LSi15 or LSi9

engage

I plan to update my sound system starting with the mains (I have RT1000i mains now). I am going to listen to LSi15s over the weekend, but since I also plan to get a Rythmik powered sub, some claim that I should go with the LSi9s since the LSi15 woofers would be redundant.

Opinions?

concealer404

I'm probably with "some."

Menasor

Rhythmik sub = go with LSi 9

engage

Thanks for the replies.

The comment that has been made to me is that the LSi9s are the top half of a LSi15. Physically, this makes sense, but the cross-over frequencies are different. On the LSi15s, the woofer takes everything below 150 Hz, whereas, with the LSi9s, I might cross them at 80 Hz. SO technically, the LSi9s would have less head-room.

I'm far from an expert, I just know what I like soundwise. Would driving the LSi9s down farther have negative consequences?

concealer404

Farther down than.... 80hz?

For music i'd probably end up between 60hz and 80hz on those speakers, depending on the sub of course.

Menasor

engage wrote: »

Thanks for the replies.

The comment that has been made to me is that the LSi9s are the top half of a LSi15. Physically, this makes sense, but the cross-over frequencies are different. On the LSi15s, the woofer takes everything below 150 Hz, whereas, with the LSi9s, I might cross them at 80 Hz. SO technically, the LSi9s would have less head-room.

I'm far from an expert, I just know what I like soundwise. Would driving the LSi9s down farther have negative consequences?

The larger speaker will always have more headroom. The LSi15 will probably have more midbass punch than the LSi9's due to that crossover. However, it's up to you to decide whether or not that's worth the additional cost.

PSOVLSK

I own both and didn't notice any advantage of the 15's over the 9's when paired with my SVS sub. I now run my 9's in my HT with the SVS and the 15's in my living room with no sub.

engage

thanks for all the replies.

From the responses it looks like it is more of a price issue, i.e., the LSi9s are nearly half the cost with little compromise when paired with a good sub. Given that the LSi15s I am looking at are 2-years old, in brand-new condition, and less than the cost of a Polk ebay store set of LSi9s with stands, I'll give the LSi15s a shot.

MANSKITO

while I have not heard the LSI speakers for then like 10mins. Consider this.

When I had monitor 40s as my mains I heard a disconnect between them and my sub.

When i changed them out for monitor 60s the disconnect closed considerably.

While my gear is much lower on the food chain then yours the basic idea of that larger woofer surface area with larger cabniet volume improves bass response holds true. If you want the smoothest system the LIS 15s are a better pick IMO then the Lsi 9.

Trying to match ANY book shelf speaker that i have heard with a sub is much MUCH harder then doing it with a tower speaker. (that are in the same price class)

The woofers would be any thing but redundant IMO because they help bridge disconnect between the mains and the sub that you are likely to run into no matter how much your gear coast.

From my limited experience hearing a sub is bad, hearing bass is awesome.

Yes the LSI 9s are cheaper, kick **** and will sound great! But will they sound just as good as Lis15s, no they won't Polk dose not make a Redundant woofer lol.

PSOVLSK

engage wrote: »

Given that the LSi15s I am looking at are 2-years old, in brand-new condition, and less than the cost of a Polk ebay store set of LSi9s with stands, I'll give the LSi15s a shot.

Me thinks this make it a no-brainer:D

engage

Thanks for all the input:)

Last question. I don't want to purchase the LSiC yet (I've spent a lot of money upgrading my HT over the last few months ). I have a CSi40 now and can get a CSi5 with the LSi15s.

Would one be a better match in the mean time? (I'll likely take the CSi5 so that I have a center to sell with my RT1000i's)

Menasor

engage wrote: »

Thanks for all the input:)

Last question. I don't want to purchase the LSiC yet (I've spent a lot of money upgrading my HT over the last few months ). I have a CSi40 now and can get a CSi5 with the LSi15s.

Would one be a better match in the mean time? (I'll likely take the CSi5 so that I have a center to sell with my RT1000i's)

Just run a phantom center until you can afford the LSiC. Sell the CSi40 you have with the RT1000i's.

MANSKITO

PSOVLSK wrote: »

Me thinks this make it a no-brainer:D

wps I tend to not read every single post lawl sorry for the waste of time.

curved

Menasor wrote: »

Just run a phantom center until you can afford the LSiC. Sell the CSi40 you have with the RT1000i's.

I'm not a big fan of the phantom setup, but I agree with this statement. The RTi/CSi setup is a lot different sounding than the LSi setup.

