Will this be enough to power these speakers?

mattbro

Ok, I am finally getting my new house setup with all of the "fun" stuff.

I wasn't originally planning on going all out but the more research I do, the more flexible I find myself with my $$.

So, I'm thinking I want to do a LSi setup. I did some posting over on AVSForum and it was suggested that 5.1 or 6.1 is probably my best choice due to my less than ideally shaped room (was originally thinking I could pull off 7.1).

So, here's what I am thinking...

• Front right/left - LSi9
• Surrounds - LSiFX
• Center choices:
  • Single LSiC for 5.1 or
  • 2 x LSi9 for front/back centers for 6.1

I have a brand new Pioneer Elite VSX-03TXH that I now know isn't going to drive all of that. But, would I be ok driving just the two LSiFx surrounds with the Elite and then getting a 5 channel amp to drive the 4 LSi9s? This is assuming it isn't a horrible thing to use a LSi9 for my front/rear centers. I read over a few threads where people were saying that usually worked out fairly well (please educate me if I am wrong on that!).

And then, is a good 100-125w per-channel amp (Outlaw, Rotel, Adcom, Sunfire, NAD) going to cut it or I am going to regret not going with a 200w per channel amp? I am a bit limited on space for the amp and most of the 200+ watt amps aren't going to fit where I need them to.

Thanks in advance for any assistance. I've been pouring over these forums for a while now and am amazed at how helpful everyone is.

Here is my layout:

Kex

mattbro wrote: »

... So, I'm thinking I want to do a LSi setup.

... I have a brand new Pioneer Elite VSX-03TXH that I now know isn't going to drive all of that. But, would I be ok driving just the two LSiFx surrounds with the Elite and then getting a 5 channel amp to drive the 4 LSi9s? ...

Welcome to the Club mattbro!

Since the LSi are 4 ohm speakers, I think you are taking risks using the Pioneer without an amplifier (I'm assuming it is not rated at 4 ohms), which is pesky, since many amplifiers are five channel, and you would prefer six. Perhaps your best budget option might be the UPA-7 from Emotiva, currently on sale for $600. It may not blow you away with it's power, but you should be safe driving your speakers without damage. NAD would be a great choice IMO (I have a NAD receiver), even at less than 200w/ch (hugely dynamic sound), but it will not be the cheapest.

http://www.emotiva.com/upa7.shtm

P.S. Great drawing of your room!

leroyjr1

Also look at the RTI line. Very good speaker and very easy to push. Budget friendly .These will run fine off your receiver also.

mmadden28

Kex wrote: »

Welcome to the Club mattbro!

Since the LSi are 4 ohm speakers, I think you are taking risks using the Pioneer without an amplifier (I'm assuming it is not rated at 4 ohms), which is pesky, since many amplifiers are five channel, and you would prefer six. Perhaps your best budget option might be the UPA-7 from Emotiva, currently on sale for $600. It may not blow you away with it's power, but you should be safe driving your speakers without damage. NAD would be a great choice IMO (I have a NAD receiver), even at less than 200w/ch (hugely dynamic sound), but it will not be the cheapest.

http://www.emotiva.com/upa7.shtm

P.S. Great drawing of your room!

Welcome to Club Polk.
Hmm, that does look like a difficult room-if you calibrate one spot on one couch for the sweet spot, it might sound way off for others not in the sweet spot. Good luck with that.

According to the users manual the Pio is recommended to be run with 8 ohm speakers. It also only indicates using speakers as low as 6 ohms. The LSi9's, although rated at 4 ohms, can dip below 2 ohms at times. With the exception of Surround music, the rears/surrounds in 5.1-7.1 movies likely won't demand as much as the fronts. If you decide to go to an external amp, you could do a higher power Emotiva 5 channel amp like the Emo XPA-5 and try to leave the surrounds on the Pio. I know the surrounds are 4 ohms, but if they are the only ones on the Pio, maybe it will work? Maybe a call to Pioneer CS is in order.
If you want to go all out and ext amp all 7 channels, you might do a multi amp combination like an XPA-2 and an XPA-5 perhaps? Of course I am only limiting my amp choice since that is what I use, and the price is right for new product. You could opt spend much much more or even buy used.

