Lsi15 Receiver and Amp Help!

RUSigX

Ok, I have a couple of questions for all the vets out there. First off let me explain my setup. I have two Lsi15, the Lsi center channel, and the two Lsi FX rear surround speakers and a subwoofer. I'm actually not currently using the rear Lsi FX speakers but instead using two in wall speakers that were already in my house.

I am using a Sony DA3000ES amp. The amp doesnt sound bad but I think its definitley underpowered for the 4Ohm Lsi speakers. I use this setup to listen to a lot of music and I usually like my music pretty loud and I also use it as my home theater. I was thinking about upgrading amps due to the fact that this Sony is probably not the best choice for these speakers. I looked at some of the new Denon AVRs in the range of $850-$2000, I always liked the sound of Denon. The one for $2k shows 130 watts per channel which doesnt seem all that great.

It looks like everyone on here uses an external amp with a receiver. I think I would like to have a 5 channel amp and a new receiver. I know nothing about external amps and receivers. I need some ideas on what to buy or what to look for used. I really dont want to break the bank on this but I want something that will sound good and have plenty of power for all (5) of my 4 Ohm speakers.

Thanks for your help and suggestions. As I said I open to used suggestions as well. Let me know if you need any further information.

rcrook317

first need a reciever w/ pre-outs so u can add an external amp....Most important thing.
Second id look for multi-channel amp w/ at least 200watts per channel

up to you to research what brand to go w/

Sherardp

Check out Adcom, Sunfire, Rotel, Parasound to name a few. If you want decent performance and want to try new then look at Emotiva. Also check out Outlaw Audio, I started out with them and they perform very well.

I would recommend used so you save a few bucks www.audiogon.com

zeppage2

The Outlaw 7500/990 and an LSi HT setup works well for me:)

cfrizz

Welcome to Club Polk. You are on the right track for having a terrific system.

Pick the receiver that has all the bells & whistles that you want it to have & make sure it has preouts for a separate amp.

Once you have picked that out start researching amplifiers. Outlaw Audio & Emotiva have good bang for the buck amps that won't break the bank.

If you don't have a problem with buying used, look on www.audiogon.com for a used amp. Besides the 2 I mentioned check out Parasound, B & K, Sunfire, Rotel, Adcom, Nad.

You want to get one that has at least 200wpc @ 8ohms, the more power you have & 8ohms is the more power you will have at 4ohms. Get a 5-7 channel amp & be done with that upgrade.

If you really want to go for broke, get all separates; meaning a preprocessor and an amplifier.

Keep us posted as to what you decide to get!

jimmydep

Good advice from cfrizz...........Welcome to the CLub.

RUSigX

Thanks for the warm welcome!

I saw a used Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature for $1,600 and I have seen severalused/refurb NAD amplifiers as well. I also saw a couple of used Parasound amps but they were very $$$. There is so much to choose from that brain is killing me right now . I'm definitely trying to watch the cost but not knowing anything about any of the amps or preamps its very hard to choose. I will probablyl buy used.

It looks like I can get a good used amp thats a few years old and it will be just about as good as getting a new one. Whereas the newer preamps are definitely updated with HDMI etc which I really need with all of my other components (DirecTV, 60" Plasma, Denon DVD, Roku SoundBridge).

jimmydep

RUS, I'm running both a Sunfire Cinema Grand and an Emotiva XPA-5 with my Lsi-15's, I like the sound of the Emotiva slightly better than the Sunfire. The Lsi's are a very mellow speaker, if you like a very dynamic, in your face type pf sound, the Emo is a good choice. If you prefer a more laid back, warm and detailed sound then the Sunfire is a better choice.

Jimmy

Cassidy

I push my LSi15's and LSiC with an Emotiva xpa-3 and let my Onkyo 805 power the surrounds with very good results. I recently upgraded to 12guage speaker wire which resulted in a slightly richer sound, at least to my ears - which is what counts.

Hope this helps.

apphd

RUSigX wrote: »

Thanks for the warm welcome!

I saw a used Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature for $1,600 and I have seen severalused/refurb NAD amplifiers as well. I also saw a couple of used Parasound amps but they were very $$$. There is so much to choose from that brain is killing me right now . I'm definitely trying to watch the cost but not knowing anything about any of the amps or preamps its very hard to choose. I will probablyl buy used.

It looks like I can get a good used amp thats a few years old and it will be just about as good as getting a new one. Whereas the newer preamps are definitely updated with HDMI etc which I really need with all of my other components (DirecTV, 60" Plasma, Denon DVD, Roku SoundBridge).

You catch on quick. A quality amp can stay with you for a long time, as technology in amp advances moves at a snails pace. Processors and AVRs are a different story. Hence cfrizz's suggestions. There are lots of good used amps out there, just like any thing used, go slow and use your head.

