LSi line recommendations

hejiraent

I am gathering from the forum that the LSi line should not be bought as a complete HT set; that some speakers in the line are better than others. I bought the 15's and felt it necessary to get the C to have seamless sound up front. In your opinion, what else stands out in the LSi line?

jdhdiggs

I have only heard the 9's, but from what I gather from the forum, the 9 is one of the best all around speakers polk makes.

If I was building a true HT (seperate room, wiring, etc...), I would use 8 LSi9 (2 for the center channel) and an SVS, that's my opinion....

That said, I see no downside to going all LSi. The center seems to be hit or miss with some people and one forum member had great luck using the 9's X-over in the C. Others like the C.

IMHO, the best speakers in the line seem to be the 15 and 9, the others seem from reports to be a half step behind, but then I've only really heard the 9.

Use the search button and you'll find lots of experiences using various speakers in the LSi line.

pixiedave

I have the 15 and 9's as fronts the fx's surround and the c. I can only say great things. On a neutral system, the 15's ofcourse have more bass, but that should be self evident. running a subwoofer, switching between only 9's and 15's, It is hard to isolate wich are on. In HT mode, I find the sound excellent. I try not to describe sound here because i feel it is subjective. (plus I have seen over three hundred dead shows, so who knows how my ears are! lol) Listen to The Gratefull Dead rythym section on Apocolypse Now, The use a self designed Instrument called the Beam. I huge I beam with heavy guage wires stretched down its length. Mickey Heart hits it with a steel rod,or slides it. It is the sound of the Napalm. It never sounded anything in the movie like it did when they played it in concert, untill I cranked it on the Lsi's Breathtaking.

Frank Z

I own the an HT full of Lsi's and can imagine how you got the impresion that they are not well suited for HT. To each his own I suppose.

hejiraent

I just ordered the LSi9's from Crutchfield's scratch and dent section for $699.99. Would they be better to replace the(rear) RTi6's or the (Surround) FXi30's? I will so a sound test when I get them, but just curious about everyones opinion.

fireshoes

I think the LSi's are very good for HT as well. As for your question, I think I would replace the FXi30's with the LSi9's. Until you get some LSiFX's, that is.

mantis

lsi 15,lsiC,lsi9,lsi/fx for theater are great.Where did you get your info?They are what I own.

The center is designed to go with the lsi system......

hejiraent

Mantis,

I read a few places on here that seperates are the way to go when you buy LSi... I wanted to know why, and it seems that no one with that opinion has come foward to repeat it. I have the 15's, 9's, and C on the way...The negative opinions have not made an impression on me.

ken brydson

Originally posted by hejiraent
Mantis,

I read a few places on here that seperates are the way to go when you buy LSi... I wanted to know why, and it seems that no one with that opinion has come foward to repeat it. I have the 15's, 9's, and C on the way...The negative opinions have not made an impression on me.

Separates, as in separate components which according to your sig you have. I've never heard anybody bash Lsi's either

hejiraent

D'oh:eek: My bad....Have I mentioned I am still pretty new here???

mantis

I'll step forth and set the record straight.

Lsi series are hard speakers to drive.They are also of high quality and deserve to have high qualty electronics to drive them.

There are only few receivers that can drive them correctly.Seperates are the way to go.

Rotel and B&K is what I support if a receiver is whats in mind.Other then that I feel no need to use a receiver.(unless you can afford McIntosh there new receiver is better then most seperates)

Personally I own the B&K avr307,which I'm gonna upgrade soon.Seperates are next on the list meaning B&K ref50 and ref200.5,ref200.2 amps.

Once you have speakers of that level of quality,receivers are really not the way to go.They don't have the correct amount of current to drive the speakers......I'll say that again......Current.B&K's receiver has 42 amps of current per channel,most Japanese receivers have 7 amps of current per channel.....big differnce.B&K's seperate amps have 75 amps of current.........per channel....if you into spec's,this case means alot.
Sound quality suffers when your amps ability isn't up to the task.Having a high current amp doesn't determine sound quality,only the ability to drive the given speaker currectly.

You shop what you feel is right.....but my advice is to stay away from the japanese market and most receivers.

Congrads on the purchase.......first step,

Dan

Frank Z

On a side note...
Who are the "West Memphis Three?"

jmierzur

Originally posted by hejiraent
I am gathering from the forum that the LSi line should not be bought as a complete HT set; that some speakers in the line are better than others. I bought the 15's and felt it necessary to get the C to have seamless sound up front. In your opinion, what else stands out in the LSi line?

Have the 9's, C and FX with one of two (one was damaged in transit by OOPS, sorry I mean UPS) SVS PC-Ultra's. This setup is excellent for HT; two channel audio is even better. Have listened to other HT setups in audio stores and all I can say is that I have no regrets purchasing the LSi series.

