$1400 Burning a hole in my pocket . . . new speaker time!!

SolidSqual

Right now I use my Rti8s coupled with my PB10 for Music. I'm a little dissatisfied with their performance. I want a speaker that's honestly a little more musical. When I first heard my Rti8s, they were amazing musically, but now I fear I have become used to the sound. Afterall, Polk spoiled me. My previous system was a Bose Lifestyle 25. Let's just say "No Lows Bows, +1" In fact "No Bose Goes . . . anywhere near my ears ver again."

At any rate, I've been looking at the B&W 604 S3. These speakers are at the top of my price range. I have a meeting setup to hear them later this month. Does anyone have any suggestions before I dive into my reviewing? any other speakersI should look at? What do you all thing of the Paradigm Studio 80s compared to the B&Ws I have mentioned?

Thanks

mwaarna

Consider the following setup:

Polk LSi 9 - Can be had for 700 new shipped, 500 used for a pair
Outlaw Audio m2200x2 for amps 632
All new would equal to 1332 shipped.

I just purcahsed a LSi9 setup and a used Outlaw Audio 750 amp and i really like the sound.

SolidSqual

I've read mixed reviews about the Lsi9s. Are they really in the same league as the 604s? I was planning on driving the 604s with my Parasound Halo A23. I think that should be plenty of power . . .

ben62670

I'll hold it for ya

shack

mwaarna wrote:

Outlaw Audio m2200x2 for amps 632

He doesn't need an amp. His Parasound Halo is much better than the Outlaw monoblocks.

I don't particularly like the B&Ws..especially for music. I find them fatiquing. But that is just me and others have a different opinion.

Spend as much time as possible listening to as many speakers as possible. See if there is an audio/video shop (not a big box store) that you can visit and demo. There are lots of good speakers in this price range. Are you going to sell the Polks? If so add that amount to the price and see where that takes you as well. Polk LSi, B&W, Focal - JMlab, Totem, Paradigm, Martin Logan, Vienna Acoustics, ect, etc, etc...

shack

SolidSqual wrote:

I've read mixed reviews about the Lsi9s. Are they really in the same league as the 604s? I was planning on driving the 604s with my Parasound Halo A23. I think that should be plenty of power . . .

YES! Both the LSi15 (a better comparison) and the LSi9s are better IMO.

(But then I've already said I don't like the B&Ws - so take this with a grain of salt)

SolidSqual

I haven't decided whether I am going to sell the Polks, I may keep them for a strictly HT setup. You right however, selling them woul dbe a good way to add a few extra bucks to get a little more on the high end.

TennesseeOutlaw

A very musical yet expensive speaker would have to be DynAudio..

tryrrthg

Where in Ohio are you?

There are some good shops in Columbus to get your ears on some good speakers. I also know of some in the Dayton area, never been to any in cinci or Cleveland.

SolidSqual

I'm in Columbus, Ohio.

zombie boy 2000

Holy moly... another one. It seems we may be legion in this area of the country...

tryrrthg

SolidSqual wrote:

I'm in Columbus, Ohio.

Not sure is you know about any or all of these but here are my favorites.

www.progressiveaudio.com - VERY nice stuff, very high end, but they've got some affordable stuff too

www.genesisaudio.com - good stuff there too, but they don't have to showroom space that progressive does.

audio encounters is on 161 near riverside drive, in Dublin. They have some decent stuff too, but I've never been really impressed with that place.

if you know of any others, please share, I'm always looking for new places to go

TennesseeOutlaw wrote:

A very musical yet expensive speaker would have to be DynAudio..

I like the way this guy thinks!

There is a Dynaudio dealer in Dayton. Called Hanson AV I need to get there and get my ears on the new Dynaudio Focus line.

mldennison

i would say that the lsi's are every bit in the league of the b&w 600 series but a very different sound. the b&w's (and the paradigm studio series) are very foward speakers so would be similar to your RTi's, just a little up the food chain. the lsi's are very laid back in comparison, which happens to be what i like in a speaker. i dont think you would go wrong with either of them but it is good that you are going to hear them before you buy.

as for other recommendations, i would definately try to hear the lsi's as well as anything by either dynaudio or totem. dynaudio has a few in your range (audience, focus series) and totem has a few (model 1, rainmaker, sttaf, arro). once i heard those guys, i was not thinking much about b&w anymore, but that is just my opinion.

SolidSqual

MIDWEST TOTAL SYSTEMS is great! Although they are a custom dealer, they have a pretty good showroom with some massive Martin Logan setups and some impressive paradigm floor models. They have several theater rooms from modest to quite large interms of size, tvs, and speakers.

cstpeter

Check out a pair of used Von Schweikert VR-2. Here's a pair for $1250:

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrfull&1173291736

I went from LSi9 to Martin Logan Aeon i to Von Schweikert VR-4jr and each step was a big improvement (to my ears).

tryrrthg

I would recommend the Von Schweikert VR2's also. there is a dealer in columbus that sells gear out of his home that has a near perfect demo pair of VR2's for sale. They sound pretty damn good.

here they are:
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrfull&1175364949

malikarshad

Excellent suggestions so far.
But have you considered Lsi15?
I use it for both HT/2-channel & they are very good speakers for music.

dgt2n

Paradigm Studio 60's or 80's would be at the top of my list for speakers in the 1000-1500 range. I haven't listened to many of the others listed her though.

