RTiA3 vs LSi7 shootout/comparison

Erik Tracy

I'm such a ****....:p

I picked up a pair of LSi7s for a comparable pittance - just couldn't resist.

So - now I'm prepared to do another shootout/comparison between the A3s I just got and the LSi7s I picked up.

I don't know what came over me - but before I knew what was going on my fingers took control of the keyboard - and BAM - LSi7s on the way.

This should be interesting....

Kex

Holy cow! Will your AVR hold up to the challenge?!

Edit: just realized you're using a Carver also ...

leroyjr1

I'm probably going to get talked about for saying this but I like the sound of the RTI A3's better than the LSI 7's. The bass digs deeper and the mids are good as well. I personally don't mind the brightness as much as others. I am not a big fan of the LSI series speakers. At lower volumes the 7's seems muddy sounding but thats just my opinion.

Erik Tracy

leroyjr1 wrote: »

I'm probably going to get talked about for saying this but I like the sound of the RTI A3's better than the LSI 7's. The bass digs deeper and the mids are good as well. I personally don't mind the brightness as much as others. I am not a big fan of the LSI series speakers. At lower volumes the 7's seems muddy sounding but thats just my opinion.

I didn't realize you had a set of LSI7s.

You got rid of yours? What setup were you using?

I guess I was swayed by the opinions here that the LSI7s are more 'musical' - guess I'll find out for myself!

Sami

Erik Tracy wrote: »

I guess I was swayed by the opinions here that the LSI7s are more 'musical' - guess I'll find out for myself!

That's the best way to find out. Even with less than stellar electronics the 7's should blow the A3's out of the water but you never know as people like different sounds. I've only heard the new RTiA's briefly but what I heard I wouldn't trade LSi's for them.

zingo

Erik Tracy wrote: »

I'm such a ****....:p

No comment... but shootouts are always a great idea!

leroyjr1

Erik Tracy wrote: »

I didn't realize you had a set of LSI7s.

You got rid of yours? What setup were you using?

I guess I was swayed by the opinions here that the LSI7s are more 'musical' - guess I'll find out for myself!

I had two pair of 7's and one pair of 9' s. I currently have a pair of each which I will be selling pretty soon. I think LOL. In my living room I do a lot of tv waitng/ music listening and for music their good at mid and up volumes. For watching tv with them I thought the 3's sounded so much better. I just think they don' t fit my listening style and music. Also poor recordings sounded terrible. Everything that I stated is JMO and I'm sure you and many may disagree.


I will like to try the xo mod to see the difference. What about you?

Erik Tracy

leroyjr1 wrote: »

I had two pair of 7's and one pair of 9' s. I currently have a pair of each which I will be selling pretty soon. I think LOL. In my living room I do a lot of tv waitng/ music listening and for music their good at mid and up volumes. For watching tv with them I thought the 3's sounded so much better. I just think they don' t fit my listening style and music. Also poor recordings sounded terrible. Everything that I stated is JMO and I'm sure you and many may disagree.


I will like to try the xo mod to see the difference. What about you?

I'm first going to do a comparison based on my HT and music habits: lots of music (cable music feeds, CDs, and some LPs), weekends for Blu-ray movies. My volume preference is mid-volume, but my wife gets after me to turn the volume down when she's in the kitchen.

But you do bring up an interesting point: if the LSi7s have to be prodded into 'waking up' then they may not be for me either if I have turn them up too far - sometimes I do turn on the cable music at a lower volume as 'mood music' and just go do my thing around the house.

I'll just have to listen for myself first. I always thought the opinion here was the LSi series was a big step UP in SQ.

The mod sounds like too much effort for me and if I prefer the A3s, then the LSi7s will go up here for a nice price!

Sami

leroyjr1 wrote: »

Also poor recordings sounded terrible.

That's one of the faults an excellent speaker has unfortunately, it will reveal a bad recording. Then again, it will reward with a good recording. I'll rather have it that way as a speaker that hides shortcomings of a recording will never sound great.

cfrizz

They only need prodding with good amplification. I have been listening to my brother's all week long. The only thing that is truly missing is decent bass. But then it's a bookshelf so that's a given.

Although when playing in a small apt. the bass seems quite good, but now that they are in a good size room, the bass output just can't hold up.

They sound like a totally different speaker now in the room they are in. I think they are really showing me what they can do.

Erik Tracy wrote: »

I'm first going to do a comparison based on my HT and music habits: lots of music (cable music feeds, CDs, and some LPs), weekends for Blu-ray movies. My volume preference is mid-volume, but my wife gets after me to turn the volume down when she's in the kitchen.

