Will my receiver handle the LSi 15?

odedia

Hi everyone,
I have a 12-years old Kenwood receiver, model KRF-8030D, with an infinity 5-satelites+subwoofer setup . It has served me well for many years, but my sub appears to have finally died, so it is probably a good time to upgrade. I want to start upgrading in stages in order not to break the bank.

The LSi 15 speakers look very interesting to me so I would like to buy them first, but I don't know if my receiver would handle them well. I know that the LSi15's are 4ohm. The power ratings for my receiver as per the manual is as following:

Effective power output during STEREO operation:

1kHz,10% T.H.D.,at 8 Ω ........................................... 140 W + 140 W

Rated power output during STEREO operation:
100 watts per channel minimum RMS, both channels driven, at 8 Ω from 20 Hz to 20 kHz with no more than 0.7% total harmonic distortion.(FTC)

Effective power output during SURROUND operation:
FRONT (1kHz, 10% T.H.D. at 8 Ω, one channel driven) ... 140 W + 140 W
CENTER (1kHz, 10% T.H.D. at 8 Ω, one channel driven)... 140 W
SURROUND (1kHz, 10% T.H.D. at 8 Ω, one channel driven)... 140 W + 140 W

I'm not sure if it is relevant, but I live in Europe so the AC power here is 220v. If I'll be buying these, I'll order them from the USA since it will be much cheaper even with shipping and taxes, but it ofcourse means I can't easily return them.

Will it be possible to use these speakers with my AVR and upgrade in the future to something better? It does have pre-amp if I'll ever need it, pretty amazing feature set for its age (preouts, DTS etc.).

Thanks for the input.

Lietuvis91

I wouldn't even attempt to run lsi15s on a receiver that doesn't have a 4ohm rating or somewhere in the manual specifies that 8-4 ohm speakers are ok to operate. Besides that, lsi is what I like to call a "high maintenance" speaker. These puppies really need good gear and lots of power to sound right. If you don't plan on a fairly nice 2 channel amp in addition to your current gear, I wouldnt consider lsi15s.

pitdogg2

odedia wrote: »

Effective power output during STEREO operation:

1kHz,10% T.H.D.,at 8 Ω ........................................... 140 W + 140 W

Thanks for the input.

With that kind of distortion not a chance you may let the smoke out.

odedia

Thanks, I feared that may be the answer. I had my hopes up due to a specific review on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/review/R1IWV5P36UOQZA/ref=cm_cr_dp_title?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B000VLC52O&nodeID=172282&store=electronics) but I guess it's not very practical.

Are there any good AVRs for the LSi 15 or is an amplifier really mandatory?

B Run

I'd consider it mandatory, the money you'd have to spend on an AVR that could drive those properly would cost more an a new receiver and nice used amp.

odedia

In that case, would it be adequate to use the current receiver simply as a pre-amp? If, for example, I'd hook it up to an XPA-3? What I like about this amp is the fact that it has automatic 120/230 AC .

I would also appreciate a recommendation for a good center to go along with the LSi 15.

Thanks for all the input so far!

chumlie

That will work fine. Polk makes a matching center LSi C if you can find one, now discontinued.

odedia

I saw a good deal on the following amp second hand, will they be good enough to drive the lsi15s?

http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/onkyo-integra-5060r-76433638

Geoff4rfc

That looks like a pretty cool amp, I'm betting you'd get more mileage from the emo though.

Welcome to Club Polk.

odedia

Thank you very much! I'm still in the process of figuring all this stuff out, bu I'm enjoying every minute of it . The best deal I saw so far is this one on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/PT8000CH-8000-Watt-Channel-Stereo-Amplifier/dp/B002UL0XIQ/ref=zg_bs_537344_19

However, it does state the 1000 watts as "peak" so I don't know how good it actually is. I think I'll probably go with the XPA-5 in the end since the price difference compared to the XPA-3 is not that big, unless someone can talk me into getting the Pyle unit listed above

chumlie

Better off with the Emo.

