably cost 5 or 600 more than the SongTowers and SongCenter. Aesthetics is a wash, probably.
My room is 17 by 17 and I have an Emotiva XPA-5 and Denon 3312 receiver. I am about 60-40 HT-Music.
Although this is the Polk Forum, the crowd here seems to be really objective and open minded in their opinions...opinions welcome!
I know the SongTowers are great for music. Not totally sold on their HT abilities, I never seem to hear great things about their SongCenter. I never hear bad about it either.
I like the Polk sound, however the Polk setup (a pair of 705's and a 706 center) will probably cost 5 or 600 more than the SongTowers and SongCenter. Aesthetics is a wash, probably.
My room is 17 by 17 and I have an Emotiva XPA-5 and Denon 3312 receiver. I am about 60-40 HT-Music.
Although this is the Polk Forum, the crowd here seems to be really objective and open minded in their opinions...opinions welcome!
Post edited by ranger on
Comments
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I have(selling) Polk LsiM 703's running off a XPA-5 and I wasn't really a fan of the sound. A different amp may or may not make the sound of them change but it just wasn't for my taste. But everyone's ears are different. The LsiM series has gotten a lot of good reviews.
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Can't compare the Salk's but the 705's rule the LSiM's IMHO...have had the opportunity to listen to them in different enviroments2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC
erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a -
HEY, CHECK OUT POLK'S EBAY PAGE. THEY'RE SELLING (REFURB) 705'S FOR $1200.00 EACH. LAST TIME I CHECKED THEY HAD 702'S, 703'S,705'S AND 707'S (all refurbs of course) discounted.
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Almost forgot, they have the 706 on sale also. Check em out,,,,
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B&W sounds great for music and HT. Have you had a chance to demo some CM8s?
But if it has to be between the two you listed I would run with the Polks. The SongTowers arent going to give you that base the polks can offer. Have you seen the cross section of the new polks? each speaker has its own box. Another thing you can do is order one of each. hooks them up and pick the one you like better. Return the one you didnt like before 30 days. OR return both and get a pair of B&Ws.B&W CM9Classé Sigma -
lsim1.jpg
Lets take a closer look at what this new polk speaker has to offer. The tweeter is using a simular technology found in B&W nautilus tweeters. That cup on the back of the mid range comes to a point inside of it. This will kill all the dirty sound we dont want to hear. That arrangement (figure 8 shape) of the mid and tweeter isnt just to look pretty. You will find that same shape and layout on some of the best monitors such as Genelecs. Genelecs made that shape and design because it allowed the sound waves coming off there mids and tweeters to sound awesome. That full range speaker looks like a beefed up version from some of their other speakers. So we all know it can handle lots of power. The two subs on the Lsims were made from the ground up by polk. They arent repackage from another line of polks or another brand. Polk made them just for the Lsim. Another awesome feature, the sub box. Each speaker has its own box with a calculated amount of space for each speaker to perform at its best. You will find designs like that in super high end speakers like b&W Diamonds. Another cool thing is that vent port. Polk made it so that the spikes going into them damper the noise coming out of the speaker. + the cabinets are solid word.
So there are many features on them that scream quality.B&W CM9Classé Sigma -
The tweeter is using a simular technology found in B&W nautilus tweeters.
Thankfully, it doesn't sound anything like a B&W.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 -
I am a little surprised that the Polks haven't been recommended much on this thread.
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I recommend the 705's.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 -
We are Polk Audio fans, however also experience has taught us to be objective. We don't have your ears, so only you can make the decision in the end. I've heard some of the Salk speakers in the past and they were very nicely done. I'm not a fan of the Emotiva amp's sound characteristics, so IMHO that is going to impact how your speakers sound and the synergy between amp and speaker. Hopefully someone who is or has run the new LSiM series with Emotiva amps can chime in.DKG999
HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED
Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC -
Personally, I think either speaker will be more revealing that what your probably accustomed to. Translated, you may have to upgrade the electronics to hear what either speaker is capable of. I know you don't want to hear that but from past experiences I can tell you that more revealing speakers will portray your systems weaknesses more than you may care to hear.HT SYSTEM-
Sony 850c 4k
Pioneer elite vhx 21
Sony 4k BRP
SVS SB-2000
Polk Sig. 20's
Polk FX500 surrounds
Cables-
Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable
Kitchen
Sonos zp90
Grant Fidelity tube dac
B&k 1420
lsi 9's -
Thankfully, it doesn't sound anything like a B&W.
:eek: Hey! Their tweeters are awesome and you know it!
(what dont you like about them?)B&W CM9Classé Sigma -
Ragged high end response and beaming upper mids.:eek: Hey! Their tweeters are awesome and you know it!
(what dont you like about them?)"He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche -
Ragged high end response and beaming upper mids.
