Polk LSi Speakers

mightymouse
mightymouse Posts: 254
edited May 2008 in Speakers
How are the Polk LSi speakers? I did a couple of searches on the net, and people seem to be saying good things about the LSi's. Which one do you guys recommend, the bookshelf or the floorstander? The top of the line LSi25 seem to cost much more than the one that is one step down, is the LSi25 so much better than the LSi15?

And what about the two bookshelves? The LSi7 and the LSi9? Which one is better?
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  • mightymouse
    mightymouse Posts: 254
    edited March 2008
    And where do you guys recommend buying them from?
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  • furball
    furball Posts: 234
    edited March 2008
    Well, I have a pair of almost brand new LSi9's for sale. Take a look at the for sales forum. PM me if you are interested.
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited March 2008
    15's or 9's are the way to go IMO.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • Gaara
    Gaara Posts: 2,415
    edited March 2008
    I recommend you buy your 9s used from a total stranger on a board that both yourself and they are new at...thats what I would do.

    Do a search, lots of threads on the 9s vs 7s, I am sure there are plenty on 9s vs 15s.
    The Basement HT
    PC Rig
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  • sb_caribou
    sb_caribou Posts: 32
    edited March 2008
    agree on the 9s and the 15s, but only if you have sufficient amplification. great speakers.
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  • hockeyboy
    hockeyboy Posts: 1,428
    edited March 2008
    +1 on having good amp to run these. I love my 15's and prefer them over the 25's, but I rock killer subs. The best place to buy them is Z-Tech electronics in Los Angeles. You can contact them through their E-Bay store, although they are an authorized dealer so will not sell directly to you through E-Bay. Awesome prices on brand new gear with paperwork.

    http://stores.ebay.com/Z-Tech-Electronics
    My Main Gear
    Mitsu HC5000 (Proj.)
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    LSi 15's (Front)
    LSiC (Center)
    LSiFx (Surrounds)
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  • ohskigod
    ohskigod Posts: 6,502
    edited March 2008
    I like the 15's better than the 9. if your doing home theater and are going to have a sub. there is no reason for the 25 in my eyes. the 15 has a great sound in theater or 2 channel application. you will need stout amplification. cheaper recievers need not apply.

    some nice seperates will do, outlaw for example, especially if your on a budget. great bang for the buck. you can get the Outlaw 990 processor for cheap then go the used amplification route.

    you have to spend alot of coin to get better than the LSi's, especially new.
    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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  • mightymouse
    mightymouse Posts: 254
    edited March 2008
    So the consensus is the 15's are better than the 9's.

    Are the 15's heavy to move around?
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  • Mike Reeter
    Mike Reeter Posts: 4,315
    edited March 2008
    mightymouse wrote: »
    And where do you guys recommend buying them from?

    I "think" they are a registered Polk dealer...Good price on the 9's


    http://www.highdecibels.com/products.asp?cat=15&pg=6

    Or direct from Polk,reman. with full warranty

    http://stores.ebay.com/Polk-Audio-Direct_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQfsubZ0QQftidZ2QQpZ2QQtZkm
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  • DPT
    DPT Posts: 24
    edited March 2008
    +1 for Z tech electronics in Los Angeles. I always pay cash and pick up which helps for a discount. They are legit dealers.
    Samsung hps 5053
    Onkyo 905
    Xbox 360 Elite with HD-DVD player
    PS3 with 60g HD
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    Toshiba A35
    panasonic BD30
    Dell XPS M1210 via vga and spdif
    Direct TV HD receiver
    LSI 15 fronts
    Lc265i center
    Orb audio Mod2 surrounds for 6.1
    Outlaw LFM-1 Plus subwoofer
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,289
    edited March 2008
    mightymouse wrote: »
    So the consensus is the 15's are better than the 9's.

    Are the 15's heavy to move around?
    Answer to 1st question....No, it depends on the individual ear and the application.
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited March 2008
    The 15's are way beyond my weight limit. They weigh around 65lbs each!
    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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  • ohskigod
    ohskigod Posts: 6,502
    edited March 2008
    cfrizz wrote: »
    The 15's are way beyond my weight limit. They weigh around 65lbs each!

    you will not ever....EVER....want to look at my AR9's then. 135 lbs a piece.
    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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  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited March 2008
    I own the 9's and use them as front speakers in my HT application. They are a great speaker, not just for HT, but music as well. Nice looking, sound good and a good price. No more to be said. Good luck.
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
    NORTH of 60°
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  • SBrown712
    SBrown712 Posts: 202
    edited March 2008
    I would suggest that you stay away from highdecibels.com unless you feel lucky.

