Lsi7 - max spl

McLoki

I have been listening to my LSi 7's and am very happy with the output for movies.

When I try and listen to music loudly (very loudly) I notice that the sound starts to sound compressed aroud 102-103db. (dynamic range starts to just go away) - (uncorrected on radio shack spl meter - about 6 feet from the speakers)

I usually turn it down at this point since my amp is capable of damaging the speakers. I have the speakers crossed over to an SVS 25-31cs+ sub at 80hz. I do not know what the crossover slope of my avr is though.

Is this the max output of the Lsi-7's? I am sure my amp is capable of much more (it is not even breaking a sweat, let alone clipping) (500wpc amp with 3.2 db of headroom))

This is close to the top end I would ever listen to music at anyway, I was just wondering if it is my ears or if I am actually pushing the 7's as far as they will go and need to upgrade to 15's for loud music playing....

any thoughts?

Michael

jdhdiggs

Well, according to the specs, 110dB at 1M / Speaker so at the 2M you're at, you are within 3 dB of their max.

Note to self: Never buy McLoki's used speaks...

Airplay355

I'm running my Lsi7's with a Carver amp and they go loud enough to make my ears uncomfortable so thats pretty good for me. Maybe you have a big room? Mine aren't crossed over but I turned the bass down so I send the woofers flying across the room. Everything sounded pretty nice to me I'd love to upgrade to the 15's but 7's are all I can afford now. I think with a sub they might be all I need for a while. What kind of music are listening to?

McLoki

Originally posted by jdhdiggs
Note to self: Never buy McLoki's used speaks...

I had thought that as long as you always send a clean signal to the speaker, crossover the speaker to ensure the woofer does not bottom, and turn it down if you hear anything other than clean sound - there is no damage caused to the speaker.

Is this an innacurate thought process? I am very careful not to overdrive my speakers - just consider them not broken, but well broken in.

BTW - they do sound fanstastic.

Michael

RuSsMaN

Sounds like someone needs a big pair CV's.

McLoki

Originally posted by RuSsMaN
Sounds like someone needs a big pair CV's.

Actually the first decent speakers I ever owned were a set of Cerwin Vega D7's. (12" woofer - 98db efficient) They ran most of the parties in my frat for 2 years. I am sure they were not much for critical listening, but they sounded great filling a large room full of people - highly recommended for your next party...

Michael

McLoki

Originally posted by Airplay355
I'm running my Lsi7's with a Carver amp and they go loud enough to make my ears uncomfortable so thats pretty good for me. Maybe you have a big room? Mine aren't crossed over but I turned the bass down so I send the woofers flying across the room. Everything sounded pretty nice to me I'd love to upgrade to the 15's but 7's are all I can afford now. I think with a sub they might be all I need for a while. What kind of music are listening to?

I do really like the sound of the 7's and doubt if I will spend the money to upgrade to the 15's. With the 7's + a sub the sound is really really good. I do have a large room to fill with 4 LSi7's and the LSiC. (click on the quote in my sig to go to my showcase and you can see room pics there. The room is not that huge, but it is a very open floorplan.)

BTW - was listening to Fleetwood Mac - The Dance DVD in 5.1.

Michael

marker

As a general rule of thumb, I NEVER go much past either the 12:00 position, or 0 db volume setting.

On the Klipsch KLF-30 pair, if you went that high, you'd be instantly deaf! You can't go much past the 9:00 position with them.

McLoki

Originally posted by marker
As a general rule of thumb, I NEVER go much past either the 12:00 position, or 0 db volume setting.

On the Klipsch KLF-30 pair, if you went that high, you'd be instantly deaf! You can't go much past the 9:00 position with them.

At 103db (peaks) I should be pushing about 32 watt peaks into the speakers. (no idea what level of current, but the watts are close)

If the Klipsch speakers are 101db at 1 watt/1 meter they would be pushing about 116db. (maybe deaf in a few hours, but not instantly)

I had the avr set to display absolute volume rather than relative. (I have since changed it) - I do not plan to go above 0 (reference level). I know the Lsi's will handle reference level with no problem, but I do not think the sub will and I would rather not push my luck.

Michael

Edit - I forgot I was 6 ft away so double the power to 64 watts, but still the rest should be valid.

marker

Admittedly, I was exagerating when I said instant deafness, but not by much!

What was the peak SPL of the Polk SRT? Anyone know? I seem to remember they came with a warning about too loud of a volume could cause deafness or something.

