LSiC replace with Paradigm CC-690. Impressions.

lanion

So, I felt like the LSiC wasn't quite keeping up with my LSi system so I borrowed a large paradigm center from a local audio store to see how it blended. I was happy at went with the CC-690 First of all... just look at this beast.

Impressions: The center channel certainly is no longer a weak point in the system. It is very clear, clean, no compression at high volumes, dialogue is always awesome, etc. Very pleased.

Integration with LSi9s, LSi7s....
The integration has actually been very pleasant. The most signifigant acoustic difference is that the Paradigms are 'brighter' sounding. However, for just the center channel what this ends up meaning is that anything appearing on screen sounds a little cleaner when it comes into view. For example, I might hear a car whizzing by my shoulder to the front right, and when it comes into view and the center channel takes over it sounds a little different. Psychologically this makes some kind of sense, so I have no issue with it at all. The Studio Series and the LSi series are both very high quality, so it never sounds bad at all. This particular speaker has two 6" drivers designed to add some punch in the mid-bass, so it has a very nice oompf.


Overall I am very pleased with the change. Since I mostly do gaming and H/T with this setup, the center channel is doing most of the work. Having a gigantic center channel makes sense to me, and I am very pleased. Though, I did have to build a new stand so this speaker could go under my TV. Putting a 70lbs center channel above a TV is a bit much.

SlowcarIX

hi, just wondering why you did not try LSi9 or LSi7 before going to the paradigm?

lanion

My local paradigm dealer let me bring one home for a weekend and I liked it. If you could put an LSi15 on its side easily I might have considered that....

The bottom line is I wanted a larger center channel that could displace more air. I got it and I'm happy!


I also tried the Paradigm CC 390, which is a line down. The sound quality wasn't as good but the general dynamics were still better than the LSiC.

imperfect timber matching isn't something Id probably try between a L/R speakers, but for a center channel, give it a try if you have the chance.

SlowcarIX

congrats on the beautiful looking cc!

dave shepard

Nice center. If you haven't heard the other speakers that go with it then you are missing out they are really nice also. Paradigm makes some nice stuff, their smaller speakers (200 series) are really nice.

Terrax

I'll be getting the cc-690 in about two weeks to go with my Studio 60's. Can't wait. A truely massive center.

mantis

I'm wondering if you like the CC so much , If your goin to go for the rest of the system? I know I would.

lanion

nah, if polk made a center channel with 4 6" drivers and a 3" mid-driver I might prefer it. As it is i'm happy. Given I want a new TV, 3 more subs, a new pre-pro, and a new house..... I think I can deal with it.

maxima

lanion,

That's a nice center. I've often thought the LsiC was the weak point in my system. Dialogue is sometimes difficult to hear. I set my center 1 db higher than all other speakers and it seemed to help a little.
Congrats on your purchase.

Eric

McLoki

maxima wrote: »

lanion,

That's a nice center. I've often thought the LsiC was the weak point in my system. Dialogue is sometimes difficult to hear. I set my center 1 db higher than all other speakers and it seemed to help a little.
Congrats on your purchase.

Eric

I have heard multiple people say this, but I just don't see it in my system at all. Dialog is always clear and easy to understand. I wish I could hear the problems people have with their LSiC and hear again after the update or whatever fix is applied to compare to my system.

It is one of those, you don't know what you don't know kind of things. It is what allows pople to purchase bose and think they have the best sounding system available at any price, just because they have not heard any better. I hate feeling like I may be lumped into that group....

Meeks32

You could try a Rocket "bigfoot" center speaker, they use the same vifa tweeter so they might match a little better while adding that extra kick that was missing with the lsic.

Early B.

That's a very nice center channel. I agree, the bigger, the better, especially if the center channel is doing most of the work. I've probably had 10 or 12 center channels over the years, and I wasn't totally pleased with any of them until I stepped up to one that's larger than the typical 5.25" or 6.5" MTM versions.

hockeyboy

maxima wrote: »

lanion,

That's a nice center. I've often thought the LsiC was the weak point in my system. Dialogue is sometimes difficult to hear. I set my center 1 db higher than all other speakers and it seemed to help a little.
Congrats on your purchase.

