Polk signature vs LSiM 705 performance?

Hook02

Hi, All

New to the polk forum don't know if this should be posted to the question section or the discussion section since it kinda could fall into either.

Anyways I'm currently running a HT setup consisting of a Denon E300 a set of Tsx 220bs and a Tsx250c my psw111 sub just started getting the dreaded heartbeat problem. and hopefully I can get it fixed/replaced as its still under warranty until the end of April (haven't heard back from polk yet through email)
Anyways I love music and though I wouldn't class myself as a HI-FI listener, I do enjoy a wide range of music types classical, jazz, rock, folk, rap, vinyl etc, and after my sub died I started seriously looking into the idea of getting some nice tower speakers that could be ran as a 2.0 or 2.1 setup and possibly eventually HT use, but for now it would primarily be setup for music listening in a spare room and I'll continue to use my Tsx setup for HT use.

I'm a Canadian polkie and have found a cdn retailer currently selling "b stock" or manufactured refurbished LSiM 705's for $700 ea or $1400 a pair, well the Sig s50 cost about $700 a pair or $1400 for a full set of 4... which I imagine would be awesome for HT use!

I know that's a great price for the LSiM series, but since my local BB doesn't have the LSiM series in stock, I've never had the delight of being able to demo them. I'm curious for those with extensive listening to both the LSiMs and Sig series. how much better does the LSiM 705 perform? I know its gotta have a better sounding low end with its radiator design, but how about the mids, highs and imagining/sound stage? in comparison to the Sig s50 or s55?

I mean I know its the flagship from polk so its loaded with all of their best technology.
but its also getting to be an older model nowadays and the Sig series appear to have a lot of trickle down technology from the higher end RTi and LSiM lines and personally I find the Sig series to be a much cleaner looking tower compared to the LSiM line. (though I do really love the cherry finished LSiMs)

My thoughts is that if the LSiM isn't leaps and bounds ahead of the Sig series, I'd likely be better off to save myself some $$ that can then be re-invested into the rest of my setup. (better amps, subs, etc) but if the LSiM is still a far superior product compared to the new Sig series then. I'd be much more willing to go that route (keeping in mind these will be the last speakers I hope to by for a vary long time, and having never owned towers I want to buy the best I can afford that are gonna serve me for years to come)

Anyways though I think its kinda a no brainer that I should choose the LSiMs, I just wanted some opinions/advice from this great forum, which has members who are much more knowledgeable then myself.
Even with the heavy discounts on the LSiM line are they still worth the extra $$ for a pair? would I be better off to get the Sig series for now and wait a couple more years or so, until the LSiM line gets redesigned and the discounts on the current LSiM series become even greater?

Sorry for writing an essay to be read, could probably shorten this down, but at this point, I've already spent all the time typing my thought/concerns out so figured I may as well just leave it as is.

Thanks a lot for taking the time to read my question and look forward to hearing the opinions of the many great pokies here.

F1nut

Since you seem to be primarily interested in a 2 channel rig, The LSIM 705 is the better choice.

I'm a Canadian polkie and have found a cdn retailer currently selling "b stock" or manufactured refurbished LSiM 705's for $700 ea or $1400 a pair, well the Sig s50 cost about $700 a pair or $1400 for a full set of 4... which I imagine would be awesome for HT use!

S50's as rears is a total waste as its mostly ambient sound coming from the rear.

Hook02

I figured that was the case just wanted a little reassurance that I wasn't burning my money going with the LSiMs over the sig series, since i'm no rich buck. haha

and once again that's what I figured but I was kinda confused about running a 4 tower setup. Since I've seen/heard of people that have setups with towers as rears and always thought it was pretty pointless, but figured their had to be a good reason why some people are willing to spend the money on towers for rears...
but I guess that could be chalked up to a few things, but I figure its mainly just a case of being misinformed and believing the rear channels do a lot more then they actually do.

Anyways thanks for the quick reply

rntlee

Just wanted to comment...I haven't heard the S50's but I did buy a couple of the B stock Lsim705's from gibbys you were looking at. I wasn't overly impressed at first, nice speaker but nothing noteworthy compared to the speakers they replaced (Jbl Lsr6328p + 4312sp sub) I finally bought a proper amp to power them and wow! That really woke them up. These are something special when you get them set up right. Polk made a contender with these imho. Not a lot of snob appeal, but this speaker will image with the best of them. I'm exremely happy with them now.

cfrizz

Congrats and Welcome to Club Polk!

rntlee

Thanks! Never owned Polk before, but I am suitably impressed with these ones!