What should I pay for Used LSI Series

ken brydson

Woofer scratch push...

Joey_V

1. If you can play it, atleast play it and listen to the system and each driver.
2. Make sure there is no serious cabinet damage, check corners and look at it from different angles/lights. expect hairline scratches and swirlies. Maybe a ding here and there is ok.
3. Check the subwoofers to the sides and make sure they are ok.
4. Check the grill, make sure in good working order and has pegs intact.
5. Check the connectors, make sure jumpers are in place for the LSi, not a deal breaker, but would be nice to know that you have jumpers, some people take out hte jumpers and forget to reinstall when selling.

Last thing:
There are 2 versions of the LSi. Older and newer. You can tell by looking at the baffle. The newer ones have a cleaner baffle.

If it is the older version, I would not hesitate to ask for another $50 to 100 off and tell him that it is not what you expected. But that's just me, and I drive a hard bargain.

Joey_V

Oh and make sure it does not smell like cigarettes, unless you don't care about that. Grills especially. Sometimes all that tobacco go into the speaker's foamy insulation.... no bueno.

EndersShadow

Jesus... I paid 500 for JUST my fronts.........

Theheadsn

Ok so good news and bad news. Bad news is they didnt have the rears, but gave me the sub and all the wires in place. Also noticed a gouge on the top of one tower, looks just cosmetic. Not sure about the grills or woofers yet. Had to go to dinnner, so when i get home ill check out them out in full.

Joey_V

Nice take pics! I wanna see. What happened to the rears?

Theheadsn

Idk honestly. They couple i met were selling it for her sister who was remodeling her whole house, so she wasnt there lol

Joey_V

Hmm.. the rears were a good portion of the purchase... I think those were like $1000-ish new?

Joey_V

My bad, I thought I read LSiFX... but that was a post below yours (capri's). I see you posted LS90...

In that case, you made really well taking the sub instead.

Thumbs up!

Theheadsn

Ya the ad mentioned the rears. Gonna hit her up tomorrow to have her ask her sister if she can find then

WLDock

Theheadsn wrote: »

Also seeing as I only have the Pioneer SC-37 right now, can it even run 4 ohms speakers?
Dilemmas

Theheadsn wrote: »

My problem is ive been running my current set up off my receiver, a pioneer sc-37, but these new speakers are 4 ohms. Not sure if id be able to actually test them with my own receiver would i? I plan on buying an external amp, but not for at least a week.

Wow, man....even though your unit is not rated at 4 Ohms like the newer SC units you obviously don't know what you have. You have about as stout receiver as any out there.

http://www.soundandvision.com/content/pioneer-elite-sc-37-av-receiver-ht-labs-measures#7200YmtQjj0c7h7E.97

...from CD input to speaker output with two channels driving 8-ohm loads, reaches 0.1 percent distortion at 152.5 watts and 1 percent distortion at 183.8 watts. Into 4 ohms, the amplifier reaches 0.1 percent distortion at 219.0 watts and 1 percent distortion at 270.9 watts.

Five channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 135.7 watts
1% distortion at 171.9 watts

Seven channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 125.4 watts
1% distortion at 164.7 watts

Your AVR will be fine at moderate volumes...just don't put on the Pacific Rim or Godzilla Blu-ray at reference level! With such a great deal on the speakers....maybe you will have funds to pick up that Parasound 5 ch? http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/ele/5254477110.html With your current luck, throw him an offer!

