Smaller Floorstanding Speaker for the LSiM Line

parimento1

I wish they would make a floorstanding version of the LSiM703. I feel the 703 is way too big to be a bookshelf and would be awesome as a smaller floorstander for people with smaller rooms and/or people who do not need all the bass of the 705 and 707. What do you guys think?

ZLTFUL

LSiM703 + a set of quality filled stands = Exactly what you are looking for. /thread

:cheesygrin:

Emlyn

parimento1 wrote: »

I wish they would make a floorstanding version of the LSiM703. I feel the 703 is way too big to be a bookshelf and would be awesome as a smaller floorstander for people with smaller rooms and/or people who do not need all the bass of the 705 and 707. What do you guys think?

The idea was discussed on the forum before the LSiM's came out. I agree that a 78lb floor stander like the 705 is too big for some rooms, and for some people who would rather have something easier to move. Some people also dislike speaker stands for a variety of reasons. I actually had a friend tell me she didn't like the looks of my LSi9's once and that I should get a pair of floor standing speakers instead. A smaller floor stander would have to be the same width as the other speakers in the series, so would have to be shorter or have less depth to get down to 60lb or less and have one less bass driver. Polk obviously decided to go bigger with their top of the line floor standers this time around rather than smaller. While it's a nice idea to have a third floor stander, it's probably not the best market decision to have that many choices these days in a high end speaker line. The smaller speaker would have stolen sales from the bigger models. The other Polk speaker lines tend to have three floor standing models in each though.

parimento1

I had an opportunity to own the LSiM 703 when they first came out, but had to send them back due to a defective tweeter. They were absolutely amazing in every way, the bass was as good as my floor standers I have now, the treble was slightly more prominent than the rest of the range, but was never annoying and the midrange was just right. It is clear polk spent a lot of time tuning these speakers. I also owned the Lsi7 and the RT5s back in the day. I would have to say that for the money, the RT5s were amazing. The LSi7s...not so much. I heard that Polk no longer uses the Vifa tweeter, is this true?

cnh

Polk still uses a ring radiator in the LSI-M series but it has been modified from the previous LSi series. Frankly, even the old Vifa is a very very nice tweeter. That's NOT the problem in the old series. It's the crossover and how you "power" the speakers. The Lsi-7s are a very respectable speaker that, when tweaked and correctly powered, can compete with anything in that price range.

LSi-M 703s, though, are EVEN BETTER! Another notch (or two) up! A top contender in their higher price range!

Of course, if you love the "highs" B&W bookies put out, then the old LSi bookies are NOT FOR YOU! To me the Vifa highs are "just right", not EDGY and laser-etched like the metal in B&Ws--sending you running for cover after a few minutes. lol

cnh

parimento1

cnh wrote: »

Polk still uses a ring radiator in the LSI-M series but it has been modified from the previous LSi series. Frankly, even the old Vifa is a very very nice tweeter. That's NOT the problem in the old series. It's the crossover and how you "power" the speakers. The Lsi-7s are a very respectable speaker that, when tweaked and correctly powered, can compete with anything in that price range.

LSi-M 703s, though, are EVEN BETTER! Another notch (or two) up! A top contender in their higher price range!

Of course, if you love the "highs" B&W bookies put out, then the old LSi bookies are NOT FOR YOU! To me the Vifa highs are "just right", not EDGY and laser-etched like the metal in B&Ws--sending you running for cover after a few minutes. lol

cnh

I never understood what all the fuss was about with the B&W speakers...I have heard the PM range of speakers and really thought they were nothing special at all.

WLDock

I had a similar thought about the 703's. They seem like a great value in the line and have such a wide range for a bookshelf. However, I like the look of a floorstander as well ...not to mention good bookshelf stands are not cheap. Given the $1500 price difference between the 703 and 705...I don't think I could pay the extra money for the 705's.
I would make my own modern day RT3000P set. Could use a couple of 6-1/2" subs per cabinets for smaller rooms. Or could go with 2 or 4 8's or two 10's etc. Could make a cabinet that will work sealed and ported to give more tuning options etc. Or one could just make the cabinet without the subs just for the look of a floorstander. If one is a DIYer this would not be a hard project...or could find a local cabinet maker...might be able to match the factory finish pretty close. Or, one could go with an all black lower half, etc.

