LSi15 vs LSi25

linds6285

I'm ready to purchase and need help. The 25's are only $400 more now than the 15's. The sub used will be the PSW1000. Is it worth the extra for the 25's? My HT is used for movies and it seems many are happy with the 15's...

dorokusai

LSi15.

george daniel

^^^what he said^^^^^

McLoki

If you have a good amp - get the 15's. If the amp you are using is weaker than the amp in the 25's, sell your amp - get a better one - then get the 15's.

(just my opinion.)

Michael

engtaz

X3 15's

venomclan

dorokusai wrote: »

LSi15.

Yup.

You will then not need to plug the speakers in, and the bass will be easier to integrate with the seperate sub.
v

polkatese

fifteen.

treitz3

If it were my system, 15's all day long w/PSW1000.

marker

LSi25, even if you already have the PSW1000, cause the lower mid high passes at 80 Hz with a 12 db slope whereas on the 15 it is highpassed at 150 Hz. You won't even have to turn on the 25's subs at all for movies.

And for 2 channel, you won't even have to turn on the 1000.

dorokusai

You should allow a dedicated subwoofer handle the LFE in regards to HT. The LSi15 is more versatile.

wingnut4772

Quince!

marker

dorokusai wrote: »

You should allow a dedicated subwoofer handle the LFE in regards to HT.

Which is exactly what I said.

The LSi15 is more versatile.

How is it more versatile?

I think that on the contrary, it is a lot more limited than the 25. The 25 gives you much more options for control over the bass.

cmy330go

15's with sub.

However I would consider an alternative to the PSW1000.

treitz3

linds6285 wrote: »

The sub used will be the PSW1000.

Part of the equation. Would one want "boom" at the bottom, or properly integrated blending of frequencies to provide a more accurate and pleasing IMO representation of music?

I know what I would choose.

treitz3

cmy330go wrote:

However I would consider an alternative to the PSW1000.

I own it and I agree.

cfrizz

Welcome. What will the rest of your equipment be?

I trust that you have been doing research & know that the LSI's require a lot of power to sound their best.

haimoc

Most prefer 15s including myself, but a friend of mine does not want to have a separate subwoofer in the house, so he bought 25s. I think it is a good reason to get 25s, too.

dorokusai

marker wrote: »

Which is exactly what I said.



How is it more versatile?

I think that on the contrary, it is a lot more limited than the 25. The 25 gives you much more options for control over the bass.

A "built-in" subwoofer is a compromise in overall performance and the LSi25 is no exception. It doesn't dig deep enough and 75% of folks can't set-up their HT in the first place, let alone blend a speaker that has a built-in subwoofer so yes, the LSi15 is more versatile.

If you're not using your loudspeaker as its intended, as you alluded to in another post, why even own it? It's much like folks that use an AVR for a pre-pro, why not buy the right gear in the first place.

engtaz

+2 Doro statements.

venomclan

dorokusai wrote: »

A "built-in" subwoofer is a compromise in overall performance and the LSi25 is no exception. It doesn't dig deep enough and 75% of folks can't set-up their HT in the first place, let alone blend a speaker that has a built-in subwoofer so yes, the LSi15 is more versatile.

If you're not using your loudspeaker as its intended, as you alluded to in another post, why even own it? It's much like folks that use an AVR for a pre-pro, why not buy the right gear in the first place.

Agreed, Most powered towers won't "get you there" anyway, that being the case it is better to let the sub do its job and the towers do their's. Another negative to powered towers is that in most cases the factory amp is not of equal-higher quality than a quality outboard amp, creating a bottleneck. I would rather just biamp the lower driver with whatever I choose.
v

DPT

Save your money and grab the 15's. Then spend your money for a good subwoofer like the HSU or SVS.

MSALLA

It's also hard to obtain good placement with the sub built into the speakers. I never really listened to the 25's but the 15's are really sweet for the money.

marker

dorokusai wrote: »

A "built-in" subwoofer is a compromise in overall performance and the LSi25 is no exception. It doesn't dig deep enough and 75% of folks can't set-up their HT in the first place, let alone blend a speaker that has a built-in subwoofer

The 25s "not digging deep enough' for movies is irrelevant here when, as stated, he already has the 1000 sub for that anyway.

Not being able to "blend" them with the sub is also irrelevant since he doesn't even have to have the 25's subs on in the first place for movies due to their fixed high pass crossover points at 80 hz with 12 db slopes on the mid drivers, and yet they will still have better mid range dynamics than the 15s crossed over at 80 Hz. In this scenario, the 25s then in effect become a pair of LSi9s on stands high passed at 80 Hz.

But you did have a good point about most people not being able to properly set up a HT though.

so yes, the LSi15 is more versatile.

I still strongly disagree. The 25s give you gain, phase, and low pass crossover point adjustment options to tweak the bass. The 15s give you ... well, you can always try to change their positioning. I don't know about you, but I'd much rather have more of those options for bass control than not to. Plus, with the 25s, you could always still be able to change their positioning too.