I could agree that they sound revealing. But only if you're using something like a Pioneer or even a Bryston (both make great stuff, not dissing them). When you pair them with Rotel gear ( like they were ment to be) they are hands down some of the best out there.B&W CM9Classé Sigma -
It has nothing to do with being revealing or not."He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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I could agree that they sound revealing. But only if you're using something like a Pioneer or even a Bryston (both make great stuff, not dissing them). When you pair them with Rotel gear ( like they were ment to be) they are hands down some of the best out there.
Bryson is much better than Rotel. Everything audio is subjective. While B&W has a big following some here and other places don't like them and on here you got people that love SDA's but some don't. That's why there's hundreds on different types of speakers with different sounds. -
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 -
Go with the polks. You will not be disappointed....
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Although this is the Polk Forum, the crowd here seems to be really objective and open minded in their opinions...opinions welcome!
Speaker choice is, to be sure, in the ear of the beholder.
To your ears, the Salk and Polk offerings might fall into the "similar" range, to others there might be quite substantial differences. Here on CP there are a number of lucky members who have probably listened to at least an offering from every speaker manufacturer on the planet. As you noted, here on CP those folks will tell you what their opinion is. If their opinion is "Brand X sounds better than Polk ****" that's what you'll hear and why. If their opinion is Polk sounds better, that's what you'll hear and why. A prime example of that would be opinions on Polk's line of subwoofers. Here on Polk's website.
Stilly mentioned that the LsiM703's weren't suited to his tastes. He mentioned that they were being driven by an Emotiva amp, and that may have been a factor in his opinion. Others might/would agree with that amp choice affecting the sound of the 703's.
But: he offered, and was able to offer, that opinion. Here on Polk's website.
Txcoastal, who's heard the entire LsiM series, offered his opinion that the 705's ruled the LsiM line. Others on CP in a similar position believe the 703's top the mark and have said so in other threads. Opinions were offered and, in some cases, comparisons were made with other top of the line speakers. Some favorably, some not so favorably. Here on Polk's website.
Ranger, you've certainly seen a lot of the modification threads that members are doing. A lot of well-developed mod threads on not only older vintage Polks but also on the gear that drives them. I hope that you've seen one the latest and greatest mod threads that's being done: the VR3 mod thread. It deals with a Gimpod-board, VR3-labor, Doro-supplied LsiM703 mod (hopefully, CP member supported).
AN LSIM703 MOD ! NOT that it needs modification, by all accounts, but to see what affect a mod would have. If any. Here on Polk's website.
These things take a lot of gonadal fortitude on Polk's part. It takes a lot of confidence in their speakers. It takes a lot of willingness on Polk's part to listen to their customer base. And, it should be noted, it takes a lot of tolerance on their part to put up with a bunch of opinionated people, a number of whom know what they're talking about.
So, Ranger, you mentioned that a full LsiM series setup would be 500 to 600 dollars more than a 'similar' Salk setup. You've done the research, so I accept that as true. However, barring anyone being able to offer a reasoned, hands-on opinion of the greater-than-marginal advantages of Salk's offering, I'd say definitely go with the LsiM series.
It would be my opinion that you will definitely be pleased from an audio standpoint. It would be my opinion that 5 years down the road, you'll still be pleased with your feet propped up on a hassock, listening to either tunes or watching movies.
And you will be pleased knowing that you support a successful and confident speaker company that enjoys what it is doing. Forward looking but still, in its own way, old school.
Good luck in your choice. Hopefully/probably someone here will have some hands on with some Salk's.Sal Palooza -
I was thinking the exact same thingThankfully, it doesn't sound anything like a B&W.
design is where science and art break even. -
i recommend the LSiMdesign is where science and art break even.
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You also may want to look at the Philharmonic Audio line of speakers. These are a new design from Dennis Murphy who designed the Songtowers and other Salks. They are an extreme value for the money and feature the Raal tweeter and ScanSpeak Revelator woofer. 14 day home trial.
http://philharmonicaudio.com/
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B&W sounds great for music and HT. Have you had a chance to demo some CM8s?
But if it has to be between the two you listed I would run with the Polks. The SongTowers arent going to give you that base the polks can offer. Have you seen the cross section of the new polks? each speaker has its own box. Another thing you can do is order one of each. hooks them up and pick the one you like better. Return the one you didnt like before 30 days. OR return both and get a pair of B&Ws.
Really?If you can't hear a difference, don't waste your money. -
Well, that really is the best way to know how a speaker will sound in your envirement. Remember, the room is the biggest influence.Really?"He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche -
2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC
erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a -
You also may want to look at the Philharmonic Audio line of speakers. These are a new design from Dennis Murphy who designed the Songtowers and other Salks. They are an extreme value for the money and feature the Raal tweeter and ScanSpeak Revelator woofer. 14 day home trial.
http://philharmonicaudio.com/
hmmm...
... do we have to feed, walk and brush that speaker? Looks a lot like a dog.B&W CM9Classé Sigma
