New Lsi7's!!

nguyendot

Thats what I need lol.

DeusExa

Zitro wrote: »

3rd year, Iv'e got 2 semesters left after this one. Yeah, I am actually looking into UCLA for grad school, but the area is not cheap to live in, so we'll see. I've never been to Cali, but everyone I know who has been there likes it.

Definitely not cheap to live...in fact probably one of the most expensive (especially around UCLA's Westwood area i.e. Bel Air, Beverly Hills, etc) =0...I actually live in the San Gabriel Valley (near Pasadena), ~30min drive from UCLA.

You use AIM?

Zitro

DeusExa wrote: »

Definitely not cheap to live...in fact probably one of the most expensive (especially around UCLA's Westwood area i.e. Bel Air, Beverly Hills, etc) =0...I actually live in the San Gabriel Valley (near Pasadena), ~30min drive from UCLA.

You use AIM?

Rarely, but my AIM is Packerfan561 (very outdated ha).

Two points that I'm confused on and don't feel are worth a completely new thread: first is, these LSi7's are a 4 ohm speaker with 88 db sensitivity....my Other speakers have all been 8 ohms, with at least 90db sensitivity...but somehow, I need to have the volume dial the lowest with the LSi7's to get the same volume as the other 8 ohm speakers...I'm just curious as to why that is. Maybe I'm misunderstanding something about 4 vs 8 ohms?

Also, I'm a bit concerned about something. Recently, my NAD C320BEE has been making some very audible scratching sounds through the speakers when I adjust the volume sometimes. It is only present when adjusting the volume. Someone told me it may be corrosion on the potentiometer, which seems unlikely as this unit has only been in use for less than a year (I got it new in the box). Someone else told me a transistor might be going bad- and that's what I'm afraid of. How can I tell what my issue is? I really don't want anything to be going bad already; I love the sound of this amp.

DeusExa

Zitro wrote: »

Rarely, but my AIM is Packerfan561 (very outdated ha).

Two points that I'm confused on and don't feel are worth a completely new thread: first is, these LSi7's are a 4 ohm speaker with 88 db sensitivity....my Other speakers have all been 8 ohms, with at least 90db sensitivity...but somehow, I need to have the volume dial the lowest with the LSi7's to get the same volume as the other 8 ohm speakers...I'm just curious as to why that is. Maybe I'm misunderstanding something about 4 vs 8 ohms?

Ohm rating measures impedance, or "resistance", its opposition to the current flow. So the impedance basically tells how much current will flow through a speaker at a certain voltage. A lower impedance speaker will accept more power, i.e. a 4-ohm speaker draws more electric current than a 8-ohm speaker through your NAD's output transistors, and therefore can sound louder/more dynamic. FYi if an amp can't handle lower impedances, than too much current will run through the amp's output transistors, causing the amp to overheat and possibly be damaged in the long run..

madmax

Your speaker will be louder at the same volume level because it is 4 ohms and will draw twice the current out of your amp at the same setting compared to an 8 ohm speaker, even though the sensitivity number is lower.

I've found that scratchy volume knobs often get worse when the air is dry and better with more moisture.

Conradicles

Could some Deoxit sprayed into his volume knob help possibly?

Face

Deoxit Fader Lube would be best.

hearingimpared

madmax wrote: »

Its not luck, there are a lot of good people at club polk.

So, what else do you need? A new rack, a power conditioner, a new house with dedicated listening room and isolated power circuits...

:eek: LOL!!!

Zitro

Ok, thanks for the answers, I understand now why the LSi's sound as loud as they do. For the scratching problem, if I wanted to fix this, do I just need to buy this Deoxit stuff, take off the cover and spray a bit on the potentiometer? Is there anything I need to know while doing this? Is this in any way potentially harmful?

Face

Don't go overboard and you'll be fine.

