LSi15

AmericanTico
AmericanTico Posts: 4
edited May 2013 in Speakers
Hi All:

My name is Roger and I'm new to this forum. I inherited an extra pair of Polk speakers (LSI15s) from a relative who was downsizing and said he never used them --but he also warned me not to turn up the volume until I buy an amp because my receiver was marginal. It's a Pioneer 1121-K.

I have two questions: can I play at low volumes and not hurt the speakers/receivers until I buy a proper amp. If not, I have an old Kenwood amp (KM-206) that was part of an older system I used to have --can I use that in the meantime?

Thank you...
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  • Mystery
    Mystery Posts: 2,546
    edited April 2013
    AmericanTico wrote: »
    Hi All:

    My name is Roger and I'm new to this forum.
    I have two questions: can I play at low volumes and not hurt the speakers/receivers until I buy a proper amp. If not, I have an old Kenwood amp (KM-206) that was part of an older system I used to have --can I use that in the meantime?
    Thank you...
    Welcome to the forum.
    I never had LSI series (too expensive) but they are excellent speakers from what I read.

    1. Yes, just don't push them too hard at high volumes.
    Either receiver or Kenwood will work since both are similar watts
    2. Kenwood is a dedicated amp so may handle high volumes better but you need a pre-amp for kenwood since it doesn't have a volume control and you can use Pioneer receiver as pre-amp if it has pre-out.

    Klipsch RB81, KG3.5, B&W DM602.5, Polk.
    Subwoofers: Klipsch RW10, Triad ProSub Bronze.
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  • AmericanTico
    AmericanTico Posts: 4
    edited April 2013
    I believe my receiver has pre-outs. So if I understand you correctly...if I hook the amp up to the receiver I can control the volume through later. Again, a temporary situation. And I don't ever intend to play music too loud as I live in a small condo. :(
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  • Mystery
    Mystery Posts: 2,546
    edited April 2013
    AmericanTico wrote: »
    I believe my receiver has pre-outs. So if I understand you correctly...if I hook the amp up to the receiver I can control the volume through later. Again, a temporary situation. And I don't ever intend to play music too loud as I live in a small condo. :(
    Yes, don't use receiver to power speakers.
    That means, no speaker wires on the receiver.
    Receiver pre-outs RCA left/right to Kenwood and use speaker wires from Kenwood to speakers.
    Also, only use one set of outputs either A or B.

    If you live in a townhouse like me, doesn't matter what you use.
    I never use more than few watts and it's already too loud.

    Klipsch RB81, KG3.5, B&W DM602.5, Polk.
    Subwoofers: Klipsch RW10, Triad ProSub Bronze.
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  • cowtrimmer
    cowtrimmer Posts: 201
    edited April 2013
    You can use that receiver. It wont be optimal and I wouldnt expect those speakers to sound their best, but it will work in the interem.
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  • AmericanTico
    AmericanTico Posts: 4
    edited April 2013
    Thank you all for the answers. You are very generous.
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  • AmericanTico
    AmericanTico Posts: 4
    edited April 2013
    May I indulge to ask another question regarding a center channel and speaker cables? I read people mentioning Axiom speakers and how they are a bargain. Would the VP-100 match my setup - or am I better off getting an LSiC center channel? Also, does speaker cable really help sound or will radio shack do?
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  • Mystery
    Mystery Posts: 2,546
    edited April 2013
    Normal rule of thumb is center should match fronts.

    There is big debate about speaker cable and it's effect but if you are not spending $100/foot any decent speaker wires will work like monster, acoustic research etc...

    Klipsch RB81, KG3.5, B&W DM602.5, Polk.
    Subwoofers: Klipsch RW10, Triad ProSub Bronze.
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  • peerguy
    peerguy Posts: 4
    edited May 2013
    AmericanTico wrote: »
    Hi All:

    My name is Roger and I'm new to this forum. I inherited an extra pair of Polk speakers (LSI15s) from a relative who was downsizing and said he never used them --but he also warned me not to turn up the volume until I buy an amp because my receiver was marginal. It's a Pioneer 1121-K.

    I have two questions: can I play at low volumes and not hurt the speakers/receivers until I buy a proper amp. If not, I have an old Kenwood amp (KM-206) that was part of an older system I used to have --can I use that in the meantime?

    Thank you...

    Roger .. Here's my take on the whole situation.

    I owned a VSX-1121 and now I have the entire LSI home theater. LSI15s, LSI7s, LSI C and a Sub. Do not use the LSI15s, and a center with the VSX-1121 unless you want to end up with a fried receiver. The VSX-1121 is not capable of handling the load. You can be lucky at very low volumes till one fine day it'll fry. Get yourself a used amplifier if you are on a budget. The Amp should be atleast 300 watts per channel and should have atleast 2 channels.

    The LSIs can sing like there's no tomorrow provided you get a decent amp.
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  • peerguy
    peerguy Posts: 4
    edited May 2013
    Mystery wrote: »
    Normal rule of thumb is center should match fronts.

    There is big debate about speaker cable and it's effect but if you are not spending $100/foot any decent speaker wires will work like monster, acoustic research etc...

    Agree. The LSI C is timber matched with the LSI15s.
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  • zane77
    zane77 Posts: 1,696
    edited May 2013
    Good luck finding an LSiC, they seem to be very, very scarce now that Polk is no lomger making them
    Home Theater
    Onkyo PR-SC5508 Sharp LC-70LE847U
    Emotiva XPA-5 Emotiva XPA-2 Emotiva UPA-2
    Front RTi-A9 Wide RTi-A7 Center CSi-A6 Surround FXi-A6 Rear RTi-A3 Sub 2x PSW505
    Sony BDP-S790 Dishnetwork Hopper/Joey Logitech Harmony One Apple TV
    Two Channel
    Oppo 105D BAT VK-500 w/BatPack SDA SRS 2.3 Dreadnought Squeezebox Touch Apple TV
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  • nme medic
    nme medic Posts: 98
    edited May 2013
    LSiC on Ebay right now for $499.99
    F:L/R LSi 15
    Cen: LSiC
    Sur: LSi FX
    SurBack: LSi 9's
    Sub: Modded PSW1000
    Sony STR-DA4400ES
    Emotiva UPA-200 W/Black Trim
    Emotiva XPA-3 W/Black Trim
    Samsung PN58A650 Plasma
    Plasma TV Wall Unit SKU: SH-CAESAR-WU
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  • hertz9753
    hertz9753 Posts: 310
    edited May 2013
    I run a LSi9 for my center channel.
    AVR-Onkyo TX-NR808
    Front amp-Adcom GFA 555>Polk Audio LSi9's(Vr3 Castle Mods)
    Center amp-Adcom GFA 5400>Polk Audio LSi9 bi-wired(Vr3 Castle Mod)
    Surrounds-Polk Audio F/X500's<Onkyo TX-NR808
    Sub-Velodyne SPL-1000R
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited May 2013
    Lsi's need a high current design amplifier section as they are 4 ohms (nominal) impedance. While you can likely run them on most receivers, keep the volume low to moderate until you upgrade your amp. The lower the impedance (sum of all resistive components), the more current (amps) you need from the amp. Cheaper amp sections typically only support 8ohm/pair speakers because they don't have the current capabilities.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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