But you do bring up an interesting point: if the LSi7s have to be prodded into 'waking up' then they may not be for me either if I have turn them up too far - sometimes I do turn on the cable music at a lower volume as 'mood music' and just go do my thing around the house.

I'll just have to listen for myself first. I always thought the opinion here was the LSi series was a big step UP in SQ.

The mod sounds like too much effort for me and if I prefer the A3s, then the LSi7s will go up here for a nice price!

ben62670

cfrizz wrote: »

They only need prodding with good amplification. I have been listening to my brother's all week long. The only thing that is truly missing is decent bass. But then it's a bookshelf so that's a given.

Although when playing in a small apt. the bass seems quite good, but now that they are in a good size room, the bass output just can't hold up.

They sound like a totally different speaker now in the room they are in. I think they are really showing me what they can do.

Try doing a comparison between modded, and non modded. You will wish you could edit;) More power doesn't exactly change the sound at lower levels. The mod does. The 7's are easiest, and cheapest to do by far. 3 caps, and 2 resistors. Largest cap is 16uf;) The LSI's are a good speaker especially for the money, but the "smooth mids" you hear about to me are on the muddy side, and the tweeters just don't have the detail with the stock caps. I stopped giving out opinions on gear I have not personally heard a long time ago. A good example was Solen caps. They were the cap of choice here a while back. I recommended them several times, and then someone sent me some Solen's because he stated he liked the Dayton's much more. So I tried the Dayton's, and now I have a bunch of Solen's that have been decommissioned do to lame performance. We all need to be careful about what we recommend especially without having hands on experience with said item, items;)

Edit: BTW the 7's are by far the easiest LSI's to drive;)

beardog03

agreed

Maybe oneday I will try the mods on my 9`s

my 7`s are rear surrounds on the living room setup (all LSi`s)

Erik Tracy

Holy cr@p!

So my company works a 9/80 schedule meaning every other Friday we have off - good thing cuz FedEx rang and my LSi7s showed up!!

I guess its a good thing to live in San Diego - where the Polk Ebay source ships from!

I've got them out of the box and up on my wall mounts and giving them the listening test now.

AVR has been recalibrated again and I've got a nice Tawny Port open just sipping and listening.

Different sonic character than the RTI line.

First impressions are that the highs seem 'veiled' compared to the RTI line.

At first I thought the sound stage was more confined, too, meaning more focused between the speakers, but the more I'm listening the more I'd characterize the sound stage as 'subtle' - compared to the RTIA3s. There is plenty of detail to be sure.

Hmmmm...how to characterize it. Take a suit, I guess - a cheaper one has stitching more spaced out and the lines are held together, but with a well made suit the stitching is tight, straight, even - well woven.

That's how I'm thinking the LSi7 sound stage is -well woven.

It still sounds a bit 'capped' on the highs - but compared to the RTI line - heck just about any speaker might be characterized that way.

And the LSi7s just refuse to be driven hard - I mean I went up to -2db on my avr and my Carver's leds were juussttt starting to dance to the 2nd set!

More later....

McLoki

They are very laid back - that won't change. The "Veiled" sound will change (go away) as the speaker breaks in though. The sound stage will also start to expand on them. After about 10-20 hours you should start to hear the change. It will take quite a bit longer to settle into their long term sound though.

Long story short - don't do to much critical listening until they get about 100 hours on them.....

Enjoy your new speakers.

Michael

Erik Tracy

McLoki wrote: »

They are very laid back - that won't change. The "Veiled" sound will change (go away) as the speaker breaks in though. The sound stage will also start to expand on them. After about 10-20 hours you should start to hear the change. It will take quite a bit longer to settle into their long term sound though.

Long story short - don't do to much critical listening until they get about 100 hours on them.....

Enjoy your new speakers.

Michael

That's encouraging - thanks for the insights.

I think I'll just put these on like a pair of jeans and live in them for a bit.

Either way, I'll have a pair of speakers on their way out....and I can say I've listened to both with my own ears.

Always learning....

McLoki

One other thing to keep in mind - the electronics you would match with RTi's to help "tame" the bright sound are the exact opposite electronics I would recommend running with LSi's.

Not sure what else you are running them with - but you might want to think about your electronics and how they sound (or are commonly described) - I would look for things described as detailed, bright maybe even neutral - but would avoid anything described as laid back.

Just my opinion -

Michael

Ron Temple

Nice analogy...how about a smooth single malt vs a shot of Jack. I've only heard the 7s in store and liked them. I kind of figure that your days as an RTi guy are numbered, but I've been wrong before. I'd also think the RTis will notch the 7s for HT performance with your current setup.

Don't spend all your money on speakers. The sub is going to make the most dramatic difference in your rig .

