What are the "best" Polk speakers for two-channel

NewHTguy
NewHTguy Posts: 584
edited February 2009 in 2 Channel Audio
I've learned (a little too late) that HT doesn't thrill me all that much but I REALLY enjoy two-channel. As a result, I'm starting to think about selling my Rti's and moving to the Lsi line. Before I make any more stupid moves, I'd like to hear what people think are the best Polk speakers for two channel listening. I plan on keeping my sub (Velo SPL 1200) and my amp (Parasound 2250, 250wpc).

I know this stuff is subjective, but I value the opinions of people in this forum. If you were building a two-channel system, what would be your first choice from the Polk line-up? What would be your second choice from the Polk line-up? Any thoughts would be appreciated.
MAIN: Polk Lsi9s; Polk PSW505; Lsic (in box); Onkyo SR-875; Parasound 2250; Cambridge Audio 740C; LG BD370
OFFICE: Polk Lsi7; REL T3; HK 3490; CA 840W; Onkyo C-S5VL
BENCHED: CS20; OWM3s
Post edited by NewHTguy on
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited February 2009
    Dude you have been here a year. 1/3 or better are going to say SDA's if you have the room, a 1/3 with say LSI's are great bang for the buck, and a little less than a 1/3 are going to recommend a few other brands. Clear as mud? Me I will stick with SDA's.
    Ben
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • djseafood
    djseafood Posts: 73
    edited February 2009
    Haha! Yep, I agree with ben62670. I joined in October I think(??) and I already know that a lot of people here freak out about the SDA's and honestly I don't know what they are. I hope that doesn't come across poorly. I don't mean to say that I don't think they're good. I just honestly haven't taken the time to learn about them. I think it's because I'm just returning to "good" stereo/HT equipment and am making a very modest entry at that. So, I think it's a matter of being naive so I don't know what I'm missing! :D Anyway, I feel you've unleashed the beasts so sit back and enjoy the answers that will ensue :)
    HT
    Receiver: Onkyo TX-SR506
    FR: Polk Monitor 40
    CNTR: Polk CS2
    Sub: Polk PSW505
    RR: Infinity SS2001 w/ SpeakerCraft 5.25" aluminum woofers and 1.5" ports
    Patio: Polk Atrium 45
    TV: Sony Bravia KDL-46XBR9
    BD: Sony BDP-S570
    Gaming: PS2 and Wii
    PWR: APC C-5

    Work
    Receiver: h/k AVR 20
    CD: marantz Professional PMD320
    Mains: Infinity SS2005
    2nds: DLK 1 1/2's
    CNTR: Infinity Sterling Video
    Subs: Paradigm PS-1000 w/ beefed up power circuit resistors and custom 15" w/ Polk PSW-505 amp.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,804
    edited February 2009
    Oh, I was going to say Monitor 7 series. Silly me.
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,029
    edited February 2009
    My suggestion would be a nice pair of 1C's with upgraded tweet's and x-over.
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited February 2009
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    Oh, I was going to say Monitor 7 series. Silly me.

    My bad:o I can't beleive I left out the monitors, and the RTA's.:eek:
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited February 2009
    By all means SDAs. As stated above 1Cs are a heck of a start.
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited February 2009
    +1 for SDA's

    2.3tl
    1c's
    2b's
    Crs+'s
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  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,081
    edited February 2009
    +2 for SDA's.
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited February 2009
    treitz3 wrote: »
    my suggestion would be a nice pair of 1c's with upgraded tweet's and x-over.

    +3...
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited February 2009
    The "best" speakers currently made, or the "best" speakers 20 years ago?
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,029
    edited February 2009
    Mr. Fox, you have the answer to each?
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited February 2009
    NewHTguy wrote: »
    If you were building a two-channel system, what would be your first choice from the Polk line-up?

    4_700271743_0.jpg&outputx=400&outputy=400&level=1&x=0&y=0&backcolor=0x80664d&nc=1

    Here's your answer, period.
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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited February 2009
    I love my Monitor 7A's for 2 ch. music. The SDA's are also a very popular choice for 2-ch rigs, though I don't really have any SDA experience myself.
    The nirvana inducer-
    APC H10 Power Conditioner
    Marantz UD5005 universal player
    Parasound Halo P5 preamp
    Parasound HCA-1200II power amp
    PolkAudio LSi9's/PolkAudio SDA 2A's/PolkAudio Monitor 7A's
    Audioquest Speaker Cables and IC's
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited February 2009
    You can't go wrong with LSi's or the SDA models mentioned above(2B, CRS+, 1C, SRS 1.2, SRS 2, or SRS 2.3). They each have their strong points.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited February 2009
    treitz3 wrote: »
    Mr. Fox, you have the answer to each?

    No. But I do have 4 LSi15s, and a pair of SDA-2s. However, I recently retired the SDA-2s in favor of a pair of PSB Synchrony 1 towers. I also have a retired pair of LSi7s, retired RTI38s, and retired S4s. They all sounded pretty good while in use.
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
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  • Ender
    Ender Posts: 603
    edited February 2009
    BlueFox wrote: »
    No. But I do have 4 LSi15s, and a pair of SDA-2s. However, I recently retired the SDA-2s in favor of a pair of PSB Synchrony 1 towers. I also have a retired pair of LSi7s, retired RTI38s, and retired S4s. They all sounded pretty good while in use.

    Will you be selling the retired's any time soon? :D
    SDA 1C, SDA 2A, SDA SRS 2, CMT-340SE, Swan M200MKII, Swan D1080MKII, Behringer MS40

    Outlaw Audio M2200 x2, GFA 555 II, BGW 750C

    GDA 700, Outlaw Audio Model 990, Sansa Fuze, X-Fi Platinum Fatality
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited February 2009
    I like 3.141592653589793...
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited February 2009
    ben62670 wrote: »
    I like 3.141592653589793...

