LSi7 or RTi A1 with Marantz

Slavin007
Slavin007 Posts: 3
edited September 2010 in Speakers
I'm looking for a pair of Front speakers, 85% HT, 15% Music. I’ve been looking at the LSi7’s for a while but I’m afraid that my Marantz SR6003 (100W X 7) will fry with a 4 ohm load, I just would like to hear any input if anyone has these speakers with a 8 or 6 Ohm Receiver, and will I gain any sound quality over the RTi A1 running on the SR6003, I’ve read it’s ok if you keep your volume at medium levels, but what does that really mean, is 89 Db levels medium or 96 Db? Just trying to find the best setup, without purchasing a new Amp! Also someone mentioned to hook up an extra speaker cable to the LSi7 (one set from the receiver Fronts L/R and another from the Surround Back L/R. Please help… Also I’m running a 5.1 with a powered sub…:confused:
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  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited February 2009
    Slavin007 wrote: »
    I'm looking for a pair of Front speakers, 85% HT, 15% Music. I’ve been looking at the LSi7’s for a while but I’m afraid that my Marantz SR6003 (100W X 7) will fry with a 4 ohm load, I just would like to hear any input if anyone has these speakers with a 8 or 6 Ohm Receiver, and will I gain any sound quality over the RTi A1 running on the SR6003, I’ve read it’s ok if you keep your volume at medium levels, but what does that really mean, is 89 Db levels medium or 96 Db? Just trying to find the best setup, without purchasing a new Amp! Also someone mentioned to hook up an extra speaker cable to the LSi7 (one set from the receiver Fronts L/R and another from the Surround Back L/R. Please help… Also I’m running a 5.1 with a powered sub…:confused:


    Well, considering all that you've laid out - I'd say go with the RTiA1s since you do more movie watching than music. The RTiA1s will be easier to drive and are specifically targeted for HT - while the RTiA series does quite well, imho, with music as well.

    If you are dead set against getting an external amp, then I'd choose the RTiA1s.

    I will say that your pairing does represent a big price delta...if you are willing to consider the LSi7s, then a fairer 'shootout' would be against the RTiA3.

    I'm a former owner of some LSi7s that I ran in my HT rig, but I did my own 'shootout' pitting the LSi7s vs the RTiA3s and decided to keep the RTiA3s.

    Go figure..... I just thought that for my listening habits and preferences that the RTiA3s did better for movies and music.

    The LSi7s do need a good amp to get them to 'wake up' for music - but once you prod them awake they are sonically very good. I do have an external amp and even the RTiA3s benefit from this,

    At lower volumes, I just thought the LSi7s were too 'laid back' and sleepy, and not as open on the top end for the music I like to listen to.

    But - that is just me....admittedly swimming against the tide of opinion on the LSi7s.... :p

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
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  • Motzart
    Motzart Posts: 1,075
    edited February 2009
    I use my RTiA1's for both HT and Music and am quite happy with em.
    Sound spectacular and were recommend by several PPL here.

    Yamaha RX-A710 90Watt 7.1
    Mains: RTi A1's Center: CS150 Sats: RT15i's Sub: Velodyne DPS-10
    Music CD: Sony CDP-CE375 5 Disk
    HD TV: Vizio 42" LCD 1080p E420VO
    Blu-Ray: Sony BDP-S350
    DVD: Sony DVP-NC665P 5 Disk
    AV Rack: Sanus Euro EFAB-II Audio Base x2 EFAS-II Audio Expansion Shelf x4
    Cables Used: Monster Cable HPD Sony HDMI DLCHE18W
    Phones: Sennheiser HD280 Pro
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited February 2009
    Give the RTiA3s a listen:D
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • Slavin007
    Slavin007 Posts: 3
    edited February 2009
    So if I go with the LSi7, and I buy a Niles Audio SI-275 would that take care of my problem? as it's 100 watts RMS per channel into 4 ohms (both channels driven)
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  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited February 2009
    Slavin007 wrote: »
    So if I go with the LSi7, and I buy a Niles Audio SI-275 would that take care of my problem? as it's 100 watts RMS per channel into 4 ohms (both channels driven)

    If you are set on the LSi7s, looks like from the specs that it is a high current design amp and should work well at 4ohms.

    For HT, what center do you plan on and what rears?

    Since general guidelines for HT is that you want to have fronts, centers and rears to have similar tonal characteristics, you probably need to consider comparable LSi series centers and rears....more bucks.

    Personally, and this is just me...for a predominantly movie bias for a home system - you'd get much better bang for the buck by sticking with the RTiA series.

    The LSi7s are certainly a nice speaker - I lived with a pair for a bit to see how they would fit in my HT setup. They do really well with music at higher volumes with a good external amp.

    For movies and for lower to mid volumes, the RTi/RTiA series do just as well (better, imho) for a lower price.

    ymmv - obviously....enjoy the journey! :D

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited February 2009
    Go with the rti a3.
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  • Slavin007
    Slavin007 Posts: 3
    edited February 2009
    Thanks for all your input, I think I'll go with the RTi and save some $,$$$, A1 or A3? I like the smaller design on the A1's, so is there much difference between the two beside the 5 1/4" to 6 1/2" speaker...
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  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited February 2009
    Slavin007 wrote: »
    Thanks for all your input, I think I'll go with the RTi and save some $,$$$, A1 or A3? I like the smaller design on the A1's, so is there much difference between the two beside the 5 1/4" to 6 1/2" speaker...

    Well, I used to run RTi4s as my fronts -which is the predecessor to the RTiA1, but I upgraded to the RTiA3s.

    Difference was bigger and wider soundstage, more mid punch and a bit deeper in the mid bass.

    The RTi4 is a great value...as would be the RTiA1.

    I'm just saying that if you were considering the LSi7 - then, presumably, your budget would allow for considering the RTiA3.

    If you are patient and can wait for a set of RTiA3s to show up on Polk's Ebay store - then you can get a heck of a deal for these - probably for lower than you can find the RTiA1s new.

    Its the waiting that is the hard part... :D

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
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  • Hungaro
    Hungaro Posts: 3
    edited September 2010
    At present time I have a Sony 6.1 HT setup running supposedly 1000 watts RMS. I wish to start with replacing the fronts with speakers that I will put as surrounds later. I have been thinking of either the RtiA1 or the RtiA3. My room is 11ft x 17ft with concrete walls being broken up by paintings and draperies. I have read that the A1 has more solid midrange which my sub would help support, while the A3 has a stronger presentation with slightly troubled mids. I listen 50% HT and 50% classical and pop (with both female and male singers). I will be moving to a larger house within the next year which will have a slightly larger room.
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