Improving the Lsi9, from 500hz to 2khz

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polkseller
polkseller Posts: 184
edited March 2008 in DIY, Mods & Tweaks
I saw a review on Stereophile and soundstage website and it seems that the lsi 9 had problem between 500hz and 2k. It had lots of peaks and highter distortion.

Is it crossover related or cabinet resonant problem?

Does adding dynamat inside help solve this problem ?
Post edited by polkseller on
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,092
    edited February 2008
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    So are you hearing this peak and distortion................or is it what was printed on paper? Printed specs don;t mean much........how do they sound? Before you read the reviews were you noticing this? I wouldn't worry about it. Proper set-up, room treatments and the right gear will make them sound great.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • candyliquor35m
    candyliquor35m Posts: 2,267
    edited February 2008
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    I don't know if anyone here has heard of this. Maybe you could post some links to the reviews or scan and post them.
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  • jakelm
    jakelm Posts: 4,081
    edited February 2008
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    I would replace all drivers, rebuild crossovers and build new cabinets. If there is a problem...


    but thats just me.....
    Monitor 7b's front
    Monitor 4's surround
    Frankinpolk Center (2 mw6503's with peerless tweeter)
    M10's back surround
    Hafler-200 driving patio Daytons
    Tempest-X 15" DIY sub w/ Rythmik 350A plate amp
    Dayton 12" DVC w/ Rythmik 350a plate amp
    Harman/Kardon AVR-635
    Oppo 981hd
    Denon upconvert DVD player
    Jennings Research (vintage and rare)
    Mit RPTV WS-55513
    Tosh HD-XA1
    B&K AV5000


    Dont BAN me Bro!!!!:eek:
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  • jakelm
    jakelm Posts: 4,081
    edited February 2008
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    http://www.stereophile.com/budgetcomponents/795/index4.html

    Maybe this??^^^^^
    Monitor 7b's front
    Monitor 4's surround
    Frankinpolk Center (2 mw6503's with peerless tweeter)
    M10's back surround
    Hafler-200 driving patio Daytons
    Tempest-X 15" DIY sub w/ Rythmik 350A plate amp
    Dayton 12" DVC w/ Rythmik 350a plate amp
    Harman/Kardon AVR-635
    Oppo 981hd
    Denon upconvert DVD player
    Jennings Research (vintage and rare)
    Mit RPTV WS-55513
    Tosh HD-XA1
    B&K AV5000


    Dont BAN me Bro!!!!:eek:
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,576
    edited February 2008
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    Where are these reviews exactly? The formal 2002 LSi9 review by Soundstage was very postive and has no mention of this anomaly.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited February 2008
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    jakelm wrote: »
    I would replace all drivers, rebuild crossovers and build new cabinets. If there is a problem...


    but thats just me.....
    OK wise guy, what if you go through all that effort to build new cabinets etc. only to find that the problem is still there.:eek:Then what do you do?
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • jakelm
    jakelm Posts: 4,081
    edited February 2008
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    The review on the lsi7 says alittle about this. But nothing but praise for the overall speaker.
    Monitor 7b's front
    Monitor 4's surround
    Frankinpolk Center (2 mw6503's with peerless tweeter)
    M10's back surround
    Hafler-200 driving patio Daytons
    Tempest-X 15" DIY sub w/ Rythmik 350A plate amp
    Dayton 12" DVC w/ Rythmik 350a plate amp
    Harman/Kardon AVR-635
    Oppo 981hd
    Denon upconvert DVD player
    Jennings Research (vintage and rare)
    Mit RPTV WS-55513
    Tosh HD-XA1
    B&K AV5000


    Dont BAN me Bro!!!!:eek:
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jakelm
    jakelm Posts: 4,081
    edited February 2008
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    GV#27 wrote: »
    OK wise guy, what if you go through all that effort to build new cabinets etc. only to find that the problem is still there.:eek:Then what do you do?


    I mail them to you to figure it out...


    ...you know,,what freinds do for each other...:D
    Monitor 7b's front
    Monitor 4's surround
    Frankinpolk Center (2 mw6503's with peerless tweeter)
    M10's back surround
    Hafler-200 driving patio Daytons
    Tempest-X 15" DIY sub w/ Rythmik 350A plate amp
    Dayton 12" DVC w/ Rythmik 350a plate amp
    Harman/Kardon AVR-635
    Oppo 981hd
    Denon upconvert DVD player
    Jennings Research (vintage and rare)
    Mit RPTV WS-55513
    Tosh HD-XA1
    B&K AV5000


    Dont BAN me Bro!!!!:eek:
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,576
    edited February 2008
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    jakelm wrote: »
    http://www.stereophile.com/budgetcomponents/795/index4.html

    Maybe this??^^^^^

    That review is about an LSi7. It touches on some cabinet coloration at a specific frequency but this is not unusual for a loudspeaker.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited February 2008
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    jakelm wrote: »
    I mail them to you to figure it out...


    ...you know,,what freinds do for each other...:D
    Thanks, I need more fire wood because this winter has been a long and cold one.
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • jakelm
    jakelm Posts: 4,081
    edited February 2008
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    GV#27 wrote: »
    Thanks, I need more fire wood because this winter has been a long and cold one.