B Run

Stay away from Pyle, they're absolute garbage honestly. You don't want to have speakers as nice as the Lsi15 and run them with that. I'd look for a nice 2 channel Parasound, Carver, Adcom, Rotel, Nad, Outlaw or B&k honestly. You'd be much better off imho. Just trying to help.

odedia

chumlie wrote: »

Better off with the Emo.

And better off with the wife, this is one good looking Amp compared to the others .

odedia

B Run wrote: »

Stay away from Pyle, they're absolute garbage honestly. You don't want to have speakers as nice as the Lsi15 and run them with that. I'd look for a nice 2 channel Parasound, Carver, Adcom, Rotel, Nad, Outlaw or B&k honestly. You'd be much better off imho. Just trying to help.

Thanks for the input B Run. Do you share the other peoples thoughts about the Emo XPA-5 being a good fit for the LSI 15's?

PolkieMan

8000 watts , what a Pyle of ...... Just get the XPA-5.

cfrizz

odedia wrote: »

In that case, would it be adequate to use the current receiver simply as a pre-amp? If, for example, I'd hook it up to an XPA-3? What I like about this amp is the fact that it has automatic 120/230 AC .

I would also appreciate a recommendation for a good center to go along with the LSi 15.

Thanks for all the input so far!

Welcome to Club Polk!

I looked up your receiver, it has preouts so Get an XPA 3-5 channel amp, then get the LSI 15s enjoy that while you save more money then get the LSIC & a sub or the LSI-FX or and updated receiver.

You have many upgrade options that you can go in since you already have a receiver that has preouts so once you get an amp you can enjoy your current speakers until you upgrade to the LSI's. you just have figure out which upgrade should come 2nd AFTER you get the amp FIRST.

Keep up posted on what you do.

B Run

odedia wrote: »

Thanks for the input B Run. Do you share the other peoples thoughts about the Emo XPA-5 being a good fit for the LSI 15's?

Full disclosure i've only heard the Lsi9's powered off dual Xpa100 Emotiva's and I thought they sounded very nice. I've never heard any other Lsi's or heard the 9's off anything else to compare the sound to, but I think you'll be very happy with that setup.

odedia

Sorry to beat around the bush on this topic, but reading the specs on the onkyo 818 seems to indicate it can push 250watts at 4 ohms. Since ill need to eventually upgrade the receiver, would it be wise to use the onkyo 818+LSI15 combination first or to use the lsi15+xpa-5 combo first?

Spec sheet:
http://www.intl.onkyo.com/downloads/product_info/pdf/tx-nr818_euex_leaflet.pdf

Thanks again.

B Run

I promise you it won't and you'll be much better off with an amp. The Onkyo will work for a pre but you still really need a high current amp, it's not just about watts and most AVR's will not do anything close to the advertised wattage.

Geoff4rfc

odedia wrote: »

Sorry to beat around the bush on this topic, but reading the specs on the onkyo 818 seems to indicate it can push 250watts at 4 ohms. Since ill need to eventually upgrade the receiver, would it be wise to use the onkyo 818+LSI15 combination first or to use the lsi15+xpa-5 combo first?
Thanks again.

The Onk won't have the legs to maintain or sustain to be safe. I'd go with the amp, the power would be more stable with the amp than the AVR.

B Run wrote: »

Full disclosure i've only heard the Lsi9's powered off dual Xpa100 Emotiva's and I thought they sounded very nice. I've never heard any other Lsi's or heard the 9's off anything else to compare the sound to, but I think you'll be very happy with that setup.

Hey B, is the "Back Room" still in existance there in Austin? Way back in 1977 when legal age was 18 (I was 17), pitchers of LoneStar was a buck and a quarter, no cover and all best local talent for rock, blues and everything else was rocking at the Back Room, please tell it's still the same?????

chumlie

I agree with B Run. Better off with the amp first. You want high current amp to drive the LSi's. No getting around it.

