Ok now I'm realy confused

JimBRICK

Ok guy I've been doing ALOT of reading here and on other sites. I thought I'd made my mind up with getting this rig soon

lsi9 fronts
lsic
lsifx rears
psw505
and the ultra series emotiva amp and preamp.

BUT now I'm thinking about going with a rig with tube amps cause everyone says the sound is so wild.

Mini strata fronts
and find a nice matching center and sub. and use my fxi5 for rears?

BUT now I'm going to be reading for months and teaching myself about tube amps and the such


why does this hobby have to be so taxing

any ideas???

dorokusai

SS Amp....no need to worry about tube amplifiers your first time out the door.

Don't overthink everything.

ledhed

Everyone wants to experiment and find that "other" sound. It is a good thing, should help you hone what "your sound" is. Also, the thrill of it - isn't it fun?!?

Let me know if you end up wanting to sell the 9s

ben62670

I have an Adcom GFA-7500 up for grabs. 225* 5 at 4 ohms (150*5 at 8)
It is one of the last very tight amps made by adcom. Seeing that all you speakers are 4 ohms I think this would be an excellent match
Ben

JimBRICK

Oh I have $4000 I've saved burning a hole in my pocket. the strata's I found second hand from a friend will take up 1500 so I 2500 left for power and a nice dvd/sacd player


that adcom with doros rotel pre would be a nice combination

JimBRICK

wheels are turning guys woohoo maybe tube can wait

Dennis Gardner

Stop reading and start listening. Find a store or an owner in your area that has something you are interested. Speakers are simply the single most important part of determining what your rig will sound like, and if you are buying them by reading reviews and forums alone you are missing the boat.

Putting together a top notch audio rig isn't like putting together a computer, you can't simply buy the latest/greatest stuff and make it sound good together.

Just my .02.

JimBRICK

I've heard the stratas hooked up to a emotiva ultra theatre system and these speakers are AWESOME. I've yet to hear a tube amp but there is nowhere in my little town or near to do this. 4 hour drive at least. there are some people on here whos opinions I trust and I take their recommendation very seriously. But I've been told by a few guys now to hold off on the tubes for now and I think their right.

the reason for the LSI speakers is I work for a polk dealer and get a good deal.

the stratas I'm buying are a friends who is having a baby so he's reluctently selling. But I told him he could come over and listen anytime

dkg999

If you like the strata's, go with them! I've heard good things about them. You might be able to blend the LSi center and surrounds with them, others can offer an opinion on that. The Adcom amp offered above, and the Rotel pre/pro would make an outstanding system. You'll probably want something better than the PSW505 for a sub, but the 505 is under rated in my opinion.

JimBRICK

yeah I've been told to go in a different direction with a sub by alot of people so I think I will have to listen. I look on this site and see people rigs all polk speakers but very few with a polk sub

VR3

Sub =

VMPS and SVS - in a nutshell.

I would say HSU, but I really don't like Peter Marks or w/e his name is.

Schwingding

Regarding the Strata Minis - they are so good, that if you're like me, you will only care about what they sound in 2 channel mode, because all you're going to want to do is listen to 2 channel music. I've even begun buying 2 channel SACDs, rather than the multichannel stuff I've been happy with (till now).

If you're getting them because you mainly watch tons of movies where blended fronts/centers are important, then you'll be missing out on what the Stratas are really capable of.

But what I've noticed is they throw such a large soundstage that the center disappears completely - I have a CSi5 center. AV123 recommends the Ref 1 center and will trade it in for the matching strata center when it is available. Since I have the CSi5, I'll just wait till the strata center is avail.

They sound remarkable with the monoblocks - ask MillerLiteScott, he heard my Strata with the 2200 monoblocks. Yes, they sound better still with the tube amp, but a tube is not necessary to get wonderful sound out of those things.

Stick with the monoblocks, get the Stratas, enjoy. The tubes can come later.

tonyb

Agree with most....stick with the Strata's,get the mono's.Or for giggles,look at a hybrid amp.Tubes with the SS slam.I use a Butler and couldn't be happier.Seen them used as low as 1300. on the 'gon.Good luck,Iknow you'll be happy in whatever you choose.