    You need fire wood? I'll just send you these. Have fun...:p
    Monitor 7b's front
    Monitor 4's surround
    Frankinpolk Center (2 mw6503's with peerless tweeter)
    M10's back surround
    Hafler-200 driving patio Daytons
    Tempest-X 15" DIY sub w/ Rythmik 350A plate amp
    Dayton 12" DVC w/ Rythmik 350a plate amp
    Harman/Kardon AVR-635
    Oppo 981hd
    Denon upconvert DVD player
    Jennings Research (vintage and rare)
    Mit RPTV WS-55513
    Tosh HD-XA1
    B&K AV5000


    Dont BAN me Bro!!!!:eek:
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited February 2008
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    jakelm wrote: »
    You need fire wood? I'll just send you these. Have fun...:p
    OMFG
    I can't believe I just saw that.:eek:
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • Mazeroth
    Mazeroth Posts: 1,585
    edited February 2008
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    I have a measurement setup in my basement and actually measured an LSi9 a few months ago. I didn't notice anything abnormal in the 500-2k region and the distortion looked very good.
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  • polkseller
    polkseller Posts: 184
    edited February 2008
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    yes guys this is the stereophile review I'm talking about. And this is the one from soundstage: look at the frequency graph 500hz to 1200hz

    http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/polk_lsi9.htm

    You can clearly see distortion between 50hz and 200hz and also in the mid 1000hz ( chart 3)

    I was wondering if it was the in-room response that was bad in this region because many tested speakers behaved like that in between 500hz to 2khz on the stereophile website...also the high frequency extend to 20k without roll-off on the soundstage graph, not the case on the stereophile graph.

    I dont know if this 1k resonance is a problem, maybe at loud volume or with constant note at that frequency. I would like to know if the new polk rti A7 with round cabinet are better on this matter.

    overall the lsi 9 has good frequency response except for its boomy bass and highter than normal distortion at 80hz @ 90db.

    The post says: improving the lsi 9. I read that some polkers add some dynamat extrem to their lsi9 to reduce resonant frequency. any ideas to improve the woofer under 200hz ? Does any of you tried foaming the lower port or modify the rear powerport ?
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,576
    edited February 2008
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    I'd use Black Hole instead of Dynamat but this issue should be addressed in your listening room with sweeps, not tweaked based on NRCC chamber response. Good luck but it's much ado about nothing.

    Again, it's never discussed as a "problem" in the Soundstage review....it's just a measurement graph.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • PolkThug
    PolkThug Posts: 7,532
    edited February 2008
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    Don't worry about the distortion stuff, its less than some of Wilson Audio's stuff, but more distortion than Paradigm's Reference speakers.

    If the primary tone is at 95db for a fraction of a second and the distortion is at 60db for that same time frame, will you hear the distortion? Probably not. You could train yourself to hear it with a sustained tone, but that probably isn't very high on the fun factor. :)
    Never Forget
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  • polkseller
    polkseller Posts: 184
    edited February 2008
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    will adding dynamat will improve the 50-200hz region and reduce distortion ?

    I think yes.. 60db seems high, more than my dishwasher :rolleyes:
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  • jakelm
    jakelm Posts: 4,081
    edited February 2008
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    polkseller wrote: »
    will adding dynamat will improve the 50-200hz region and reduce distortion ?

    I think yes.. 60db seems high, more than my dishwasher :rolleyes:

    60dB's is almost a whisper. I calibrate all the time. I can make my needle set at 60dB's, move with only a whisper. And this happens at a fraction of a second?? I doubt any of us could spot it.

    But it is your opinion. I respect that.

    Take a SPL meter, put it on 60dB's and test it yourself, you will see what we are talking about.
    Monitor 7b's front
    Monitor 4's surround
    Frankinpolk Center (2 mw6503's with peerless tweeter)
    M10's back surround
    Hafler-200 driving patio Daytons
    Tempest-X 15" DIY sub w/ Rythmik 350A plate amp
    Dayton 12" DVC w/ Rythmik 350a plate amp
    Harman/Kardon AVR-635
    Oppo 981hd
    Denon upconvert DVD player
    Jennings Research (vintage and rare)
    Mit RPTV WS-55513
    Tosh HD-XA1
    B&K AV5000


    Dont BAN me Bro!!!!:eek:
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  • PolkThug
    PolkThug Posts: 7,532
    edited February 2008
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    polkseller wrote: »
    will adding dynamat will improve the 50-200hz region and reduce distortion ?

    Only if the 'distortion' is the resonating of the enclosure.
    Never Forget
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  • polkseller
    polkseller Posts: 184
    edited March 2008
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    ok thanks guys!

    Anyway, I saw many other speakers on the market with this kind of distortion under 200hz.
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,576
    edited March 2008
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    Really? No way!
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jakelm
    jakelm Posts: 4,081
    edited March 2008
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    dorokusai wrote: »
    Really? No way!

    Polk exclusive...:rolleyes:
    Monitor 7b's front
    Monitor 4's surround
    Frankinpolk Center (2 mw6503's with peerless tweeter)
    M10's back surround
    Hafler-200 driving patio Daytons
    Tempest-X 15" DIY sub w/ Rythmik 350A plate amp
    Dayton 12" DVC w/ Rythmik 350a plate amp
    Harman/Kardon AVR-635
    Oppo 981hd
    Denon upconvert DVD player
    Jennings Research (vintage and rare)
    Mit RPTV WS-55513
    Tosh HD-XA1
    B&K AV5000


    Dont BAN me Bro!!!!:eek:
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter