Are r500’ or r600 an upgrade over the lsim705?
plainoledave
Posts: 408
in Speakers
I honestly shouldn’t be considering new speakers but I’m wondering if anyone who has ears on either of the two new speakers and the lsim705 has an opinion. I only care about two channel music. I currently power my 705’s with an NAD 7600.
I guess my thoughts would be that the newer models would be less bass heavy but more clear, forward and detailed than the 705’s. I’m hoping for more clarity at lower volumes as I find I have to drive the 705’s a bit to make the details pop.
I’m not really up on my audio terminology, so my apologies if some of that doesn’t make sense.
Thanks in advance
I guess my thoughts would be that the newer models would be less bass heavy but more clear, forward and detailed than the 705’s. I’m hoping for more clarity at lower volumes as I find I have to drive the 705’s a bit to make the details pop.
I’m not really up on my audio terminology, so my apologies if some of that doesn’t make sense.
Thanks in advance
Comments
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Have you tried moving your 705's further out into the room? I did not find them to be a bass heavy speaker.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
Great question. Good info already provided. In addition, what is your listening space like, size wise?I disabled signatures.
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The R600 will have slightly better clarity in the midrange and upper frequencies but it's a much smaller speaker than the LSiM705. One is around 47 lbs and the other 78 lbs each. A better and more equal comparison point would be the R700 unless a substantial subwoofer is in the system. The size and shape of the room and how the speakers can be set up in it also play roles.
I really like my R600s but they do have limitations. I see them as better for home theater, where other speakers and subwoofers fill in for their limitations, than strictly two channel.
If the room is small the R600 may be a better choice than the LSiM705 if the latter is overloading the space with bass energy. -
My listening space is my living room (14x18) but I have a lofted area overlooking it and also a half wall that separates my kitchen from the living room. My speakers are on the long wall but are not placed far enough away. I’ll try doing that. I’m also moving in the near future, so I think I’ll hold off on getting anything until after I move.
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IMO, holding off is a good idea.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
Not the same speaker but I was never really satisfied with my LSi15 until I rearranged the room and got them away from the walls.
IAlso, have long runs of speaker cable. Therefore, really good speaker cables are financially of the table for me. I did upgrade from standard 16 awg to AudioQuest 14 awg and was surprised at the improvement in the bass. Prior to the AQ cables, the bass seemed like it was an afterthought. The speakers sound much more coherent now.
Proper amplification also plays a key role in speaker control.Stan
Main 2ch:
Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.
HT:
Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60
Other stuff:
Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601 -
The LSi15 speakers I had were the most difficult pair I've ever had to get to sounding good. Room acoustics played a big part in that. The LSi9s and a fast subwoofer blew them away in any room setting.
I'm thinking a pair of LSiM703s with a small DSP controlled subwoofer or two may be better than a pair of LSiM705s in many rooms. -
The Reserve series is on another common sale at the moment. Looks like Best Buy has the lowest prices by a little.
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/polk-audio-polk-reserve-series-r600-floorstanding-tower-speaker-new-1-pinnacle-ring-tweeter-dual-6-5-turbine-cone-woofers-black/6465717.p?skuId=6465717
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The Reserve series is on another common sale at the moment. Looks like Best Buy has the lowest prices by a little.
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/polk-audio-polk-reserve-series-r600-floorstanding-tower-speaker-new-1-pinnacle-ring-tweeter-dual-6-5-turbine-cone-woofers-black/6465717.p?skuId=6465717
Thanks? 😂
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I'm here to help spend other people's money.
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The reason I was asking about the room is because I've found that 705 can be swallowed in a larger room, but sound nice and full in a smaller space. It didn't matter what I used to power them. Parasound HCA-2205 or Musical Fidelity A5 - the 705s struggled in a large room.plainoledave wrote: »My listening space is my living room (14x18) but I have a lofted area overlooking it and also a half wall that separates my kitchen from the living room. My speakers are on the long wall but are not placed far enough away. I’ll try doing that. I’m also moving in the near future, so I think I’ll hold off on getting anything until after I move.
And yes, I agree, the current space you describe is going to be tough to fill, with any speaker, really, but...
I have had this experience, even without a DSP controlled sub. With a sub, the 703s in my main beat the 705s with that same sub.I'm thinking a pair of LSiM703s with a small DSP controlled subwoofer or two may be better than a pair of LSiM705s in many rooms.
In a smaller space, however, the 705s do much, much better.
I agree, good idea waiting to see what kind of space you wind up with next before choosing a speaker.I disabled signatures. -
My 705’s are actually quite nice in my odd listening space. I think the motivation for my post was to see if there’s as big an improvement from lsim to legend/reserve as there is from lsi to Lsim. I went from lsi15 to lsim705 and it wasn’t a fair fight at all. I’m guessing that’s not the case with the new lines from what I’m gathering.
Thank you for all the replies