You're going to have to get up around 105dbs + to get the lights moving on your Carver.

Kex

Erik Tracy wrote: »

... AVR has been recalibrated again and I've got a nice Tawny Port open just sipping and listening. ...

SoCal really is a decadent marxist sinkhole! Port in the middle of the afternoon? Straight to hell with you my boy! J/K ... carry on!

Erik Tracy

Ron Temple wrote: »

Nice analogy...how about a smooth single malt vs a shot of Jack. I've only heard the 7s in store and liked them. I kind of figure that your days as an RTi guy are numbered, but I've been wrong before. I'd also think the RTis will notch the 7s for HT performance with your current setup.

Don't spend all your money on speakers. The sub is going to make the most dramatic difference in your rig .

You're going to have to get up around 105dbs + to get the lights moving on your Carver.

Trigger pulled! Epik Valor on order - I talked to Chad today. Nice guy.

Now the wait....4-5 weeks.

Steppin' on up!!

Erik Tracy

Kex wrote: »

SoCal really is a decadent marxist sinkhole! Port in the middle of the afternoon? Straight to hell with you my boy! J/K ... carry on!

I could say that I was nibbling some imported cheddar or Wensleydale with my Port, but alas, this cheese shop was empty for the day!

Ron Temple

Erik Tracy wrote: »

Trigger pulled! Epik Valor on order - I talked to Chad today. Nice guy.

Now the wait....4-5 weeks.

Steppin' on up!!

Did you mention my name so I get my referral fee? j/k

Nice purchase. Waiting for his subs has got to be a pain. Starting a business where you physically touch every product has got to be driving him crazy. I doubt he envisioned that he would get this busy so fast and/or not have more hands working on assembly. Word is he's a perfectionist, so you're really getting a handcrafted sub.

cfrizz

I'm not interested in changing the sound of any speaker, if I don't like the sound I don't buy it.

I LIKE the sound of the LSI's just as they are. So do 99.9% of the people who buy them. They also have no interest in changing the sound.

We leave that to you incessant tweakers who can't leave well enough alone!:eek::p

ben62670 wrote: »

Try doing a comparison between modded, and non modded. You will wish you could edit;) More power doesn't exactly change the sound at lower levels. The mod does. The 7's are easiest, and cheapest to do by far. 3 caps, and 2 resistors. Largest cap is 16uf;) The LSI's are a good speaker especially for the money, but the "smooth mids" you hear about to me are on the muddy side, and the tweeters just don't have the detail with the stock caps. I stopped giving out opinions on gear I have not personally heard a long time ago. A good example was Solen caps. They were the cap of choice here a while back. I recommended them several times, and then someone sent me some Solen's because he stated he liked the Dayton's much more. So I tried the Dayton's, and now I have a bunch of Solen's that have been decommissioned do to lame performance. We all need to be careful about what we recommend especially without having hands on experience with said item, items;)

Edit: BTW the 7's are by far the easiest LSI's to drive;)

RutgersFTW

So what happened?

Erik Tracy

RutgersFTW wrote: »

So what happened?

Sorry - I probably should have followed up in this thread, but I started a different one:
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=74872

RutgersFTW

Erik Tracy wrote: »

Sorry - I probably should have followed up in this thread, but I started a different one:
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=74872

That's cool, thanks for the link. I had a similar experience but almost wanted to give the LSis another shot after seeing what they're going for at the Polk Direct store now. Almost. Love my setup now, no need to fiddle with it.

Erik Tracy

RutgersFTW wrote: »

That's cool, thanks for the link. I had a similar experience but almost wanted to give the LSis another shot after seeing what they're going for at the Polk Direct store now. Almost. Love my setup now, no need to fiddle with it.

I was tempted to try the LSi xover mod - but the cost held me back.

For me - I do a lot of music listening, but at lower levels - a lot of smooth jazz and some classic rock, with the occassional classical thrown in.

At low to mid volume - in my setup - the RTiA3s nudged out the LSi7s for top end clarity and detailing. The LSi7s were just a bit too 'laid back' for my tastes.

To me, the RTiA3s also dispersed/painted a wider soundstage as well, but the LSi7s had a bit more 'depth'.

At higher volumes the LSi7s were more coherent and did better than the RTiA3s.

So I put all of that into the pot - stirred well - and the RTiA3s were what I stuck with. And for the price - wow - heck of deal!

And with my Epik Valor sub in the setup - I think I'm in the sweet spot.... for now!

I'll turn on the smooth jazz, sit down with a cold one or a nice bottle of wine, and just enjoy the sonic goodness!

It's all good - different speakers for different folks.

Cheers,
Erik