Newbie with set of lsi 7 speakers need help with amp.

Art F.

Sorry folks I'm new to high fidelity. I have a new set of polk lsi 7 speakers. I have a sherwood receiver ( 105 watts per channel) I never had seperate amps or a pre amp. People tell me to get the best sound from these speakers, I should be using a seperate amp. I really do not know anything about these. I would appreciate any help or suggestions from all you who understand. THANK YOU...Art

leroyjr1

Do you have a budget in mind?

Erik Tracy

Never mind....

McLoki

Does your reciever have pre-outs to hook an amp to?

There are a lot of things you can do to make your speakers potentially sound better including using external amplifiers. That does not automatically make adding an amp the best upgrade for your $$ spent though. What are you listening to, what other gear do you have and what about the sound are you trying to improve?

Michael

BTW - Welcome to Club Polk.

Art F.

Appreciate any help. Sony cd player, tv is hooked up for sound also (did not hook up suround sound although it is capable) Classic panasonic professional turntable form 1968 PLD-41, still use it heavily. Old Teac Reel to reel. Hope to spend $500 or less to get my self some good sound. Llisiten to classic rock, all jazz from the 30's to present ans even a little classical. Thanks to all who help.......Art

McLoki

Classic rock may be a bit of a streach for the 7's without a sub (and they may be a little laid back for that type of sound), but jazz should sound really good. (classical should also sound good - but a sub will help with much of it)

based on what you are saying and what you have - this is what I would look at....

1. Placement (no cost) - where are the speakers sitting and what is around them? toe them in slightly and sit no more than 50% further from them than they are from each other. (ideally you will sit about the same distance from them as they are from each other.) Tweeters should be about ear level.

2. Room Treatments - You will have to evaluate if your room could use this or not. I know my room is terrible for bass and reflections so room treatments are really something that would help my system a ton. I have not heard of anyone that has put room treatments in a room and had the sound not change for the better. They do not need to be very expensive (easily in your budget) but could yeild very good improvements.

3. Cables - you do not mention what cables you are hooking your system together with, but it may be worth while to purchase a single pair of used signal cables next time a pair comes available and give them a shot. If you notice a good improvement - get more, if not - sell them for about what you paid.

4. Subwoofer - For your uses, you do not need a huge sub and something musical is much more important than something that will output super loud deep bass. The Polk micropro series comes to mind as a good choice. For subs - there are lots of excellet choices, but keep in mind that most reviews will be from a home theater rather than a musical standpoint. once again - purchasing used may be a good choice and save you some decent coin. (and let you stay within your budget)

Those would be my choices before thinking of an amplifier in your situation. Of course - it is your money and your system, so the decision is yours.

Michael

Art F.

Thanks for the help. Very informtive. I will look into your suggestions and let you know what I come up with. I really appreciate the honest outlook for a newbie like me.\

Art