Eric

I felt like this too until I adjusted my center to medium. I had it on large and the center was carrying too much base, getting canceled by the subs and going unheard. Fpr me the setting change was the difference.

CallingMrBenzo

i clicked on the link and creamed my pants


that is one sexy center ......now excuse me i must get some new pants

Shannon W.

I'm glad that you did this. I've been thinking about taking out my LSiC for a Paradigm Signature C5 center. But I was afraid of it not working that well with the rest of my Polk LSi system. but now I think its going to be a go.
Thanks again!
Shannon

olilugo

Wow this centers are 35" and 36" wide and almost 10" high where do you put shuch a big speaker?... very impressive.
I also experienced similar impressions when I first used a csi3 with my system, I went back and tried the csi5 and there was a very considerable difference. The CSi5 is 24" wide and almost 8" high.

Congrats on your new Center chanel.

lanion

I built a riser to go above my TV stand. I put the speaker in the riser.

Basically Just two pieces of 20" x 40" x1" pieces of wood with 4 12" pieces of 2"x4" on the sides, all painted black. In retrospect I could have gone with 10" pieces of 2x4, but it looks fine. Its about the exact width of my 34" Sony TV. If I had a bigger TV Id probably do something similar.... find a stand or build one that can fit the center channel in it while giving it some room, since the speaker does have a rear port which needs to be considered.

mantis

McLoki wrote: »

I have heard multiple people say this, but I just don't see it in my system at all. Dialog is always clear and easy to understand. I wish I could hear the problems people have with their LSiC and hear again after the update or whatever fix is applied to compare to my system.

It is one of those, you don't know what you don't know kind of things. It is what allows pople to purchase bose and think they have the best sounding system available at any price, just because they have not heard any better. I hate feeling like I may be lumped into that group....

This could be true but not all rooms have that problem. I have heard the LsiC perform perfectly, then other times it seems to lack. It really depends on the room it's in and placement.

Correct setup usually the center performs well more then not. raising it up 1 to 3 db over the rest of the system helps in bad placement. I usually run it 2db hot. Rest of system at 75db.

the center also works it's best in small set at 80hz.

Dan

sucks2beme

I'm running a cc-370 with my RIT10's. Reason: it was cheap.
Got it broken, one short solder fix later I'm in business.
My son just put a cc-370 in with his studio 60's. He was looking at
the cc-690, but it was going to be hard to place. That is one big
center channel.

bdaley6509

Yeah...that thing is huge. I almost went with the same one to somewhat match my Signature S8's, (CS5 was a bit too expensive) but I had no place to put it. I ended up getting the Millenium 30 and ADP-590's for surrounds. The system sounds quite good IMO. Great choice on that gorgeous center.

maxima

Hi McLoki,

Your points are valid. But... I have tried to make the best of my LsiC. I am now using Emotiva for amplificiation/processing instead of my Marantz receiver which
again helped slightly. I understand what Polk was tring to accomplish with the cascading crossover but maybe its just not for me.
I had a CS400 previously and while it is definitely a different sounding center, I preferred it. It had more "presence" for lack of a better word. Dialogue was nearly always easily understood and it definitely had more midbass.

Meeks,

Do you have a Bigfoot center? That is the very center I was looking at as a replacement due to its use of the Vifa XT tweeter. I thought it might be a close match. If anyone has done this, please give me your input. Thanks,

Eric

zx_toth

Hmm ... we seem to all be getting Center speaker envy .... I just upgraded to an LSiC and am extremely happy with the change. Of course I could only imagine what kind of sound would come out of one of those monster speakers talked about.

Hopefully Matt Polk is reading and future iterations of the LSi line will give the option of an updated LSic as well as one with 4 x 6 inch drivers. I would definately upgrade!

Shannon: If you upgrade to the Paradigm Signature 5 keep us all in the loop ... that is some serious center. What might one of those retail for?