My main complaint about the 15s when I heard them is that the bass is too boomy, and I blame that on the fixed high pass crossover point at 150 Hz from the dual mids to the 8' passive sub driver. If you like that, then great, but if you don't, then what can you do about it? Whereas the 25s give you the option to have that boomy bass if you want it, or not to if you don't.

If you're not using your loudspeaker as its intended, as you alluded to in another post, why even own it? It's much like folks that use an AVR for a pre-pro, why not buy the right gear in the first place.

Cause they are only $400 more, that's why, but yet they will more than offset that somewhat by needing a much less powerful amp (a sweet little integrated would be more than adequate for them). Also, they will top the 15s on 2 channel any day of the week, and twice on Sunday.

This is my main point. If the 25s were like $1000 more, then yeah, I'd say the 15s here in this case, but for only $400 more than the 15s, I say the 25s are a no brainer here.

It's much like folks that use an AVR for a pre-pro, why not buy the right gear in the first place.

Cause those AVRs usually are usually much cheaper, but yet with even more features than most pre-pros. Usually for the price difference, you could add a dedicated 2 channel pre-amp in the mix that would trump a pre-pro.

MikeC78

The only real issue I'd have with the LSI25's is the buit in amplifier. If they made them passive like the 15's I'd probably get the 25's.

MikeC78

dorokusai wrote: »

It's much like folks that use an AVR for a pre-pro, why not buy the right gear in the first place.

What is the "right" gear??

marker wrote: »

Cause those AVRs usually are usually much cheaper, but yet with even more features than most pre-pros. Usually for the price difference, you could add a dedicated 2 channel pre-amp in the mix that would trump a pre-pro.

BINGO!!

marker hit this one on the head...

There is nothing wrong with using an AVR as a pre-pro, actually an AVR packs a LOT more features which equates to a bigger bang for the buck.

treitz3

Made an error, see post #28 for my actual post. Whoops!

linds6285

Thanks for the advice. If the PSW1000 will handle the low end then i'll go with the 15's not needing the 25's extra bass for HT. I was going to go with (2)Outlaw 200's for power and get more 200's when i upgrade my other polk center & surround speakers.

treitz3

marker wrote: »

My main complaint about the 15s when I heard them is that the bass is too boomy, and I blame that on the fixed high pass crossover point at 150 Hz from the dual mids to the 8' passive sub driver. If you like that, then great, but if you don't, then what can you do about it?

Utilize the PSW1000's crossover and save two outlets.

marker wrote:

Cause they are only $400 more, that's why, but yet they will more than offset that somewhat by needing a much less powerful amp (a sweet little integrated would be more than adequate for them). Also, they will top the 15s on 2 channel any day of the week, and twice on Sunday.

This is my main point. If the 25s were like $1000 more, then yeah, I'd say the 15s here in this case, but for only $400 more than the 15s, I say the 25s are a no brainer here.

Price not even being part of my thought process on this because it's not my money, I'd still pick the 15's over the 25's. Why? sheer musicality and reproduction.......smoothness of blended frequencies.

Then you also have to remember that speaker placement will have more options with the 15's. I would also like to say that [and this might get me shot] Matthew Polk has and does make one HELL of a speaker, but IMO can use definite improvement on the amplification side of things. With the 15's, this is not an issue. (sorry Matt) Just make sure that the 15's are getting the juice they need to sing and I believe you'll be happy linds6285.

You could use the saved money to upgrade your current amp.;) Just a thought.

marker

treitz3 wrote: »

Utilize the PSW1000's crossover and save two outlets.

One more time, the 15 high passes from the mids to the passive subs at 150 Hz. The PSW1000, or any other sub for that matter, will not alleviate this issue that causes what I perceive to be boominess.

Besides, by your method, while you may be saving two outlets, you are going to have to use a lot more speaker wire.

If using an outboard sub all the time anyway, even on 2 channel music, then he'd just as well get LSi9s instead of either 15s or 25s.

Price not even being part of my thought process on this because it's not my money, I'd still pick the 15's over the 25's. Why? sheer musicality and reproduction.......smoothness of blended frequencies.

See what I wrote above once again for my take on the "sheer musicality and reproduction....... smoothness of blended frequencies" difference between the two models.

Then you also have to remember that speaker placement will have more options with the 15's.

Now how is that exactly? Can you physically put them somewhere where you can't the 25s? :rolleyes: This is complete and total BS. If anything, the 25s can go in places and sound better than the 15s in the same spots, because you can fine tune their active subs to sound better and help try to compensate for any placement issues by fine tuning the gain, phase and LP crossover the controls. That is, unless you meant sticking the 15s under a 46" high shelf or something. Then, I'd have to concede you may have a point there.

I would also like to say that [and this might get me shot] Matthew Polk has and does make one HELL of a speaker, but IMO can use definite improvement on the amplification side of things. With the 15's, this is not an issue. (sorry Matt) Just make sure that the 15's are getting the juice they need to sing and I believe you'll be happy linds6285.

Which with the 25s you simply won't need as powerful of an amp.

You could use the saved money to upgrade your current amp.;) Just a thought.