Theheadsn

Was able to test out the towers, they seemed to work well even just running off the receiver. One thing that kinda sucks, the cover on one of the towers has was cracked. The fabric is in one piece and stays on the tower fine, but you could tell someone tried to pop it off without being gentle. Also I think at one point someone painted a room and didn't properly cover one of the towers, there is little white paint specks on the tower. Was able to get most of them off, just cosmetic. I could tell (least I thought I could) a difference in the sound compared to the Tsi500's. The center at least LOOKS good, haven't had a chance to test it out yet. The sub I got with it is a PSW404, I have a PSW505, just wondering if I should sell it or just run both of them at the same time? Any suggestions? Also how can I check the subs on the LSi's themselves? Is there a special way to pop off the fabric grill? Also Gonna bug them tomorrow and see if she can find the in ceiling rears, would be awesome to get them. Either way I think they are good speakers. Just having some second guessing because I'm just paranoid when I throw a bunch of money at something; well that and the wife says the Tsi's look better (she likes the all black look).
Now as far as an amplifier goes, I guess now I HAVE to get one (boo-hoo right?). WLDock posted the Parasound, which looks nice. I've NEVER dealt with an external amp. I know the sound produced from each brand is very subjective. Its like asking car guys what oil do they use, youll get 50 different responses. I guess the main thing I should ask is are there amps I should stay away from? Because my setup is 85% home theater, I'd obviously want an amp to emphasis that. I wouldn't mind buying a second hand amp, like off craigslist, but once again, it makes me paranoid because I don't know exactly what to look for or is what I'm buying is working how its supposed to. Might just bite the bullet and get an XPA-5, they are on sale now and new is always cool.

Theheadsn

Btw, whats all the posts I've seen about people "burning out their crossover" Not sure exactly what that is? how does it happen? How can I check if these speakers have a problem with that? Best way to fix it?

pitdogg2

Tweeter resister cooks iirc. Easy to spot looks brown or cooked and black. The fix is a higher wattage 10 watt instead of 5 watt. Most here myself included go for mills resistor that are very reasonably priced.

tonyb

Theheadsn wrote: »

Btw, whats all the posts I've seen about people "burning out their crossover" Not sure exactly what that is? how does it happen?

Usually by abuse of the volume dial while under powering the speakers....or over powering and abusing the volume dial also. The common denominator is abuse of the volume dial.

Running them off the receiver will be fine, short term, as long as you keep the volume dial in check. You'd be better served to put a dedicated amp on them though.

WLDock

The grill frame can be glued with a gel based super glue or a plastic epoxy.


If the grill material is bad that can be replaced.....just need grill cloth and some 3M super 77 or other strength spray glue.


If the wood side panels are bugging you...you can re-veneer them black woodgrain or gloss black....or remove them all together! http://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/29800/lsi7-naked

I'm sure folks that were killing crossovers and tweeters were driving high distortion /low power or high power / high distortion to these units. The ring tweets on these unit can be laid back and a bit too smooth for some. WE ALL KNOW THAT THERE ARE FOLKS OUT THERE THAT LIKE TO CRANK THE BASS AND THE HIGHS! Anyway, if you ever have a problem.....parts can be easly replaced or new crossovers rebuilt yourself or by others.

With a little DIY, a lot of the small things can be resolved.

Theheadsn

Solid. My only worry is im not going to like the sound produced for movies and games. I like "loud" but but am willing to compromise if the sound quality jumps up. Listened to some flac 92/24 files, even with just the receiver i noticed the sound seemed smoother and more natural. Hoping the HT doesnt take a hit though

Joey_V

Theheadsn wrote: »

Solid. My only worry is im not going to like the sound produced for movies and games. I like "loud" but but am willing to compromise if the sound quality jumps up. Listened to some flac 92/24 files, even with just the receiver i noticed the sound seemed smoother and more natural. Hoping the HT doesnt take a hit though

I think you'll be fine. Just get used to the new speakers first. Too many changes and you won't know what's what.

Congrats man, lsi15 are solid. More natural.

F1nut

The resistor question.....you would know right away if there was a problem as the tweeter would not produce any sound.

WLDock is right about your AVR being stout.

F1nut

You finished dinner already?

PSOVLSK

You can do better on the used market, but the XPA-5 isn't a bad match with the 15's. I'm not one of these guys who's never heard anything but Emo and I can tell you that the LSi and Emo work pretty well together...especially for HT. Music is still good as well. I'll repeat my initial sentence, you can do better on the used market, but the XPA-5 isn't a bad match with the 15's.

cfrizz

I would agree with you Psovlsk.

Theheadsn, the HT might take a little hit, until you get an amp to properly power the speakers since you will have to watch the volume. I would get the XPA then make a decision.

Please be patient, and give them a real chance once they are properly powered.