Zsolt

zx_toth

Wow ... a Paradigm C5 just went for $1595 canuck dollars used ....

http://www.canuckaudiomart.com/details/78334-paradigm_signature_c5_center_channel_speaker_in_hgb/

For three times the price of an LSic I would hope it would perform significantly better.

Z

Meeks32

Maxima, no I havent heard the Rocket bigfoot but spend lots of time on other forums & everyone swears its the best center they have heard. If the paradigm is working well then keep it. Im sure the lsic is a fine center speaker, but there's only so much 2 5 1/4" speakers can do.

BlueFox

zx_toth wrote: »

Hopefully Matt Polk is reading and future iterations of the LSi line will give the option of an updated LSic as well as one with 4 x 6 inch drivers. I would definately upgrade!

That is a good point. I will add this to the list of suggestions for new LSi speakers in the LSi speaker thread. My point is that the new LSiC needs to be better than the current LSiC, but blend in with the existing LSi line.

mhartman29

I have to agree. I love my LSI 15s, but I really am unimpressed with the performance of the LSIc. I've considered selling the LSIc and getting a bigfoot, but I don't think the mismatched looks will go over very well.

I'm considering selling my LSI lineup and going with Rockets all around. I just heard the 850s this weekend and was quite impressed. I still love the 15s, but the lack of presence in the lsic just isn't leaving me happy with the setup.

Midnite Mick

I always thought that the LsiC sounded veiled when I had it as well. I think that it is the Poly drivers that is used. I much prefer paper over Polys for a more open natural sound.

Mike

reeltrouble1

As someone mentioned the fellow could have done the same thing with an RTi model, likely for less, but then I doubt the dealer had one.............rEEly I do.

RT1

Shannon W.

zx_toth wrote: »

Hmm ... we seem to all be getting Center speaker envy .... I just upgraded to an LSiC and am extremely happy with the change. Of course I could only imagine what kind of sound would come out of one of those monster speakers talked about.

Hopefully Matt Polk is reading and future iterations of the LSi line will give the option of an updated LSic as well as one with 4 x 6 inch drivers. I would definately upgrade!

Shannon: If you upgrade to the Paradigm Signature 5 keep us all in the loop ... that is some serious center. What might one of those retail for?

Zsolt

Used on the bay for the V.1 S5 go for around $1200-$1500 USD.

As for new I think they go for around $3900 new. I have a dealer in town that I'm try'n to work out a deal with him to get me one at cost. but he is not telling me much on the price yet. I'll let you guy know when this all happens. But im sorry to say that Once I get then S5 I would almost bet that the rest on my polk system will slowly fade away with some S8's for my mains, S APD and a pair of the S4's for the rear. I hate to do it but once I finnish my basement thats how its going to go. so guys be on the look out in the forsale section for all of my LSI's once this happens or if some1 would like them all now I would work out a deal. I just bought a new pair of 9's in ebony to match the rest of what I had and Sold my Cherry one but the guy never left me feedback.

jmos

mantis wrote: »

This could be true but not all rooms have that problem. I have heard the LsiC perform perfectly, then other times it seems to lack. It really depends on the room it's in and placement.

Correct setup usually the center performs well more then not. raising it up 1 to 3 db over the rest of the system helps in bad placement. I usually run it 2db hot. Rest of system at 75db.

the center also works it's best in small set at 80hz.

Dan

I know this threads a bit old but I am also thinking about replacing my LsiC?

I finally purchased a higher powered 7 channel PA so my Lsi15's, LsiC and four LsiFX speakers are receiving approx 400w@4ohms.
This really improved the sound quality over my Onkyo 875 than over my Nad T973 but I do find dialog difficult to understand through the LsiC.

My room does need acoustic treatment so I will probably do this first.
I do run the centre 1 to 2 db higher than my fronts and at 80hz, tried running audessey a few times as well.
My LsiC is sitting on a large cd/dvd type storage unit, should I purchase a proper speaker mount?
any other tips for improvement?
I can get a new Paradigm cc690 v4 for half price in oz which is your rrp so seriously considering
Appreciate any info

bsoko2

Those Paradigm's run a higher db then the Polks. I think you will find the cc690 center will be harsher then the LSiC.