How do the LSi15’s hold up for HT?

m00npie
m00npie Posts: 697
edited May 2007 in Speakers
I’m on the fence here and need some encouragement to either save money and stick with what I have or spend what would probably be another $1000 – 1200 after the sale of my existing equipment.

I currently have RTi10’s & the CSi5 in the front. The surrounds that I have is to be discussed in another thread. When I first started out, my listening breakdown was 90/10 (HT/Music). Since then I have made many adjustments in amplification\cables (Earthquake Grande 5 channel\Audioquest interconnects & speaker cables) and now I’m starting to take a much greater interest in music. Obviously, the adjustments that I have made will not completely tame the highs of the RTi 10’s for music so I’m considering an upgrade to the LSI series.

My new listening breakdown is 60/40 (HT/Music) so my requirements are simple… In order for me to unload the RTi’s , The LSi’s have to be really good for music (I think this forum has already established that), but more importantly, they need to be as good as or better than the RTi10’s for HT.

For those of you that have the LSi series, do any of you have experience with starting out with the RTi series first and then moving into the LSi series? If you have, were the LSi’s as good for HT?

To give more information if it helps, here is what I have that will not be changing for now anyway…

Pre- Denon 4306
Amp - Earthquake Cinenova Grande 5 channel

Movie\Music Sources:
HD - XA1
Blu – Ps3
CD – Marantz DV7600

Cables:
Interconnects – Audioquest King Cobra including the HD-DVD player and the CD player
Speaker Cable – Audioquest Type 8

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!
Post edited by m00npie on
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Comments

  • Demiurge
    Demiurge Posts: 10,874
    edited April 2007
    The LSi line will serve you just fine for what you're looking to do. I, personally, think they're better in both departments than what you have now. Definitely on the music front, but some may argue about HT.
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited April 2007
    go with the LSI's
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • haimoc
    haimoc Posts: 1,031
    edited April 2007
    Lsi15 do well in HT. I would say best choice for money.
    -?¿-
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited April 2007
    Go with Lsi's, especially for music. The 15's will smoke the RTi10's in both movies and music. You'll need the LsiC as well.
    HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

    "God grooves with tubes."
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  • ohskigod
    ohskigod Posts: 6,502
    edited April 2007
    WIth that cinenova, power will not be an issue with the Lsi's I'm sure. While RTi's certainly get the job done for home theater, the LSi's just have a more refined sound, The RTis were just a bit to forward, whereas the LSi's are smoother from top to bottom.

    most of the time, its being able to adequatly power them that is the big deciding factor, but again, with that cinnenova, that will not be a problem.

    Go LSi, with that power you;'ll be feeding them, I think you'll like the results.
    Living Room 2 Channel -
    Schiit SYS Passive Pre. Jolida CD player. Songbird streamer. California Audio Labs Sigma II DAC, DIY 300as1/a1 Ice modules Class D amp. LSi15 with MM842 woofer upgrade, Nordost Blue Heaven and Unity interconnects.

    Upstairs 2 Channel Rig -
    Prometheus Ref. TVC passive pre, SAE A-205 Amp, Wiim pro streamer and Topping E50 DAC, California Audio Labs DX1 CD player, Von Schweikert VR3.5 speakers.

    Studio Rig - Scarlett 18i20(Gen3) DAW, Mac Mini, Aiyma A07 Max (BridgedX2), Totem Mites
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  • MikeC78
    MikeC78 Posts: 2,315
    edited April 2007
    Had a full RTi8, CSi3 surround setup, went to a full LSi15, LSiC surround setup and will never look back.

    IMO, with the power you have feeding them you'll will love the LSi's!
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  • m00npie
    m00npie Posts: 697
    edited April 2007
    Great advice and thank you! I do have another question regarding the placement of the LSi15's. Have any of you found that they are more sensitive to placement with the side firing sub than say a tower such as the Rti10?
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited April 2007
    The treble/midrange of the Lsi series is in a different league from the Rti. Go for it...
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • Demiurge
    Demiurge Posts: 10,874
    edited April 2007
    m00npie wrote: »
    Great advice and thank you! I do have another question regarding the placement of the LSi15's. Have any of you found that they are more sensitive to placement with the side firing sub than say a tower such as the Rti10?


    They definitely take more time to place than the RTi10.
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  • m00npie
    m00npie Posts: 697
    edited May 2007
    $200.00 off at Crutchfield right now for LSi15 & LSiC. I'm going in !
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  • Shizelbs
    Shizelbs Posts: 7,433
    edited May 2007
    Awesome. You'll love it.
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited May 2007
    Cool!!!
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
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  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited May 2007
    I am 90/10 (or therebouts) HT and Music. I have not heard an RTi home theater, but I have not wished I had a better speaker since I have purchased my LSi's. I will have to go through alot of upgrades before I ever consider them the weak link in my system.