B Run

Geoff4rfc wrote: »

Hey B, is the "Back Room" still in existance there in Austin? Way back in 1977 when legal age was 18 (I was 17), pitchers of LoneStar was a buck and a quarter, no cover and all best local talent for rock, blues and everything else was rocking at the Back Room, please tell it's still the same?????

I looked it up and it's closed, i've never been but I wasn't born till 86 so I missed out on most of the cool old bars around Austin.

PolkieMan

If it was me I would get the Onkyo but then I don't play my speakers at wall splitting volumes. One thing I will tell you and you probably know is don't cram all of your stuff into some closed end cabinet where it it overheat and fry. You know it takes 10X as much power to play super loud is compared to kinda loud I am a 80-90db kinda guy.

http://www.audioholics.com/education/frequently-asked-questions/relationship-between-watts-and-dbs


http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-NR809-Certified-7-2-Channel-Receiver/dp/B00505F01E/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1356911400&sr=8-2&keywords=onkyo+818

odedia wrote: »

Sorry to beat around the bush on this topic, but reading the specs on the onkyo 818 seems to indicate it can push 250watts at 4 ohms. Since ill need to eventually upgrade the receiver, would it be wise to use the onkyo 818+LSI15 combination first or to use the lsi15+xpa-5 combo first?

Spec sheet:
http://www.intl.onkyo.com/downloads/product_info/pdf/tx-nr818_euex_leaflet.pdf

Thanks again.

monepolk

+1 on the amp, my LSi 15s came alive after adding an amp.

Geoff4rfc

B Run wrote: »

I looked it up and it's closed, i've never been but I wasn't born till 86 so I missed out on most of the cool old bars around Austin.

'86? My son was born in '86...........son? is that you???? Oh wait, he's here with me!

CLOSED?????? Oh man, that is such a bummer, many brain cells were killed and MIA in the back room. I've heard Conan's Pizza is still alive and operating, I love that place. S.A. is my home brother, but a little piece of Austin lives in my heart forever

Do me a fav, please have some breakfast tacos for me, chorizo, potato and egg with some jalape?os and don't stop until I pass out, thank you.

odedia

I am seeing some nice deals on other speakers so I am considering to just bite the bullet and order a complete set.

What would be a better fit for surround speakers? the LSI 7's or the FXi A6? They are priced the same for a pair. The LSi 7 seems the better speaker but I'm not sure if it's better than the FXi A6 for surround. I am sitting right next to the speakers since my sofa is all the way back to the wall.

I also saw a good deal on the LSiM706c so I guess I'll get that.

Is the PSW111 sub worth it for this setup (LSI 15, LSiM706c, LSI7 or FX A6 for surround, XPA-5 to drive it all)? It is offered free if purchased over 499$, but it won't be really free for me since I'll need to ship it here and pay 36% tax of retail price, the question is would it do any difference in my setup with the two passive subs in the LSI 15s? If anyone has recommendations for other subs that might fit this setup *with universal AC* I'd appreciate their input. I noticed some Polk subs are 110-240v while others are not.

I would also appreciate recommendations for RCA cables (receiver to amp, receiver to sub) and speaker cables, preferably with Amazon links since I must buy them online and Amazon is the easiest for me.

Thanks.

odedia

Also, if I go with the FXi A6, is there any point is getting the XPA-5 or should I just settle for the XPA-3?

cfrizz

You really shouldn't mix the FXi and LSI speakers they have two very different sounds. And all speakers benefit from more power, so get an XPA-5 and be done with that upgrade since you can continue to use it through all other speaker changes. You should make the amp the first purchase so that it is in place for when you get the LSI's.

odedia

In that case, is it a good idea to use the LSiM706c as a center with the LSI 15s or should I keep looking for a used LSiC center? They are different revisions but of the same series. And also, should the LSI 7 be used for surround or should I wait and get the LSiFX speakers down the line? They are very expensive at the moment.

cfrizz

Keep looking for a LSIc & either the 7s or LSIfx's will do.