Just sharing some thoughts.

ben62670

First welcome to Club Polk.
Any of those amps you listed will drive LSI's just fine. Keep in mind that it is about current, and not so much watts. As stated above the LSI's dip pretty low, and those amps you have listed if they are rated at say 130wpc at 8 ohms they will push around 200wpc at 4ohms which is just fine for nearly anyone.
Ben

mmadden28

Just some specs (but, like Ben said, don't get too hung up on them) Just remember, every receiver manufacturer rates thier amps differently. Some rated at 80w might outperform some rated at 130w. There is no practiced standard. Some of the AVR ratings are total watts per channel with only 1 or 2 channels driven, not with all the channels driven. What I've seen so far though is the more reputable external amps are usually rated more realistically and with all the channels driven.

Here's some of the Emo line specs
UPA-7:
7 channels driven - 4 ohm = 185 watts per channel

XPA-5:
5 channels driven - 4 ohm = 350 watts per channel

XPA-2:
2 Channels driven - 4 ohm = 500 watts per channel

XPA-3:
3 channels - 4 ohm = 300 watts per channel
2 channels - 4 ohm = 400 watts per channel

Or hell go all out and get 7 of these puppies
XPA-1 (monoblock)
1 channel - 4 ohm = 1000 watts per channel :eek::eek::D:cool:

mmadden28

Oh I just reread your OP and you said you're limited on space. Hmm. the Emo line are not small (or light)

cfrizz

He should get an XPA-5 & have a 5.1 system. Or for lighter weight, try to get a Sunfire, My 5 channel only weighs 43lbs.

mmadden28 wrote: »

Oh I just reread your OP and you said you're limited on space. Hmm. the Emo line are not small (or light)

mattbro

Hey all, thanks for all of the input on this.

Ya, I am a bit limited on component space. Each one of the 4 bays in the pic below will probably fit something that is 17w x 17d x 8.5h because of the way the sides are cornered.

All of the Emotives appear to be 17x19 so they are out. Same with Parasound..

The Adcom 125w models (7605/7607) should fit ok but the 200w model (7705) is probably stretching it on the depth and the height wouldn't leave *any* room for airflow.

For Rotel, pretty much the same situation.. The 100w models (1076/1085/1565) should fit easily. In fact, the 250w model (1575) would probably work as well but I am looking at 2-3 times the price (probably not worth doing LSis at that point if I am going to have to go that way)..

A NAD T955, Sunfire TGA-5200, and a Outlaw 7125 would fit as well.

Sooo....in the interest of safe rather than sorry, I'm thinking I should go ahead and drive the surrounds with a new amp rather than using the Pioneer Elite.

Maybe getting input on a couple of other questions will help by pushing me towards the 5.1 solution rather than the 6.1. That would let me utilize some of the 5 channel amps instead of getting a 6/7 channel or a 5 channel and a 2 channel (I had been looking mostly at 5 channel amps).

If you look at the pic, one of my reasons for looking at a LSi9 for the center instead of the LSiC was that I can fit a LSi9 in one of the center bays on the TV stand. Those 2 bays are 16w x 19d x 9h. It will be a bit low but the other option is to put the center on a corner shelf that I plan on building directly above the TV itself. If I go that way, I will probably just do a LSiC and be done with it. But...if putting the LSi9 in one of the center bays for my center will work audio-wise, and since you buy them in pairs....I figure I will have an extra LSi9 that I might as well put to good use as a rear. I could always just leave it unhooked for now if I end up going with a 5 channel amp and then buy a 2 channel amp for the fronts and hook it up to the 5 channel at that time.

rabies_70

I love my Adcom amps. I bought them all used from fleabay and have never regretted it a minute. I use 545II's for my surrounds (FX300i" currently, being replaced by FX50's on the side LSiFX'x in the rear), 2 555II's for my rti12's, and 2 Outlaw 200 monoblocks for the dual parallel CS350LS's Centers. These amps are so powerful and clean and most important to me only the price was cheap. You are going to be digging your upgrade. Good luck!