    Congrats on the purchase, I am sure you will love it. Let us know what you think when they arrive. (also the sound changes quite a bit over the first hundred hours or so - keep that in mind if you are undecided about the sound at first)

    Michael
    Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
    Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
    Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
    Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
    Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
    Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms)
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  • engtaz
    engtaz Posts: 7,664
    edited May 2007
    +2 LSI's
    engtaz

    I love how music can brighten up a bad day.
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  • m00npie
    m00npie Posts: 697
    edited May 2007
    McLoki wrote: »
    Also the sound changes quite a bit over the first hundred hours or so - keep that in mind if you are undecided about the sound at first

    Michael

    I'm glad you told me that. I have heard this mentioned before and often wonder... Is it possible to cheat this? In other words, 100 hours of seat time is a long time for me (About 2.5 months) so in an attempt to speed up this process, could I simply just let the music play over night at lower volumes? Or does it require 100 hours of higher volumes to give it a good work out? I could achieve the break-in period in 2 weeks if the lower volume trick works.
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  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited May 2007
    You could easily let it play at moderate volumes while you are not home. (75-80db) Turn on the radio and go to work or school.

    For me it would be a little to loud to let play at night. (if you have a large house or it playing in the basement it may not bother you though)

    Michael
    Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
    Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
    Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
    Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
    Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
    Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms)
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  • DesertPilot
    DesertPilot Posts: 57
    edited May 2007
    I have both. I moved the RTis to the master bedroom when I could afford the LSi series. In my opinion, the LSi series for music is breath taking. And when watching a movie with a great soundtrack...again, simply awesome.

    I know SACD hasn't caught on...but there are a few companies making them (Telarc, for instance) and the music is sooooooo sweet!

    Marcus
    LSi9 + LSiC + LSiFx
    dual PSW 505
    Integra DHC 80.2 Pre-Amp
    Outlaw 755 Amp
    OPPO BDP-93 universal player
    BENQ W6000 Projector
    Da-Lite120 inch diag screen.
    BlueJeans Cables all around.
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  • m00npie
    m00npie Posts: 697
    edited May 2007
    The LSi's (15 & C) have arrived and my first impression is. Holy **** I didn't realize how much better they would be for music. I was kind of disappointed that the center did not have the kick stand option as the CSi5 did. Since I have mine mounted above the TV, it needs to point down but no matter, I'll just make one.

    The HT test is tonight so we'll see. If the 100 hour break-in period holds true, I can only imagine how good they'll be. The Earthquake is certainly running much warmer for the LSi's than they did for the RTi's. I may need to look into some fans for cabinets. I'll report back my HT findings.
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  • G-2
    G-2 Posts: 533
    edited May 2007
    The LSi15's will be outstanding as mains for HT
    Home Theater
    Chane     A3rx-c's, A2rc-c, A1rx-c's|Miller & Kreisel V-125's|Sony XBR65X810C 65" 4K LED TV|
    Earthquake Cinenova Grande-5|Pioneer Elite - VSX-84TXSi-AVR|TRIPPLITE LCR2400|
    Ultrasonic Amp Stand|Blue Jeans,Audioquest,Monster Cables|

    2 - Channel
    Polk     RTA 12c's w/RDO194 TWEETS, clarity ESA caps mills resistors (full mod)|Turntable|
    Anthem MCA 2|Acurus Act 3 Pre Pro|Parasound P/Ph 100|Pioneer Elite N-30|Adcom GDA600|
    Premier Rack|Blue Jeans,Audioquest,Monster Cables|
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited May 2007
    Congrats! I'm glad you're enjoying them.
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,015
    edited May 2007
    m00npie wrote: »
    The LSi's (15 & C) have arrived and my first impression is. Holy **** I didn't realize how much better they would be for music. I was kind of disappointed that the center did not have the kick stand option as the CSi5 did. Since I have mine mounted above the TV, it needs to point down but no matter, I'll just make one.

    The HT test is tonight so we'll see. If the 100 hour break-in period holds true, I can only imagine how good they'll be. The Earthquake is certainly running much warmer for the LSi's than they did for the RTi's. I may need to look into some fans for cabinets. I'll report back my HT findings.

    Sure you don't wanna sell that earthquake and just run them off an AVR ??
    I jest of coarse...congrats on your new love,now go dig thru every cd you own,pour a cold one,and enjoy the music.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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