LSi7 First Version

skrol

So I caught a good deal on a pair of LSi7 in cherry. They appear to be the earlier version with the chamfered tops. Are there any other changes between these and the later LSi7 with the flat top other than cosmetics?

VR3

I'm pretty sure just cosmetics. I will say the painted versions are a substantial improvement versus the earlier series with vinyl

SeleniumFalcon

In all likelihood they were built in Polk's factory in Mexico including hand assembled cabinets, Polk invested heavily in wood working capability. There was a very rigorous construction and testing regimen in place. Polk had just received ISO 9002 certification and every aspect of the assembly was inspected thoroughly and tested to very high standards. With proper care those speakers will sound good 50 years from now.

msg

Good info, Ken. I did not know any of that. I have a pair of LSi7s that I nearly sold off several years ago. I'm glad I didn't. They found a home a year or two ago in my main 2ch. Just never found synergy earlier with other systems, but they pair beautifully with a Musical Fidelity integrated. What I noticed was that I used to have to crank the volume to get them to perform on anything else, but they just sound good at any volume on the MF. I'll never sell them now
.

@skrol - got any photos? I didn't know there was an earlier and later version. Mine have the piano black finish with the chamfered dark wood sides.

SeleniumFalcon

I can remember the ISO certification team visiting the HQ looking at design, testing verification, quality control everything pertaining to building a speaker. The engineering team has to not only design the speaker but evolve a method of testing each speaker as it leaves the assembly line. They would invent large baffled boxes that each newly built speaker would be placed up against and then the speaker would be frequency swept to make sure the frequency response was what it should be. Building the actual speaker was only half of the engineer's job.

VR3

First Gen with a beveled top, vinyl finish


Second Gen with no beveled top, vinyl finish


Third Gen, painted


The only lsi model I know of that changed internally was the lsic. The earlier versions had a single large inductor that would actually overheat, I've seen a few. The later versions had two smaller coils that were problem free.

skrol

VR3 wrote: »

I'm pretty sure just cosmetics. I will say the painted versions are a substantial improvement versus the earlier series with vinyl

Thanks all for the info. What parts are vinyl?

Also, did they do the same with the LSi15 and LSi25? I believe my LSi15s are a later version since they have flat tops. I'm wondering how well the early LSi7s will look with my LSi15s.

VR3

Yes all early versions are vinyl. The gloss black was vinyl. It is easy to tell by the seams on the front and back.

mantis

Nice speakers. I actually liked the LSI7's overall the best in that line. I love that fact you can wall mount them. The LSIC I use to also wall mount. A killer theater system would be all LSI7's wall mounted with a LSIC and 2 JL audio E110 Subwoofers.

ALL212

@VR3 - when you say “painted” on the 3rd version what am I looking for? My tops aren’t beveled (I’ll look again) so I have either 2’s or 3’s.

Just curious.

@msg - upgrade those crossovers!! Too bad no one here has ever done that with these.

VR3

Painted versions have no seams, one continuous finish front to back

ALL212

Thanks!

msg

ALL212 wrote: »

@msg - upgrade those crossovers!! Too bad no one here has ever done that with these.

What name did we finally settle on for those LiSi7s you improobed? Was it Lai7.ALLs, or LSi8s?

ALL212

I think it was:

Thebestdamnversionoflsi7’severdone(exceptforVR3’s)intheentireworld.5

msg

I almost had it.

skrol

I received the LSi7's today in very good condition, a few normal scratches for age. They DO sound nice and are a bit more natural sounding than my LSi15. The imaging seems much less position dependent and open. Obviously they don't have the low end of the LSi15.

They only down side is they don't cosmetically match my later version LSi15 as well as I'd like. If my LSi15's had the lighter wood sides then it would be all good. In a separate system they would be great though. I'm debating if I'll keep them.

msg

Nice. What are you running them on?

skrol

I hooked them up to my Parasound system (Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A (upgraded), Benchmark DAC1, FIIO X5iii).