has anyone done an A+b comparison?

JimBRICK

I'm wondering if anyone has done am A+B comparison between B&W and polk LSI series?

What were your opinions. I said screw it and put everything up for sale. I'm going to either purchase the lsi15's or the B&w 683

Going from a 5.1 to a straight 2 channel system for a while and then I'm going to build the home theater. With this move we may be having to do it'll be easier.

McLoki

From what I have heard of B&W - I would say they are more similar to the Paradigm's than LSi's in sound. (The B&W's seemed to have a briter sound and mated best with laid back equipment. - The LSi's are laid back to begin with and mate best with very detailed (i.e. more brite) equipment.)

All in my opinion of course. Personally, I liked the LSi's more, but to each their own. B&W makes some very nice speakers. (just kind of pricey in my opinion for what you get) If you really dig the B&W sound, I would check out and compare against the Paradigm Studio series speakers for a similar sound for less cash.

tonyb

Well,for me.you have to move up the b&w line for some quality sound.I think the lsi series is a few steps up over their 600 series.Of coarse,with the usual disclaimer,to each his own.If you plan on building a HT around your 2 channel setup,then the LSI line will be right at home.

mantis

I have alot of experience with both companies.

Polk Lsi are great speakers and very detailed. they do require good clean power to hear what they can do. They are also 4ohm load so most receivers are out of the question. I have owned them and loved them. They really don't have any musical weakness. They play everything great. I would own them again. They are also one of those middle of the road speakers that you could keep for the rest of your life. You can go pretty high end on the gear side and not have to replace these speakers. Rotel and B&K go very well with these speakers.

B&W 600 series as I have not heard the new 683's , I have heard all of there older models. In general B&W speakers are easy to drive and very hard to get to sound right. They are extremely picky with what you put on them. they can sound like **** or like one of the very best sounding speakers you have ever heard. I have a love hate thing going for B&W. I come close to buying them and find something else. But they keep me coming back to check them out so there is alot there to be desired. I find rock music to lack a bit on B&W speakers. They do it but others do it much better. Softer side of music they shine like no other. Probably the best classic, jazz speakers in the bussiness.

It's a toss up man. You gotta hear them for yourself. Personally I would think about the kind of music you listen to and get a closer answer you will.
I like em both for different reasons. I would probably go with the B&W speakers as I haven't owned them before.

Dan

JimBRICK

and seeing I can get the LSI's at cost I think I just got my answer, thanks

I've been on the fence for alot of months and I have someone coming to look at some on the gear I'm selling. So as soon as this transaction is done my lsi15's will be in the mail. I also worked out a good deal on some lsi7's which will later go in the back.

I've been noticing ALOT of these carver amps going on sale on ebay lately with 400 watts @ 4 ohm loads. SO I'll probably bid on one of those or the adcom 555II I've been talking to a forum member about. Now just get my tube preamp and I'm done for now.

if I could find a ROTEL RB-1080 for a good price thats what I really want

JimBRICK

Ok well my speakers are sold and I'm sending my order in for the lsi15's on monday. I'm going to buy a adcom555II off a member who pm'd me to power them. If I still want to watch movies and tv using this 2 channel system what preamp should I be looking for or should I just use the t743 NAD reciever I have?. cause this way I can still run a sub. any help is appreciated

http://207.228.230.231/info/NAD_T743.pdf

link to my reciever
Jim

Refefer

Any system that can play music great can play hometheater great.

Any system that can play hometheater might be able to play music well.

Any preamp that you use that sounds good for music should sound good for home theater as well. As for hooking up a sub, you can always use two Y-splitters from the RCA outs on your pre, combine them, and send them to your sub. The huge advantage of this is you could turn off your sub when listening to music, and turn it on for hometheater, all without having to juggle equipment, while having an excellent two channel preamp.

JimBRICK

I see you have the rotel 980, I'm talking to someone about instead of getting the adcom getting the RB-890. I figure its plenty of power for the lsi15's.

