Looking forward to L800 but have concerns, what are your thoughts?

dromunds · February 2020

Excuse me, the Marantz MM7055 is apparently $1,199. Yet, unless I'm remembering it wrong the L800's received glowing reviews at RMAF hooked up to it.

Unknown · February 2020

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displayname · February 2020

I did say if I ever had the opportunity to hear them in an ideal environment I would gladly do so. But I've only seen the L800 at two places (only listened at one), and neither had symmetry. Like so many things in audio they are hard to come across in person.
When it comes down to ownership, it's still not something I'd consider. In their price range there are other speakers that I like the sound of that are far less particular than the L800. I do think they would be hard to live with for most people.

Unknown · February 2020

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erniejade · February 2020

He also said on the same album even after his matching, some sounds sounded great and some did not. We experienced that as well.

Unknown · February 2020

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mpitogo · February 2020

Wow harsh. I agree with amp being picky. My LSiM 707 works great with balanced differential amplifiers MC452/PM-10. But with L800 not so, SDA was weak. As far as recordings, I agree poor recordings just don’t do well. Not sure about his room setup and treatment but I have mine in a decent sized 16dx25w and love them.

Everything else is just hurtful. Wow and that was a paid Polk review.

Unknown · February 2020

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displayname · February 2020

mpitogo wrote: »

Wow and that was a paid Polk review.

Not paid, but certainly not what Polk was hoping for I'm sure.

mpitogo · February 2020

Ok will edit. Misread that disclaimer.

dromunds · February 2020

I’m still at a loss to understand how this guy can think the L800 is the most difficult load to control that Polk has ever created yet they sounded great with an $1,199 Marantz MM7055 multichannel HT amp? Too many statements floating around that lack foundation.

Viking64 · February 2020

mpitogo wrote: »

Ok will edit. Misread that disclaimer.

You better hurry up. You're almost out of time.

erniejade · February 2020

dromunds wrote: »

I’m still at a loss to understand how this guy can think the L800 is the most difficult load to control that Polk has ever created yet they sounded great with an $1,199 Marantz MM7055 multichannel HT amp? Too many statements floating around that lack foundation.

And he said a pro-ject intigrated was his choice for synergy. That kind of suprised me.

tonyb · February 2020

C'mon gents, like you guys never came across a speaker before that was power hungry and picky about placement. This is by far not unique to the l800's. Like Doc said, many highly regarded speakers suffered the same criticism.

tonyb · February 2020

dromunds wrote: »

I’m still at a loss to understand how this guy can think the L800 is the most difficult load to control that Polk has ever created yet they sounded great with an $1,199 Marantz MM7055 multichannel HT amp? Too many statements floating around that lack foundation.

This is why reviews should be taken with a grain of salt. Some may deserve a bit more weight than others, depending, but the only opinion that matters is going to be yours. On your gear, in your room, with your ears.

F1nut · February 2020

erniejade wrote: »

dromunds wrote: »

I’m still at a loss to understand how this guy can think the L800 is the most difficult load to control that Polk has ever created yet they sounded great with an $1,199 Marantz MM7055 multichannel HT amp? Too many statements floating around that lack foundation.

And he said a pro-ject intigrated was his choice for synergy. That kind of suprised me.

It's hard to believe something like the MaiA S2 at 38wpc @ 4 ohms had the best synergy. In fact, it puts into question his entire review.

tonyb · February 2020

Bingo Jess

marvda1 · February 2020

he did say it's not about the number of watts but current.

Unknown · February 2020

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Tony M · February 2020

….

halen · February 2020

High watts and high current does not equal synergy. I think it best that you not comment further until you have actually experienced it. Everything you have said so far is baseless assumptions. So stop offending everyone that did experience it.

You know? I have never relied on some magazine or some online review.

Buy a pair man.

Unknown · February 2020

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halen · February 2020

nooshinjohn wrote: »

Never said high watts and high current would equal synergy either, but it does sound like a good place to start... As far as commenting goes, I will say what I like. I don’t agree with every review or magazine I read either, nor do I trust anybody else’s ears but my own.

I especially don’t trust ears that heard a pair of speakers not set up properly, according to the suggestions and guidelines of the manufacturer and have at best, a couple hours (and less time in the sweet spot) of experience with them in an unfamiliar space.

You mentioned synergy in your previous posts. So I thought I would mention to get clarity.

Yes. Say what you like but it is still baseless assumptions. You have a voice but don’t talk when you have not experienced it. It gives zero credibility. You could talk all day about your high end DIY amp among other things. It contributes absolutely nothing.

Buy a pair man.

mpitogo · February 2020

@Viking64 yikes missed it, I had to leave to go to a Division 2 raid.

One thing for sure at lest with my experience true balanced amplifier + L800 = under performing SDA.

Even Stu in the other thread eluded to it with the demos using a Marantz PM-KI Ruby, an excellent ncore digital integrated amplifier but single ended not fully balanced like the Marantz PM-10.

Here is what I wonder to solve for that problem. Can I run both Left/Right amplifier channels to each speaker and isolate the crossovers feeding the main drivers and SDA drivers? The SDA cables carry the respective + signals to each other but carry no return path instead rely on the common ground of a single-ended design. If I can feed discrete balanced differential to each of the isolated SDA crossover I can achieve nirvana.

Balanced amplifier one +signal push amplifier two -signal pull no shared common grounding plane
Single-ended one amplifier +signal push/pull relative to common ground

Tony M · February 2020

halen wrote: »

nooshinjohn wrote: »

Never said high watts and high current would equal synergy either, but it does sound like a good place to start... As far as commenting goes, I will say what I like. I don’t agree with every review or magazine I read either, nor do I trust anybody else’s ears but my own.

I especially don’t trust ears that heard a pair of speakers not set up properly, according to the suggestions and guidelines of the manufacturer and have at best, a couple hours (and less time in the sweet spot) of experience with them in an unfamiliar space.

You mentioned synergy in your previous posts. So I thought I would mention to get clarity.

Yes. Say what you like but it is still baseless assumptions. You have a voice but don’t talk when you have not experienced it. It gives zero credibility. You could talk all day about your high end DIY amp among other things. It contributes absolutely nothing.

Buy a pair man.

John's been experiencing "SDA" Polk speakers for decades!

I think he could be called highly educated in the Polk SDA set-ups and definitely has thousands of hours with listening to them with his own ears in many locations.

John has tried to offer "advice from experiences" and he is getting attacked for some weird reasons.

And his DIY amps are something to admire and inspire others just what is possible with the right intelligence and desire.

I'd take John's advice on Polk SDA speakers and tube amps any day of the year!

halen · February 2020

Tony M wrote: »

halen wrote: »

nooshinjohn wrote: »

Never said high watts and high current would equal synergy either, but it does sound like a good place to start... As far as commenting goes, I will say what I like. I don’t agree with every review or magazine I read either, nor do I trust anybody else’s ears but my own.

I especially don’t trust ears that heard a pair of speakers not set up properly, according to the suggestions and guidelines of the manufacturer and have at best, a couple hours (and less time in the sweet spot) of experience with them in an unfamiliar space.

You mentioned synergy in your previous posts. So I thought I would mention to get clarity.

Yes. Say what you like but it is still baseless assumptions. You have a voice but don’t talk when you have not experienced it. It gives zero credibility. You could talk all day about your high end DIY amp among other things. It contributes absolutely nothing.

Buy a pair man.

John's been experiencing "SDA" Polk speakers for decades!

I think he could be called highly educated in the Polk SDA set-ups and definitely has thousands of hours with listening to them with his own ears in many locations.

John has tried to offer "advice from experiences" and he is getting attacked for some weird reasons.

And his DIY amps are something to admire and inspire others just what is possible with the right intelligence and desire.

I'd take John's advice on Polk SDA speakers and tube amps any day of the year!

You do realize these are new SDA’s right? Your comment is like someone saying some car built some decades ago was great. So it must be great now too.

Tell me. What experience does he have with the new SDA’s? I got money, any amount you want to put down and could afford. He doesnt.

As for you being John‘s personal public relations person is funny. CNN much?

halen · February 2020

Also since you are his spokesperson. I was going to say spokesman. But it may offend you jelly beans.

You want me to pull up his posts on SDA’s when he first joined? Lol.

Tony M · February 2020

Why are there teachers and professors then?

BlueFox · February 2020

Are you trying to say nooshinjohn is the equivalent of a teacher or professor? LOL. What school is that?

halen · February 2020

Alright. Bottom line. Don’t turn this Polk forum into one of those sites that claim amps, dacs, cables, make no difference.

They never experienced it. Same as the new SDA here. But the ones that have. Said what they did.

Even the Polk rep.

Damn. If I talk anymore I will start talking about build the wall. You effing socialist.

Looking forward to L800 but have concerns, what are your thoughts?

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