Polk LSi series discountined???

[faheem5]

sup everybody. I am a employee at Circuit City. I will be uprgading my tv and speakers. My current setup is a Yamaha DTS-ES reciever with Wharfedale speakers (towers and bookshelves) I was trying to decide between the Infinity Beta 40 and Polk Rti8. I finnaly decided to go with the beta 40 (even though the whole set compare to RTi8 is 100 dollars more plus shipping) That is before I started reading up on the LSi9 bookshelves. They seem to be getting good reviews from everywhere and everyone. But I cant seem to find any on the employee accommadation website. I belive their are current CCity employees, so I would appreciate if somone can let me know if Polk is not selling this speaker anymore or wat. I was planning on buying 3 for the fronts, and 3 LSi7 for the rears. Considering our good discounts they should cost me less the RTi8 Set (2 towers, 1 center, 3 rears) and then there is no reason for me to buy the Beta setup. So please let me know what the status is on the LSi9 and LSi7 bookshelves. THANK YOU.

[brettw22]

If you don't have access to the accomodation pricing, I'm selling some LSi7's at a pretty good deal if you wanna check the Flea Market......Good luck.

[faheem5]

thanks for the offer but heres my 2 hestiant points.
1. If I cant get my hands on the LSi9 there is not point for me buying the LSi7.
2. Your price of 335 a pair. I am sure this is good, but at that price throuh my discount tat is more than enough to buy a pair of RTi8 with over 40 dollars left over.
So thanks for the offer, but I am trying to find out why Polk is not listing the LSi series in the employee accomadation site, is it because they dont have any left??

[F1nut]

"Sup".......oh please :rolleyes:

You can't buy them though CC anymore, because Polk took their LSi line to Tweeter. Maybe it's time to change jobs.

[faheem5]

I did check out twetters online store and didnt see polk listed there. I do have a friend tat works there, are you sure they carry them.

EDITED...rude comments toward f1nuts, considering I am new dont want to start off on bad side.

If you don't like me typing as I talk, just say it, and I would have stoped.

[F1nut]

To answer your question..... Yes, I am positive that Tweeter sells the LSi's.

Here is a link to the story, http://clubpolk.polkaudio.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18954&highlight=tweeter

[PolkThug]

CC quit selling the LSi's many moons ago. There are some LC in-walls via accomodations that have the LSi drivers in them.

I wouldn't go bragging about getting speakers at cost, that's the last thing somebody wants to hear who just paid the regular prices.

Anyway, welcome to the forum.

Regards,
PolkThug

[faheem5]

My bad guys I wasnt bragging...actually one of the reason I didnt list the price for the RTi8 was because I didnt want to offend people who paid full price for theirs. But thanks f1nut about the tweeter info. I know their are 2 tweeters in downtown chicago, near my college. Ill go check them out. I am just trying to decide between RTi8, LSi9 and Infinity Beta 40. Its funny 2 are towers, 1 is bookshelves. Do you know if Tweeter carries Infinity line speaker????

AND once again I AM SORRY if I offended somone by bringing up my discount....<<<<<<SORRY>>>>>>>

[Joey_V]

no infinity lines at tweeter.

i like the lsi7 though, in response to your earlier comment, i would say that i found them better musically than the rti8s.

[faheem5]

Have you had a chance to compare the LSi series to the Infinity Beta. If so what were your thoughts??? My listening is going to be 70% movies 10% music and 15% tv, and 5% games.

[dorokusai]

The only way Infinity could make a good speaker is if they went back in time.

[Joey_V]

i heard the rti against the betas. the betas sounded very muddy to me. The highs seemed very restrained and the midrange sounded muddy. In my opinion, the RTis sounded better to my ears. The LSi sound better than the RTis.

Therefore, the betas should not even be compared to the LSi in my opinion.

