Polk Audio LSi M 703

fedorkop

I am interested in recommendations on amplifiers that are the best fit for the Polk Audio
LSi M 703

Nightfall

What preamp are you using?

PSOVLSK

I own a pair and have heard them on several amps/integrateds.

Amps: I've only heard NAD and Sunfire. Sunfire was better, but the NAD was no slouch.

Integrateds: Parasound, Plinius, Peachtree, Dayans (Menuetto and Ampino). For me, the Menuetto is the best followed by the Plinius, Parasound, Ampino, and Peachtree. Not a big difference between the best and the worst (and best/worst is my opinion and I know for a fact that others disagree with my rankings). I'd happily run any piece in my system.

fedorkop

Thanks, FYI I purchased the speakers and was going to use my old Yamaha HTR-5960, but want a major upgrade...So I do not have a pre-amp....Looking for something new to match ....likely integrated

fedorkop

Any specific models/ model numbers of above would be helpful

Nightfall

Budget?

fedorkop

many thanks!

fedorkop

sorry .....answer...no budget, just for stereo listing not surround

tonyb

fedorkop wrote: »

sorry .....answer...no budget, just for stereo listing not surround

No budget ? That leaves everything from 500 bucks to 20k, we might be here awhile.

PSOVLSK

I misspoke in my previous reply. I preferred the Parasound integrated to the Plinius. That being said, the Dayens Menuetto beat them both.

sgtmick63

I presently have the 703's as my main front speakers. At first I used a Yamaha Rx-A 2010 receiver. It sounded pretty good. Then I went to a Parasound Model 2250 and the improvement in sound quality was amazing. I used the Yamaha as a pre-pro. Then I got rid of the Yamaha and the Parasound and went with a Parasound A31 and a Emotiva XMC-1 and the quality of the sound put me almost into heaven (they turned me away at the front gate). I did not fully realize how good the 703's are. Go with Parasound Model 2250 first.

Mikey081057

I'll add the higher ended Peachtree stuff as well

http://www.peachtreeaudio.com/nova220se-amplifier-with-dac.html

fedorkop

again, thanks to all of you i really appreciate it!

[Deleted User]

Fedorkop,

Reach out to forum member dskip. The Dayens. Seriously, it is impressive. Do yourself a favor and get it.

halen

[Deleted User]

tonyb wrote: »

fedorkop wrote: »

sorry .....answer...no budget, just for stereo listing not surround

No budget ? That leaves everything from 500 bucks to 20k, we might be here awhile.

Hahaha. Love it.

F1nut

To name a few....

Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista 800
Marantz PM-11S3
Mark Levinson No. 585
ASR Audio Emitter
Pass Labs INT-150

Mikey081057

Interesting topic and some great suggestions. The question I have that I have always kinda wrestled with is:

How much audio budget do you commit to a pair of speakers for an amp before you feel that you think might be better allocated to a better pair of speakers.

Ex. I want to buy a $1500 pair of LSIM 703's. Should I put a $2500 integrated or $3600 set of separate amp and pre and another $1000 to $1200 into cables an IC's. Does anyone have a guideline?

I have experimented a bit and found that components and cables tend to personalize your system. And then there is placement and room treatments that also have impact as well.

If I have a $5000 budget is this kind of how it breaks down?

$1500 Speakers
$1500 Integrated Used?)
$800 SACD/DAC/TT or Streamer (Some used/new)
$1200 Cables & Room Treatments?

Obviously used vs new can change the formula around too and give you more bang for buck..

Thoughts suggestions...?

sgtmick63

I agree with mikey081057 assessment with a $5,000 budget.

mdaudioguy

I have a hard time thinking there's a good formula everyone could agree on, but it's clear that $1500 speakers aren't at their best powered by a $299 receiver. Or connected with $10 worth of electrical wire. Beyond that, I'm not going to comment!

[Deleted User]

"Thoughts suggestions...?"
Well, DSkip said it in another thread and I agree:
Find speakers you love and a good source... (a neat trick starting out)
However w/ just 5 grand you will have to hunt for bargains
and slum for a while on the other pieces.
If it is 703's you are after that would
give you more to go after that great source. DAC, Spinner
or media server - whatever fits the bill for you.

OTOH, that Parasound Halo integrated would be a nice pivot piece
if you don't know which way you are going...
It would give you at a grand for the used market cables ect.

ZenDawgg

rednedtugent wrote: »

OTOH, that Parasound Halo integrated would be a nice pivot piece
if you don't know which way you are going...
It would give you at a grand for the used market cables etc.

I'm in the same boat as the OP. Just spent most of my year allowance (until I sell stuff) on the 703's and SB-2000 (waiting on Sklyan stands and cables). But... I'll be running it through an older Pioneer Elite VSX-01TXH and no amp. Currently my digital audio is running direct into the AVR via HDMI.

Is there a piece of equipment that I can add or swap out ($1500 range) that will allow me to hear more of what the 703's are capable of? Until such time that I can learn more about pre's, amp's integrated, SS, tubes...etc.

Right now my HT and Music are the same system as I don't have a lot of room to have dedicated systems. So I'd also like to be able to run 7.1 or to have the ability to switch cables out relatively painlessly if I can't have both.

The answer may already be in the thread, but half the time I'm not sure what I'm reading.

I didn't mean to hijack the OP's thread but the title of seems to be my exact situation.

