Lsi9's reviewed.......

mantis
mantis Posts: 17,201
edited January 2004 in Speakers
OK,
I know I just got them today from Madmax,and for all fairness I should run them for many many hours but hell I just wanted to do a shootout as it's been awhile..

The Lsi9's are a cool lookin speaker.There deeper then my Lsi15's.

So right into it is the VS to the 15's.I considered the difference in bass ability and went on overall clarity.The Lsi9's are a remarkable sounding little/big speaker.They have great detail and have the ability to play pretty low.Emotionallt they didn't move me.I tried and treid with them.There was just something different then what I was used to listening to.I used my usual test tracks(lorenna,Al Di Meola,etc) and I couldn't feel it.So ok I let them play for the rest of the day...Watch the HULK on DVD with them as mains(poor 15's just sat there and couldn't chip in)then played some Xbox Live,So ok the B&K has been running them nicely but still no difference in sound quality so for now I will put them up to the challenge to the Lsi15's.

They didn't have a chance.....I'm thinking after some more break in,Mad said he didn't use them much,I'll give them a run again.

Basically they just didn't have the same level oc clarity that the Lsi15's do.The mid range seemed a bit forced and slighty muddy(same Impressions I had with them the last time I listend to them).The Lsi9's again just didn't move me,didn't suck me into the music and allow me to float away.......

So as premature as this review is...coming soon will be round 2.

Stay tuned,
Dan
Dan
My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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Comments

  • fireshoes
    fireshoes Posts: 3,167
    edited January 2004
    Break-in definitely plays a huge role in their sound. I'm sure they will clear up.
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited January 2004
    Dan,
    They only have less than an hour on them. They are absolutely brand new. Let them play for a few days. I am totally serious here. I got them one day and received my LSi15's the next day. They got unhooked and never played again. I think I played a few tracks on them at the most. You still have another 80 plus hours before they start to break in.

    Enjoy,
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,201
    edited January 2004
    I played them allday today.Along road ahead....

    Damn you Mad,you should have broke tehm in for me..LOL

    In time,
    Dan
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited January 2004
    Good deal, Dan! have fun breaking in the 9. Are you going to setup 7.1 with it? Try with the sub (did you end up with Storm III)?
    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,201
    edited January 2004
    polkatese,
    I missed out on the Storm III we had left.I went to the store to pick it up and we had a commit on it...Damn it.But no lose as I'm ordering one from Rel.After all the crazy amount of demoing subs,Rel is still not matched in it's price class and alittle behond for music first theater 2nd setup.Nothing blends into the mains like they do,you already know.

    The 9's are most likely to take surround back duty unless I put them into my office for 2 channel.The 7's are still my first choice for surround back.

    You know that I'm thinking of this....buying 2 pairs of the 7's,one for mains hung around the screen along with the Lsic.Then using the other pair od 7's for surroundback.Of course using my Lsi/fx's for rears.Moving the Lsi15's into the office for 2 channel duty.
    Another Idea I have is using the 9's for mains on some Ultimate foundation stands,same rest of the system and still moving the 15's into the office for 2 channel.

    But my theater room is going to be killer.15x24 is perfect for 2 channel playback.I wanna go Ref50 and Reference amps.Even as theater gear it makes for killer 2 channel.

    Ideas are killing so Breaking in the 9's are my piority.They sound ok today as they have been on since I got home from work and I plan on running them into the night,Xbox play included.

    You did a VS battle didn't you?I forget how yours turned out...do tell or leave a link would yeah,I would love to re read it...
    Dan
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • pjdami
    pjdami Posts: 1,894
    edited January 2004
    Dan,

    My LSi 9's seemed to take forever to break in when I had them for mains. Almost 3 weeks it seemed. Now my LSi 15 they sounded pretty good within a few hours. Seems strange as they both are LSi, but they have different crossover ranges.

    I do find that the LSi 9 when played full range, even now that they are broken in, seem a little "thick" sounding in the midrange. Some would even call this "chestiness". They seem to overaccentuate the bass as well and this is what seems to muddy up the mids a tad too. Bass and treble set to flat as always when comparing. Compared to the Paradigm Studio 40s I had and the Spendor S8s I now have, the LSi 9s aren't as transparent when played full range.

    Now, its been a while since I had the LSi 9 crossovered with my PT5 high pass 2nd order crossover set at 80 hz mated with a sub, but this configuration makes them sound better and some if not all of the muddiness goes away. The LSi 15 to me at least do not have this characteristic of being muddy. Strange again, as they are both LSi but again it must have to do with the crossovers. The LSi 15 and the Spendor S8 I need to do a shootout one day with both of them as the Spendor is more expensive but has the laid back characteristic and killer mids / sweet highs too. Its a British speaker and not too many people have heard of them but they won my heart for the two channel rig that I have. I compard the Spendor to JM Lab Electra bookshelves at the local Hi-Fi shop for over three hours and took the Spendor floor demos home for a try out and had to have them. The demos never went back to the shop and I got a great price for them when I traded in my Studio 40s as well for them.

    Just my personal experience though. I think the 9s would make a killer main for HT if you add the sub in the mix. Ref 50 and Ref 200.7 amp eh? If I had to do it all over that's what I would do too. Thanks for recommending B&K gear. I've moved on to it and haven't looked back since. I have ordered a SVS PB1+ to complete my home theater rig and I have Dr. Spec to thank for that.
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,201
    edited January 2004
    Chesty............yep on the nose.
    Compared to the 15's they are a bit muddy.Not a muddy speaker but you know what I mean.

    The 15's do not have this as you noticed as well.The 15's are clearer in the mid range and even seem to have better hi's.
    I personallyh chose the 15's over the 9's back when I bought them and still perfer them today.

    Not taking anything away from the 9's are by themselves,they are some killer bookshelf speakers.

    I have been running them for 3 days straight.They have a good amount of hours on them now and sound pretty good.Chesty still but I believe it's just the nature of the speaker.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,201
    edited January 2004
    Chesty............yep on the nose.
    Compared to the 15's they are a bit muddy.Not a muddy speaker but you know what I mean.

    The 15's do not have this as you noticed as well.The 15's are clearer in the mid range and even seem to have better hi's.
    I personallyh chose the 15's over the 9's back when I bought them and still perfer them today.

    Not taking anything away from the 9's are by themselves,they are some killer bookshelf speakers.

    I have been running them for 3 days straight.They have a good amount of hours on them now and sound pretty good.Chesty still but I believe it's just the nature of the speaker.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,716
    edited January 2004
    It's Deja vu, all over again.;)
    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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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited January 2004
    Don't forget I have a center for sale as well. Could be a top/bottom combo in the front or used as a rear center... :D:D:D

    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • LuSh
    LuSh Posts: 887
    edited January 2004
    That chesty midrange does go away. I had almost 100hours on them before they started to loosen up. I was very scared when I first bought the speakers. I can honestly assure you though, the break in is lengthy but then well worth it.
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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited January 2004
    The chesty sound did not go away for me. I used my LSi9 daily for over a year. The only time it went away completely was when I used the Dyna or ASL.

    Maurice
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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited January 2004
    Personally, I believe its not the nature of the speaker we are refering to here, but the nature of the room and its associated gear.

    I agree. Just like I stated in my previous post. Another combination of equipment I forgot to mention is the Rotel pre/NAD amp. This almost takes out the chesty sound completely. The one that has the most is the NAD pre/NAD amp. The NAD/NAD is the worst combo or my LSi9 but the best for the RF-35. I find the LSi sounds better with brighter sounding equipments.

    Maurice
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  • brettw22
    brettw22 Posts: 7,623
    edited January 2004
    It's Deja vu, all over again.;)
    comment comment comment comment. bitchy.
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  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,080
    edited January 2004
    Personally, I believe its not the nature of the speaker we are refering to here, but the nature of the room and its associated gear.

    I'll go along with this as there shouldn't be worlds of difference, fundmentally between the LSi15 and the 9's. They should carry a very similar sonic signature.

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,201
    edited January 2004
    They should carry a very similar sonic signature
    They do 2 a point.I believe that the added bass demands and difference in cabnet design leads to the coloration of the mid range on the 9's when compared to the 15's.

    4 day in and over 30 + hours on them..........should be losening up soon...
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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