making myself sick here....

holt

I have been wrestling with this impulse to upgrade to more musical speakers for the last 3 days to the point of making myself sick. I had nearly pulled the trigger on a pair of lsi-15s and lsic center at least 3 times, but I have backed off out of fear. Fear of not being able to do these speakers right enough so that I would hear out of them enough justification for spending the money without finding out first that I need to drop another grand or two on another used amp with a power draw that would mean spending even more money on hiring an electrician to come in and run a dedicated 20 amp line. I just don't want to do it. But all I seem to hear about my 80 lb. monster of an amp I have now that has made my Monitor 70s pretty much sing is comments like, "look into a better power source". I know this amp will push the lsi-15s and the center, but now, if I got them, I would always have a deep nagging feeling that they would sound so much better if I would had only spent another grand or two on a "better power source". If thats the reality I'm dealing with, then I need to keep looking for less demanding speaker options, I guess....

I called Polk tech support to get their opinion on my current power source and my choices between the rti-A9 and the lsi-15. The guy I talked to told me that I would be able to do the lsi-15 better with my amp than the rti-A9. He said the rti-A9 sucks up a lot of power and he thought that I would be all right with the lsi-15s, especially if I bi-amped from the Newcastle. Hearing that made me feel brave and I started to spend my tax return... But then I start pouring over threads here about the lsi's and power and I get a sick feeling in my stomach.

I guess there is a point to this hobby where you have to decide where "good enough" is going to be based on what you're willing to do. If my Sherwood Newcastle isn't going to be good enough for the lsi-15 for music to hear a substantial difference over the Monitor 70s (yes, I can upgrade power sources down the road), then maybe I need to focus on a speaker that will run fine off of it that does music well.... Problem is, it seems my options have hit the wall with Polk as any upgrade from my Monitor 70's will require a "better power source". Believe me, I don't want to ask for amp recommendations as I got one, so what I do want to ask from you kind people is this: What is a speaker that will work for a HT setup and also give a good musical sound that will be powered nicely by my current amp?

Maybe not a Polk speaker? I need your ears... I can't get in the car and drive off a few hundred miles to audition speakers. I do take your judgment seriously, if I didn't, I would have bought those lsi's by now Here are the brief specs for my amp: http://www.sherwoodusa.com/prod_a965.html
If you got an opinion on a speaker (Polk or not), please let me hear it and thanks!

leroyjr1

I run my A9's off a receiver (Elite SC-07) and it gets the job done. I would say the A9's are easier to push than the LSI 15's are. Both are great with the RTI's being more of a HT speaker and LSI's being a musical speaker.

Ern Dog

Sounds to me like you're way over thinking this. It's not worth making yourself sick about. Buy the Lsi15 and over time you can upgrade your other components- start with your weakest link. There's no rush. Take your time and enjoy yourself. It's a hobby- so have fun.

hearingimpared

SDAs, nuff said!

holt

Ern Dog wrote: »

Sounds to me like you're way over thinking this. It's not worth making yourself sick about. Buy the Lsi15 and over time you can upgrade your other components- start with your weakest link. There's no rush. Take your time and enjoy yourself. It's a hobby- so have fun.

You are absolutely right and thanks for putting it in perspective. Its not like I'm going get it anything in this new hobby 100% correct the first time around........ The point is it's suppose to be fun. Jeeezz, and to think this all started before Thanksgiving with the notion that maybe a new receiver would make my cheap Onkyo HT speakers sound better for music..... Lsi's here I come, and then I'll have the rest of the year to find a good electrician

tonyb

Your looking at a big jump from m70's to the lsi 15's. Your power source isn't exactly a powerhouse either. If you want to keep that amp,the A7's would work well and be a pretty good jump up the ladder in SQ. You can also pick up a used amp like an adcom pretty cheap with the money you save from the a7's vs. the lsi's. Or the lsi 9's and upgrade the sub would be a good way to go too.

Sherardp

If it's a musical speaker your after then do the LSi's and be done with it. The A9s are power hungry but I think you can get buy with what you have. As said upgrade over time, not just at one time. Add a new piece, audition it, enjoy it. If it sounds good, hold on to it, until the upgrade bug hits again. I personally chose the Rti12s are they are rather huge and for movies and gaming they rock. I don't do allot of music in my HT, but when I do they 12s still sound pretty darn good. Eventually the bug will bite and I will upgrade my speakers. The Sherwood amp you have is good, if you decide you want to try something different go for Outlaw Audio, Rotel, Sunfire, Parasound; all excellent product, minus the 1k price tag used.

domflane

I would definately get the LSI's. You wont believe how good they sound if you've never heard them. A friend picked up a pair and I couldn't believe how much better they sounded than my RTiA5's. That anp you have is no slouch, so I wouldn't worry about that aspect. Buy the LSi15's and everything will fall into place around them, they're awesome speakers.

holt

tonyb wrote: »

Your looking at a big jump from m70's to the lsi 15's. Your power source isn't exactly a powerhouse either. If you want to keep that amp,the A7's would work well and be a pretty good jump up the ladder in SQ. You can also pick up a used amp like an adcom pretty cheap with the money you save from the a7's vs. the lsi's. Or the lsi 9's and upgrade the sub would be a good way to go too.

