Pushing an LSi7...and other long-term plans

Jonesy

I don't check in here often, but when I have questions about my 'budget basement' polk system I know who to ask. I've recently been dreaming about taking the basement system out of the budget arena and have been considering the LSi line. Now I haven't won the lottery or had a rich relative pass on or anything so I'll still need to do this slowly and as fiscally wary as possible (read:used gear). So far I"ve figured on this path...

#1 Amp. Most folks seem to recommend at least 200w so I'm thinking about an older 2 channel Adcom, Parasound, B&K....etc for the front pair.

#2 Fronts. Kick out the R20's for LSi7's. I want the 9's but again, you gotta start somewhere and I can always move the 7's to the back later.

#3 Another Amp. Secure a beefy 5 channel for center and surrounds. Again Adcom and so forth.

#4 Center Channel. Swap out the ancient CS200 for the LSiC.

#5 New Fronts. Find some 9's and move the 7's to the surround position in place of the current R15's.

#6 Rears. Either get a pair of LSiFX's and move the 7's to the rear, booting the ancient Monitor 6 satellites, or just get another pair of 7's. I haven't decided yet.

#7 Pre/pro. Can the old Pioneer vsxd810 for a dedicated processor. I haven't even comtimplated this one yet. I may even get a new unit for the main rig at some point and put my Outlaw 950 in the basement. Very far in the future.

Caveat....If I find a deal on some 7's I am wondering if my Rotel 971 would power it. It's rated at 70w into 8 ohms, but there isn't a 4 ohm rating in the manual, even though it states that it's rated down to 4. The only downside here is I'd have to find another amp before spring as the Rotel does zone 2 duty for the patio in the warm months (but comes down to play with the R20's during the winter).

My main concern is that this system would be seriously out of balance given that it may be a long period of time with LSi's as fronts and the center and surrounds as R series and older. The advantage is that most serious movie watching is done on the main rig. The kids watch TV down here and I do some TV viewing and music listening as I sit on the computer and ask people how to spend my money. Any input is greatly appreciated.

Early B.

If I had to do it all over again, I would have built a kickass 2-channel system, then develop an HT system around it. The reason is because you're putting your money where it counts most -- the processor (i.e., receiver) and the front speakers, especially if you use your system often for music.

With that in mind, the first purchase should be the brains of the operation -- a good receiver. Next, buy the best front speakers you can. Consider an 8 ohm speaker, 'cause if you pursue the Lsi series, it's gonna cost you a lot more money to power them. Separate amps should be much lower on the list of priorities for budget-conscious folks like you and me. Whatever speakers you have up front right now, move them to the rear or sell them. The next purchase would be a new center channel, followed by a huge sub (buy one bigger than you need).

Jonesy

While I agree with your general strategy I think the priorities are different given this is a second system. I have to say I heard a real improvement when I moved to a dedicated pre/pro in the main system, but I heard a bigger improvement going from reciever amps to a separate amp on the same system. Addtitionally I always hear an impovement in the R20's when I move the Rotel to the basement for the winter which is why I believe an amp may be the best first move (one that won't migrate from room to room).

BTW, this is in a 12x22 room that can be completely closed off. I also have an Infinity IL100 sub right now (my HSU STF2 will move down there when I replace it with something bigger upstairs). Here's what I working with...

danger boy

you'll hear a big difference going from the R20's to the LSi line. have you heard any LSi's before? you're in for a real treat.

Jonesy

Unfortunately I haven't heard them yet. I don't even know where to go to listen to them. I'm not in the habit of buying speakers I haven't heard but I do have a fondness for the Polk line. My first prologic setup was a Polk Monitor 6 and M3 rig. I was also impressed enough with the R15 when I accompanied a friend who was auditioning surrounds to implement them, and subsequently the R20's, into my second system. My enthusiasm is based solely on reviews so far. I figure I can resell close enough to purchase price if I really can't live with them. But I hope I don't have to.

cfrizz

Hi Jonesy. There is no rule stating that you HAVE to buy the entire system all at once. I think you have a very solid plan in place, and that is exactly what you should do!

You have the hardest part figured out already, you know that you need lots of separate amplification to do this correctly.

Don't worry about the balance of the system. None of my speakers match & I can't tell the difference!

Proceed with your plan, and keep us updated!

markmarc

Questions to answer...

1. What is your overall budget?
2. Will the rig be primarily music, or home theater?
3. Are you a critical listener, or just an enjoyer?

The reason I ask is to find out where you're personal point of satisfaction lies. If you're an enjoyer, then I would suggest the RTi line.

