Woohoo!

Musophile

Just bought my first Polks. Got a pair of LSI-25's now for my fronts. They're sitting in my garage for now till I get my amp and pre/pro. Any suggestion you guys have for setup? Thanks.

Shizelbs

What is your budget? Are they going to be for 2 channel only, or eventually HT as well?

audiobliss

Congrats on getting those awesome speakers! The can really sing!

So, have you already bought a preamp and amp and are just waiting for them to show up, or are you in the market? If you're looking for advice on what preamp and amp to get, then it'd help to know if you're going 2-channel or HT.

For amps, here's a list of links to manufacturer sites. Some of them also make nice preamps. You'll definitely get the most out of your money if you go used. I'd keep my eye peeled in CP's FM and on audiogon.

Outlaw Audio Products Page

Rotel HT Multi-Channel Amplifiers

Adcom Multi-Channel Amplifiers

B&K Products

NAD Home Theater Products

Audiosource Amplifiers

AMC Amplifiers

Sunfire Amplifiers

Parasound

danger boy

Musophile wrote:

Just bought my first Polks. Got a pair of LSI-25's now for my fronts. They're sitting in my garage for now till I get my amp and pre/pro. Any suggestion you guys have for setup? Thanks.

Congrats on your LSi's. You'll really dig them once set up. Keep in mind the LSi series of speakers run at 4ohms, and require a good amount of current to properly run them. So spend a few extra $ on a good amp that can handle the 4ohm load.

good luck and enjoy!

Musophile

I'm starting with 2 and eventually going to build to 5 channel. Maybe if I get crazy I'll take it to 7 channel.

For my pre/pro I bought a used Anthem AVM-20 and for my amp I picked up a used Earthquake Cinenova 3. Heh, it's only 3 channels but I figured I only had 2 speakers for now. Maybe I'll pick up a second one in the future or shift to another amp. This will be the fun part of sorting everything out. It's my first separates system ever so I'm trying to figure out all the interconnects, speaker cables, and other stuff. I've read through all the crazy cable threads here so I know I don't want to start a war on that topic.

I do wonder about how you pick placement and what optimal spacing for speakers might be.

cfrizz

Welcome to Club Polk! Great speakers you have there!

polkatese

nice! welcome to CP. You are leaping into the middle of the pack with those setup. With Anthem 20, it will be real soon that you will finish off your 7.1 setup (that's my prediction, anyway ) Congrats!

Musophile

I should credit you guys with changing my opinion. I was wandering through Fry's 2 weeks ago and saw the sale on the RM6800. I was going to buy the Denon AVR985S with that set but I thought I'd check on this forum first. Every one of you said it would be silly to buy the home theater in a box so I started looking for other options. Everything just fell into place and I ended up with some sweet speakers. Now I'm just pacing while I wait for shipping of other parts.

Musophile

What do people think of the LSI-C and the LSI-FX for rears in a HT system? Should I think LSI-9 for rears instead?

Musophile

Oh one more crazy question. Someone told me I shouldn't event test bi-amping on the LSI-25's because they're powered already. Is that right?

unc2701

You CAN'T biamp the LSI25's without taking them apart. The lower posts can only be used as a high level input for the powered subwoofer.

The LSI9 is kinda overkill for rears in a 7.1. Right now I'm 5.1 w/ LSI-F/X's and use my 9's in a seperate 2 channel. I might add a LSI-C for a 6.1.

Oh and add bryston and Odyssey to that list of amplifiers.

Musophile

Thanks Unc2701. That'll keep me from destroying the speakers.

wingnut4772

What do people think of the LSI-C and the LSI-FX for rears in a HT system? Should I think LSI-9 for rears instead?

Do you mean rears in a 7.1 config? If you can hang the LSI FX s on a wall , I think they would sound pretty good in bi-pole as rears but they might be overkill there. Maybe just some LSI7s to keep the timbre match and keep the LSIFx as side surrounds. There is actually a lot of debate as to whether di-pole/bi-pole or direct radiating speakers are better for the rears. I have the LC80i in ceilings and they are just fine with the rest of my LSI system as back channels.

I don't know how the LSIC would fare as a rear center but I got rid of mine as a center (front) in my system and replaced it with a single 9. It was just not up to par with the rest of the LSI series IMO but maybe it would be fine as a back center?

Congrats on the Earthquake...I think you will love it.

McLoki

unc2701 wrote:

You CAN'T biamp the LSI25's without taking them apart. The lower posts can only be used as a high level input for the powered subwoofer.

I don't think that is accurate. (But am not sure with LSi25's) On my lsi15's the top post is only for the tweeter. The lower post runs both 5.25" woofers and the 8" woofer.

I am not saying it will be worth keeping (especially if your other amp is a Cinnova) but it is usually worth at least trying it out and deciding for yourself.

You have alot of options ahead of you for your home theater. The next step I would take is get the 25's out of the garage and get them playing. (They will break in for the first 100 hours or so, so don't worry about the sound till after that)

Enjoy your system - you have a great start.

Michael

Musophile

Hmm...interesting. I'm getting the LSI/C for a very good deal so I'll see how it goes. My plan originally is to just do 5.1 for now so it'd just be 1 set of LSI/FX's. Eventually if I go to 7.1 I'll have to reconfigure. That would also mean an Earthquake Cine 5 instead of another Cine 3.

I wonder why Cine 3's are so much cheaper than the 5's. You can easily buy 2 Cine 3's and still have money left over and an extra amp port.

McLoki

Musophile wrote:

I wonder why Cine 3's are so much cheaper than the 5's. You can easily buy 2 Cine 3's and still have money left over and an extra amp port.

PM wingnut. She has the Cine 5 and I think she got a pretty good deal on it. (she got hers through an authorized dealer at a great price.)

Never hurts to know about a good deal.

Michael

Musophile

Thanks McLoki. I'll send her a message. You're right. It never hurts to know about deals.

unc2701

McLoki wrote:

I don't think that is accurate. (But am not sure with LSi25's) On my lsi15's the top post is only for the tweeter. The lower post runs both 5.25" woofers and the 8" woofer.

The 25's are wired differently. This has been Ken S. confirmed... I though about swapping the crossover for the top 3 drivers with a LSi9 and just running the sub off the low level, but I decided it'd be overkill. Plus passive biamping doesn't do that much.

*Seby*-Polk-

Wow....LSi'25...TOP Top Polk speakers....congrats !!!! (impossible to me )

*Seby*-Polk-

Anyway...I enjoy (and love) my Monitors !!!!

Musophile

Thanks Seby. I just got lucky. Can't beat luck sometimes.

pmckeealaska

I have an all LSi setup and my mains are 25's. I only have a 2 channel amp running the mains now and when I really crank it up in 5.1, my reciever goe into protection mode. You should have no problems with the Cine 3 though. I am saving up to get the 3 channel myself, and then I'll really be cranking it.

As far as the other speakers go, I am very happy with the LSiC, though I know the crossover does bother some folks. The LSiFX's do just as they should, they dont draw attention to themselves, but make you feel enveloped in sound. You have the start of a great system there. Looking forward to hearing your reviews!