Hello to all Polk Members

Amherst · January 2010

I am obviously new to this forum. Hello To everyone!

I have been running Polk speakers for the last ten years or so and really enjoy my home theater.

Could really use some expert advise on my setup.;)

Recently have been upgrading everything including my Polk's.
I am about to swap out my Monitor 40's for some LSi9's for the fronts.
My center is being served by a CSiA6. I love the center, it has some very natural sound in movies.

Question Is: How much of a soundstage mis-match will I have pairing this center with the LSi's?

A little concerned because things seem to blend so well now and the center is only a few months old.

Pycroft · January 2010

Hello and welcome to club polk! I can't answer your question about the soundstage, but I'm interested what AVR/Amp you will be using to power LSI9's. They will require much more power than most standard AVR's can handle!

James

Amherst · January 2010

Pycroft wrote: »

Hello and welcome to club polk! I can't answer your question about the soundstage, but I'm interested what AVR/Amp you will be using to power LSI9's. They will require much more power than most standard AVR's can handle!

James

Hello James, I am also located in South Jersey.

The power will be provided by a B+K AVR5000II. The amp is conservatively rated at 125 w/per channel. Not a ton of power but should suffice.
I found that my Monitor 40's were difficult to drive with a Yamaha receiver, hence the purchase of an outboard amp.
The processing is being handled by a new Pioneer VSX23TXH.

bluecomet · January 2010

Pycroft is right. The Lsi speakers are 4 ohm. Not many AVR's can handle 4 ohms. If you have pre outs on the back of your receiver you are going to have to use an external amp to handle the Lsi 9's. Also you should really use a LsiC with the 9's to have sonic balance.

Amherst · January 2010

Lasareath wrote: »

Welcome to Club Polk!!

Thank You, Lasareath. Lot's of Jerseyian's around here!

leroyjr1 · January 2010

Welcome to the club!!!

The LSI 9's and CSI a6 are two totally different sounding series. The lsi's are very laid back (good for music) while the csi's are more of a bright forward speaker( good for HT).

Amherst · January 2010

bluecomet wrote: »

Also you should really use a LsiC with the 9's to have sonic balance.

Yes, I fully understand.
The deal on the LSi's I could not pass up. So now I know I have a mis-match.
Question is how much of a mis-match? The well has run dry for more purchases!

packetjones · January 2010

Welcome to the club.

I have never heard the LSi9's so i can not say for sure how they will sound. In regards to the mismatch, the monitor 40's and the CSiA6 is not a match now. I would say that if it sounds good to you now then the LSi's will sound fine as well.

Amherst · January 2010

packetjones wrote: »

Welcome to the club.

I have never heard the LSi9's so i can not say for sure how they will sound. In regards to the mismatch, the monitor 40's and the CSiA6 is not a match now. I would say that if it sounds good to you now then the LSi's will sound fine as well.

The 40's and the A6 work really well together if you feed them well.
Without the outboard amp it was weak sounding like something was missing and distorted at decent volume.

Amherst · January 2010

leroyjr1 wrote: »

Welcome to the club!!!

The LSI 9's and CSI a6 are two totally different sounding series. The lsi's are very laid back (good for music) while the csi's are more of a bright forward speaker( good for HT).

Hi Leroy, The reason I was seeking a pair of LSi's is for music.
I found the 40's to be a very good performer but did not put me at the place I really wanted for two channel music.;)

Thanks for the welcome!

jimmydep · January 2010

I've used a CSI-a4 with LSi-15's, and it didn't sound as mismatched as I thought it would, actually I thought they sounded pretty good together. I did replace the A-4 with an LSIC and it does sound slightly better, although I had to increase the gain on the LSI center about 6db in order to hear the dialog better.

I don't think you'll need to rush out and replace the A-6 if your using it primarily for HT, but if you listen to music in surround then you'll notice a big difference.

BTW... Welcome to the Club.

Jimmy

Amherst · January 2010

jimmydep wrote: »

I've used a CSI-a4 with LSi-15's, and it didn't sound as mismatched as I thought it would, actually I thought they sounded pretty good together. I did replace the A-4 with an LSIC and it does sound slightly better, although I had to increase the gain on the LSI center about 6db in order to hear the dialog better.