The lsi 9's are one option I've considered... except after upgrading the sub and adding speaker stands, we're looking pretty much at what I'd spend on the lsi-15s (Amazon has one store that has a discounted price on only the right speaker and Polk direct has an lsic listed right now). I certainly realize I don't have a powerhouse of an amp, but it was local, within my budget, had some really good reviews, and it has made a huge difference in what I've got. Its not that I view it as an end all amp, but if I move up amps now to satisfy a speaker craving, then I'm going to end up with an 80 lb amp that will not sell quickly in the land of Sony HT's and will not be fun in shipping out if I sell it off the Internet. The A7's were my first option, but they get very lukewarm comments here as far as music quality, but I'll look at them again and take your thought that they would be a significant upgrade into consideration. Part of me wants to take some big leaps in areas that are more critical to me and then let the other parts catch up over time, but I just don't want to take too big of a leap and loose my balance.

Sheradp - I have looked at the rti12s and I really like them.

I will make a decision soon as I know if I run on about this others will get irritated and take it that I'm taking no one's advice. I am taking everyone's advice.

NJPOLKER

Join the club. I have been sick since I joined here.

holt

domflane wrote: »

I would definately get the LSI's. You wont believe how good they sound if you've never heard them. A friend picked up a pair and I couldn't believe how much better they sounded than my RTiA5's. That anp you have is no slouch, so I wouldn't worry about that aspect. Buy the LSi15's and everything will fall into place around them, they're awesome speakers.

Thanks domflane, I am leaning in that direction!

holt

The agony is over... For better or worse, I'm now married to the lsi-15s and an lsic center.

tonyb- I took your advice in very careful consideration given your experience in this and I know you are right about the power requirements. The amp will be the next thing to consider - down the road.
Thanks.

Jetmaker737

Congrats! As a fellow LSi-15 owner I can guarantee you won't be disappointed. I loved my LSi's when they were only powered by my AVR. And they've only gotten better with each of the two amp upgrades I've made (in the past year, lol!)

Anyways, as has been said just enjoy them and look forward to even better times ahead!

Jet:cool:

Ern Dog

Holt- I used to have the Monitor 70's and found a SIGNIFICANT improvement as I moved up the Polk line. I'm sure you'll enjoy the Lsi15's. Congrats!

GTB

domflane wrote: »

i would definately get the lsi's. You wont believe how good they sound if you've never heard them. A friend picked up a pair and i couldn't believe how much better they sounded than my rtia5's. That anp you have is no slouch, so i wouldn't worry about that aspect. Buy the lsi15's and everything will fall into place around them, they're awesome speakers.

+1000

holt

All good to hear, and thanks! Now is the period of the waiting anticipation for them to ship and get here. I bounced around so many speakers and I'm sure that any one of them would be a move up, but I'm happy with my decision! Not to take anything away from the Monitor 70's.... they are good speakers and they're the ones that got my music interest piqued again.

lmacmil

holt wrote: »

You are absolutely right and thanks for putting it in perspective. Its not like I'm going get it anything in this new hobby 100% correct the first time around........

There's no such thing as "correct" in home audio. It's all about what sounds good to you and how much you have to spend. Remember every slight incremental "improvement" is going to cost a lot more.

Only you can decide if it's worth it or not. If you spend a lot of money, I guarantee you will hear an improvement, even if none exists.

MANSKITO

How much do you want for your monitor 70s? Don't mean to de-rail the thread but i m sitting on some monitor 60s (could throw those in the back and sell my monitor 40s) and if you don't mind letting them go I would love to buy them.

Great choice on the LSI 15s, I m still young to this hobby but I have heard MANY different speakers now and Polk really knows how to make a good speaker at there respective price points.

That amp will do fine, I've seen the LSI 9s run off of a lesser AMP before.

MANSKITO

xcapri79 wrote: »

Prefering the LSi's does not take anything away for the Polk Monitor 70's, as they are probably the best valued speakers out there. They are at a price point where they are very affordable. I enjoy listening to my Polk Monitors.

The LSi's are special though.

Ya i know m8 i love my monitors too. Thats why I want to buy some bigger ones lol.