A9 and subs versus LSI 25

daveark
daveark Posts: 12
edited January 2010 in Speakers
I have already made the purchases, so this is not a request for pre-buy advice but I was interested in whether more seasoned Polk-folk would dismiss my logic for the following:

I decided that I wanted to spend around three grand (pre shipping and tax) to improve the set up in the family room. This will be 65% music and 35% movie/sports since the HT is upstairs.

I started with a Yamaha RX-v1800 I already had (has pre-outs)

I plan on $400-$500 for a center.

I could have purchased LSi25s for about $2,500 a pair (about $300 off list).

Instead I decided to go the Polk Audio's ebay store and buy a pair of RTI A9s for $900 and two DSW Micropro 3000s for about $1,000. I added a Carver AV-705X 125 wpc amp off of ebay for $300. A bit of luck here since it is in great cosmetic shape and everything works perfectly. So I am a little less $$ than the LSIs, but that is not terribly important.

So the question, deal or dud?
Post edited by daveark on
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Comments

  • TouchOfEvil
    TouchOfEvil Posts: 967
    edited January 2010
    Depends on how you like your music to sound. If you like bright and forward then you did good. If you prefer a more laid back then the LSI would have been better.
    Living Room Rig:D
    Rotel RSP-1069/Rotel RMB-1095/Rotel-1072/Polk lsI15's W/modded xoverW/DBsubs/Polk LsiC/lsI7's/Klipsch sub-12"the weak link"/DLP Mitsubishi 65"
    Xbox360/PS3/WII
    M.Br. setup:)
    Emotiva MMC-1/Rotel RMB-1075/Polk BlackStone TL350's/Velodyne SPL1000/Samsung 51" Plasma
    Computer Rig:
    Rotel RB1050/Tannoy DC4's/Klipsch RW-10d/ImodIpod/HK AVR230 for now....
    Headphones-Ultrasone-HFI780's w/LittleDot MK Vamp Portables Panasonic HJE-900's
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,020
    edited January 2010
    I like the A9 plus subs deal, might want to look for a better amp though. It will be better than the receiver, but not by much.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited January 2010
    I also was in your boat a year ago. I bought a pair of a9's and lsi 15's for mostly HT. Listened to both and liked the A9's alot better. The a9's had a wider sound stage and was not as laid back like the LSI 15's. This was right out the box without breaking them in. I returned the 15's and found overtime with breakin the tweeter tamed a little and the woofers wasn't as stiff.

    Don't get me wrong the a9's can be bright at higher volumes for music but excels in home theater. Also found the brightness can be tamed by the components, IC's and speaker cables. The 15's are good for music but just didn't do it for me for HT.

    You made a great choice with the dual 3000's. You'll be very happy with your setup.
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  • megasat16
    megasat16 Posts: 3,521
    edited January 2010
    daveark wrote: »


    I could have purchased LSi25s for about $2,500 a pair (about $300 off list).

    Keep checking on Polk eBay Store for LSi25 if you like the sound of it. I've seem Polk eBay Store list the LSi25 for around $1200 a pair. Polk eBay store sometimes have them so your patience will pays off in spades (or $$$$)!
    Trying out Different Audio Cables is a Religious Affair. You don't discuss it with anyone. :redface::biggrin:
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited January 2010
    I'm with Leroy...for that price the Rti-A9s were the way to go and they are actually the least bright of that series..a good thing...with proper cables and the right pre/amps you can make them sound pretty musical, in fact....and they're spectacular for HT...

    With the addition of a sub and a lot of POWER they will over power the LSis output in HT.

    I'd say you did good..for HT and also for music.

    As said above the LSis are really a wonderfully 'musical' speaker...that does not mean they're bad in HT but that they are more temperamental there...needing a lot more attention and searching for the right synergy.

    Whereas for music...throw enough clean power at them and sit back and enjoy!

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
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  • daveark
    daveark Posts: 12
    edited January 2010
    Thanks for the feedback. Since I didn't get a string of "what flavor of idiot are you anyway?", I will claim victory for now. I loved the comment that I needed a better amp to let the A9s sing. Gives me a chance to read more passionate amp threads before making a purchased and I should be able to do okay selling the carver.
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited January 2010
    Welcome to the Club!

    The A9 with the sub is the way to go.
    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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  • curved
    curved Posts: 664
    edited January 2010
    I think you'll be very happy with this setup. IMO, the A9 setup (with the subs) will blow the LSi setup out of the water in HT.
    Living Room:....................[HTML] [/HTML] Zone 2 (Workout Room):
    AVR - Yamaha RX-V757......JBL 4312 Pro Monitors
    Pre - Nak CA-5
    AMP - Adcom 555 (Main)
    Main - Polk RTI8**/RTiA5
    AMP - Adcom 545II (Center)
    Center - Polk CSiA4**
    Sub - Snell Basis 300:p......Zone 3 (Outside)
    CD - Yamaha CDC-555.......Def Tech AW5500
    TV - Pani TH-42PZ80U
    BR - LG BD390
    Monster HTS1600 Power Center
    Dedicated Circuit - (2) 20amp, (1) 15amp
    Ben's IC, Canare 4S11
    **Dayton and Sonicap Caps with Mills Resistors**
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  • Ern Dog
    Ern Dog Posts: 2,237
    edited January 2010
    I'd be interested to hear your impressions when you got it all fired up. Great idea getting dual subs, I'm jealous!
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  • megasat16
    megasat16 Posts: 3,521
    edited January 2010
    curved wrote: »
    I think you'll be very happy with this setup. IMO, the A9 setup (with the subs) will blow the LSi setup out of the water in HT.

    So is LSi setup plus subs will blew the A9 out of the air! :D
    Trying out Different Audio Cables is a Religious Affair. You don't discuss it with anyone. :redface::biggrin:
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited January 2010
    I like the A9/Sub setup as well.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited January 2010
    megasat16 wrote: »
    So is LSi setup plus subs will blew the A9 out of the air! :D

    Or run both like you....:p
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  • madnod
    madnod Posts: 79
    edited January 2010
    the LSI 25 and the RTI A9 -3db lower corner is 30 HZ , while the A9 has 200 more Watts rating, why anybody will say that the RTI A9+ sub = LSI 25 or vice versa?

    they both need a sub for 30 HZ and lower sound extension, having said that these speakers sound very different and built in a very different way/aproach as well, and thus they shouldn't be compared like this, it's better to audion them and hear which sound reproduction is best matching to your taste.

    i have an RTIA 7.1 HT setup (A9s, CSi A6, FXI A4s, A1s) DSW PRO 600 (1 at the moment) and they sound phenominal, and this is without amps at the moment (can't wait to have amps).

    the RTIA9 are better HT speakers IMHO, but still some people have the LSI for HT.
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