I don't think you'll need to rush out and replace the A-6 if your using it primarily for HT, but if you listen to music in surround then you'll notice a big difference.

BTW... Welcome to the Club.

Jimmy

Thank You for the welcome and insight, Jimmy.
The A6 is awesome with dialogue, and my setup has it set flat (no gain), and the soundstage sounds proper to me. That is why I was concerned.
Your post helps the worry factor.

Pycroft · January 2010

So...what AVR/amp do you use?

Amherst · January 2010

We're pushing the setup with a B+K AV5000II.
The processing is handled by a Pioneer VSX23THX.
This seems so far to be a good combination, nice and smooth.

Pycroft, Did you get the reply message?

Amherst · January 2010

Have been looking at the specs on the LSiC, and because of driver size and especially cabinet depth, leaves me wondering if that is why Jimmy has to boost DB for proper dialogue. Or, is this due to placement?

JohnLocke88 · January 2010

I'd say get the LSiC; generally, front sound stage mismatch is a no-no. Keep your eye out on eBay, CL and the flea-market here; they pop up from time to time on the (relative) cheap.

Amherst · January 2010

JohnLocke88 wrote: »

I'd say get the LSiC; generally, front sound stage mismatch is a no-no. Keep your eye out on eBay, CL and the flea-market here; they pop up from time to time on the (relative) cheap.

This is the quandary. The well has run dry for purchases and am left wondering whether I would be trading good dialogue performance for weak on the LSiC?
If the mis-match is somewhat minimal I may opt to keep the A6.
Will find out soon.

Wish Polk had a more stout offering for a center in the LSi line.

bluecomet · January 2010

The LsiC is not weak in dialogue, only if you have it underpowered. If you power your front mains and LsiC with a good 4 ohm amp the speakers are outstanding for music or HT. You can run different series rear speakers if you can't afford to have a complete Lsi system without hurting you too much sonically.

Kex · January 2010

Welcome to Club Polk, and the potential for eternal poverty, Amherst.

If this were me, I would first try the LSi9 with a phantom center, if funds are too short for a new LSiC. You probably know how to do this, but basically, you use the setup menus of the receiver (or pre/pro) to indicate that no center is present, then calibrate the front and surround speakers correctly with an SPL meter (or auto-calibration function, if there is one on the unit), and try that for size. Many users prefer a good phantom center to a poor center/mains match ... and the tweeters between the LSi and CSi A are totally different. It does make seating positions more difficult (especially off center positions), and once you've tasted the effect of a large center, it's hard to go back. You could try it out both ways, and see what you prefer, in any case.

For music, you may want to use two channel only anyway, or 2.1, depending on how musical a subwoofer you have.

For your power, I'm assuming you meant the B&K AV5000 Series II (not AVR, as you stated above). That's good power from a good brand. I've never used B&K, but several here have, or still do. I'm not really with the 200w/ch crowd, personally, and much prefer 125w/ch of good quality, clean power, to big numbers of a less polished variety. In fact, most settings don't require more than what you already have IMO (but others will differ, of course, because of headroom concerns, and the ability to hit 105dB(A) peaks). You certainly won't have issues driving the LSi9 safely (with 185w/ch @ 4 ohms). They are not super efficient speakers, but nor are they inefficient with a sensitivity measured at 88dB. If you do calibrate to 75dB(C), using C-weighting, you'll see how hard you have to push the amplifier to get it to play between 75dB(A) and reference levels at 85dB(A), or if you are hitting those 105dB peaks when necessary, and then you can decide whether you think you might need extra power later down the road.

I don't think you mentioned what surrounds or subwoofer you are using. These could easily contribute to the overall performance factors to consider.

In case you (or anyone else that might be looking) don't have the Reference Manual for the AV5000 II, it's available here as a PDF file:

http://www.bkcomp.com/fileadmin/content/content_products/manuals/Past/Amp/AV5000SERIESII.pdf

Amherst · January 2010

Kex wrote: »

Welcome to Club Polk, and the potential for eternal poverty, Amherst.
Thanks Kex, the poverty point has arrived,hope it's not eternal!

