Lsi9's

cfrizz

Thank you Bass_Pedal. I love people who have common sense. It's about getting the full potential from the speakers & a receiver will not do when it comes to driving the LSI series.

If some people actually got their ears on them driven by powerful amps then they would know what they are not hearing with a receiver. Until then, they have no clue what they are talking about.

Hearing is believing & KNOWING.

jimmydep

Amen Sister!!!

Kex

cfrizz wrote: »

Thank you Bass_Pedal. I love people who have common sense. ...

Hearing is believing & KNOWING.

Exactly! I think people are confusing the choice of driving 4 ohm speakers with surround receivers that are absolutely NOT rated for it, - and might state, as Bass-Pedal suggests, that they "handle it" with "no problem" or "just fine", - with the choice of using high current integrated amplifiers, or stereo receivers such as the one mentioned by the OP, which are rated for difficult loads, and do "handle it" much better than "just fine". If you haven't tried it, or compared it with separates, you are making assertions without "KNOWING" what you are talking about. These units are low budget, high quality options for those that want to try the LSi series successfully IMO, and should not be dismissed out of hand.

Why is it that separates get a "free pass" anyway? Is it just because they are separates that the manufacturers will magically no longer exaggerate the specifications, or "play" with the numbers?

In any case, with the example of the OP, the h/k 3480 or 3490 will not only handle the load, but if he decides to try an external amplifier at some later stage, he'll still have a very reasonably priced, good quality pre/pro already to connect it up to. The only way anyone can make an informed decison about this is to try it out for themselves, and that's where C.P. can really help IMO, if members allow other members to try their gear with their intended systems. It's certainly an option I offer to any Polkie within a reasonable distance, or in return for shipping costs.

steveinaz

It really depends on listening levels, room square footage, and what your expectations are; and of course making sure the amp section is specified/designed to drive 4 ohm loads. Lets face it, no bookshelf speaker is gonna pressurize a 20 x 32ft livingroom without compression (soundstage collapse) even under the best of amplification.

If you like to jam hard at times, it's best to have good/plenty of amp, if you don't like replacing tweeters. If you're a moderate level listener, there's no need for a nuclear powered amplifier.

cfrizz

My 50wpc Rotel amp "handle it" with "no problem" or "just fine" my RTA-8Ts just fine. So did my Denon 110wpc receiver.

But when I got my Parasound 205wpc amp, my RTA's showed me what I could have heard 15 years earlier if I had only known what I wasn't hearing. But I didn't know & didn't think that separate amplification could make that big of a difference until I got the Parasound & heard differently. My speakers were finally operating to their FULL POTENTIAL, they weren't just being "handle it" with "no problem" or "just fine".

I then passed my Rotel onto my brother who hooked them up to his LSI 7s. It "handled it" with "no problem" or "just fine". You could fry an egg on top of the Rotel after a movie but hey it "handled it".

Then I passed on my Parasound to my brother, guess what? His 7s are finally operating to their FULL POTENTIAL, and the amp is barely luke warm now.

If you don't want to spend the money to let the LSI's operate to their FULL POTENTIAL and just want to settle for "handle it" with "no problem" or "just fine", then get a different set of speakers.