I could also use the amp for the fronts and power my center and rears later with the reciever. My NAD is plenty powerful enough for the lsic and lsi7's for the rears. My reciever has the preouts, so I think I have the plan. But what I need to know is do rotel and NAD mess well together?

engtaz

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=54864

This is what would be a better amp.

treitz3

B&W speakers to me yield a tarp put over your best speakers. Not a big fan here.

JimBRICK

engtaz wrote: »

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=54864

This is what would be a better amp.

I'm getting the rotel for 200 shipped I get yours if you match the price LOL

JimBRICK

treitz3 wrote: »

B&W speakers to me yield a tarp put over your best speakers. Not a big fan here.

I'f you heard the 800 series I heard with the proper amplification you'd change your mind. I listened to them in sudbury a few months back at a dealer and its the first time I heard a system that knocked me on my ****. I honestly felt I was right there in the studio. Theres no way I would ever spend 23000 bucks or could I offord to throw that kind of money at a 2 channel system

engtaz

That's not mine. If it was mine I would not be selling it.

treitz3

JimBRICK wrote: »

I'f you heard the 800 series I heard with the proper amplification you'd change your mind.

I have and I still think that they are musically compromised.

mantis

treitz3 wrote: »

I have and I still think that they are musically compromised.

Can you explain what you mean by this??? B&W are one of the worlds best speakers. There 801's are incredible. I have been around high end for a long time and B&W are right there with the very best.
there lower end speakers are also very good and could be considered one of the very best dollar for dollar. They hold there own with anyone.

Personal taste does come into play but musically there one of the best.

Dan

treitz3

Yes. They sounded flat to me. I couldn't really get a good A/B test to what I was trying to accomplish concerning SACD because I tested the system [no synergy] through B&W speak's. The top end had no High Fidelity and I was disappointed with the test and therefore could offer no results. It sounded as if the top frequencies had a tarp, or a blanket covering the highest frequencies. The upper midrange was a struggle to hear at times. Clarity was just not top notch. Sometimes price does not please my ears. The end result does.

The front end and source was Marantz.

JimBRICK

You can't use mid level electronics like marantz to test B&W speakers. Its like using unleaded gas in a jet. the pre and power amp they used in the dealers I was at were mcintosh and the amp almost cost as much as my first car

treitz3

Can you test the LSI's on the same gear mentioned? This will answer your question.

JimBRICK

I hate to say this in a polk forum but you cant compare a lsi speaker to an 800 series floorstanding speaker. but if I asked the dealer he would let me bring my speakers in to hear with the mcintosh

Kahuna

JimBRICK wrote: »

and seeing I can get the LSI's at cost I think I just got my answer, thanks

I've been noticing ALOT of these carver amps going on sale on ebay lately with 400 watts @ 4 ohm loads. SO I'll probably bid on one of those or the adcom 555II I've been talking to a forum member about. Now just get my tube preamp and I'm done for now.

Theirs one up here in Minnesota! (I found this while scouring Craigslist):

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ele/368100071.html

treitz3

Kahuna wrote: »

Theirs one up here in Minnesota! (I found this while scouring Craigslist):

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ele/368100071.html

That's the same thing as the 4.0, TFM-42 and the TFM-45. Different faceplate is all. The 4.0 and the 42 have runway lights and the 45 has VU meters. Internally they are the same.

Price is close to average considering recent prices for Carver gear, especially since it is mint. (as he claims)

Dennis Gardner

JimBRICK wrote: »

You can't use mid level electronics like marantz to test B&W speakers. Its like using unleaded gas in a jet. the pre and power amp they used in the dealers I was at were mcintosh and the amp almost cost as much as my first car

Jim,

You've evidently never heard Marantz reference gear. I think that $7k SACD/CD and $16k monoblocks aren't most peoples mid-level gear.:rolleyes:

http://us.marantz.com/Products/616.asp