Project Example
2-4 ( 6-1/2" or 8" or 10" subs) - $120-$400
2 (300W BASH amps) - $240
MDF or Batic birch - $50-$150
Wood Veneer - $100-$200
Other - $100

---

$610-$1090 - This could come out to a little less or a little more depending on several factors... Or making just the cabinets without subs would be MUCH cheaper.


I photoshopped(GIMPed) the 703 on top of the RT3000p sub cabinet:

plainoledave

I suggested this also and was more or less crucified. Speaker stands suck and are ugly! It's a subjective preference of mine, so "just get over it" isn't a valid comeback.

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?145749-The-LSIM-I-WISH-they-Made

Geoff4rfc

plainoledave wrote: »

I suggested this also and was more or less crucified. Speaker stands suck and are ugly! It's a subjective preference of mine, so "just get over it" isn't a valid comeback.

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?145749-The-LSIM-I-WISH-they-Made

I can relate to the general consensus here, you've got the two big boy towers and then the bookie. A third tower would have been a good option.

And, I've never been much a "stand" guy either, but the 703 IMO is worthy of the consideration. I would definitely make the change and stand a pair of 703's.

BTW Dave, I read the link, strong opinionated answers can be a little harsh around here at times, glad to see you're still around.

plainoledave

Geoff4rfc wrote: »

BTW Dave, I read the link, strong opinionated answers can be a little harsh around here at times, glad to see you're still around.

Thanks! I was in a bad mood at the time and that thread sent me over the edge at the time. I reread it and some of the replies that i found critical were also constructive. I guess i'm saying i was being thin skinned at the time. I've since bought lsi15 instead of the 703's.

WLDock

plainoledave wrote: »

I suggested this also and was more or less crucified. Speaker stands suck and are ugly! It's a subjective preference of mine, so "just get over it" isn't a valid comeback. http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?145749-The-LSIM-I-WISH-they-Made

Who really cares what others think? Are they buying the speakers and listening to them in their living space? No!

Like I said, given the cost of the tower and the high cost of nice stands...why not just make or have made a base for a given bookshelf....would create the 2-Piece floorstander look. The base does not have to be a bass unit...but just a stand. For the 703, could start out with a basic enclosure design...similar to the Parts Express Knock-Down enclosure,

...round off the corners, brace, stuff, weight, down the internal, then add some spikes. The hard part would be trying to match the gloss front and wood side finish. Really, one could do what ever they wanted...kind of cool in a way to have options.


A capable woodworking DIY'er could come up with something cool that could like as good or better than other 2-piece systems out there.

WLDock

plainoledave

^^^^
I appreciate the suggestions but i am a big fan of getting what i want without having to DIY. I've decided to "settle" for lsi15's until they either make what i want or i find a set of affordable 705s.

WLDock

Can't go wrong there!

plainoledave

I forwarded this thread to polk's facebook person and they were intrigued about the interest for the smaller floorstander. It's hard to say if that's just lipservice or not but i am cautiously optimistic. I'll go hide under a rock now as this place has been quite caustic lately.

Geoff4rfc

plainoledave wrote: »

I'll go hide under a rock now as this place has been quite caustic lately.

Lol!!

Actually dave, I've been considering the 703's for awhile just for 2ch although I have really been enjoying my RTiA9's for music.

The more I amp them, the better they sound IMO, but really looking forward to being in a position to demo the 703's. For sure, let me know if you get an answer for the smaller tower.

D_M

You can't please us all. I want a 5 1/4" driver 702 bookie that has the same footprint as the LSi7s.

plainoledave

D_M wrote: »

You can't please us all. I want a 5 1/4" driver 702 bookie that has the same footprint as the LSi7s.

I can't hurt to ask, however improbable it may be.

I don't think asking them about doing the same thing the do in other product lines is that far out of line. Maybe it is?

tonyb

"Small" floorstanders....what's that ? :biggrin:

plainoledave

he said "smaller" as in "less big", not the same as "small". I'm just bustin' balls here. :cheesygrin: