Lsim 703 vs 705

fyrn

I have been looking through the post comparing these two speakers. I have read some info that is conflicting to me and would like to see if someone can expand on it.
My understanding is that the 705 the more "correct" of the two, but most say that the 703 have more punch (bass), more dynamic but mids are better on the 705.
Can someone describe in a nut shell the simple differences between the two?
Balanced, correct, sweet, etc are relatively subjective terms that I don't know what was meant by them. (and since pro reviews on the 705 are basically nonexistent ..... makes it even harder to make a side by side comparison)
My intent is 100% music with no sub.
Thanks for any help

F1nut

The 705 is the better speaker, period.

fyrn

thanks fnut, I read one of your post where you said that most people had a hard time telling the difference between the 707 and the 703 (some audio fest). That is what is confusing to me. Can you expand on why is better if most of us could not tell them apart?
Thanks

F1nut

That was true, but it was at a show in less than ideal conditions. Fact is the 703's pump up the mid bass to give the illusion that there's more bass, which can deceive folks at first. The 707's have deeper, real bass, but the balance of the speaker is off, IMO. The 705's get the balance right.

fyrn

and by properly power we mean what... 150w/ch

hochpt21

Depends on the quality of the 150.

I powered my 705's with a B&K Reference 200.2 (225W), an Anthem 225i (225W), and now a Musical Fidelity A308 (150W).

None of those amps lacked in powering the speakers, but so far I'm in love with the Musical Fidelity and haven't ever felt like it wasn't up to snuff.

cincycat13

an interesting thread. my input on properly powered amp would be one with current to deliver the watts when needed for the dynamics of the material being played. hochpt21 lists some good examples. I use an old yamaha M4 for my lsim703 or when i swap in some modded LSi9s. upgrading to an HK990 when I reset up after room remodeling.

What F1nut states about the "bump" may be why my ears prefer my LSi9s on tracks such as the heartbeat at the start of pink floyd DSOTM. Don't get me wrong...the 703 are much more forgiving in other areas of set up and listening position. I have been seriouisly considering a pair of the 705s but have been concerned about my room being too small.

And then I can read reviews by other long term members such as Doro who preferred the 707 and not sure why there even was a purpose for the 705 while others state the 707 bass can get muddy in tight quarters.

Thats why the best advice I ever read here is to get your ears on a set and see what you prefer. I am still deciding on mahogany vs cherry. Good luck...report back on what you choose.

fyrn

I have heard the 703 but not the 705. I am under the impression (possibly incorrect) that the 703 would be a 705 minus the woofer but if I'm understanding correctly from what is being said the 703 has a "fake" quality in mid/bass that the 705 does not.
So I'm assuming that the 705 plays the music more truly than the 703 (due to the added coloration). Am I in the ball park?

gumbay13

fyrn wrote: »

I have heard the 703 but not the 705. I am under the impression (possibly incorrect) that the 703 would be a 705 minus the woofer but if I'm understanding correctly from what is being said the 703 has a "fake" quality in mid/bass that the 705 does not.
So I'm assuming that the 705 plays the music more truly than the 703 (due to the added coloration). Am I in the ball park?

According to this pdf ( http://www.edinw.com/Spec_Sheets/POLK_LSIM707_SPEC.PDF), the 703 is the 707 minus the woofers and to me that is where the smart money is with a subwoofer or 2 of course.

PSOVLSK

Size of your room matters as well. The only reason I never upgraded to the 705's was that I was afraid they would be overwhelming in my smallish room. And I had a chance to get a pair of 705 at a great price.

fyrn

PSOVLSK wrote: »

Size of your room matters as well. The only reason I never upgraded to the 705's was that I was afraid they would be overwhelming in my smallish room. And I had a chance to get a pair of 705 at a great price.

What size was your room, mine is 14 x 23 (not sure what that is consider; S,M,L).
are there any room size guidelines for the different models?
I'm like you, I worry about the 705 being to much that it would have to be played so low that you loose the benefits of them

F1nut

hochpt21 wrote: »

Depends on the quality of the 150.

I powered my 705's with a B&K Reference 200.2 (225W), an Anthem 225i (225W), and now a Musical Fidelity A308 (150W).

None of those amps lacked in powering the speakers, but so far I'm in love with the Musical Fidelity and haven't ever felt like it wasn't up to snuff.

That's because the MF has big balls.

F1nut

gumbay13 wrote: »

fyrn wrote: »

I have heard the 703 but not the 705. I am under the impression (possibly incorrect) that the 703 would be a 705 minus the woofer but if I'm understanding correctly from what is being said the 703 has a "fake" quality in mid/bass that the 705 does not.
So I'm assuming that the 705 plays the music more truly than the 703 (due to the added coloration). Am I in the ball park?

According to this pdf ( http://www.edinw.com/Spec_Sheets/POLK_LSIM707_SPEC.PDF), the 703 is the 707 minus the woofers and to me that is where the smart money is with a subwoofer or 2 of course.

They all share the same top engine.

I've listened to the 705's in a small room, the sound was better the than the 703's and the 707's in a big room.

AsSiMiLaTeD

You should really listen to both if you can. The 705 may be a 'better' speaker but I know several people that prefer the 703. I've not really been able to compare them directly enough to be able to decide which I prefer, though on paper I certainly prefer the 705.

PSOVLSK

fyrn wrote: »

PSOVLSK wrote: »

Size of your room matters as well. The only reason I never upgraded to the 705's was that I was afraid they would be overwhelming in my smallish room. And I had a chance to get a pair of 705 at a great price.

What size was your room, mine is 14 x 23 (not sure what that is consider; S,M,L).
are there any room size guidelines for the different models?
I'm like you, I worry about the 705 being to much that it would have to be played so low that you loose the benefits of them

If my room were that big I'd have bought the 705's.

EndersShadow

@F1Nut, they all use the same drivers, however IIRC the way the midrange section is enclosed in the internal cabinet is different in the 705's and 707's from the 703. From what I remember of the cutouts the 707 encloses the midrange drivers in a smaller box to utilize some of the upper cabinet for the bass drivers.

Not sure if the 705's do the same as I haven't been paying tons of attention to them.

tonyb

F1nut wrote: »

hochpt21 wrote: »

Depends on the quality of the 150.

I powered my 705's with a B&K Reference 200.2 (225W), an Anthem 225i (225W), and now a Musical Fidelity A308 (150W).

None of those amps lacked in powering the speakers, but so far I'm in love with the Musical Fidelity and haven't ever felt like it wasn't up to snuff.

That's because the MF has big balls.

Nobody will ever accuse you of being a wall flower...lol. True statement none the less.

fyrn

Does anyone know where I can find a cutout picture of the 703's?
I have searched the web but nothing. I assume the 705 is the same as the 707, but can't find anything for the 703.

WLDock

There can't be much to see compared to the 707 cutout.

Anyway, did you see the HTS review of the 705, with measurements?
http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/home-audio-speakers/73340-official-3-000-speaker-evaluation-home-audition-event.html#post682694

Tons of measurements of the 703.
http://www.audioholics.com/bookshelf-speaker-reviews/polk-audio-lsim703/measurements-conclusion
http://www.stereophile.com/content/polk-lsiiim703-loudspeaker-measurements
http://www.soundstagenetwork.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=839:nrc-measurements-polk-audio-lsim703-loudspeakers&catid=77&Itemid=153

How about the LSiM technical brief?
http://www.sohmerassoc.com/cedia_2011/sa_cedia_2011_downloads/polk_audio/LSiMSeries_technical_brief.pdf

From there not sure what more you can do? Not sure if you were trying to buy during the sale or if you are buying local? However, you really should find a way to demo/buy a single 703 and a single 705 and set them up in your room. Then play your own tunes and see what you like. Should be able to get an idea of the differences. While not the most competitive price, sites like Crutchfield have a 60 day money back guarantee. Maybe others will allow you an option to demo?

plainoledave

[quote="fyrn;165015" but most say that the 703 have more punch (bass),

My intent is 100% music with no sub.
Thanks for any help
[/quote]

I find it very hard to believe that the 703 have more punch than the 705. i have a pair of 05's driven by an old 150wpc NAD and i love them. These people must be underpowering the 05's to make that statement.

I don't need a sub with mine.

[Deleted User]

This is bumming me out as the 703's just shipped. I went this way because of room
size and layout. Got two subs as well...

plainoledave

^^^^ good to know^^^^

EndersShadow

DSkip wrote: »

We had a long thread arguing the merits of that review, and it focused on the review of all the speakers in that shootout, not just the review of the 705.

Linky Skip?

