LSiM Home Theater Amp Advice
Hey everyone. First time posting. Just picked up a 7 speaker LSiM kit from Adorama (707, 706c, 703, 702F/X) and a Yamaha rx-a2070. From all the research I've done I believe I'll need to get an amp to get the best out of this setup. My question is whether or not I need a 2 channel for the 707's only or a 3 channel and run the 706c off the amp as well. Let me also say that I am 90% movies and tv although that may change after I get this setup. As far as brands I think most of what I have read leads me to Emotiva or Parasound.
Room is 18x15 with a slope vaulted ceiling starting at 12' left and raising to about 15' on the right. Room is also about 60% open on the right side.
I appreciate any and all advice.
Thanks!
Room is 18x15 with a slope vaulted ceiling starting at 12' left and raising to about 15' on the right. Room is also about 60% open on the right side.
I appreciate any and all advice.
Thanks!
Running 5.1.4, Yamaha RX-A 2070, Parasound A31, Polk LSiM 707 (Fronts), Polk LSiM 706 (Center), Polk OWM3 (Surround), Polk TL3 (Atmos), HSU VTF-2 MK4, Epson 5030UB, Silver Ticket 110"
Comments
Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC
erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a
Village Idiot of Club Polk
I know! I was pretty bummed. Would have been perfect.
If you can the budget for the A21 that would be great, but nothing wrong w/ Model 2250 v.2
As for large or small would only depend if you're running a sub
Large=no sub
Small=sub
If you have a sub, and you're watching a movie, cross at 80, when listening to music play with it and blend sub to speakers and music...you may find 60 might blend well since the 707 can handle curve pretty well
Good luck
Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC
erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a
The LSIM7's subwoofer crossover point is at 100hz and their -3dB spec is 50 Hz – 30 kHz
a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life."
Do you have a sub? If so, let it handle the low stuff. If not, run them full range.
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/polk-lsim707-surround-speaker-system-ht-labs-measures
Game Room HT: Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology SM450; Definitive Technology LCR2000; Definitive Technology StudioMonitor350; Mirage Nanasats; Sub - HSU VTF-2 MK5
Master Bedroom
Cambridge Azur 551r; Definitive Technology promonitor 800; ACI Titan Subwoofer
Game Room HT: Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology SM450; Definitive Technology LCR2000; Definitive Technology StudioMonitor350; Mirage Nanasats; Sub - HSU VTF-2 MK5
Master Bedroom
Cambridge Azur 551r; Definitive Technology promonitor 800; ACI Titan Subwoofer
Parasound Halo A21
Parasound Halo P3
Home theater
Polk LSiM 707, 706c, 703, 705
Polk Blackstone TL3 for height
SVS PB12-ISD Sub
Denon AVR-X6400h
Parasound Halo A51
LG OLED65B7A
Sony UBPX800
Logitech Harmony Elite
PC LSiM 703
Spare LSIM 702 and 706c
Home Theater #2
Polk Audio LS70, CS350LS, LSF/X, S4
Onkyo TX-NR808
By the way, I’m upgrading from TSx440t towers,TSx250c center, and a Yamaha rx-A730. I’m guessing that alone should be a huge difference. Just curious if anyone has actually heard both and can give me their opinion since I’ve not actually heard the LSiM series speakers before.
No worries. Ask away! I’m jealous of your a21. Hoping my rx-a2070 will be good enough for a little while until I can get an amp.
Thanks for the link. I enjoyed reading the review.
That 2070 is an awesome unit that many will be just fine with running, 5, 7, 9 channels. However, if one thinks the towers need external amps why stop there for a 90% movie/tv system? About 70% of movie dialog, effects, music, etc can come from the center at times. The 706C is a SERIOUS center speaker... I've had one and listened to an Emotiva demo system using the 707 & 706C upfront. It will come alive as well with power reserve on tap and it won't distort during the big effects scenes from movies like Pacific Rim, Transformers, etc. In my system it even help center the bass effects. Here is the Emotive demo system that played if a fairly large space.
Get at least a 3 channel or 5 channel. Go for 200W a channel! Something like this:
Parasound HCA-2003
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Parasound-HCA-2003-3-Channel-Power-Amplifier/202151023793?hash=item2f1123d4b1:g:l28AAOSwTm9aNtb~
B&K 200.5
https://www.ebay.com/itm/B-K-Components-Reference-200-5-Power-Amplifier-5-Channel-AMP/252933077838?hash=item3ae3fc7b4e:g:ywUAAOSwqfpZwrHa
Sunfire Cinema Grand
https://www.ebay.com/itm/sunfire-cinema-grand/282776354899?hash=item41d6c8c053:g:Sg4AAOSwYxBaNsbi
HDTV - Sharp AQUOS LC-70LE600U 70" | AVR/Streamer - Onkyo TX-NR3008 | Amp - Parasound HCA-1203A
Blu-Ray/Media/Gaming - Sony PS3-320GB / Microsoft Xbox One | Broadcast - Xfinity X1 Platform
Front Spkrs - Coming...DIY Statement II | Center Spkrs - Coming...DIY Statement II | Rear Spkrs - Artison Portrait LRS
Sub - DIY Stereo Integrity HT 15 | Sub Amp - Dayton Audio SA1000
Wire - Audioquest Type 4, BJC Belden 5000 | HDMI - BJC Belden | Power Cables - Pangea | Surge - Monster
I'm partial to the Sunfire, since I have one myself, but the B&K would get the job done as well.