Zitro

OK, I have a new question. I like the detail and clarity of the LSi7's, much better than my other Polks (Monitor 5jrs), but based on all the praise people gave them I was expecting a huge overall improvement. I think my issue is I was expecting more "openness" from them. Is this because of my amp? It is a NAD C320BEE with 50 wpc RMS into 4/8 ohms, dynamic power up to 160wpc into 4 ohms. Do the LSi's require more power to open up? Or is it just that maybe I got used to the openness of the classic Monitors?

concealer404

Probably a combination of both, to be honest...

Got any budget for a beefier amp?

Zitro

concealer404 wrote: »

Probably a combination of both, to be honest...

Got any budget for a beefier amp?

Not really lol. Been looking for a good, cheap vintage integrated on ebay and thrift stores, but no luck yet. I really like my Dad's Sansui G-9700 and it makes me want to try out a vintage amp of my own.

Don't get me wrong, these are great speakers; I'm especially fond of the tweeters. Never heard anything close to so much detail and coherency in the higher end on any of my previous speakers. I think my old monitors just sounded more open, as odd as that sounds. I also changed the cables when I put in the LSi7's, so maybe that's the problem, but I doubt it since my previous cable was crappy 12 gauge monster cable and the new one is a good solid core copper cable (cant remember the brand, but it wasn't cheap. I got it second hand). So, either I'm crazy or its just this is the first 4 ohm speaker I've tried running on a modestly powered amp.

concealer404

I'm going to guess it's the second option. Have you tried the LSis on the Sansui? Try it and see if you like it before you start looking for vintage stuff like that.

I think now is a good time for you to start saving to get into separates.

Zitro

No, my Dad lives 2 hours south of me (he's home, I'm up in college) so can't until I visit him again. Would it be safe to do so? The Sansui is doesn't say it's stable at 4 ohm, but at 200 wpc, I think it can handle it. Would that potentially damage the 7's if I tried it, just for kicks? Heres the specs:

http://www.sansui.us/SM-G9700.htm

I have a feeling the money for good separates will not exist any time soon lol.

Zitro

Also, what are you guys running your LSi7's with? Anyone using a low-powered amplifier?

concealer404

Zitro wrote: »

No, my Dad lives 2 hours south of me (he's home, I'm up in college) so can't until I visit him again. Would it be safe to do so? The Sansui is doesn't say it's stable at 4 ohm, but at 200 wpc, I think it can handle it. Would that potentially damage the 7's if I tried it, just for kicks? Heres the specs:

http://www.sansui.us/SM-G9700.htm

I have a feeling the money for good separates will not exist any time soon lol.

It'll be fine as long as you don't crank the hell out of the setup.

8ohm nominal speakers will dip below 8ohms anyways. I mean, TECHNICALLY, my amp doesn't say it's 4ohm stable, either. But i know for a fact it'll beat the hell out of some 4ohm speakers without breaking a sweat.

Separates don't have to cost a lot... i paid somewhat under $200 for my first separate amp and preamp.

Zitro

concealer404 wrote: »

It'll be fine as long as you don't crank the hell out of the setup.

8ohm nominal speakers will dip below 8ohms anyways. I mean, TECHNICALLY, my amp doesn't say it's 4ohm stable, either. But i know for a fact it'll beat the hell out of some 4ohm speakers without breaking a sweat.

Separates don't have to cost a lot... i paid somewhat under $200 for my first separate amp and preamp.

Hey, not bad! Audiogon, from a friend, how?

concealer404

Zitro wrote: »

Hey, not bad! Audiogon, from a friend, how?

Craigslist score.

It wasn't anything special, mind you. Adcom GTP-400 and Adcom GFA-5200, but it was a start. The preamp stuck around for a long time, it was a great entry level pre that performed far beyond it's price. The amp didn't stick around long. That thing kindof sucked.

GTP-400s go for about $75-$100, and they're a steal at that price. You can get a decently powerful Onkyo M-series amp for around $100. Just an example. There's all kinds of options that you could piece together for about $200 if you're patient.

madmax

Zitro wrote: »

Also, what are you guys running your LSi7's with? Anyone using a low-powered amplifier?

I was using mine with a 375wpc soundcraftsmen amp. They love high power and get more open and larger sounding with high powered amplifiers. Do you have them on stands at ear height? That can make all the difference.

