ls90s Sunfire 325 combo review
Wow this is great. Ive always felt that the 90s were a great speakers when I had them hooked up to the yammy avr with a 110 watts . Then i moved to the carver tfm cb with 100 watts and felt that the sound was smoother and refined and clear. But the bass was lacking at high listining levels. But with the 325 watts behind the 90s the bass is insane and the highs are vivid with greater seperation between the two channels. Massive improvement over the tfm cb. How does it stand up to other amps in its class? I cant realy say because I have not had any other amps connected to my system but I can say that I cant imagin the 90s sounding better. Rolling Stones Through and through when the bass hits towards the end of the song you feel it not just hear it. Even more impressed with the 90s and I feel the sunfire is a solid performer.
Cons:
The Joules meter is always a 400 what ever that means. Prefer the old dials on the tfm better. Like to see the meter moving and peaking and dipping just more eye candy.
On the back of the amp there are two speaker post per channell. One of the post says current supposidly it is ment for the highs and the other says voltage supposidly for the lows. Cant get it working correctly for some reason. The power is not coming through evenly one channel is railing while the other channel is almost flat. Not sure why but when I figure it out Ill post.
When I first hooked it up it sounded harsh, but when it runs for a bit it seems to smooth out better. And now it just smooth as a babys ****.
The worst thing is the fact that F1nut is starting to make sense in the fact that I consider this to be a midfi product and Im wondering what true hifi would sound like. Stereo rocks if you do it right and I sense a new cdp coming soon.
Cons:
The Joules meter is always a 400 what ever that means. Prefer the old dials on the tfm better. Like to see the meter moving and peaking and dipping just more eye candy.
On the back of the amp there are two speaker post per channell. One of the post says current supposidly it is ment for the highs and the other says voltage supposidly for the lows. Cant get it working correctly for some reason. The power is not coming through evenly one channel is railing while the other channel is almost flat. Not sure why but when I figure it out Ill post.
When I first hooked it up it sounded harsh, but when it runs for a bit it seems to smooth out better. And now it just smooth as a babys ****.
The worst thing is the fact that F1nut is starting to make sense in the fact that I consider this to be a midfi product and Im wondering what true hifi would sound like. Stereo rocks if you do it right and I sense a new cdp coming soon.
Wish I was a polkologist then I could call my self Dr.warviper.
Post edited by warviper on
Comments
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Sunfire is excellent gear for the cost conscious audiophile. They are pricey, but worth the price IMHO. I'm Totally OLD CARVER/SUNFIRE. I'm sorry, the guy knew his ****!!
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WV,
I'm not following a lot of what your saying ... but ... a question ... was this a new or used piece of gear ? -
This was a new in store demo piece.Wish I was a polkologist then I could call my self Dr.warviper.
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I assumed you meant 4 terminals per channel as two is normal, but if one side is a lot hotter than the other or the current outputs aren't working hopefully you can take it back. Hookup is pretty simple so that would be pretty hard to screw up.
And oh yeah did I understand you to mean that you think that although the Sunfire is good it's MID fi ?! -
The price that I paid for it "865.00" I would consider it midfi. Krells,Brystons,Bats and the like are easily tree to four maybe five times the price if you get a unit with comapable watts. Did not say to offend.Wish I was a polkologist then I could call my self Dr.warviper.
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No offense taken ... Was just curious what you meant ... One comment tho, level of fi is not necessarily related to cost, not to mention of course that this amp is about 3 times the cost you mentioned in most non dealer demo situations.
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Anybody wanna tell me what the joules meter is for?Wish I was a polkologist then I could call my self Dr.warviper.
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No expert here, but I think that meter is supposed to show the reserve capacity of the power supply. If that's the case, it should never move unless you're seriously taxing the amp, which frankly, you aren't likely to do.
As a side note, I believe there's one of these amps listed on Audiogon for $625. Says 9/10, but the guy has no feedback. I e-mailed him for some pics. Sounds like it might be a good deal. I don't think there's any way I could come up with the cash though
Jason
Edit: Here's the link to the amp I mentioned:
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1086893110 -
I keep hearing people say its 300watts but the manual says its 325.
Wish I was a polkologist then I could call my self Dr.warviper. -
We had a Sunfire hooked up to my 90's at the last Texas shootout and I was also impressed with the endless power of the Sunfire. But no upgrade for me. My B&K makes my 90's sing just fine. It would have been interesting the compare the 2 side by side.
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The latest incarnation is 300 wpc ... the one you have I believe is a mk II. I believe the one on Audiogon is a mk I.
http://www.sunfire.com/300TwoFrontPR.htm -
wv,
It is damn hard to dip the joules meter on even the 5 ch (it's at 475 joules). Just enjoy...
Really sorry you are having an issue with it. I think you'll really like having the voltage output on the low end. Noticably tighter IMO.
I think we had Walter's 90's bi-amped with current output on the highs and voltage on the lows using four of the five ch's available. A measely 810 wpc set up... His 90's ate it up...More later,
Tour...
Vox Copuli
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb
"Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
"It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
"There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD -
How drunk and stoned was I?
The 90's arent bi-ampable, are they?
All I know is it was LOUD. Clean nonetheless, but LOUD. I have a 2000 sqft house, and the LS90 rig was in the BACK room - I walked out front to smoke, all the way to the curb, doors closed (probably a good 80ft from the 90's as the crow flies) and could STILL hear it, clear as a bell.
Well, it was 2am, but what does that matter. Dorokoshot wasn't cooking sausage biscuits until 3am.
Effers.
Cheers,
RoosterCheck your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service. -
The pix I've seen show 4 binding posts and straps ...
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Yes, they are bi-amp capable.
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I found this:
SUNFIRE
PWR, STEREO AMPLIFIER
Description: 2-CHANNEL, DIST AMP, XLR CONNECTORS
Manufacture Years: 2001 - 2001
Additional Information:
Power: 325
I think this is the kind that I got.Wish I was a polkologist then I could call my self Dr.warviper. -
That's the mk II ... i.e. one back from the current model which is referred to as the Sunfire 300~two
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SUNFIRE
PWR, SUNFIRE 300-TWO
Description: 2-CHANNEL, 12 MOSFET TRACKING DOWNCONVERTER, 12VDC TRIGGER
Manufacture Years: 2004 - Current
Additional Information:
Power: 300
Russman -
Loud? It was pure enjoyement. CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint. -
As PW's saying, the one wv listed is his.
I think you could say we had Walter's 90's cranked up a bit, then he turned them up a touch more. Rob Zombie if memory serves.
Loud? Yes, but very clean. First I'd heard any LS mains. Very impressive speakers and one of the fav's of TX PF II.
I also think they are one of the more unique looking speakers Polk has made. Nice eye appeal with the sloped lines. Think their design came out of Matt and Stu's passing flirtation with the whole pyramid power movement...More later,
Tour...
Vox Copuli
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb
"Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
"It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
"There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD -
Originally posted by warviper
The worst thing is the fact that F1nut is starting to make sense in the fact that I consider this to be a midfi product and Im wondering what true hifi would sound like. Stereo rocks if you do it right and I sense a new cdp coming soon.
There is always something better out there. Get over it.
madmax:)Vinyl, the final frontier...
Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want...