Thanks.

zD

PSOVLSK

ZenDawgg wrote: »

Is there a piece of equipment that I can add or swap out ($1500 range) that will allow me to hear more of what the 703's are capable of? Until such time that I can learn more about pre's, amp's integrated, SS, tubes...etc.

2-channel amp and let the AVR power the rest of the speakers. Here's all the amp these speakers will ever want: http://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/165663/fs-parasound-hca-3500-1250-00#latest

At that budget you could also get a less expensive amp and possibly a better source (though I say that not knowing your source, so...).

Another option would be a good 5-channel amp since you are 50/50 with HT/music.

ZenDawgg

DSkip wrote: »

With $5k I could build you a NICE starter system.

The problem is the $5k... I'm stuck with my low end purchases from 8 years ago at the moment. Plus my most recent upgrades to 703's and SB-2000.

I'll need to add a piece here and there...unless our work pool hits the PowerBall Saturday, then I'll build a new house just to house HT and Music purchases.

But I would be interested in knowing what your $5k NICE starter system would consist of.

ZenDawgg

PSOVLSK wrote: »

At that budget you could also get a less expensive amp and possibly a better source (though I say that not knowing your source, so...).

Another option would be a good 5-channel amp since you are 50/50 with HT/music.

Maybe the source is what I need to work on first. Currently my only source is the media PC HDMI to the receiver. I have a couple of HDTrack downloads and I'm planning to rip my CD's to FLAC over the winter. Although I think my older Sony BP can play CD's.

I haven't thought or looked into vinyl yet...

Right now I'm thinking upgrades for music, although after listening to the new 703's I have to wonder what a new LSiM706c and what ever surrounds would match this...sound like. But if I go that upgrade route first, it still leaves me without pre/amp etc.

Again, it would be nice to have best of both worlds but I think the music side tips the scale a bit more at this point.

So with a good 5-channel amp the fronts, center and surrounds get powered. The SW is self powered and the rears would be powered from AVR?

I really really like the 703's btw ...even on my current setup.

voltz

I have some 703's now and like them using my MC100b integrated amp but love them with my Vincent preamp + Vincent Amplifier...both are Hybrid some the have tubes for the input & output stages...

Would I recommend them for the 703's? I'd say no because my Vincent setup was close to 3k

so with what you can get the Dayens for that Skip carries I'd go that route and though I have not heard the 703's using the Dayens I have heard other speakers with them...and those who have heard the 703's on the Dayens I trust 100% of what they told me it sounded like..which was great ( Skip & Paul and the others)

ZenDawgg

PSOVLSK wrote: »

ZenDawgg wrote: »

Is there a piece of equipment that I can add or swap out ($1500 range) that will allow me to hear more of what the 703's are capable of? Until such time that I can learn more about pre's, amp's integrated, SS, tubes...etc.

2-channel amp and let the AVR power the rest of the speakers. Here's all the amp these speakers will ever want: http://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/165663/fs-parasound-hca-3500-1250-00#latest

At that budget you could also get a less expensive amp and possibly a better source (though I say that not knowing your source, so...).

Another option would be a good 5-channel amp since you are 50/50 with HT/music.

These would appear to be my 3 realistic options at this point...just need to figure out which way to go with it.

ZenDawgg

voltz wrote: »

so with what you can get the Dayens for that Skip carries I'd go that route and though I have not heard the 703's using the Dayens I have heard other speakers with them...and those who have heard the 703's on the Dayens I trust 100% of what they told me it sounded like..which was great ( Skip & Paul and the others)

I'll look into this as an option.

ZenDawgg

Ok - been doing some reading here at the forum. I believe I'll concentrate on the music portion to start with.

How does this sound (pun intended):

Parasound P5
Parasound HCA 1500A (used)

I still have to research what to do for source(s)...but I'm thinking some sort of DAC to start with since I'll concentrate on ripping the CDs that I have and HDTracks...for now anyway.

Also...I will need schooled on how to integrate my sub into a set up like this. If there are tutorials for this...please share.

deronb1

I had that amp for a while and its a beast. Great sound leaning toward warm. Will power the 703s fantastically. Im assuming the P5 has a sub out?

ZenDawgg

Concerning the P5 I found a couple of features:

Analog Bass management with high and low pass crossovers
1 balanced XLR and 2 RCA subwoofer outputs

And a little section from someone's review:

Felt this deserved its own heading. Parasound refers to the Halo P5 as a 2.1 channel preamplifier meaning it has bass management for two subwoofers. Low pass for subwoofers and high pass for main speaker’s crossovers are provided with variable settings from 20-140 Hz. Turning off the crossover completely will feed your speakers the full frequency range. While integrated in a theater or multi-channel system, activating the Bypass mode turns off the crossovers settings allowing your processor to handle the bass management. Although the crossover frequency controls are on the rear, the subwoofer level knob on the front can fine tune your output.

That was from http://hometheaterhifi.com/reviews/amplifier/preamplifier/parasound-halo-p-5-preamplifier-review/

PSOVLSK

I have the P5, but I haven't hooked it up with my 703's. I feel confident in saying that it would be a good match. HT bypass is a nice feature and the sole reason I own one. I think you'll be very, very happy with this set-up.

You've got me thinking of running my P5/703 together. If I get around to doing it in the next few days I'll post my impressions.

Reach out to DSkip here on the forum. He's a Parasound dealer and he'll take good care of you.