[faheem5]

So I went to Tweeter yesterday and listned to the LSi9 and LSi7. I listened to the 7s very briefly, but the 9s i checked with music and movies. I was very impressed. Theses speakerd dont have a very wide soundstage, so placement is important. The mids on this speakers are AMAZING. Very natural and not in your face. The tweeter I wasnt so happy about. I dont know if its my ears, but it sounded bright. I could good details, but I know I couldnt listened to these speaker for more han 30 min. I know they dont carry, Infinity so I asked what they would consider their "warmest and most natural" speaker. The salesman turned them on, and I noticed a widersound stage. The highgs went from being harsh, to very netural, which I liked. I did miss the warmth of the mids on the polks. I think these speakers would def. work if they were meant to be used in music mainly. My useage is about 70% movies, and I couldnt listen to these speakers to long. I watched xmen and I heard the slightest details, like rain drops, floor squeaking, but the highs again, were a little to harsh. I am hopefully going to try to listen to some Infinity Beta this weekend, and compare them to the Alphas and RTi. I already decided to tha the Alphas were a little better than RTi, but will compare all three this weekend.

[F1nut]

The tweeter I wasnt so happy about. I dont know if its my ears, but it didnt sound bright.

You say it wasn't bright, but then go on to imply that it is bright. So, which is it???

The LSi tweeter, by all accounts, is not a bright tweeter and in fact is used in some very high end speakers. Considering that the other speaker you heard was "bright" also, I suggest to you that it isn't the speakers, but the source or receiver that was used. What was the other speaker? What was the source and receiver used?

[Joey_V]

i am soo confused.. u say it wasnt bright yet you seem to want something that was? then u say u think u cant listen to them for more than 30 minutes? what?

the tweeter is what serparates the lsi from any other speaker in its price range. the details are there yet its not sore to the ears... rarely sibilant (unless the source is sibilant). soundstage is wide - although i felt that the paradigms reference (but these cost more) might be wider. the midrange is very good, but not as good as the sonus faber midrange (also sold at tweeter).

the lsi carries the vifa tweeter - and i feel that it is very natural at producing vocals without being overbearing or "tinny" at higher volumes.

the betas, to me, sounded not laid back... but akin to having a blanket covering the speaker.

[faheem5]

sorry about the mixup, i wrote the message at work, was in a hurry. The other speaker was the Sonus Faber, 2 way bookshelves. The first reciver was the Yamaha, then we switched over to the Denon. Now as far as I know isnt it the midrange that prodcues the vocals, not the tweeter?? The Sonus def. had a wider soundstage, and filled up the room much more. I def. noticed the better mids on it, but at a price of 1200 for 2-way bookshelves i can see why. The sonus faber, didnt seem bright, but very warm, unlike the Polks tweeter. I realize this same tweeter is in 10000 dollars speaker, a great value, but I could be wrong. I have to wait till August to pick them up and will do a side comparison with the Beta.

[faheem5]

JoeyV which Beta speakers did you listen to???

[PolkThug]

A lot of times in the stores, they will have the treble cranked up on the receivers. Make sure to set it back down to zero for even comparisons.

Regards,
PolkThug

[faheem5]

I did check to see if the Yamaha and Denon reciever were set to 0. These new top of line recivers dont have the simple knob that I am used to. I guess they are all adjusted Electronically, whcih I didnt check. I am planning to go back this Thursday with more time, and some good ears, to listen to them again. My salesman was real kool, as he knew I wont be buying anything, but spend over an hour with me. Also he had nothing else to do, but still nice to switch speakers. But when I go back, ill take some cds/dvds im used to, check the reciever setting, and spend some time checking them out.

If somone can please answer my previous question. If its the tweeter or mids, that put out the vocals.

[F1nut]

Both

[mantis]

faheem5,
New or not,have alittle respect for Polk and don't talk about the accomadation program.it's designed for Employees not forum members.

I work for Tweeter.CC don't carry Rti or Lsi.They carry Monitor series.you should beable to check them out.I here there nice sounding speakers.

Dan

[TroyD]

I don't the fact that CC employee discount is that big of a secret.

BDT

[bknauss]

-As said before, CC dropped the higher end Polk stuff. Rumor has it that CC isn't doing well at all. This may or may not be the reason they're dropping all of the higher end lines. The Polk/Momo stuff (although the woofers very reasonably priced), and some of the dB stuff (pretty cheap IMO) are not carried in the car section of CC.
-The LSi's use a ring radiator tweeter, which as said before, is used in higher end stuff. These are definitely not harsh tweeters. If you want to hear harsh, listen to some metal dome tweets.

