Anyone seen any LSi reviews anywhere?

OrangeToupee

I've been looking for some "reaction" to the new line, but it would seem that no one's auditioned a pair for critical listening. I'd surely like to read up on them if anyone's got a link.

rod

try www.audioreview .com if you haven't already you might find what you are looking for. good luck!

Aaron

It looks like SoundStage will be the first ones out of the gate with a review of the LSi9. It's listed as an upcoming review.

Aaron

AllenLongcor

I read a nice semi-review on hometheaterforum.com. A couple was demoing them at one of the select locations they are set up and basically said they compare with those expensive high-end speakers that cost thousands of dollars each. Makes me want to buy some but I have no $

OrangeToupee

Thanks for the tips, I'd imagine that it won't be too much longer before we start seeing some reaction from qualified reviewers.

Aaron

KRELL uses the Vifa ring radiator on their $37,500 LAT-1 speaker! Hahahah! Nice one, Polk!

Aaron

DarqueKnight

Paul DiComo,


How would you describe the sound of the LSi9's compared to your SDA CRS+'s in terms of resolution and imaging? I took my CRS+'s out of my home office and put one of them in my HT system. I then put my RT55i's back into my home office system. I sure miss the resolution of the CRS+'s.

By the way, I met you a long time ago (1987) in Greensboro, NC at a Stereo Sound store. You walked in while I was auditioning a pair of SDA SRS speakers. You wanted to know the name of the song I was listening to. Don't you remember? :cool:

DarqueKnight

Paul,

I brought some of my jazz saxophone CD's (and notebook and pen) into the store . I was listening to a Dexter Gordon CD ("Our Man In Paris") at the time. I remember it well because it was the first time I had sat down to critically listen to the SDA SRS's. They were the first speakers I had heard (at the time) that accurately reproduced the tenor saxophone. I also remember it because people kept coming in the room asking me what I was playing.

Actually, the thing that jogged my memory was seeing your picture in "The Speaker Specialist". I dug up my listening notes from my audition and in the margins I had written "met Paul Decomo, Polk sales rep".

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the CRS+ vs. LSi9.

jmierzur

I have just purchased the LSi9 (and LSiC) for my entertainment room. The clarity and detail is amazing, just from the box. They are mated with two Def Tech ProSub 80's (no one in town sells the PSW550 or 650?).

I used a pair of Totem Acoustic (first choice if I did not get the LSi) speakers for a reference. These were auditioned at home, then taken to the retailer for an AB comparison. The LSi9 sounded slightly better than Totem in the retailer’s 'sound' room. I decided to take a chance on the LSi units, even though I would be committed to my purchase if they did not sound good at home.

I was speechless listening to the first song at home in an adequate (for now) sound room. The audition(s) in the retailer’s sound room did not prepare me for the sonic characteristics of this speaker. The clarity of the LSi9 rivals the Martin Logan Odyssey I use as a reference. It is disappointing to see this retailer selling these units. They can not and probably will never be able to demonstrate the LSi qualities.

These are just my first impressions of the speakers. I will be borrowing a DVD setup disk to properly adjust the speakers. If anyone is interested, I can post my results in the future.

hoosier21

Now if I could only get the advantages of SDA technology with the tonal balance and resolution of the LSi9. It makes me want to do some skunk works experimenting…. and that statement should start a whole new round of nagging … [/B]

You are not kidding, if you could only see how bad some here want a revised version of the SDA line.

I-SIG

My SDA-1C's would be gone in a heartbeat....thump-thump!

Wes

DarqueKnight

Paul,

Thanks for your listening comparison of the LSi9 and CRS+. I was particularly surprised by this:

Look all I can tell you is that there is a reason why my CRS+'s have been sitting unused in my listening room since I brought home RT55i's two years ago.

Since those CRS+'s are just sitting around doing nothing, why not sell them (to me) and give 'em a good home? I'll put them to immediate use.:D

It all goes to show you how sound is such a personal, subjective thing. I used to have RT55i's in my home office and then I replaced them with a pair of CRS+'s. Suddenly, I didn't like the RT55i's anymore. I modified my CRS+'s for use as front and rear center channels in my HT rig, then put the RT55i's back in my home office.

The CRS+'s are a perfect tonal match for my SDA 1C fronts and rears.

To me, the RT55i's are veiled, lifeless, and boring compared to the CRS+. Maybe my ears have just gotten too used to the SDA sound.

Anyway, thanks for doing the comparison and sharing your thoughts. I look forward to auditioning a pair of LSi9's.:)

DarqueKnight

Reply to Paul DiComo:


How much power were you feeding your CRS+'s and from what source?

jmierzur

Hi Paul, its John. I am happy to say that I made the right choice (LSi9) and have no regrets. I am still experiencing some pain from the process, and will never visit that store again. Hopefully there will be some other (on-line?) means to acquire the LSi series when I am able to purchase the matching surround speakers.

