LSi are so power hungry!

organ

Well, I decided to connect my LSi9 to the system tonight because I want to get up close and personal with some female vocalists. Anyways, my pre have fixed positions on the volume pot. My Klipsch "wakes up" even at the first click on the dial. Well, the LSi9 doesn't wake up until I get to the fourth position! That's just nuts. They sound dull and lifeless before the fourth position.

This got me into research mode. Looked around the net and so far found a Krell int(I think the model # have 400 or something). Sounds like the right unit for my LSi because I don't want to hook up warm sounding equipment to them. I always sit there and wonder when I'll be able to fully enjoy my LSi9. Sure, they sound great now but I know they can do much better. I plan to go big when the time and $ comes.

OK, LSi owners, what are you having great success driving your LSi speakers with? I'm very interested in hearing opinions on Krell, Musical Fidelity, Bryston, Rotel and any other monster amps.

Maurice

Early B.

A couple of years ago I was powering a set of Lsi7's with an Odyssey Stratos amp and a MF Pre. Pure power and incredible detail.

organ

Oops, forgot to add. I'm more interested in an int amp. I'd probably pick up the matching source as well (CDP). I just want to go big and be done with it for the LSi rig. My limit is $5k for both source and int.

When I get married, and the wife don't want big Klipsch speakers and hot glowing tubes everywhere, the LSi rig will be my system. No woman will say no to the beauty of the LSi9.

audiobliss

What are you planning on doing with the Klispch at that point? Storage? Give-away?

organ

Early,
Ah, there'a another one to add to my list. Never really paid attention to Odyssey before. Gonna have to check them out. MF looks awesome and is up there on my list because they give a neutral sound presentation. I'm looking for neutral to match the LSi.

organ

audiobliss wrote:

What are you planning on doing with the Klispch at that point? Storage? Give-away?

LOL:D This is where it gets interesting. I can store them away for a while and sloooooooooowly sneak them in one by one, James Bond style:). But I gotta say, no horn speakers or tubes can beat the power of love, baby!

polkatese

Maurice,
I have a Krell 400xi integrated (double up to 400 watts/ch at 4 ohms), based on the recommendation from Paul (Pjdami)

I am using it to drive LSi15 on two channels setup. Very good match. You'll like it, give them a try. Audiogon used is around $1800, msrp $2500.

Early B.

organ wrote:

Oops, forgot to add. I'm more interested in an int amp. I'd probably pick up the matching source as well (CDP).

OK, then, go with MF. That would be my first choice if I ever went back to SS.

organ

Polkatese,
Ah! That's the unit I was talking about. All the reviews I've read mentioned this unit as being neutral with no warmth. That's perfect for the LSi because the speakers are very warm naturally. Thanks for the heads up. I've already started saving up. I'm still open to other suggestions.

organ

So far MF and Krell are on the top of my list. It will be quite a while before I get the system but I need to start my research early and I'm sure by the time I'm ready to buy, I can get used units at a great price.

I'm listening to the LSi9 right now and they're so nice. Very relaxed and laid back. It's good to get the 9's up and singing once in a while. They're the complete opposite of Klipsch.

LuSh

I used a SimAudio i-5080 for 2years untill after January. I had been to Vega's for the CES and stumbled upon the Krell/Runco room. I liked the Krell house sound alot. I contacted alot of people I trust and have met via Audiogon. Even though I was directed to a Krell 500i because it was quite simply a beast, I got nervous because of the cold sound Krell was famous for in the 90's.

I opted instead for the current Krell 400xi. It simply crushed my previous SimAudio in every area. I'm not joking, this thing has balls to the walls type of bass handling. Dynamic's and more importantly CONTROL. The background is VERY black as well. While it doesn't color or coat the music like some intergrated's it gives you an honest straight up answer to what ever your source is feeding it. This Krell is supposedly alot more musical then older models like the 300 and 500i. The designer of my DAC and transport is a fan of Krell's new house sound with their pre's and power amp's. I understand what he mean's they don't hide anything further up the chain. You'll hear source changes very quickly on this amp.

I just upgraded the PC to a Blue Circle BC62 today. A slight improvement with a blacker background, but rolled off high's. It's changed, but I'm not convinced for the better as of yet. We'll see.

polkatese

I have mine for over a year now, and has been able to put upgraditis at bay. Here are the winning combo: MIT, Krell, Rel, LSi.

Btw, Krell don't like Tubes. It hums like crazy....

pjdami

As far as solid state integrateds, the Krell 400xi is about the best I've heard under $2,500. I thought it murdered the Plinius 9200 head to head. I've had mine for well over a year now and no reason to upgrade anything in the Dynaudio rig.

Stand-alone amp (bypass mode) with the Krell yes mine hums too with a tube pre.

Integrated amp with a tube source (mod-Jolida cdp) no hum and sounds great.

polkatese

Hey Paul,

That's what I meant, thanks for clarifying. Krell integrated DON'T like tube pre-amp.

How things?

wingnut4772

Well I am not an expert by any means but my Eartquake Cinenova SS has plenty of power for the LSis and sounds really sweet for music.

tryrrthg

MF A5 int amp and MF A5 CDP would be a nice combo to look at. I heard them paired with some Sonus Faber Cremona Auditor's and it was pretty sweet. I love the looks of the A5 stuff too.

organ

Lush,
Thank you so much for the informative post. That's exactly what I wanted to hear.

Sean,
I gotta admit, I have a little fetish for Bryston. Every time I walk into this audio shop near my work place, I always have to touch and run my fingers across the face plate of the 4BST. That's a thing of beauty. The most solid piece of equipment I've come across. Haven't seen MF or Krell in person yet.

Polkatese,
It's all good. I plan to go SS from source to amplification for the LSi9. You tubeheads better not hurt me;).

Paul,
Long time no see. Glad to hear the Krell is working out for you. Are you planning to update your system showcase with the new gear?

Wingnut,
That's another one I have to take a look at. I thought this thread was going to narrow down my options but damn, you guys are giving me brands I've never heard of. Thanks;). I'll check them out.

Tryr,
That's cool. So far, Krell and MF are my choice. I plan to go used, so whichever one I come across first or whichever one I can get cheaper will be it. This is going to be a very interesting journey.

Thanks again for all the help, guys.

unc2701

I agree on the A5 MF recommendation. You should be able to come in well under $4000 for the integrated & CD and it's a great combo. Also, back to the original issue: The RF-35's are 98db efficient. The LSi9's are like 88-89db. Really you don't need to look any further than that for an explanation.

Midnite Mick

I have my lsi15's fueled by the Nuforce reference 9.02 monoblocks and the speakers stress long before the amps are really pushed.

Mike

McLoki

I have a Cinepro like this one. I can say it is a truely awesome amp for the LSi's (or any speaker I would think).

the one I linked to - (ebay auction) has to be one of the oddest auctions I have seen. I would be very careful if interested.

Anyway - click on the link for Cinepro in my sig and you will see the Cinepro website for it (from 1998). There are a number of reviews on that link as well.

Michael

Airplay355

Musical fidelity gear sounds great with my lsi7's.

ND13

Maurice,

Don't forget about PSound. Mine drives my SRS 2s with ease and on the rare occasion that I get to crank em, it stays fairly cool. At 4ohms, it's rated at 315 wpc. Imo, it's fairly neutral with a SLIGHT swing to the warmer side, SLIGHT.

race4aliving

The 15's sound great driven by my Accuphase. Lsi's love really good amps.

carvin77

Lsi...

ohskigod

http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/products/lsi15/


Polk's top of the line series, the link in particular is to the LSi15, there is a LSi25 above and a LSi9 and 7 bookshelves

unc2701

I gotta disagree-

I wouldn't call their impedence friendly and they're a far cry from flea power range. Flea power takes an efficiency solidly into the 90's and the 4 ohm impedence will trip thermal protections on many receivers- even ones supposedly 4 ohm rated.

Now, I do agree that you don't need a killer, "drive anything" amp for them. Adcom, Rotel, B&K do just fine... but you do need far more power than waht's needed for most Polks.

McLoki

Polks high end have always been a pain in the a$$ to drive.... The classic SDA lines were very hard to drive as well. (My SDA 1-b's also hit 2 ohms at a few frequencies) I checked out of audio between the SDA's until polks LSi line was introduced. (I did have an RM-6600 series that was very easy to drive.)

I think Polks lines run very much in line with electronics. Their low end speakers can be driven by anything, their mid-grade do best with mid-grade AVR's. (mid grade being $700-$1200 or so)

Their high end (RTi12's and LSi line) do best with separate components or high end AVR's.

Problems come into play when someone mates Polks Upper end speakers and low to mid-grade electronics.

Michael

unc2701

How big was the room?

organ

This is very interesting.

Like others have mentioned, the LSi will run on many decent receivers. I ran my 9's on an Onkyo and H/K. Yes, they can power the speakers but sounds like **** compared to running them on my seperates.

organ

Sean,
After reading many of your posts and seeing some of you ads on the FM forum, I'm surprised by the number of gear you've gone through or still have in your possession. I had no idea you had so much toys. Have you found a pair of speakers worth holding on to (other than LSi)?

organ

Dayummm! Totem speakers are awesome. Sound signature is similar to LSi but I find them to have a more 'energetic' sound compared to LSi. The tweeters on them sound sweet.