need help LSi home theater planning

ohskigod

As i mentioned in the past, I want to go all LSi home theater. I just though of a problem. My amplification in the theater is all Rotel, and all amps are being used bridged. This, I seem sure, is a HUGE no no with the LSi.

I have options, I just need feedback as to what will be the best plan.

amps I own: Rotel 980 (120x2 8 ohms, dont know 4) rb960 (60x2 8 ohms) RB976 (60x6 or 150x3 bridged 8 ohms)

speakers: LSi15 mains, LSic center (coming soon), LSi9 surrounds for a 5.1 set up.

Plan 1

RB980 to mains (120x2, perhaps 200x2 4 ohm? I dont know the 4 ohm ratings for these amps) Rb960 both channels to the center (60 to the top, 60 to the bottom). Rb976 biamping LSi9 surrounds (60 top, 60 bottom x 2, 2 60 watt channels unsused)

seems to be the most conservative option

Plan 2

Rb980 to mains (lows only) RB960 to main highs (horizontan Biamp)
RB976 to surrounds 60 pc to lows, 60pc to highs, then the 2 remaining 60 watt channels to biamp the center (60 high, 60 low)

Plan 3

yank my Carver 4.0 from 2 channel service, which would give me 500 x 2 into 4 ohms to the mains. RB980 (120 x 2) biamped to center channel.
then the RB976 60 watts biamp, or bridge 150x2 to lows, and 2x60 to highs (is this kosher since it is only surround duty?, or would I be pushing my luck)

this plan would be the most powerful, with the carver being added to the mix, but then I would have to allocate resources to a real beefy 2 channel amp to power the Carver Platinums in the future (eeesh!)

looking for your views to help me round out my course of action. any help would be great. hell, flame my ****, but only if it will teach me something

2+2

Plan 4: 980 and 976 (bridged) to mains biamped with one bridged channel going to center. 960 to the surrounds....after all, tehy are surrounds....
I have a feeling you may still need more for the mains as the 15s are hard to drive.....

polkatese

If it were me, I would start with the power requirements to make them sing:

Front LSi15: Minimum of 200 watts/ch at 4 ohms. Recommended: 400 watts
Center LSiC: Minimum of 100 watts/ch at 4 ohms. Recommended: 200 watts
Surrounds LSi9: Minimum of 100 watts/ch at 4 ohms. Recommended: 200 watts

Given this need, if it were me, I would sell all the amps you have and get a 5.1 power amp that meet those requirements. One last thing, have fun at it!

mantis

polkatese wrote:

If it were me, I would start with the power requirements to make them sing:

Front LSi15: Minimum of 200 watts/ch at 4 ohms. Recommended: 400 watts
Center LSiC: Minimum of 100 watts/ch at 4 ohms. Recommended: 200 watts
Surrounds LSi9: Minimum of 100 watts/ch at 4 ohms. Recommended: 200 watts

Given this need, if it were me, I would sell all the amps you have and get a 5.1 power amp that meet those requirements. One last thing, have fun at it!

This is a good plan. Rotel RMB1095 would cure all your problems or a B&K 200.5

Dan

2+2

mantis wrote:

This is a good plan. Rotel RMB1095 would cure all your problems or a B&K 200.5

Dan

Yes....but will likely have to fork out...what $500 to go that route? I would think it would be worth it....but hey, I am not paying for it.:p

ohskigod

I got time, but anticipation of serious amplification shift, I am offing my existing theater speakers, they aint nothing to sneeze at in the least. I hope the increase in performance in the LSi will be worth the effort, I'm confident it will.

I'll then have some cheddar to figure something out.
keep those ideas and input coming though

ohskigod

maybe outlaw mono's? 3 of em for the front soundstage then the rotel rb 980 for surround duty, then off the rest of the rotel stuff?

did a little research, and apparently the 980 will do 200 watts into 4 ohms.

amulford

How does the Carver sound with them? A Sunfire might do it for you, too. Or you could off everything and get a good receiver.

If you want, make a trip down and check out my Sunfire Ultimate. If you want to, bring the 15's with you and we can see how they sound on it.

BTW - I've got a B&K EX442 you could borrow for a while till you get stuff straightened out. Dual mono stereo, 200 @ 8, 300 @ 4.

ohskigod

the carver actually sounds effin sweet, so sunfire might be the way to go.

cool to offer the loaner, I'll keep that in mind and might cash in on it, your sweet dude

amulford

Lemme know.

ohskigod

well, I'll be picking up some outlaw 200 monoblocks on Saturday, this will certainly help my plight. so far, the lock I had on the LSi center has fallen through at the moment, so the new plan is.

1 LSi9 for the center, LSi15 for the mains, and keep the RT55's as surrounds (will still be listed for sale). the Rotel 980 will drive the center biamped, the outlaws will drive the mains, and the Rotel rb976 will do surround duty. the wheels, they are a movin!!