My brother has a pair of SDA speakers. I have not been able to compare the two side by side with the LSi9, but may ask if he can bring them over one day.

rskarvan

Paul,

I have a pair of the CRS+'s also.
The bass on these are amazing for their size.

I certainly understand you wanting to hold onto them
for sentimental reasons. Thats why I bought mine.

How much better, exactly would you rate the LS9's?
Are they "a little", "a lot", or "tremendously" better?
Is it a night & day difference, or is it more subtle?

All this is highly subjective; but, I am curious.

- Ron

DarqueKnight

Paul,

I knew it! Every time I hear someone knocking an SDA's imaging or sonic qualities, there's a receiver lurking somewhere in the background.:(

Your post said you were using an "Onkyo 939 DD" receiver. Did you mean the TX-DS939 model? The one that's rated at 125 watts per channel? Sure, that will work, but any SDA cultist will tell you that it takes a minimum of 200 watts per channel to wake these speakers up. They pretty much laugh at anything less.:D

Just for fun, before I put my CRS+'s in my home office system, I hooked them up to my Adcom GFA-5802 (300 watts/ch) power amp in my "audio only" system just to see what they could do. The sound was absolutely lush. On Herbie Hancock's
"Chameleon" and Mile's Davis' "So What", the stereo image was projected about 2 feet in front of the speaker plane. After that listening session was over, I put them in their new duty station in my home office system. There, they were paired up with a Sony V333 ES receiver (110 watts per channel). They still sounded great, but the lushness was gone. The stereo image started right at the plane of the speaker baffles and extended backward. My CRS+'s told me to stop playing with them and that they were going to take a nap. It was no big deal since I wasn't going to do any critical listening with them. However, even in "sleep mode", the CRS+'s still kicked the RT55i's natural ****.

I'm patiently waiting for an LSi dealer nearby so I can do my own taste test.

OrangeToupee

Raife1, all of this talk about the RTi line having it's natural **** kicked, and sounding veiled, lifeless, and boring is making me feel very defensive. Is all of this hyperbole really necessary? I'm sure you're very proud of your speakers, as all of us are, and with that understanding ... would it be unreasonable to ask that you not stab these verbal daggers into the hearts of my pride and joy ... oh, and also love life?

AllenLongcor

Heheheeh. These are just opinions of a few people. You may love the sound of the speakers, and frankly that is all that matters. If someone hates the sound then so be it. No loss to your enjoyment. I like the phrase "verbal daggers" ehhehe. Very nice.

DarqueKnight

OrangeToupee,

Awwwww OT , I was only describing what I heard. It's all a matter of personal taste and totally subjective. We SDA cultists easily get carried away when talking about the virtues of our speakers.

But you're right, maybe I need to be kinder and gentler when talking about other speakers. However, I was only talking about the sound of my RT55i's. Paul's pair are probably a Polk Executive Edition with 12 gauge, 24k gold braid wiring, premium air core inductors and polypropylene capacitors in the crossover, Cardas binding posts, and Brazilian rosewood veneered cabinets.

I don't "hate" the sound of my RT55i's, I just love them less than some other speakers that Matt has made. :cool:

Speaking of Matt; Hey, when you gonna come out with that updated line of SDA's? I live in fear of the day when one of my SDA's needs a major repair and the parts are no longer available.:(

DarqueKnight

Hi Paul,

You know I didn't compare the RT55's to the CRS+, it was the LSi9 vs CRS+.

Yep, I know. I was referring to this comment in your earlier post:

Look all I can tell you is that there is a reason why my CRS+'s have been sitting unused in my listening room since I brought home RT55i's two years ago.

Um, just curious, there were two versions of the CRS+: the 1986 model that used the "blade/blade" SDA cable connector and the 1989 version that used the "pin/blade" SDA cable connector. The two versions also had different dimensional drivers and different crossovers. Which are yours? Mine are the "pin/blade" version.

Thanks for offering the put the Conrad Johnsons in the mix. This quote is taken from my CRS+ owner's manual, page 5, paragraph 6:

"...amplifiers that are comfortable driving low impedances and do not have excessive current limiting will be better suited to the SDA, especially at higher listening levels."

I look forward to your report. Travel safely and well.

Aaron

I'm willing to bet that Paul will choose the LSi9's as the clear winner over the CRS+'s even on a good amp. In fact, I bet he'd choose the RTi55's over them as well. Any takers???

Aaron

DarqueKnight

@ Paul:

Here I am in the office on a Sunday preparing for my trip and I can't believe I am actually reading this thread! I must have a disease or something.

It's called "audiophilitis" Paul. I've heard that the acquisition of a wife has cured some. Others progress to the terminal stages where they are preyed upon by the purveyors of $60,000 speakers, $30,000 amplifiers, $10,000 per pair interconnects, etc.

Other "sufferers", such as myself, keep their affiction in check with good common sense and a keen eye for value. That's one of the reasons why I have a house full of Polk speakers: Great performance, great quality, reasonable, fair prices and excellent customer service.;)