If this were me, I would first try the LSi9 with a phantom center, if funds are too short for a new LSiC.
I will try this idea.Think that with my layout it will be a problem, the fronts are tucked away in the corners.

For music, you may want to use two channel only anyway, or 2.1, depending on how musical a subwoofer you have.
Yes, 2.1 for music is the whole idea. I am using the DSW Micro Pro 1000.
This sub sounds very musical IMHO.

For your power, I'm assuming you meant the B&K AV5000 Series II (not AVR, as you stated above).
The "AVR" is a typo. I'm definitely in agreement about quality amplification.
I didn't hesitate when I was offered to buy this amp, it is very clean sounding and powerful.

I don't think you mentioned what surrounds or subwoofer you are using. These could easily contribute to the overall performance factors to consider.
Well, the surrounds are a work in progress. Currently a pair of Monitor 30's are doing the duty. A friend is letting me use a pair of OWM 3's to try to see what they sound like. This is all a compromise as I'm up against the WAF, and have to loose the 30's or suffer consequences.
Would love to think about a pair of LSi7's for that duty but as with the 30's there is no chance. Had half a war to get the Monitor 40's and stands into the living room.

Ahh, for the love of money!

domflane · January 2010

If you already have the CSiA6, try it out with your LSi's. For HT, I think youll be more than satisfied. The center is the star in HT, the others are more like effect speakers so IMO it will be hard to really notice the mismatch. The A6 is a phenomenal speaker, I cant wait until there's one under my TV. I would not mix the LSi's and the CSi for music however, stick to 2 channel and let the LSi's shine. Thats what they're really made for. My center and mains don't match and I really have no complaints except that I want the front to match. Good luck and welcome to the club.

Amherst · January 2010

domflane wrote: »

If you already have the CSiA6, try it out with your LSi's. For HT, I think youll be more than satisfied. The center is the star in HT, the others are more like effect speakers so IMO it will be hard to really notice the mismatch. The A6 is a phenomenal speaker, I cant wait until there's one under my TV. I would not mix the LSi's and the CSi for music however, stick to 2 channel and let the LSi's shine. Thats what they're really made for. My center and mains don't match and I really have no complaints except that I want the front to match. Good luck and welcome to the club.

Thank You Domflane,

I am definitely going to find out what this combination sounds like.

Guess I am simply in a paranoid mode with this move, just have to do it as the deal is that good. The system sounds really fine now and I don't want to break that.

hearingimpared · January 2010

A warm Welcome to Club Polk Amherst!

danz1906 · January 2010

Welcome to the Club!

McLoki · January 2010

Welcome to Club Polk.

NJPOLKER · January 2010

Oh God another Jersey guy!!!!!!!!!!

We hate Jersey guys here, well I know I do. One in particular that lives down your way.

Welcome to the forum. Get ready for an interesting adventure and a costly one too.

Advice, use the search function and read/study a lot for starters. The guys as you can already see are extremely helpful. They do a real nice job spending money and do even better at spending yours.

Good luck and again welcome.

hearingimpared · January 2010

NJPOLKER wrote: »

Oh God another Joysey guy!!!!!!!!!!

Fixed it for ya!:p

Pycroft · January 2010

I think he was tryign to reflect the Jersey accent

... And Amherst...I did receive your response PM. We are close!

wutadumsn23 · January 2010

hearingimpared wrote: »

Fixed it for ya!:p

LOL, and I agree with the LSiC. Give your center a shot, but as stated above the center is the "centerpiece" of any HT. IMHO, a mismatch is a no no. Welcome to the club form another right coaster (originally from CT.)

-Jeff

Kex · January 2010

NJPOLKER wrote: »

Oh God another Jersey guy!!!!!!!!!! ...

Amherst, there's something you should know about NJP: He's pretty much a decent guy, as just about everybody will agree, but ...

...he likes to drink Budweiser ... by choice ... and I'm not just kidding about this! So I'd stay just a little bit closer to your own keg, with that knowledge in hand, if I were you.

Amherst · January 2010

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome!

Note on beer here in this section of South Joysey:
Haven't had any headaches since the last time we had.....

Hello to all Polk Members

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