Thanks for the advice. I really appreciate it. It’s funny that you mention the HCA-2003 because I was just looking at that last night. It’s actually the one you linked. I might have to snag that.
Everyone has been really helpful and I appreciate everyone taking the time.
Happy Holidays!
a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life."
Buy both
Also, how much wattage you need depends on how loud you listen and how big your room is. 125 wpc for your front three MAY be enough, may not.
If your unsure, its ALWAYS better to have more power than you think you'd need, so I'd go with the HCA-2003 for your front 3.
And if it was me, I'd look (at a later date when I could afford it) buying a second amp to run the surrounds. Your fine running them off the AVR to start with, and maybe to do that forever, but a dedicated amp for your surrounds should provide some improvements and you don't need it to have a ton of power either.
PS: Welcome to Club Polk, and also the big league. Those are some really nice speakers and your doing it right by looking for a dedicated amp for them. They will reward you in kind
Let the receiver handle the surrounds. Surround information is mostly ambient sounds and not too taxing on receivers. Plus once you take the load off the receiver with an amp for the front 2 or 3 speakers, the receiver will have ample power for just the surrounds.
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
However, If you do decide to get a second amp or a massive 5 channel amp , again go for a 200W-250W x 2 two channel or a 200W-250W 5 channel like that B&K 200.5, Parasound 5250, etc. These are $1500, 28lbs, Polk's flagship dedicated surround speakers. These are have 88dB efficiency. Push then hell out of them! heavy HT hitters use more efficient speakers and horn technology to get there. That's what a high powered mega buck surround system is all about. Polk knows about filling a room with BIG expansive sound.... look at its heritage SRT, SRS, SDA, etc...
Then put on a BluRay like Pacific Rim, Transformers, The Great Wall, Gravity, Tron, The Dark Knight, Master and Commander, etc. and come back and report your thoughts. If the added power does not present itself then you can always go back to a 3 channel.
HDTV - Sharp AQUOS LC-70LE600U 70" | AVR/Streamer - Onkyo TX-NR3008 | Amp - Parasound HCA-1203A
Blu-Ray/Media/Gaming - Sony PS3-320GB / Microsoft Xbox One | Broadcast - Xfinity X1 Platform
Front Spkrs - Coming...DIY Statement II | Center Spkrs - Coming...DIY Statement II | Rear Spkrs - Artison Portrait LRS
Sub - DIY Stereo Integrity HT 15 | Sub Amp - Dayton Audio SA1000
Wire - Audioquest Type 4, BJC Belden 5000 | HDMI - BJC Belden | Power Cables - Pangea | Surge - Monster
Parasound Halo A21
Parasound Halo P3
Home theater
Polk LSiM 707, 706c, 703, 705
Polk Blackstone TL3 for height
SVS PB12-ISD Sub
Denon AVR-X6400h
Parasound Halo A51
LG OLED65B7A
Sony UBPX800
Logitech Harmony Elite
PC LSiM 703
Spare LSIM 702 and 706c
Home Theater #2
Polk Audio LS70, CS350LS, LSF/X, S4
Onkyo TX-NR808
I dont disagree, but I want to point out he's running 2 sets of surrounds now (7 channel setup bought from Adorama).... 703's and 702's... if he wants to go Atmos at some point then you'd really start to tax the AVR IMHO.
I've seen the impedance graphs of the LSiM's and they are a 8 ohm load, but there are parts where the dip lower. It "shouldn't" be an issue as most of those areas are sub 80hz (where you would cross over surrounds), but its worth mentioning.
@Earthy - I haven’t had a chance to watch too much yet but I will definitely watch Guardians of the Galaxy tomorrow and check it out.
With the 707's, if you run a conventional, single set, of wires to your speakers, probably about 75 percent of the available current will be directed to the woofers. The tweeters will use about 1 or 2 percent.
Running a 2-channel amp to the each set of woofers, and the AVR to the mids/tweeters, will probably degrade sound quality. Again, you can give it a shot, but I think conventional wiring will be the better bet.
Either way, you'll only be out the extra cost of the wire to experiment.
Personally I would invest the money from the extra set of wires on good quality wires and jumpers, but that's just me. Your ears, are different than mine.
Polk LSiM driven by 200W x 2 in the average home...why bother with bi-amping?
If you have never tried it, do it at least once to see for your self. I've never had home audio gear I felt was worthy. However, I have done in in car audio for various reasons. Was mainly running an all active system with independent DSP on all channels. That's a totally different thing.....
...Just don't get caught up in Bi-Amping, Get a 2, 3, or 5 channel amp and enjoy!
HDTV - Sharp AQUOS LC-70LE600U 70" | AVR/Streamer - Onkyo TX-NR3008 | Amp - Parasound HCA-1203A
Blu-Ray/Media/Gaming - Sony PS3-320GB / Microsoft Xbox One | Broadcast - Xfinity X1 Platform
Front Spkrs - Coming...DIY Statement II | Center Spkrs - Coming...DIY Statement II | Rear Spkrs - Artison Portrait LRS
Sub - DIY Stereo Integrity HT 15 | Sub Amp - Dayton Audio SA1000
Wire - Audioquest Type 4, BJC Belden 5000 | HDMI - BJC Belden | Power Cables - Pangea | Surge - Monster