VR3

SRT's max SPL at 30hz was 120db...

That should give you an idea.

Airplay355

How do you feel your SVS integrates into your Lsi7 setup? I need a sub, and I'm not sure if SVS is the way to go since I'm mainly a music guy.

PS: I'll have some pics up soon. My amp comes tomorrow and I need to get stands. After that, I'll put my trippy pics with all my lights on back up

michael_w

The LSi series is not ment for volume, but more for critical listening at moderate volumes. At 103 dB I would say that yeah you are getting close to the limits of the little sevens.

organ

Originally posted by marker
As a general rule of thumb, I NEVER go much past either the 12:00 position, or 0 db volume setting.

On the Klipsch KLF-30 pair, if you went that high, you'd be instantly deaf! You can't go much past the 9:00 position with them.

Whoa, how are your KLF? Loud sob's eh? I love cranking my RF's when no one's home:D.





Michael,
Maybe you're expecting too much out of your LSi7. Even if you cross them at 80Hz, they only have a 5-1/4" woofer each. They will only move so much air, even for mids and upper bass. If you like to crank your music, try Klipsch;). I have a pair of LSi9 but I would never push them as loud as my Klipsch.

Maurice

marker

What RF do you have Organ?

organ

Marker,
RF-35. Two 8" woofers and horn tweeter in each speaker. 98db/w/m Two way design not 3-way like your KLF.

http://www.klipsch.com/product/product.aspx?cid=633

Maurice

marker

I wish I could trade mine for some RF5 or RF7.

organ

Are you not happy with the sound? Check out the Klipsch forum. A lot of RF-7 owners want to trade for the KLF-30. Seems everyone wants the older 3-ways back just like everyone here wants SDA in production again.

Why do you want the RF's? What are you using as source, amplification, etc. Crap, I'm derailing here, PM me if you want.

Maurice

McLoki

Originally posted by Airplay355
How do you feel your SVS integrates into your Lsi7 setup? I need a sub, and I'm not sure if SVS is the way to go since I'm mainly a music guy.

Very Very well. The bass is smooth and you really cannot tell when the LSi is playing and when the sub takes over. I would rate the SVS as exactly what a sub should be - Able to shake the foundation when called for and completly unnoticed when not. All the bass sent to the sub starts, stops, and sounds exactly as it should. If I were to go with a dedicated theater, I would try and IB setup, but for a sub you can move room to room, SVS rocks. (music or movies)

If you are ever in Central Il. stop by for a listen...

Michael

McLoki

Originally posted by michael_w
The LSi series is not ment for volume, but more for critical listening at moderate volumes. At 103 dB I would say that yeah you are getting close to the limits of the little sevens.

I am very happy with the sound of the sevens, I just wanted to be aware and know that when the sound starts to compress, I am nearing the limits of the speakers.

Thanks for all your help guys.

Michael.

(As an aside, would the 15's play much louder than the 7's? power handling should give it a few db, but not as much as you would think for the size and driver difference between them)

heiney9

Originally posted by McLoki
I had thought that as long as you always send a clean signal to the speaker, crossover the speaker to ensure the woofer does not bottom, and turn it down if you hear anything other than clean sound - there is no damage caused to the speaker.

Is this an innacurate thought process? I am very careful not to overdrive my speakers - just consider them not broken, but well broken in.

BTW - they do sound fanstastic.

Michael

Keep in mind in most situations (not just the 7's) there is a limit no matter how much clean power you send. Cabinet volume, porting, driver type, driver size are all physical limiting factors. Considering the size of the 7's I'd say you're doing pretty well to achieve that level of output at that distance.

"I'm given 'er all she's got captain"

H9

michael_w

I doubt that the 15's would be a whole lot louder other than the added volume from the extra driver on the side. (which you can acomplish yourself with the 7's and a sub)

mantis

The 15's play louder then the 7's, they play oulder then the 9's...

But at 103db , thats crazy loud. Why are you listening at this volume? remember you own book shelf speakers not tower floor standing.

The Lsi7's are great speakers but keep running them like that and they will not be so great for long.

If you want crazy loud, go Klipsch.

Dan

steveinaz

Keep in mind that bookshelf speakers are more prone to dynamic compression at high levels--it's the nature of the beast, usually.

marker

Originally posted by mantis
If you want crazy loud, go Klipsch.

Dan

^ +1