Zitro

concealer404 wrote: »

Craigslist score.

It wasn't anything special, mind you. Adcom GTP-400 and Adcom GFA-5200, but it was a start. The preamp stuck around for a long time, it was a great entry level pre that performed far beyond it's price. The amp didn't stick around long. That thing kindof sucked.

GTP-400s go for about $75-$100, and they're a steal at that price. You can get a decently powerful Onkyo M-series amp for around $100. Just an example. There's all kinds of options that you could piece together for about $200 if you're patient.

And patient I will be. I would like to experiment with separates as well as tubes in the future, but for now I think I'll hold on to my NAD as my primary amp, at least until I graduate college.

madmax wrote: »

I was using mine with a 375wpc soundcraftsmen amp. They love high power and get more open and larger sounding with high powered amplifiers. Do you have them on stands at ear height? That can make all the difference.

They are on Sanus 31" stands, which puts the speaks at ear level when I'm sitting. I would love an amp with more juice and I'm sure I would like the 7's even more with some more kick behind them, but I don't see that happening anytime soon unless I get really lucky with the used market. We'll see.

Zitro

Well, I did the Deoxit treatment like you guys suggested and the scratchiness is totally gone. Thanks for the help guys!

Ricardo

Damn Jon. That was very generous.

Zitro, lucky you.

Zitro

concealer404 wrote: »

Craigslist score.

It wasn't anything special, mind you. Adcom GTP-400 and Adcom GFA-5200, but it was a start. The preamp stuck around for a long time, it was a great entry level pre that performed far beyond it's price. The amp didn't stick around long. That thing kindof sucked.

GTP-400s go for about $75-$100, and they're a steal at that price. You can get a decently powerful Onkyo M-series amp for around $100. Just an example. There's all kinds of options that you could piece together for about $200 if you're patient.

Wait..couldn't I use my current NAD as a preamp and only buy a power amp and have separates? I swear I remember people doing this with good results; they say this unit actually serves as a great pre. It has pre-outs on the back.

concealer404

Zitro wrote: »

Wait..couldn't I use my current NAD as a preamp and only buy a power amp and have separates? I swear I remember people doing this with good results; they say this unit actually serves as a great pre. It has pre-outs on the back.

Yep, sure can.

hearingimpared

Zitro wrote: »

Wait..couldn't I use my current NAD as a preamp and only buy a power amp and have separates? I swear I remember people doing this with good results; they say this unit actually serves as a great pre. It has pre-outs on the back.

Yep and from my experience with NAD they do a bang up job with their preamp stages.

Zitro

concealer404 wrote: »

Yep, sure can.

hearingimpared wrote: »

Yep and from my experience with NAD they do a bang up job with their preamp stages.

Hmm...cool, I'll definitely look into this if I spot a good deal on a nice power amp. It's really great how many different things you can do with audio; I'll never get bored with this hobby. I imagine I'd go broke first lol.

madmax

When you know your buget for an amp let us know what it is and hopefully someone will find a deal on something.
madmax

Zitro

OK, I figured I'd state it since we had been going back and forth about this in another thread I was in recently. You guys have convinced me; I suppose this ex-skeptic is now a believer. I hadn't really heard a difference between cables, until I experimented with the LSi7's. I had been using some cheapo 12 gauge monster cable on my Monitor 5jrs. When I got the LSi7's, I put on a pair of older "audiophile" solid core cables ( I think they are Anticables, not sure though) I had gotten 2nd hand. I wasn't quite satisfied with the sound; it sounded less "open" then I expected. Conradicles was kind enough to send me his old pair of Acoustic Research Master Series 10 gauge cable, which just got here yesterday. I put them on and have been listening to them almost all day today, and there is definitely a difference. That openness I expected was present and everything sounds more focused. I even swapped back and forth between the Monster, Anticables and AR, and they all sounded a bit different, with the AR besting the others. So, I am now a believer lol. Thanks again Conradicles for showing me the light (and the cables lol).

madmax

What brands of interconnects are you using on your system?


Edit: Oops, sorry, I see you listed the AQ interconnects.