A good entry level AVR should give adequate results for HT, 2 ch. may meet your needs, or not and not break the bank. So if in 6 months some new tech comes along you must have you replace the AVR and keep your amp. So don't spend lots on an AVR with loads of power you will not need, just the features you want and the big thing is a full compliment of pre outs.

You could also consider one of the few AVRs out there that are truly 4 ohm stable (which also usually have very good SQ) which will probably run you a little more than a used amp and entry level AVR, or find one used, which will probably be outdated as far as the latest feature sets.

Good Luck and welcome to CP

Bernal

Hi,
I prefer Sunfire and Denon .... with the series "LSI PolkAudio"

---

01) DENON AVR-4308CI: Advanced 7.1 CH/5.1+2 CH/ 3.1+2+2 CH A/V Home Theater /MultiMedia Multi-Source/Zone Receiver with Networking and WiFi/170 watts x 7 channels
02) SUNFIRE Grand Signature - Bob Carver's
03) OPPO DV-980H 1080p Up-Converting Universal DVD Player with HDMI and 7.1CH Audio
04) OPPO BDP-83 Blu-ray Disc Player w/SACD & DVD-Audio / DENON DVD-2500BTCI: Blu-ray Disc™ DVD/CD Digital Player/Transport
05) HITACHI P55T501. 55" HD1080 Plasma HDTV
06) POLKAUDIO LSiC (Center speaker)
07) POLKAUDIO LSi15 LEFT (Front speaker)
08) POLKAUDIO LSi15 RIGHT (Front speaker)
09) POLKAUDIO LSif/x LEFT (Surround speaker)
10) POLKAUDIO LSif/x RIGHT (Surround speaker)
11) VELODYNE OPTIMUN 12" (High Output Digital EQ SubWoofer 2400W/1200WRMS)

TG Meat

Don't forget B&K, they are a nice sounding amps.

RUSigX

I just found a Rotel RMB-1075 for $600 and I think I could probably get it a little cheaper than that. Actually I think the retail on it was $999 or so at one time so $600 is probably pretty high for it. I think its 120 watts per channel at 8ohm and maybe 200 watts at 4ohm? Do you think this would be sufficient to power my lsi15s etc or should I just hold out for a more powerful Sunfire? Definitely think I'm going used on the amp.

Jetmaker737

RUSigX wrote: »

I just found a Rotel RMB-1075... Do you think this would be sufficient to power my lsi15s...

That's not enough amp.

cfrizz

Jetmaker737 wrote: »

That's not enough amp.

What Jet said.

Again, you should be looking at 200wpc @ 8ohms amps. The more power you give the LSI's the better they will sound.

Be patient, and hold out for a Sunfire. I love mine!:D

RUSigX

Hey guys, it looks like I can get a Sunfire Cinema Grand 5 used for a little under a $1,000. These are 200wpc @ 8ohms. I know you all said this would be the least amount of power I would need for the Lsi15 that I have. What are your thoughts on this amp, seems a lot of people like them and they are pretty reasonable used? Also, what would be a good used pre amp with HDMI to pair?

RUSigX

Also, I have seen several Sunfire Gran Signature amps 400wpx @ 8phms for sale. Polk only recommends 250wpc max for the Lsi15. Whats the chance of harming the speakers with these more powerful amps (200 and 400wpc versions)?

dorokusai

No harm, just use common sense and listen at reasonable levels. My amp is 450wpc@4ohms and I've had tiny bookshelf loudspeakers connected at various times....for example.

holt

RUSigX wrote: »

Hey guys, it looks like I can get a Sunfire Cinema Grand 5 used for a little under a $1,000. These are 200wpc @ 8ohms. I know you all said this would be the least amount of power I would need for the Lsi15 that I have. What are your thoughts on this amp, seems a lot of people like them and they are pretty reasonable used? Also, what would be a good used pre amp with HDMI to pair?

Don't get too hung up on the magical 200wpc @ 8ohms.... It has a lot also to do with the quality of amp, listening preferences, and room size. I ran my LSi15's and center off a Newcastle A-965with 100wpc @8ohms and 165wpc at 4 ohms and didn't feel I was lacking that much on power. I now use a Proceed Amp 3 with 150wpc in 8 ohms and 250wpc in 4 ohms and it couldn't be sweeter - at least to my ears. Of course, I don't crank my music up to the pain threshold, I have relatively good acoustics, and I'm not sitting in a concert hall, so all that makes a difference too. That being said, the Sunfire Cinema Grand was going to be my other choice in an amp before I ran into the Proceed locally. I never heard one, but I like what I read about them.

acmf74

I have the same set-up with you except for the LSIFXs (sell them to me ) I have a Adcom AVR and the lsi series speakers sound really nice and can play them very loud.

HTH

dorokusai

Holt - Do you have a pic of that Proceed amplifier?

holt

dorokusai wrote: »

Holt - Do you have a pic of that Proceed amplifier?