Or, the flip side of that, you can use the money you save on the amp for the 25s.

treitz3

marker wrote: »

One more time, the 15 high passes from the mids to the passive subs at 150 Hz. The PSW1000, or any other sub for that matter, will not alleviate this issue that causes what I perceive to be boominess.

Besides, by your method, while you may be saving two outlets, you are going to have to use a lot more speaker wire.

If using an outboard sub all the time anyway, even on 2 channel music, then he'd just as well get LSi9s instead of either 15s or 25s.

If he uses the crossover on the sub when hooking up thru line-in and sets the sub’s crossover to 140Hz [not that he would want to, just saying] and the 15’s crossover point is set at 150HZ, then that passive sub on the LSi15 will only be reproducing a frequency spectrum of 10Hz, thus knocking out your “boominess” that you say you are hearing. You asked a question I answered. How would this configuration not alleviate what you perceive to be “boominess”? If the sub takes over the frequencies that the passive sub on the 15's would be no longer responsible for, then one could always turn the volume down , or/and set to 0Db boost. Another question……you do not hear more “boominess” with the LSi25’s? His plans were TO utilize an outboard sub, specifically the PSW1000.

What does using more speaker wire have to do with anything?

marker wrote: »

See what I wrote above once again for my take on the "sheer musicality and reproduction....... smoothness of blended frequencies" difference between the two models.

OK, we have a difference of opinion, so what? Do you want a cookie?

marker wrote: »

Now how is that exactly? Can you physically put them somewhere where you can't the 25s? :rolleyes: This is complete and total BS. If anything, the 25s can go in places and sound better than the 15s in the same spots, because you can fine tune their active subs to sound better and help try to compensate for any placement issues by fine tuning the gain, phase and LP crossover the controls. That is, unless you meant sticking the 15s under a 46" high shelf or something. Then, I'd have to concede you may have a point there.

Thank you so much for the compliment. Let me clarify. Let’s say that he has 4 available outlets on his system’s wall. No more are available, unless he runs an extension cord from another outlet. Does he run an unsightly cord, or overtax the two available outlets? Not having to have an outlet for each speaker does render more speaker placement options with the 15’s, unless you have an abundance of outlets where the speakers are to be plugged in.

In the future, can you please try not to be so confrontational when discussing audio? You asked a question and I gave you an answer. I stated my opinion, and you immediately jumped on me. Totally unnecessary. Nobody knows everything.;)

marker

treitz3 wrote: »

If he uses the crossover on the sub when hooking up thru line-in and sets the sub’s crossover to 140Hz [not that he would want to, just saying] and the 15’s crossover point is set at 150HZ, then that passive sub on the LSi15 will only be reproducing a frequency spectrum of 10Hz, thus knocking out your “boominess” that you say you are hearing. You asked a question I answered. How would this configuration not alleviate what you perceive to be “boominess”? If the sub takes over the frequencies that the passive sub on the 15's would be no longer responsible for, then one could always turn the volume down , or/and set to 0Db boost. Another question……you do not hear more “boominess” with the LSi25’s? His plans were TO utilize an outboard sub, specifically the PSW1000.

First of all, not that it really matters, but what is quoted in bold here means that you would be utilizing the AVR or pre-pro's crossover, not the 1000's (through the use of line in). Just to clarify, at first I thought you meant actually letting the sub perform all crossover duties, thus the speaker wire comment.

Secondly, why would anyone want a 8", much less a 10" driver in effect performing as a dedicated mid range in the critical lower mid frequency spectrum of 80 to 150 Hz instead of dual 5.25" drivers anyway?

Besides, what you are talking about here by letting the 1000 do that is well past the point of localization though, so that alone pretty much invalidates your claim of placement advantage for the 15s right there, does it not?

And lastly, for a full range point source 2 channel speaker, I feel the 25s on their own would trump 15s, with or without a 1000 sub.

What does using more speaker wire have to do with anything?

About the same as saving 2 outlets does. But if hooking up the 1000 by line in as you now saying, then this is irrelevant anyway, so disregard it.

OK, we have a difference of opinion, so what?

Bingo! We have a winner.

Do you want a cookie?



Thank you so much for the compliment. Let me clarify. Let’s say that he has 4 available outlets on his system’s wall. No more are available, unless he runs an extension cord from another outlet. Does he run an unsightly cord, or overtax the two available outlets? Not having to have an outlet for each speaker does render more speaker placement options with the 15’s, unless you have an abundance of outlets where the speakers are to be plugged in.

This is grabbing at straws at best about "overtaxing" two available outlets, but in any case, I think it's pretty safe to say that anyone who buys 25s is going to have their amps plugged into a surge protector.

In the future, can you please try not to be so confrontational when discussing audio? You asked a question and I gave you an answer. I stated my opinion, and you immediately jumped on me. Totally unnecessary. Nobody knows everything.;)

Sorry, I guess it did sound a little confrontational the way I responded to your statement about the 15s having more placement flexibility. At the time, I was totally unaware that you were talking about it from an AC outlet point of view. I thought you meant from a bass performance standpoint, as I did. My bad. A thousand pardons.