Keep in mind the LSi's require much more effort in component matching. True quality amps are required. I learned during my review of the LSi7's that my Onix SP3 tube amp at 38 wpc(once warmed up) can run the LSi7's with more detail than a big box solid state amp at triple the power ratings.

To run an LSi Home Theater, I'd tell you to give serious consideration to Outlaw and Rotel.

No matter what you chose, take your time, visit and read the tremendous amount of posts here. In addition, chat with those who have gone thru the process.

cfrizz

This is making it too complicated. Whether or not you are a "critical listener" or an "enjoyer" should not matter.

People are always trying to classify things so that they can say one is superior to the other.

If you take your time & get top notch equipment within your budget, it shouldn't matter how you choose to utilize your equipment.

The LSI's will be terrific for ALL applications as long as he has more than sufficient power to drive all the speakers.

I do both critical & non critical listening and both sound just great on my 1 system. Is there DIFFERENT equipment out there that MIGHT make it sound DIFFERENT (not necessarily better)Of course, but for me it is NOT worth the outrageous cost that it would take to get there.

You have a sound plan of action Jonsey, stick with it!

Jonesy

I appreciate the input. Mark, I think of myself as a 'critical enjoyer'. I haven't been very impressed with Polk's middle lines as of late. I got inot the R series because I thought the price/performance ratio was fantastic, and because I didn't have much cash I am already running Outlaw and Rotel out of my B&W's so I'd like to experiment with a different sound.

Cfrizz you're right on the money with my intentions for this system. If I want to get serious the potential is there but that more than likely won't be it's day to day function so keeping a lid on the budget is a priority.

markmarc

Jonesy:
Since you're into B&W, then the Polk R's wouldn't satisfy you that's for sure. Running the LSi's on solid state equipment beyond Rotel and Outlaw, I'd check Parasound, Bryston, B&K, to name a few. I know Paul DiComo was quite impressed by Ayre's in combination with the LSi's.

Enjoy the buying process, it's not something most of us don't get to do very often.

Jonesy

markmarc wrote:

Jonesy:
Since you're into B&W, then the Polk R's wouldn't satisfy you that's for sure. Running the LSi's on solid state equipment beyond Rotel and Outlaw, I'd check Parasound, Bryston, B&K, to name a few. I know Paul DiComo was quite impressed by Ayre's in combination with the LSi's.

Enjoy the buying process, it's not something most of us don't get to do very often.

Thanks for the amp rec's. As far as the R's go I am very satisfied with them particularly for the cost. The 20's get even better when I get to put my Rotel 971 on them during the winter. However I am finding that I'm spending more time downstairs on the Polk/Pioneer rig (vs. the Outlaw/Rotel/B&W upstairs rig) than I anticipated and have been thinking of possible paths to better performance.

cfrizz

Jonesy, your Rotel will power the 7's. I gave my brother my 50wpc Rotel for his 7's & they sounded good. But it did run very hot at loud levels.

He just swapped the Rotel out for my old Parasound 1500A 205wpc amp. He called to tell me that he now hears MORE of everything in the music than what he heard with the Rotel. And I have no doubt it is running a lot cooler than the Rotel.

Jonesy

Thats very encouraging, both for the Rotel and the Parasound. The 1500's (some have an 'A' designation I noticed) are one of the models I was researching. Thanks again.

MSALLA

Jonesy,I'd say I'm in the same boat right now.I didn't like my Monitors series and started to make changes. On a budjet, I'm taking my time. After the holidays, the 7's are going to the back (although they sound good as the fronts right off the yamaha reciever) and will add an amp. It's rough having to wait but with other expenses, if you want good hardware thats what you have to do.

Jonesy

Amen brother. It's encouraging that you are happy with the 7's on the Yamaha. What are you going to be putting in place of the 7's...9's perhaps?

ND13

I know I'm going against the majority of the LSI owners, but that Anthem 1 tube amp I picked up from Russ sounds better with my LSI7s and 9s than my Parasound does. Of course, I'm using them for 2-channel only and I'm not trying to deafen myself.

MSALLA

Jonesy wrote:

Amen brother. It's encouraging that you are happy with the 7's on the Yamaha. What are you going to be putting in place of the 7's...9's perhaps?

Probably the 9's. The wife is giving me a hard time about putting th 15's in the living room. I like the 9's though and I'm building a decent sub so when it's all done I should be happy for like 6 months until I get on here and read about something better and just have to have it.:rolleyes: