LSi 9's or 15's ??????

Murray1

Still doing my homework and watching refurb pricing and am wondering if I should start considering the LSi 15's after reading some of the "speaker stand" threads that are required with the 9's. Did I read that the 15's are not the correct height and also need to sit on top of something so tweeter is at ear level? In reading some 3-4 year old posts, it sounded like the 15's had some issues. Does anyone know if they have been resolved and how do today's LSi 15's compare to 9's. Appears that the major difference is that the 15's include a woofer but will still require a sub. Any comments regarding how these two models compare in sound? Are we to assume the 15's are pretty much the 9's with a woofer and a larger floorstanding cabinet? Thanks for your comments.....

maximillian

I haven't done a direct comparison, and I only have 9's. Here is what my opinion is from reading numerous posts... Most floor standing speakers (including the 15's) are going to need a sub for HT applications. Even for the RTi A9's (RTi 12's) most people will buy a sub for HT to get the really low end effects. For music, the 15's will probably work well on their own without a sub. The 9's will need a sub for both HT and music. I listen to them without a sub for music and they have a lot of bass on their own. However, I toyed with hooking up R50's as a source of bass (through an amp) and can hear more bass as a result. The R50's are not known for bass, so that should be an indication that the 9's need a good musical sub as well for music. The 9's have better bass than a lot of bookshelf speakers (I think better than RTi6's for example), and I listen to them without a sub since I don't have a good musical sub yet.

So it depends on your application and listening preferences.

megasat16

LSi 9 and LSi 15 are two different speakers. They shares the mid woofers and high frequency driver and that's about it. The design, the crossover is different. The 8" subwoofer mounted in the chamber under the LSi15 is much more than the purpose of a stand in the LSi9. But for the mids and highs, both LSi 15 and LSi9 sounds very alike. LSi15 has more low frequency definition in the music and HT due to the 8" subwoofer in it.

Having owned the entire LSi line, I can attest to how good the LSi9 sounds for it's size. But if you move up to LSi15, there is a definite improvement over LSi9. Some people complains that the tweeter levels is not right for them. But I find it very hard to follow. If it's the case, all the other speakers of this size will have the same problem. But even if you find it a little lower than what your prefer tweeter should be, 3" or more of the concrete slab will solve your problem.

All current Polk speakers can use a good sub for both music and HT. With a good sub, music has more body in it and HT will be a blast.

devani

Also the reason I have LSi15 is I don't have to worry about buying stands and tipping over by a child....you will want to add sub either way

Murray1

megasat16 wrote: »

LSi 9 and LSi 15 are two different speakers. They shares the mid woofers and high frequency driver and that's about it. The design, the crossover is different. The 8" subwoofer mounted in the chamber under the LSi15 is much more than the purpose of a stand in the LSi9. But for the mids and highs, both LSi 15 and LSi9 sounds very alike. LSi15 has more low frequency definition in the music and HT due to the 8" subwoofer in it.

Having owned the entire LSi line, I can attest to how good the LSi9 sounds for it's size. But if you move up to LSi15, there is a definite improvement over LSi9. Some people complains that the tweeter levels is not right for them. But I find it very hard to follow. If it's the case, all the other speakers of this size will have the same problem. But even if you find it a little lower than what your prefer tweeter should be, 3" or more of the concrete slab will solve your problem.

All current Polk speakers can use a good sub for both music and HT. With a good sub, music has more body in it and HT will be a blast.

Thanks all for your response. Any one out there with additional info and/or opinions, I am all ears.

leroyjr1

I am also a lsi9 owner and find it very pleasing at times without running a sub for music. If you go with the 9's and a sub look at a nice sealed Velo or micropro sub. They both blend very well with the 9's for music.

phipiper10

Also consider where the woofer is going to face on those 15s. If you are in a tight space and they face right into a wall that might not be ideal.

jrusche

I just hooked up my LSi9's that I got from Polk Direct on eBay. I got them for like 55% of what they are new.

I hooked them up, bi-amp on my Yamaha RX-V661 on the 4/6 ohm setting (best I could do).

I am listening to Diana Krall right now and I am in pure heaven. After about 10 seconds I turned off my PSW10 and discovered that these LSi9's are absolute ecstasy. 2 channel stereo setting, these are almost making me cry they sound so good. I would have no (zero) use for the 15's. The 9's are absolutely amazing, at least for acoustic music. I'll try them out with Slipknot later.

I simply just have to say they are an amazing speaker. As a former musician who shared the stage with countless other performers, the sound quality with these really is like you are there, right next to the other players. I can hear people breathing, the fingers on the guitar strings, the hammers on the piano, the drumsticks bouncing just right, the fingers on the upright bass. Incredibly moving and satisfying.

I visited several "high end" audio shops who snubbed Polk for going mass market. I do understand that going to BestBuy and getting their "Polk" speaker is one thing, the LSi's are for real. Absolutely amazing.

phipiper10

Good stuff, glad you are happy, enjoy the music!!! That's what it's all about after all. They are great speakers.

Murray1

leroyjr1 wrote: »

I am also a lsi9 owner and find it very pleasing at times without running a sub for music. If you go with the 9's and a sub look at a nice sealed Velo or micropro sub. [/COLOR][/SIZE]They both blend very well with the 9's for music.

Thanks again everyone for the info. Wife said she hates the look of towers so it looks like I will be purchasing the 9's. Anyone have a recommendation for speaker brackets [/COLOR]for the LSi 9's? Do not like stands for the fronts so want to attach left and right speakers to the wall.

phipiper10

Having them on the stands may be a wife or system limitation and a lot of us have to make some sacrifices in this area. Just consider the additional bass/vibration that may be produced being put up against the wall as opposed to a few feet out. It may sound different than when you had listened previously. There is a rear port on these.

Just something to consider...I'm sure it will turn out fine. Sorry can't help you with the brackets.

Murray1

phipiper10 wrote: »

Having them on the stands may be a wife or system limitation and a lot of us have to make some sacrifices in this area. Just consider the additional bass/vibration that may be produced being put up against the wall as opposed to a few feet out. It may sound different than when you had listened previously. There is a rear port on these.

Just something to consider...I'm sure it will turn out fine. Sorry can't help you with the brackets.

Thanks for the heads up phipiper. Any bracket users experiencing bass/vibration issues. Are there brackets available that extend out from the wall? Believe Polk speaker placement manual wants left and right to be in front of center.