Bean

curved wrote: »

I'm not a big fan of the phantom setup, but I agree with this statement. The RTi/CSi setup is a lot different sounding than the LSi setup.

Seconded.

engage

Picked up the Lsi15s on Saturday and love them. The speaker is very clean thru the entire range, but I'm really surprised at how nice the mid-bass is (especially without an internal amp). In fact, I am not using my old Velodyne VA-1012 because it sounds so bad compared to these speakers. My Rythmik D15SE arrives tomorrow and hopefully will be a better match.

I was able to drive the speaker just fine with my Onkyo TX-NR807, but I was listening to music, so I only was driving the two speakers. I hooked up my Outlaw monoblocks on Sunday for peace of mind.

For those that own the Lsi15s, where have you set your sub woofer crossover?

PSOVLSK

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=89529

You can thank me later:D

Seriously though, when you get an extra $130, this is a nice, easy, inexpensive upgrade. The more it breaks in, the better it sounds.

Can't help with the crossover question, my 15's are in a two-channel set-up.

Enjoy the new speakers!

acmf74

I bought mine (LSi15) about 2 weeks ago. My wife who is not an audio enthusiast even admits they sound awesome....

engage

PSOVLSK wrote: »

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=89529

You can thank me later:D

Seriously though, when you get an extra $130, this is a nice, easy, inexpensive upgrade. The more it breaks in, the better it sounds.

Can't help with the crossover question, my 15's are in a two-channel set-up.

Enjoy the new speakers!

I don't think I'm ready to pull them apart yet, especially after dropping $1100 on the Rythmik sub.

Rythmik's are suppose to be a very "musical" sub, so I'm hoping it will match well with the Lsi15s. Perhaps I'll start by crossing at 60 Hz and go from there.


acmf74 - my LsiC is on the way as well. Gets here on Thursday.

Rythmik tomorrow, LsiC on Thursday, it's like Christmas all over again

PSOVLSK

engage wrote: »

I don't think I'm ready to pull them apart yet, especially after dropping $1100 on the Rythmik sub.

I forgot about the Rythmik sub:o. Don't think upgrading the woofer would provide much benefit for you, would it?:rolleyes:

Cassidy

I have the LSi15's, LSiC, and LSi80's(in-ceiling surrounds) and it sounds pretty nice. Driven by an Onkyo 805 and an Emotiva xpa3.

I'm about to jump into the sub world once my dual Rythmik 12's arrive.

I'm not quite sure how the bass managment, Audessy, and the Rythmik seetings will all play together but I suspect I'll find out soon enough. I 'll report back once they arrive.

engage

Cassidy wrote: »

I have the LSi15's, LSiC, and LSi80's(in-ceiling surrounds) and it sounds pretty nice. Driven by an Onkyo 805 and an Emotiva xpa3.

I'm about to jump into the sub world once my dual Rythmik 12's arrive.

I'm not quite sure how the bass managment, Audessy, and the Rythmik seetings will all play together but I suspect I'll find out soon enough. I 'll report back once they arrive.

I am in the process of integrating my D15SE. It's harder than I thought for a couple of reasons:

1. The Lsi15s do a really nice job in the mid bass and go much lower than I thought.
2. The Lsi15s put out enough bass to interfere with the Rythmik

When I first connected the Rythmik, I thought the sound quality went down. The sub is nice, but something wasn't right. I then downloaded a test sweep 20Hz to 125Hz. I found out I had a significant drop at about 50Hz. When I unplugged the Lsi15s, the drop went away, so either the Lsi15s are interferring with each other and/or the sub. I raised the crossover on the Lsi's to 80Hz and used the PEQ on the Rythmik to boost the 50 Hz region and the sound is really nice. I still have significant peaks at 65-80 Hz where I think the Rythmik and Lsi's are additive.

The point is that the Lsi15's are so nice, it makes integrating a sub that much harder. I continue to be amazed at just how clean the mid-bass on these speakers is. My son listened to them the other night and his jaw dropped.

Also, when comparing the system with and without the Rythmik, I am jumping between stereo and Direct mode, so it is not apples-to-apples.

I had run Audessey first, so I'm not sure why I had such a distinct 50Hz drop - it was a good 10 dB. Perhaps it was beyond where Audessey could compensate.

Anyway, my next step is to run the sweeps with just the Lsi15's and see if the interaction is there. If so, I'll play with their postioning.