    I have the 15s and love them. I use a HK AVR 435 as my pre and an Emotive LPA-1 amp. I got the speakers before the amp arrived so I used just the receiver first. Was wondering if I had made a mistake getting the 15s. When I got the amp and hooked it up I was in love.
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  • PolkFan1
    PolkFan1 Posts: 130
    edited March 2008
    whats wrong with highdecibels.com
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  • donedroolin
    donedroolin Posts: 225
    edited March 2008
    If you have a good sub woofer I would go with the Lsi9's or the Lsi15's. Both are great speakers. I have the 15's and I had a NOT SO GOOD sub and had the fronts on the controller set to large. the 15's did a good job with the bass. But if you got a good sub you could go with the 9's and set your controller (Receiver) for all the speaker to small. This will send all the low freq to the sub that can produce it better and let the surround speakers handle the rest. As far as the 25's,I only auditioned them at Tweeters when buying my speakers, I personally did not think they were worth the extra money. That is why we have subs. If you are going HT this is only my opinion. But if you are going Two channel I would consider the 25's. And if you go book shelf get the 9's those would be my last edition to my setup to move my Fxi5's to make a 7.1 set up. Well good luck with your purchase any Polk you buy you will LOVE.
    TV- 52 inch LCD SONY BRAVIA XBR6
    TV- 42 inch PLASMA HITACHI ULTRA VISION
    AMP- PARASOUND HALO A-51
    CONTROLLER- PARASOUND HALO C-2
    FRONT SPEAKERS- LSi15's and LSiC
    REAR SPEAKERS- LSi7's
    SUBWOOFER- VELODYNE DD15
    BLU RAY- LG SUPER BLU BH200
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  • furball
    furball Posts: 234
    edited March 2008
    The 9's are very large bookshelf speakers. It's tough to find speaker stands that can fit them properly. I wish Polk made custom stands for the 9's.
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  • Midnite Mick
    Midnite Mick Posts: 1,591
    edited March 2008
    Heavy, makes a better speaker.
    Modwright SWL 9.0 SE (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Consonance cd120T
    Consonance Cyber 800 tube monoblocks (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC's with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Usher CP 6311

    Phillips Pronto TS1000 Universal Remote
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  • furball
    furball Posts: 234
    edited March 2008
    The 9's weigh about 32lbs each. Are there other bookshelves that weigh more than the 9's?
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  • SlowcarIX
    SlowcarIX Posts: 887
    edited March 2008
    sonicweld...160lbs

    SW.jpg
    my 7.(1x4) HT setup
    TV - Mitsubishi WD-65734
    AVP / Amp - Onkyo PR-SC885P / D-Sonic 2500-7
    Front - Emerald Physics CS2
    Center - JTR Triple 12LF
    Surround L/R / Back - Polk RTi4 / Polk FXi A4
    Sub - 4 X Hsu ULS15 playing nearfield
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    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60612
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  • Midnite Mick
    Midnite Mick Posts: 1,591
    edited March 2008
    Many.
    Modwright SWL 9.0 SE (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Consonance cd120T
    Consonance Cyber 800 tube monoblocks (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC's with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Usher CP 6311

    Phillips Pronto TS1000 Universal Remote
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  • furball
    furball Posts: 234
    edited March 2008
    That's cheating.:)

    The 160lb figure includes the built amp and that heavy stand.

    http://www.sumikoaudio.net/sonus/prod_guarneri_memento.htm

    Sonus Faber's top of the line bookshelf. $15,000 a pair including the custom stands. The speakers weigh about 188lbs per pair (don't know if that figure includes the stands or not).


    SlowcarIX wrote: »
    sonicweld...160lbs

    SW.jpg
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  • furball
    furball Posts: 234
    edited March 2008
    http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/krell_lat2.htm

    Krell LAT-2 bookshelf, solid extruded aluminum enclosure, about 70lbs each.

    Incidentally, the Krell uses the same ring tweeter the LSi's use.
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  • rparamount
    rparamount Posts: 10
    edited March 2008
    The LSi15's are awesome for home theatre. I just bought a pair yesterday and hooked them up to my Onkyo SR875. They sound phenomenal! I know they will even sound better once I save up some money again and buy an amp but the Onkyo 875 has more than enough power to run them until then. Whatever you do don't run them off a cheap avr otherwise you won't be happy.

    -Cheers, RP
    Onkyo TX-SR875, Polk LSi15 Fronts, Polk CS2 Center
    4 JBL Surrounds, Polk PSW505 Subwoofer
    Sony 60" SXRD KDS60A2000 LCOS TV,
    Toshiba HD-A35, PS3, Xbox 360, Harmony 880 Remote
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  • maximillian
    maximillian Posts: 2,145
    edited March 2008
    What is the general consensus... LSI9's or RTi A7's. Used mainly for music but with some HT?
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited March 2008
    LSI's.
    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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  • brijenjas
    brijenjas Posts: 311
    edited March 2008
    maximillian wrote: »
    What is the general consensus... LSI9's or RTi A7's. Used mainly for music but with some HT?

    What cfrizz said.

    Most definitely, LSi9's over RTia7's for music, and they are no slouch at HT either.
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  • VSchneider
    VSchneider Posts: 443
    edited March 2008
    PolkFan1 wrote: »
    whats wrong with highdecibels.com

    Ken says, they are not an authorized Polk dealer.
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  • maximillian
    maximillian Posts: 2,145
    edited March 2008
    brijenjas wrote: »
    What cfrizz said.

    Most definitely, LSi9's over RTia7's for music, and they are no slouch at HT either.

    From reading numerous posts, I know they have a lot more detailed sound. However, are they better in other aspects? Better sound stage? I doubt better bass. What aspect makes them "better"? Is the differences subtle or drastic if you did a side-by-side comparison? I haven't been able to hear them and the nearest dealer is about 3 hours away. Thanks
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