    May I have some?:D:p
    The nirvana inducer-
    APC H10 Power Conditioner
    Marantz UD5005 universal player
    Parasound Halo P5 preamp
    Parasound HCA-1200II power amp
    PolkAudio LSi9's/PolkAudio SDA 2A's/PolkAudio Monitor 7A's
    Audioquest Speaker Cables and IC's
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  • CRESCENDOPOWER
    CRESCENDOPOWER Posts: 153
    edited February 2009
    If I were looking for a current model of speaker from Polk I would bid on one of the Lsi25’s on the Polk Ebay store. I would ditch your receiver, and Parasound amp, for a higher quality integrated amplifier, and make sure my source was up to snuff.
    If keeping your current electronics is a must I would look into the RtiA9’s.
    Buy Polk ****!:D

    http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/assets/image/12222003154728.jpg
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  • ND13
    ND13 Posts: 7,601
    edited February 2009
    SRS 2s or 2.3TLs in SDAs
    LSi9s in LSi(not a big fan of side firing powered subs in the 15s and 25s)
    LS90s
    RTA series sound pretty damn good, too.

    It's all about your preference and taste in music and the gear you'll driving them with.
    "SOME PEOPLE CALL ME MAURICE,
    CAUSE I SPEAK OF THE POMPITIOUS OF LOVE"
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  • HB27
    HB27 Posts: 1,518
    edited February 2009
    I like the SDA SRS but I had a room size problem. Placement may also be an issue with the SDA line. I personally like a large speaker and my Polk favorite was the Monitor 11 RTA circa '82. The Monitor 7 is also a heck of a 2 ch speaker in a smaller room. JMO though. As ND13 said. Personal preferences dictate.
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  • VXR8
    VXR8 Posts: 291
    edited February 2009
    I went from the RTi10s to the LSI9s and I have never looked back - I'm amazed how good these things sound WITHOUT a sub woofer, given the right amplification. Current day, definitely LSi9s - what we haven't delved into though is what is your musical taste?
    Regards - Gaz from the land of Oz

    Main System
    Denon - AVC-4700H
    Emotiva - XPA-9
    Cambridge Audio - Azur 851C - CXUHD
    Polk Audio - Legend L800 - Legend L400 - Legend L900 - LSiM fx - OWM3
    SVS - PB1000 x 2
    Foxtel - iQ4
    Belkin - Pure AV PF40
    Sony K77A9G

    Front Room System
    PS Audio - Sprout 100
    Cambridge Audio - CXC S2 - CA752BD
    Sony - UBX800 4K BluRay
    Polk Audio - Legend L200
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,194
    edited February 2009
    From years ago I enjoyed the ls90's. Fantastic sounding speakers. Todays offerings the Lsi15's and Lsi25's are my personal favorite. The Lsi25's are probably the best overall sounding speakers polk has ever made. I hate the Powered tower thing but get past that and man you have some killer speaks.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited February 2009
    I would choose between,

    Lsi 9
    Lsi 15
    SDA 1C
    SDA SRS2

    RT1
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  • Phil Dawson
    Phil Dawson Posts: 288
    edited February 2009
    Go for the big boys. You won't be sorry.
    Good luck, Phil

    SRA-SDS Front
    2 cs400i Center
    SRS-SDA Rear
    Shure 12in sub
    B&K ref 10 pre-pro upgr to ref 50
    Techniques 1200 TT
    Mac MR71 Tuna
    Lexicon rt-20 uni player
    HK citation pre for TT
    2 PSE Studio Mono Blocks
    4 PSE Studio Stereo Amps
    1 Mac 2100 Amp for sub
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  • NewHTguy
    NewHTguy Posts: 584
    edited February 2009
    To be clear, I was not trying to start any battles. (Did that once by accident when I commented that I didn't hear a difference in speaker wire. Would rather debate religion before doing that again.) Unfortunately, I don't have the ability to listen to each and every polk that's out there.

    I have also come to learn that I enjoy the journey as much as the destination. If I lose some money and learn a little more about my tastes, I can live with that. But I'd rather not go down a complete dead end.
    MAIN: Polk Lsi9s; Polk PSW505; Lsic (in box); Onkyo SR-875; Parasound 2250; Cambridge Audio 740C; LG BD370
    OFFICE: Polk Lsi7; REL T3; HK 3490; CA 840W; Onkyo C-S5VL
    BENCHED: CS20; OWM3s
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  • dee1949
    dee1949 Posts: 1,425
    edited February 2009
    ...both Sda and Lsi 's are nice. But if you want to think outside the box....Try some Maggies. Magnepan mmg's are a great starter.

    "Once you've heard FLAT. You'll never go back."
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited February 2009
    dee1949 wrote: »
    But if you want to think outside the box....Try some Maggies. Magnepan mmg's are a great starter.
    If you have a sub, yes.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • Phil Dawson
    Phil Dawson Posts: 288
    edited February 2009
    Do you have an idea of how much $ you have to spend?
    Phil
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  • timlitton
    timlitton Posts: 289
    edited February 2009
    dee1949 wrote: »
    "Once you've heard FLAT. You'll never go back."

    You'll also have lost the ability to make a proper rhyme.




    :D

    Lsi15. Good deal.
    Slowly emerging from the 90's
    Fronts: Polk LSi15's
    Center: Polk CS350ls
    Pre: Sony STRDA555ES
    Amp: Rotel RMB-1075
    Sub: Velodyne SPL-1000
    TV: 46" Sharp Aquos LCD
    Dust magnet: Sony PS3
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