Powering my Lsi HT set-up

Babulas
Babulas Posts: 21
edited December 2008 in Speakers
I have 4 x lsi9 and a lsi C connected with blue jean cables to a NAD T-753. I used a SPL meter and the Avia II to calibrate. My room is about 3500 Ft3.

However, after all of this, the audio through the center channel is not convincing. Sometime we have hard time understanding what's being said in the movies.

Questions:

1) Is the NAD enough to properly drive my set up (this receiver can handle 4-ohms)? I don't listen to stuuf to loud, generally.

2) Do any of you have experience in using a lsi9 as a center?

3) Is there any way to check is the lsi C is defective?

Lastly, I am deciding on a sub. After reading A LOT in this forum I think I would like a SVS or Velodyne. Budget is about $1200. I really want "A DEEP CLEAN BASS" and not boom boom boom. I think I'll get more out of the sub when listening to music. With Tweeter selling at 50% disciunt I was wondering if getting the Polk DSW 4000R ($1600 retail) was a good idea to do the job.

I look forward to your comments/advice.
----
Fronts: 2xLSi9
Center: 1x LSi9
Rear: 1xLSi7 + 1xLSi9
A/V: NAD T753
Sub: Velodyne DEQ-12R
BlueJean Cables
Post edited by Babulas on

Comments

  • gtu2004
    gtu2004 Posts: 620
    edited December 2008
    yea, i think you could start by switching one of the LSi9s (make sure the tweeter on that on works) with the LSiC, making the LSi9 a center channel. Then test to see the difference.

    I had problem w/ LSiC before when the sound was muffled and it was the tweeter resistor on the crossover board was loose. A little soldering fixed the problem. It was my 1st time playing w/ the inside of the speaker and also my first time soldering anything so it isn't too hard.

    Look for some threads on here about "crossover upgrade" and you will have some idea what doesn't look right.
    Onkyo 805, RtiA5s, Csi5, Rti6s
  • cheddar
    cheddar Posts: 2,390
    edited December 2008
    The LSIC is part of a Cascade Tapered Driver Array, which means that one mid-range driver gets a higher set of frequencies than the other mid-range. When you're testing the drivers to see if they're functional, the left mid-range may sound like it's off, but will still be vibrating producing the lower range frequencies. This is normal.
  • Babulas
    Babulas Posts: 21
    edited December 2008
    Kex:

    I appreciate your input/suggestions. Maybe on Friday I'll have time to check the LSIC as you suggest. I will also put one of the lsi9 as a center and, with no surrounds, check if the dialogue improves.

    Regarding your questions, the system rocks in stereo mode. No complains there. The NAD allows you to even play the 4 speakers (no center) and it also sounds really good, specially when you want to have music as background.

    By turning up the LSIC, do you mean to "stand" it or place it horizontally but upside down? In any case I haven't tried any of these. I could.

    During set up I properly adjusted the distances as per the NAD set up menu. I don't know what you mean by delays.

    Interesting that you ask about what results I got calibrating with Avia II. During the set up (with the SPL meter) I got that I didn't need to increase the volume of the center, nor the fronts, or surrounds. So with the test tones and the SPL, I needed the volumes in each channel at 0. However when I'm watching a movie I feel I need to bump the rears and the center volume by one or two levels. The need to increase the surround volume could be a matter of taste. But don't know why I have to do it for the center channel. I also would like to add that when Avia runs the test for checking the "timbre" matching of the speakers, the center showed a bit of difference from the other channels. Lastly, thanks for the links.

    Cheddar, thanks for the tip.
    ----
    Fronts: 2xLSi9
    Center: 1x LSi9
    Rear: 1xLSi7 + 1xLSi9
    A/V: NAD T753
    Sub: Velodyne DEQ-12R
    BlueJean Cables
  • be83663
    be83663 Posts: 192
    edited December 2008
    Consider Velodyne DLS 5000R for about $800.00 I have two of those and I think they are really good quality subwoofers. :)
  • Babulas
    Babulas Posts: 21
    edited December 2008
    BE83663,

    Yesterday I ended up buying a DEQ-15R ($950), which is essentially the newer version of the DLS5000R you are suggesting. I guess the main new addition is the feature to self adjust depending on sub location and room size. Deciding on a sub has been one of the hardest decisions. I guess with speakers you can do more testing in specialty stores but not with subs. My decision for this kind of sub was mainly influenced by how a boomy sound can ruin the whole experience. You can taste this when you try a Bose system, ie, it's all about booming sound. Therefore, all the comments about Velodyne regarding "deep and clean bass" were very important in my decision. SVS subs was another option becuase of what people coment in this forum. At the end I was going to pay the same for the SVS Plus series but their biggest size sub was 12" (The 13# Ultra was out of my budget), not self adjustment features, and bigger cabinet size (than the 15" version of Velodyne ???).

    This weekend I'll do the suggestions for the problem with my center.

    I guess the only question still outstanding is if it is necessary to add a pre-amp for the center and two fronts to add more power. Again I am not a loud listener. Just wondering if quality will improve.
    ----
    Fronts: 2xLSi9
    Center: 1x LSi9
    Rear: 1xLSi7 + 1xLSi9
    A/V: NAD T753
    Sub: Velodyne DEQ-12R
    BlueJean Cables
  • gtu2004
    gtu2004 Posts: 620
    edited December 2008
    Babulas wrote: »
    Kex:

    I appreciate your input/suggestions. Maybe on Friday I'll have time to check the LSIC as you suggest. I will also put one of the lsi9 as a center and, with no surrounds, check if the dialogue improves.

    Regarding your questions, the system rocks in stereo mode. No complains there. The NAD allows you to even play the 4 speakers (no center) and it also sounds really good, specially when you want to have music as background.

    By turning up the LSIC, do you mean to "stand" it or place it horizontally but upside down? In any case I haven't tried any of these. I could.

    During set up I properly adjusted the distances as per the NAD set up menu. I don't know what you mean by delays.

    Interesting that you ask about what results I got calibrating with Avia II. During the set up (with the SPL meter) I got that I didn't need to increase the volume of the center, nor the fronts, or surrounds. So with the test tones and the SPL, I needed the volumes in each channel at 0. However when I'm watching a movie I feel I need to bump the rears and the center volume by one or two levels. The need to increase the surround volume could be a matter of taste. But don't know why I have to do it for the center channel. I also would like to add that when Avia runs the test for checking the "timbre" matching of the speakers, the center showed a bit of difference from the other channels. Lastly, thanks for the links.

    Cheddar, thanks for the tip.

    sorry, i laughed a little on this part :D good luck w/ the LSiC
    Onkyo 805, RtiA5s, Csi5, Rti6s