[faheem5]

MANTIS I would appreciate if you read through the whole page. I did mention my employee discount in my first post. Later I mention which speakers I was considering and why, but never posted a price as not to offend anyone. But since then, I never brought up my discount. I did mention that I might be able to get a deal throuhg a friend working at Twetter. But again I never listed price. Im sure if anyone was in my situation wokring as a empployee of a electronics company or had a friend who can get them a discount, would take advantage of it. I am also sure that most people know that working at companies like CC, BB, Twetter, ABT gets you discount. I know its rude to bring this kind of stuff up, but I apologized earlier if I offended anyone earlier. I do so again, even though I fell like I did nothing wrong.
Also as somone suggested earlier, that CC stoped carrying the LSi line, and will soon stop carrying the RTi line. You are correct that we will soon have the Monitor series, very modestly priced.

[madmax]

I hope the press isn't reading this! I can see it now:

Person directly affiliated with CC admits to public that Employee Acommedation Program exists and discounts are being given. Other well known operatives from competition is speaking out about the leaked statement. More at five.

madmax

[Zero]

five?

Maryland is really ass-backwards arent they?

[F1nut]

Hate to tell you this, but that same 5pm news is in VA too.

[Zero]

5 pm news? Not down in these neck of the woods.

[scottvamp]

Current polk Time: 07-21-2004 05:25 AM
My current Time : 07-20-2004 9:25 PM
I don't get it!!!!!!!

[F1nut]

That's because you're in the backwoods part of the state. ;)


Scott, go to your "Profile", click on "Edit Options" and then scoll down to "Time & Date." From there you can adjust the time to your local area.

[faheem5]

I hear Dateline and 60 Minutes are dedicating their whole show, to the secrets behind Employee discounts. Set your Tivo now.

[faheem5]

I will be going back to Tweeter tommorow, to hear the LSi9 and 7 again. Ill take some cds and dvd i know real well. I know in music the speaker will perform real good. But last time I heard movies i was dissapointed. Just wanted to hear from more experinced listners, what to listen for. I will take one action, and one drama(lots of dialouge). Also ill remember to set the reciever this time, but other than anythign else???

[polkatese]

faheem, see if you can convince Tweeter folks to hook up those LSis in their Ultimate demo room (with the B&K pre/power) where the Logans are, then you will have a better audition time with those speakers.

[faheem5]

i belive the first time I did notice the B&K pre/pro in that room, for some reason the salesman was using the Denon reciever, 3000 on clearance. This is the same room with the LCD projector pull down screen. I am going to a diff. Tweeter tomm, so Ill see what they can do. But thanks for the tip.

[F1nut]

I agree, don't even bother listening on the Denon.

[Mazeroth]

Ready to leave work and only skimmed this thread for about 30 seconds. Here's the scoop:

Polk IS adding the LSi line to the Accomodations site in late Sept to early October. A good friend of mine works there and called Polk directly. A woman on the phone told him they're currently sold out of all the new LSis and dealers get first dibs.

Hope this helps. Get the LSis and don't look back. I wouldn't own any other speaker. Grab a Crown XLS-402A amp off Ebay for ~$250 shipped and you'll be BLOWN away. If you can, try for the LSi15s. Had the 9s and 15s hooked up next to each other getting 400w RMS and the 15 SMOKED the 9!

[faheem5]

Actually I emailed Polk last week, and got a response in less than 24 hours, very good customer service. They told me exactly what you just posted, that the Monitor and LSi series will be avaible in Septemeber. I went to listen to the LSi9 again at Tweeter, with my own cds. Man I was amazed, and dissapointed. Again the tweeter blew me away, the voices seemed so natural, and warm. HOW DO THEY DO IT?? I can see why people would pay so much money for that tweeter. Again the sound stage wasnt there. I am sure some owners noticed this, if you have the speaker to far apart, or to near, you mess up the "sweet spot." Now where I was dissapointed was in the mids i guess. I belive it was here or somehwere else, I read the LSi mids, arnt that strong. I was comparing the LSi9 to the RTi10. The Rt seemed very bright, and harsh but i did noticed more depth in the sound. The voices semmed more in your face and punching out, rather then the natural feel i got from the LSi9. But everytime I switched over, i got more depth from the Rti10. I am guessing this is because of the mids. The LSi do get pretty low. I was planning to see how the stand up to the Infinity Beta, but just read the post before, that the grill just kills the sound, and it has to be removed.