I hope to change that soon.

SolidSqual

I wish I could demo the LSis, but I can't find a dealer. Plus, I don't know how excited I am about them. I haven't read many promising reviews. Don't get me wrong, I love Polk, but I want to reacha new tier of performance, style and simplicity that I don't see in the Lsi line. Anyone want to try and convine me otherwise?

McLoki

Out of curiosity where are you finding the bad reviews about the LSi speakers? I have done multiple google searches for Polk LSi and have not found really any bad reviews. Even people on other boards who seem to dislike Polk speakers give props to the LSi line.

Michael

okiepolkie

Where have you read these reviews? Although they aren't the end all speakers, most of the legitimate reviews put them where they need to be. From personal experience, they are on a different level than the RTi's.

Also, my thoughts are that $1400 is still within the same tier, and you shouldn't expect an overwhelming increase in performance, or the other areas for that matter. There will be a change, and most of the speakers you mentioned will get you that change, but don't expect miracles.

With that said, like many of the choices mentioned above, and you would getting close to the next level I think you are searching for. Selling the current speakers will help open up the options even more, although I would like to know your source and pre selection before I make any specific recommendations.

Demiurge

McLoki wrote:

Out of curiosity where are you finding the bad reviews about the LSi speakers? I have done multiple google searches for Polk LSi and have not found really any bad reviews. Even people on other boards who seem to dislike Polk speakers give props to the LSi line.

Michael

I was going to ask the same thing.

It's all good to buy speakers you like over Polk, but why the need to claim the LSi line is poor is beyond me. This is the first time I have heard anyone say they're no good.

cstpeter

Yeah, I've only come across good reviews for the LSi line.

http://www.avrev.com/equip/polk_lsi9/index.html

http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/polk_lsi9.htm

http://www.guidetohometheater.com/speakersystems/141/index.html

http://www.affordableaudio.org/aa2006-12.pdf

http://www.onhifi.com/product/polk_lsi15.htm

http://www.avrev.com/equip/polk_lsi/index.html

http://www.hometheatermag.com/floorloudspeakers/161/

In my personal experience, the LSi9 provided a true entry to high-end musical reproduction. But if you can't demo them, I see why you're reluctant to add them to your list.

Monster Jam

SolidSqual wrote:

I wish I could demo the LSis, but I can't find a dealer. Plus, I don't know how excited I am about them. I haven't read many promising reviews. Don't get me wrong, I love Polk, but I want to reacha new tier of performance, style and simplicity that I don't see in the Lsi line. Anyone want to try and convine me otherwise?

Frankly, I don't.

There are a lot of good speaker manufacturers out there (Polk being one of them), and there are a few that demand a premium price based on perception alone. If you want to spend your money on something other than Polk, more power to you.

Demiurge

Also, how can you claim the LSi line doesn't appeal to you if you never had a demo?

SolidSqual

Let me rephrase - I haven't heard straight out negative reviews (from any creidble sources), but when I read the reviews, the reviewers seem less excited about the LSis. Specifially, I've heard that the LSis are unable to play low volumes, but shine once above a certain level. Please also understand that I have not completely discounted the LSi series. I love my Rtis and would like to stay in house. I just want to pick up something really special. Out of curiosity, would I notice a major descrpency in my HT if I bought the LSis for my fronts, moved my Rti8s to the side and left my RTi6s as the back? That might be fun until I move to a bigger place.

SolidSqual

Reasons why the LSi series may not appeal to someone who has never listened to them.
1. Appearance - not the most important feature of a speaker, but worth an opinion.
2. I may want to move around a little and experience other Brands.

Using a real world example, you don't have to have sex with a fat girl to know she doesn't appeal to you.

SolidSqual

Woah Woah, I've been looking through the write ups from some of you guys. PLease PLease don't misunderstand me. I know the LSi series is a good set of speakers. I didn't say they were bad. I know I'm stepping on toes by talking about some other speaker brands on a polk forum, but I've always received good direction here. I'm only asking for that same direction now. There's no reason to think that I am disrespecting the LSi series.

zombie boy 2000

SolidSqual wrote:

Reasons why the LSi series may not appeal to someone who has never listened to them.
2. I may want to move around a little and experience other Brands.

This shouldn't be a crime... I've read many favorable reviews of speakers that I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt wouldn't appeal to me. You come across enough testimonies, you start to build a clear picture of the product.

Sure, you don't know, until you hear... but how many of us have the opportunity to hear every single speaker available? I didn't demo my current speakers, but I had a fairly accurate idea of what I was getting when I pulled the trigger. No surprises either when I had them up and running....

SolidSqual

Thanks Zombieboy, I thought I was going to lose my neck for a momet there.

zombie boy 2000

SolidSqual wrote:

I know I'm stepping on toes by talking about some other speaker brands on a polk forum, but I've always received good direction here. I'm only asking for that same direction now. There's no reason to think that I am disrespecting the LSi series.

Let's not forget what makes this Forum so great... many of us love Polk or have Polk products, but have either made lateral moves, upgrades, or downgrades from the brand. Yet, we're still here because Polk places an emphasis on this hobby however it is explored and with whatever is used to explore it.

How many Forums are polluted with cheerleading nonsense?
"Bose is kewl.klipsh is rawk..... number one!!!!"

Solid asked for some advise with a clear idea of where he wanted to go... let's work together to get him there.