Can hardly wait for the second PC-Ultra to arrive.

hejiraent

Frank, The West Memphis Three are three teenages accused of murdering three, eight year old boys in Arkansas. You can learn more about them by the documentaries "Paradise Lost" or "Paradise Lost 2". Or go to WWW.WM3.org.

pmckeealaska

Reading this string of Q&A has got me concerned, but I'm glad I read it before starting to buy. I currently have a pair of LSi 25's and have a NAD T763 receiver which is capable of 7.1 surround. I was hoping to buy a 5.1 HT system by buying an LSiC and a pair of LSiFX's. It seems as if the NAD is a kick butt receiver, but I want to make sure I don't need to go and invest in seperates before getting the speakers. Anyone have any thoughts??

hejiraent

I am really curious about using 2 Lsi9's as a center channel "speaker". How is that done? I am not being smart, I really do not know how to set that up.

gshisme

hejiraent, IMO for home theater 9's up front and rear center, FX's for surround. And the sub..well that is very subjective.
For SACD/DVD-Audio 9's up front and back..again the sub is subjective here. I would use the LSiC for both. It didn't hurt that the Rotel seperates were feeding them the juice. I really don't think the 15's are a justifiable extra expense here. The 9's with a good sub will do justice. Pretty incredible listening experience!

As far as 2 channel goes........SDA! but that is an entirely different discussion.

KarlJShields

FWIW, I'm running my 5.1 setup with four Lsi-9s (F and R) and the Lsi-C with an NAD T752, and I'm happy as can be.

The ".1" arrives Monday

gshisme

Originally posted by KarlJShields
The ".1" arrives Monday

SVS? BYW, I would love to hear those 9's with the NAD. NICE!

KarlJShields

Originally posted by gshisme
SVS? BYW, I would love to hear those 9's with the NAD. NICE!

I'll post the whole narrative after I receive it--but yes, all you guys convinced me that SVS was the way to go. Had to stay (relatively) small due to the finance committee (read: wife), so it's a PB1-ISD for me.

To my ears, the NAD and the 9s are a great combination. If everything that I've read is even half true, adding the PB1 will just blow the roof of the place...in a good way....

hejiraent

I just moved into my house with limited gear...I am using the RTi6's as fronts..still waiting on delivery of the LSi 15's, 9's and C... I did get the Sub Friday (SVS 16-49) I am limited to music right now, but, OH MY GOD!!! I am in another world of sound quality already! I think I could have been happy keeping the RTi10's and Csi3! The sub with the 6's is AWESOME!

gshisme

Originally posted by ATCVenom
Greg,

To think you could have heard the SDA's on some Nad - and you still can.. heheheeh

Damn it..I know. Thanks for the invite again bud. One day.....

hejiraent

I got the LSi9's this morning, The right speaker works great, however, only the tweeter works on the left speaker....after performing a few tests for Crutchfield Technical Support, the Speaker has to go back to Crutchfield. I am learning my lesson about scratch and dent discounts. On a positive note, the LSi15's are due today and the LSiC is due Tomorrow. Both are A-stock purchases so I am expecting no problems.

fireshoes

If you haven't already, you might check the wires inside the LSi9 cabinent. I've seen a situation where the wire either slipped off or didn't get plugged in correctly. By the way, did you get the new finish or old?

gshisme

hejiraent, Well that sucks. Just curious, are they sending you another ASAP? Hope you have better luck with the towers. Mine were in the cherry finish and IMO were absolutely gorgeous to look at in the room. And don't forget the pics and opinion when ya get setup! I'm sure you won't be dissapointed. Speaker placement can be a little critical with the LSi's so don't be afraid to move 'em around a bit.

vtec11

Originally posted by fireshoes
If you haven't already, you might check the wires inside the LSi9 cabinent. I've seen a situation where the wire either slipped off or didn't get plugged in correctly. By the way, did you get the new finish or old?

There's a new finish for the LSi's ??

ken brydson

Originally posted by vtec11
There's a new finish for the LSi's ??

http://clubpolk.polkaudio.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16904

hejiraent

Hey guys,

First of all, Crutchfield is sending me another speaker as soon as they get back the defective one. I did several tests with the Crutchfield technician, none were as invasive as opening the cabinet. (Given what I paid for them, I assumed there would be no "DIY soldering" involved...dont assume anything right??) I got the new finish. The towers are being delivered to my house today. I also got the LSiC delivered to the hotel(my work) today and it seems to work. I tested it on an old Pioneer receiver My dad has gathering dust. I am planning to take pics and form an opinion this weekend providing I have a system to listen to! I currently have my DVD/SACD/CD player being shipped and the LSi9 being replaced.

hejiraent

Crutchfield sent me a new set of speakers and I only sent them the left speaker. If anyone is interested in buying a LSi9 Right speaker, let me know.

Frank Z

Here's a thought....
Do the right thing and send the Right Speaker back. I'm sure if you called Crutchfield and explained that they sent 2 instead of 1 they'll pay the return freight.

It is the honest thing to do.

hejiraent

Frank, here's a thought....

Crutchfield (the tech. advisor) told me not to return both. Why? I can't say. I assume it is because I bought in the scratch and dent section, and these speakers, aside from being sold at a discount, where already shipped a minimum of 3 times before and all at Crutchfields expense. I asked Crutchfield what they wanted me to do with the extra speaker and they said "whatever you like."

I am posting on the flea market section to keep this thread on topic. I suggest all moral and ethical opinions be reserved for the off topic area as well.