Polk Lsi15s or B&W 804s

Fernando1
Fernando1 Posts: 47
edited December 2009 in Electronics
Hi guys! Hope you all are well!

I know this is a Polk forum, but wanted to see your opinions on how the Lsi15s compare with the b&w 804s?
Unfortunately no stores here in Miami have both speakers so I can't compare

Please any inputs on this

Thanks
Post edited by Fernando1 on
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Comments

  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited October 2009
    Apples to oranges comparison. I have NEVER heard a pair B&Ws sound good. I HATE metal tweeters!
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
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  • Sherardp
    Sherardp Posts: 8,038
    edited October 2009
    I like the sound of 802Ds but I also enjoy the sound of my RTi setup from Polk. I would say bang for buck would be the LSi15s as they perform very well without the premium price.
    Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!

    Home Theater Pics in the Showcase :cool:

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=73580
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited October 2009
    cfrizz wrote: »
    Apples to oranges comparison. I have NEVER heard a pair B&Ws sound good.
    +1...

    Not a fan of B&W at all, including their TOTL models with the diamond tweeter.
    "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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  • Bernal
    Bernal Posts: 991
    edited October 2009
    LSi 15......
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,229
    edited October 2009
    2 very different leagues man. The 804's are a much better speaker then the Lsi's. Depending on what you wanna do with them is the key here.

    Dan
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • olilugo
    olilugo Posts: 405
    edited October 2009
    I never tried the lsi15 and in my case I think I took a big big jump. I went from rti6's to B&W 804s.
    Let just say I am done looking for main speakers. I only wish I had the money to by the center channel.
    And that is all I can say about that.....
    Current HT setup
    Mains: B&W 804s
    Center: Polk CSi5
    Surround: Polk FXi3
    Sub: Velodyne DLS-3750R
    Receiver: Pioneer SC-07
    Amplifier: Sunfire TGA5200
    TV: Sony KDS60A2020
    DBP: Sony DBP-S350
    CDP: Pioneer DV-48AV
    Interconnect cables: SignalCable analog II
    speaker cables: SignalCable Ultra Speaker Cables Bi-wire
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited October 2009
    Welcome to the Club!
    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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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited October 2009
    mantis wrote: »
    2 very different leagues man. The 804's are a much better speaker then the Lsi's. Depending on what you wanna do with them is the key here.

    Dan

    Agreed,once again we have an $4000.00 speaker(804s) vs an $1700.00
    speaker.The LSi15 is a very good speaker,but not in the same class as
    the B&W-But I could be wrong;)
    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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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,229
    edited October 2009
    danz1906 wrote: »
    Agreed,once again we have an $4000.00 speaker(804s) vs an $1700.00
    speaker.The LSi15 is a very good speaker,but not in the same class as
    the B&W-But I could be wrong;)

    Your not wrong . If you listened to the 804's then the 15's you will clearly hear the quality difference. The lsi 15's are loose down low and the 804's are tight everywhere. They can be a truly work of art in the art of sound. The Lsi's are just good for the money all around nice speakers. They don't shine anywhere. they probably shine more at music then theater. That was how I felt about them when I owned them. I have friends who own 804' and they are very good at both. They excel at god recordings.

    4k speakers are a step up from most all lower priced speakers. There are exceptions to this as this is not a rule but a opinion. I have heard many 4k speakers and the Lsi's will struggle with any of them that I have heard. Even paradigm who I feel struggle to make a uniform floor standing speaker would dominate the lsi's. But when you look at it from a dollars standpoint , it makes sense. My main speakers are also 4k speakers and they sit in there class well. They double duty better then most , better then most for theater and can hang with the best for music.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • venomclan
    venomclan Posts: 2,467
    edited October 2009
    I almost pulled the trigger on a set of 804's. They area fine speaker and very fast. I would like to say that they are more "refined" than other speakers. British speakers tend to be on the polite side. You will need a nice amp to run the B&W's also as they tend to dip in ohms. I would not worry about the metal tweeter as the "S" version is pretty smooth. I would say that loud rock and rap would be a weak point for the B&W's, but they make it up in speed. And a sub will fill in the gaps.
    Venom
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  • Fernando1
    Fernando1 Posts: 47
    edited December 2009
    I would like to use the speakers for all types of music and HT......
    I currently have the LSI15s but never heard the B&Ws, I have the urge to upgrade!
    Basically i would look for a deal in ebay or audiogon for the B&Ws. Its just there is only one store here in Miami that respresent B&W but they have nothing in stock to listen
    I have two sunfire amps currently running my set up. The fron three channels are used with a sunfire signature 5 amp 425 watts per channel into 8ohm and the rears are run through a sunfire TGA5200 which has 200 watts per channel into 8ohms
    Any advice
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited December 2009
    Check these out:

    http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrfull&1264219631&/B-W-804S-Rosenut-Finish-Sealed
    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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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited December 2009
    I wouldn't buy a pair of B&W's without demoing them first. They're not for everyone.
    "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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  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited December 2009
    I think the sound of the LSi's are comparable to the B&W's, but that is mainly because I like the LSi - laid back sound better.

    A better direct comparison to B&W to save money would be the Paradigm Studio series as I think they have a simial sonic signature.

    The LSi's just sound completely different and if you like the sound of the LSi's - they will compare well to the B&W's... If you like the sound of the B&W's much better - you will think the LSi's suck.

    Personally - I think you owe it to yourself to demo some LSi's (especially with upgraded crossovers if you can find them). You may be surprised how good they sound.

    Michael
    Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
    Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
    Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
    Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
    Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
    Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms)
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