Dorm Room System: Polk I-Sonic?

Serendipity

So - I've been looking at the Polk I-Sonic and the I-Sonic ES2 for a while and I was wondering how well this would do as a dorm room setup?

I think I may order one of these as they seem like an excellent table radio for the money.

zingo

It would work very well in a dorm since you are very limited on room. I've seen some people do crazy full speaker set-ups in their dorm rooms, but that's not for most people. I was looking at getting one too, just because it is so good. But I wouldn't have anything to use it for...

SolidSqual

That's an effing disgrace! You're in college! Get a set of big **** vintage speakers that are prepared for tons of drunken nights and crazy sex orgies among whip cream fights.

RuSsMaN

Super solid dorm rig. If you want, plug the port with foam, turn the bass to -2, and hook up a PSW111 to the preouts, crossed over around 65Hz - GOLD. Not that the iSonic doesn't do bass, it does, in spades - but that is the setup I run in the master bedroom and I don't plan to change a thing.

That, and it will sound better than the typical 'big' (read sh!tty) college setup anyway. The chics will dig your sophistication too.

Cheers,
Russ

Serendipity

Which one sounds better, the I-Sonic or the ES2? I was looking at the ES2 but I don't have an iPod, so the original I-sonic interests me more.

And you are so right about the "typical" dorm rig. My roommate had a pair of Logitech computer speakers that sounded horrible!!

RuSsMaN

The ES plays DVD's, CD's and XM (and AM/FM/HD) Radio, the ES2 doesn't, but offers the iPod dock, and iTunes tagging for HD Radio instead (and still offers standard AM/FM).

I'd go iSonic ES and bag an external iPod dock later if needed (the ES features 2 aux inputs, as well as a set of preouts).

Serendipity

Well, I'd rather have a CDP over an iPod dock, and a DVD player would be nice.

Also, does the DVD player on the ES have HDMI outputs?

RuSsMaN

No, it doesn't. S-video is as good as it gets. You did note the price, right?

Serendipity

Thanks, I guess I'll have to find another DVDP for my LCD then.

RuSsMaN

How big is the tv? It's not HDMI, but S video on my 60" looks outstanding via my NAD DVDP that I won't let go of. I say at least try it first.

TroyD

What Russ said, man.

In a small room, the iSonic sounds GREAT. I actually wanted to take Wendi's to Korea to use in my second room (I have a suite) and she said no way in hell. So I got a pair of Thiel CS2's/Carver Receiver and a Philips SACD/DVD player.

BDT

Serendipity

RuSsMaN wrote: »

How big is the tv? It's not HDMI, but S video on my 60" looks outstanding via my NAD DVDP that I won't let go of. I say at least try it first.

The LCD is 19", but I also have a 13" Zenith TV/VCR combo that I may hook it up to instead (since the Zenith is an analog set)...

EFanning

The vinatge speaker advice is the best. It's more interesting to have a cheap retro system.

Also, the iSonic can be easily stolen, which happens a lot in college dorms.

And, planning for a dorm may seem like a good idea, but it's not. You'll be off to another room or apartment in less than a year. And vintage speaker set up will work in those places too.

SolidSqual

TroyD wrote: »

What Russ said, man.

In a small room, the iSonic sounds GREAT. I actually wanted to take Wendi's to Korea to use in my second room (I have a suite) and she said no way in hell. So I got a pair of Thiel CS2's/Carver Receiver and a Philips SACD/DVD player.

BDT

Bet that was a hard trade-off man. Jeez your wife is a devil for not letting you take her iSonic and making you have to go out and buy some Theils. Tough life as a marine . . . hehe

Polk addict

Didn't he serve in the Air Force?

Serendipity

EFanning wrote: »

Also, the iSonic can be easily stolen, which happens a lot in college dorms.

You know what? I hadn't thought about that before.

Last year my roommate left the room (with the door unlocked) while I was sleeping, and a thief came into our room and rummaged through our stuff. Fortunately, he didn't get away with much, as my roommate entered right when the thief was about to leave the room. He chased the guy across the parking lot and then lost him.

So yes, I'd be concerned about it getting stolen. Especially since it is expensive ($600 I think?)

Serendipity

So - I've checked the local CC and Best Buy but couldn't find this anywhere. IIRC the CC had the I-Sonic 2 for $499, but I'm looking for the original I-Sonic ES.

BTW, the I-Sonic 2 sounded GREAT!

mhardy6647

in my day we'd have had a pair of Altec A-5s and a Phase Linear 700B...
:-)