[faheem5]

Well I couldnt help it, went back to tweeters with my own cds again to listen to the LSi9. And I think I heard what it can offer. Here is my thought. When people say that the LSi are very musical, I totally agree. I threw every kind of music at it, pop, rock, jazz, latin, etc.. and every thign sound amazing. AND then I decided to see how my favorite music sounds, film score, pretty much classical. I was somewhat dissapointed. I dont know what happend, just didnt sound the same. Actually it sounded very similar to my Wharfedales at home. I was going to base my decision on what speaker can play my film scores the best, LSi or Infinity Beta. I took my stero cd of THE ROCK, and DTS version of TITANIC score. Titanic sounded a little better, but still not like what I was hearing before. I now have doubts about buying these speakers, as over 70% was going to be use in HT, where score is mixed in with SFX, and dialouge. And if the score alone doesnt soudn right, I dont know wats going on. Just for people information, I went back and tried 2 differnt DENON recievers, and 1 Yamaha. The BK pre/pro werent working. But is it the widely accepted that these speakers ROCK when its playing music, but when it comes to movies, its not all there???

[Frank Z]

You're not going to hear the full potential of the LSi speakers by driving them with a receiver. Never, never, never!

The Lsi's sound fantastic in my HT for movies and music.

Perhaps Tweeters isn't the best place for you to listen to them, sounds like they aren't set up much better than CC.

[faheem5]

Thats wat I have been hearing about these speakers, they love power and wont sound good without them. AND there is now way I can afford a pre/pro amp. My only choice is a reciever. And that reciever was going to be a digital amp reciever like the new Panasonic when it is released or perhaps the Kenwood. But I guess ill wait and see how the Infinity Beta sound, and considering they are 8 ohms a little better sensitivity might help with the digital amp. But Frank Z, your home theater looks awsome, and you have excellent gear, I wish I had that kind of money. ENJOY

[Frank Z]

Originally posted by faheem5
But Frank Z, your home theater looks awsome, and you have excellent gear, I wish I had that kind of money. ENJOY I've been blessed with more patience than money. Take your time and buy only what you can afford. I've said it time and again, it's all just stuff. Get the Lsi's if you can, save up for 'em if you have to. NEVER buy audio/video gear on credit. One step at a time my friend. Use a receiver if you must, but start hiding your nickels and dimes and get an amp when you can. (OUTLAW is simply the best bang for the buck!!)

Ask questions, but trust your ears!!

[faheem5]

quick questions. Reading reviews on the LSi series, they date back to 2002. Their are some recent reviews from 2004. I have read that in the new version(???) all they changed were the cosmetic, is this true. So my question is, are these the same speakers which came out in 2002, or what has changed since then? Thank you.

[Vr3MxStyler2k3]

They went to seamless, painted on high gloss and a better veneer...

That is it

[faheem5]

thanks for the info...im suprised that in 2 years they didnt upgrade anything. I could understand not upgrading the drivers, as they are excellent to begin with, but the croosover or somthing. I did noticed that the price has dropped in 2 years. Orginally people were quoting, 1000+ now its 800+.

[AsSiMiLaTeD]

why change it if you got it right the first time???

[Joey_V]

hear hear.... atleast they improved something.... why change things that work right anyway?

[kingkip]

Originally posted by Frank Z
You're not going to hear the full potential of the LSi speakers by driving them with a receiver. Never, never, never!

The Lsi's sound fantastic in my HT for movies and music.

Perhaps Tweeters isn't the best place for you to listen to them, sounds like they aren't set up much better than CC.


Couldn't agree with Frank more. The Lsi line sounds good with a receiver, but absolutely rock when powered properly, HT and music. Got some 9s on a Parasound HCA-2200 and they kick ass.

Fry's is my only place to demo the Lsi's and it ain't great. Underpowered and poorly setup. While I think the setup accounts for a lot, seems to me the power is a bigger issue.

[Vr3MxStyler2k3]

I believe they changed the costmetics to better stuff because they moved manufacturing to India instead of New Mexico.

[fireshoes]

China

[Vr3MxStyler2k3]

close enough, no? lol

[Frank Z]

Nice to see you aced Geo-Graphy.:rolleyes:

[Mjr7531]

If you e-mail polk asking them when a line ends, they will tell you, as close to the end date of production as they know, just my two cents...