Phantom center with lsi15's?

DPT

Hi Guys,
I have been reading this forum for the past couple of months and have been a member of AVSforum for awhile. After doing a lot of research, I finally decided to go with the LSI series. I will be picking up a pair of Lsi15's Saturday. I already have a polk Csi3, R30fronts ,4 Rti surrounds and a PSW202 system hooked up to a HK DPR 1001 and am slowly upgrading. I just bought a new house and am on a limited budget so I think i'll pass on the amps until I see how they sound with just the receiver. I know it's taboo but I will try the Lsi15's with the Csi3 center and Rti surrounds and see if they match reasonably well. Any thoughts? Should I go with a phantom center with the higher quality 15's. The speakers will be about 6 feet apart and I will be sitting 14 feet away. Any help would be great:)
Thanks!

fireshoes

Yeah, I think I'd go phantom center, the 15's image so well. Hell, half the time I think I have my center on, but I'm running in stereo.

John K.

DPT, welcome. Yes, you should certainly try the speakers with your present receiver to see if the results are satisfactory before you worry about spending money on replacement equipment. There's a tendency to exaggerate the amount of power necessary and a problem which may never develop shouldn't be assumed.

As to the center channel, using a "phantom" center would certainly match your LSi15s more closely because of course they're the speakers producing the center image. The disadvantage is that if a listener isn't centered between the LSi15s the center image will shift to the left or right with him, as far out as the speaker on that side. Try both setups to see which result is more pleasing to you.

You say that your LSi15s will be separated only about 6' and you'll be about 14' away. A good rule of thumb is to have the main speakers separated about the same distance as your distance from them and to toe them in slightly so that the tweeters point at your ears. So, if possible you should separate your speakers more and/or sit closer.

DPT

John K. wrote:

DPT, welcome. Yes, you should certainly try the speakers with your present receiver to see if the results are satisfactory before you worry about spending money on replacement equipment. There's a tendency to exaggerate the amount of power necessary and a problem which may never develop shouldn't be assumed.

As to the center channel, using a "phantom" center would certainly match your LSi15s more closely because of course they're the speakers producing the center image. The disadvantage is that if a listener isn't centered between the LSi15s the center image will shift to the left or right with him, as far out as the speaker on that side. Try both setups to see which result is more pleasing to you.

You say that your LSi15s will be separated only about 6' and you'll be about 14' away. A good rule of thumb is to have the main speakers separated about the same distance as your distance from them and to toe them in slightly so that the tweeters point at your ears. So, if possible you should separate your speakers more and/or sit closer.

Unfortunately, my current layout will not allow me to place the towers that far apart.The speakers will be separated by a fireplace the extends forward from the back wall. My samsung plasma hls5053 will be placed above the fireplace. When mounted, the middle of the TV should be about 6 feet high. I could place the center speaker on the mantle below the TV but that would mean the TV would need to be raised higher which might be a strain on my neck when seated or I could place the center above the TV which might look wierd. Hence the question about the phantom center. I would love to get away with a phantom center to avoid this problem but a drop in sound quality would drive me nuts.

DPT

Hey guys,
I got the new LSi15's this Saturday and they are awesome! I have it hooked up to a HK DPR1001 receiver along with a CSi3 center, RTi28 surrounds and a lowly PSW202 woofer. So far I have listened to DVD-A and SACD's ranging from classical to hip hop without any problems. Home theatre is also great. I tried the speakers without the woofer but the 8 inch woofers in the 15's just don't cut it. I have yet to try this set up without the center so I will get back to you on that. Overall, I am happy with the sound without an external amp and I don't hear any clipping at sound levels that greatly disturb my wife:p

Monster Jam

I found that I don't need to use my sub (Velodyne SPLII 1200) when I am running DVD Audio or Stereo with the LSi15s. The bass isn't overwhelming, but it gets the job done over here. Sure are pretty speakers, aren't they?

ohskigod

try both, with center, then without. wont be timbre matched, but you might like having the dialogue in movies on a different speaker, leaving the Lsi's to do the rest in the front soundstage. who knows, try both and experiment, its part of what makes the hobby fun

DPT

So far I haven't noticed any problems with timbre matching or sync problems between the speakers so I am happy. This saves me money...sort of. Now I can spend the money on a better sub or possibly an external amp if i decide to really let loose. But then again a new 1.3 HDMI AVR may be calling soon..... Oh well. I am still trying to figure out a nice way to include the center speaker in my setup without making it look too awkward.

Shizelbs

I sure have a hard time believing a CSi30 or a phantom center sounds good, but then again, I have never had the opportunity to try. Glad you like it. The LSis are incredibly nice speakers.

I would make your next priority to get a bigass amp for those LSis.

Anways, congrats, and welcome to the club.