I'll be happy to post some later when I get home.

holt

dorokusai wrote: »

Holt - Do you have a pic of that Proceed amplifier?

dorokusai - Front, back, and with the rest of my setup (for now) - including the Newcastle which is assigned surround duties these days.

dorokusai

I'd love some pic of that Newcastle **** end if you get time. Great setup. I have very little experience with Proceed but have ran across a couple pieces in my travels. What's your history with it and what else have you used in house? Just out of curiosity.

Demiurge

holt wrote: »

dorokusai - Front, back, and with the rest of my setup (for now) - including the Newcastle which is assigned surround duties these days.

What racks are you using?

Sherardp

Damn those LSi's look good. Got me to thinking about going LSi in my HT and moving everything else out. Wonder how much that would set me back? Oh and nice rig Holt.

holt

dorokusai wrote: »

I'd love some pic of that Newcastle **** end if you get time. Great setup. I have very little experience with Proceed but have ran across a couple pieces in my travels. What's your history with it and what else have you used in house? Just out of curiosity.

I'm off to a movie right now, but I will snap some pics of the Newcastle ****:o when I get back. I bought the amp locally about 2 weeks ago from the same person that I bought the Newcastle from 2 months before. He bought it, I think, off of Audiogon to pair up with his Innersound amp for 2 channel listening. He liked the sound, which he thought was close to comparison to his Innersound, but decided to sell it because the 12v trigger has an issue with working with more contemporary components - it will switch on from standby, but won't switch off. It doesn't bother me as I can switch it off by a wall switch that controls the outlet its on. I auditioned his Innersound setup when I went over to look at the Proceed because he thought both amps were very close sounding... I had to kind of agree when I got it home, but of course we had different speakers, sources, and rooms (I prefer the LSi's to his sound, but that is personal preference).
I am new to this, so the Proceed is my second amp. It is better than the Newcastle (should be) but, I think the Newcastle is a great sounding amp in itself.

cfrizz

RUSigX wrote: »

Hey guys, it looks like I can get a Sunfire Cinema Grand 5 used for a little under a $1,000. These are 200wpc @ 8ohms. I know you all said this would be the least amount of power I would need for the Lsi15 that I have. What are your thoughts on this amp, seems a lot of people like them and they are pretty reasonable used? Also, what would be a good used pre amp with HDMI to pair?

That's a great price for a Sunfire, grab it.

Also, you won't damage your speakers with a more powerful amp unless you turn up the volume too high. But then you will blow your ears before you do the speakers & won't have to worry about how loud it can go!:eek::D

My system is being run by a Sunfire 405wpc amp & it sounds great.

RUSigX

I have been looking at some of the Sunfire amps (5 channel 200 and 400wpc models) and some look older than others. How long did they make the Sunfire Cinema Grand (Signature) models? I think I saw a review on one all the way back to 1996 or something. Not sure I would feel comfortable buying an amp that old!

dorokusai

holt wrote: »

I'm off to a movie right now, but I will snap some pics of the Newcastle ****:o when I get back. I bought the amp locally about 2 weeks ago from the same person that I bought the Newcastle from 2 months before. He bought it, I think, off of Audiogon to pair up with his Innersound amp for 2 channel listening. He liked the sound, which he thought was close to comparison to his Innersound, but decided to sell it because the 12v trigger has an issue with working with more contemporary components - it will switch on from standby, but won't switch off. It doesn't bother me as I can switch it off by a wall switch that controls the outlet its on. I auditioned his Innersound setup when I went over to look at the Proceed because he thought both amps were very close sounding... I had to kind of agree when I got it home, but of course we had different speakers, sources, and rooms (I prefer the LSi's to his sound, but that is personal preference).
I am new to this, so the Proceed is my second amp. It is better than the Newcastle (should be) but, I think the Newcastle is a great sounding amp in itself.

Thanks Holt. I appreciate the background. Was the Innersound a stand alone or speaker/amp combination?

Carl....you here?

holt

dorokusai wrote: »

Thanks Holt. I appreciate the background. Was the Innersound a stand alone or speaker/amp combination?

Carl....you here?

dorokusai-

The person I bought the amp from was using an Innersound ESL with a Citation 7.0 pre/pro and Digital Phase AP2 speakers. Here is a few back end shots of the Newcastle - sorry if they're not as clear as they could be but I didn't want to wrestle the amp out too far.

Demiurge- My rack is a Target accent table I bought a year ago that the Proceed and Pioneer vsx-9120txh-k are sitting in. When I needed more rack space, I went to World Trader and found the table with the drawer that was close to the color and design of the Target, and more importantly, the same height. I like the way the dark wood goes with the LSI's.

RUSigX - I would also recommend going for the Sunfire. Maybe one day I will try one on my LSi's, good luck!