WLDock

Well, we all know that the ones that are overly influenced are looking for someone to make their mind up for them. However, if someone was looking for a 3rd party measurement of the 705, at the very least one can see what they did in that room. Everybody with half an ear knows that speakers sound different.....all with a grain of salt.

sahmen

I now have both the 703s and the 705s. I have been using the 703s for a year and a half now as fronts in my ht rig, and also for strictly 2.1-channel stereo listening, and I have to say that they've been great for both so far, but I also need to add, without intending this as a knock against the 703s, that all things said and done, the 705s, which arrived a little over one week ago, have kicked things up a notch by improving the listening experience on a few slight but important levels. With the 705s, I am hearing some new more refined subtleties in the music for the first time,on tracks I have been listening to on the 703s for more than a year now, though I can't say that those subtleties and refinements were entirely absent from the music on the 703s, what I suspect is that they were getting lost or too recessed to be audible to my ears in the congestion of that artificial hard mid-bass punch that skip has been referring to... And yes, I think I understand what he means by that punch now that I am able to compare the sound from the 2 speakers. The 705s resolve the sounds and separates the musical instruments in a slightly more balanced way. It is as if the sounds have a little more room to breath and bloom in the 705s... Look, again this should not be read as too much of a knock against the 703s, which I still love and have reassigned to my bedroom rig. The 705s are just a tad more sweet and airier, and if I were more confident of my command of audiophile speak, which I am not, I'd say they give the impression of a slightly wider and/or deeper soundstage. Those are my two cents.

sahmen

Let me add that, I have not even tried watching movies with the 705s yet. When I do, and hear some significant differences, I shall post my thoughts. Stay tuned.

[Deleted User]

A comparison of the 703s to the 705s is a wrong comparison to begin with. A person must establish a foundation based on reasonable understanding that drives much deeper than the given attributes.

Given the same build and quality, one must certainly ascertain that there are vast reasonable differences between a book shelf speaker and its counterpart. I mean, come one, not all sound engineers are idiots. I have always trusted what Polk puts out, as it is proven in their products.

But ultimately, I use my own preference to make that decision. If you need someone to tell you, what you like or should sound good, than you are an effin idiot.

I also understand that the vast majority wants to have the absolute best bang for the buck. I understand that. Perhaps, you should let your ears do the talking, not what you read. Simple, so effin simple.

I agree with Skip on almost every account. He relies on his senses, perhaps you folks should do the same.

It is not complicated....

Halen

WLDock

halenhoang wrote: »

A comparison of the 703s to the 705s is a wrong comparison to begin with. A person must establish a foundation based on reasonable understanding that drives much deeper than the given attributes.
Given the same build and quality, one must certainly ascertain that there are vast reasonable differences between a book shelf speaker and its counterpart. I mean, come one, not all sound engineers are idiots. I have always trusted what Polk puts out, as it is proven in their products.
But ultimately, I use my own preference to make that decision. If you need someone to tell you, what you like or should sound good, than you are an effin idiot.
I also understand that the vast majority wants to have the absolute best bang for the buck. I understand that. Perhaps, you should let your ears do the talking, not what you read. Simple, so effin simple.
I agree with Skip on almost every account. He relies on his senses, perhaps you folks should do the same.
It is not complicated....
Halen

Is your post directed at the O.P? If so I understand where you are coming from and where you are in this hobby. But come on... give him a break! We all know it comes down to money. With money in hand the O.P. could just buy both and compare them at home and report his findings. That is obviously not the case so like many...he is just looking for feedback because obviously he has no way to listen to the 705's before purchase.

Again, I understand your points in saying a comparison between the 703 and 705 is wrong. The reality is...that is simply just your opinion. Even DSkip and others have stated that they prefer the 703 over the 705 for various reasons. Even some of the pro reviews comment on how loud and low the 703's can go....some say they sound like a tower speaker.

We're all just guys on the net with nothing better to do shooting the breeze. We all have to put reviews and opinions of others in perspective....WE DON'T ALL LIKE THE SAME THING NOR DO WE ALL HEAR THE SAME! That is the one thing that we ALL can agree on! Also, if we all had more money we all would be rolling gear in and out that the time spent on the internet would be much less. All of us would be listening to much more music!!!!

Lietuvis91

The room is of reasonably big size, so you could make use of a floorstander, but if this room has lots going on in terms of couches, tables, stands etc. Then a properly placed bookshelf might still sound better. I'd go with the 703. That would be my preference anyway...

fyrn

thanks for all input. I got my hands on some 703 to try and I was playing with them and a CD that has test frequencies and measured the SPL with a meter. The 703's played all the way down to 40hz with no drop in (db) volume. Past 40 the drop was huge (more than 10db).
They would be 100% music, and there is not a lot of music below 40 that I listen to.
So I don't know how much of an improvement a 705 would be at twice the cost, probably not twice as much.

[Deleted User]

On day two of listening to my 703's, my wife asked where all the bass is coming from.