LSi/9 with Yamaha RV-V2500

[disaeur]

Hi,

Just purchased a pair of LSi/9s for my Yamaha RX-V2500 and I'm not impressed with the output. Yamaha says the 2500 is compatable with 4ohm speakers but the sound from the LSi's is not as great as the old JBL L-7s that they replaced. Do i need a separate amp for these babies with this receiver

D-eur

[okiepolkie]

Welcome to the forum.

Don't give up on them yet, but I'll ask a couple of questions to get us started with your dilima.

Did you buy the LSi9's brand new or used? The reason I ask is that the Lsi's take a while to break in, at least 50 hours, I did 100 for mine when I got them. The tweeter will open up more as they are played.

Also, LSi's do tend to sound better with a separate amplifier. If they don't open up after being broken in, I would try them out with separate amplifiers.

Hope this helps.

Zach

[audiobliss]

I'd also let them break in a bit if you bought them new. However, no doubt about it, you should get a separate amp if it's possible. A separate amplifier will make them sound so much better, it'd just be crazy not to get one. The LSi series speakers are very demanding and almost never work well with a (n affordable) receiver.

[scottnbnj]

what okiepolkie said and if you're still disappointed, it might help too if you try to tell us what you like and don't like about their sound, and maybe something about your room and how you have them set up.

beyond lsi9's showing weaknesses in amps and sources, ic's can also be a source of irritation with them too. and, lsi's can be tempermental in how they and other objects in the room are placed. they can also sound much better with bass traps and wall treatments in some rooms.

)

[cfrizz]

Start shopping for a separate amp! Welcome to CP!

[disaeur]

I 've had them for 2 weeks (brand new) running a little jazz some lite rock and r&bthrough them. In 2 ch mode the volume has to be cranked to around -31db to achieve sound that I enjoy. when i switch the receiver to 7ch mode the center LSi/C is dominates the environment, almost drowning the LSi/9.
d-eur

[disaeur]

o.k. been scoping the new rotel rmb-1066 and NAD C272 but did not want to purchase before getting some ideas

d-eur

[okiepolkie]

Since the center is playing at a different level than the 9's, it sounds like you need to calibrate your system. To do this, you will need a calibration disc, like AVIA's Guide To Home Theater, and an analog spl meter from Radio Shack. I know that some receivers have higher power ratings if they are only in 2 channel, but that wouldn't explain the difference in loudness between the center and fronts.

Another thought is that your JBL's are more efficient than the Polks. I did a little research on your particular model, but didn't find much. My guess would be that they are 8 ohm speakers with a reasonably high efficienty rating.

The LSi's are 4 ohm speakers, will will require more power to achieve the same loudness.

[scottnbnj]

i just ripped this from someone else's e-bay ad:
---------------------------------------------------
L7''s are 45" tall, are a 4 way speaker. 1" tweeter, 5" midrange, 8" midbass, and 12" side firing woofer. These speakers can be bi-wired and bi-amped...
Response : 30 hz ~ 29 Khz
91 dB
Impedence : 6 ohm
allowance power : 450 W
---------------------------------------------------
from here, w/pics:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5821275198&category=61377

)

[disaeur]

just purhased a Rotel 1075 amp and oooooh boy!!!! what a jouful noise. you were dead on.

[cfrizz]

Woo Hoo!!! Congrats & enjoy your great speakers!!!!!!

[Joey_V]

just purhased a Rotel 1075 amp and oooooh boy!!!! what a jouful noise. you were dead on.

Now that's what we were talking about!

Bring in the ROTELS!

I had a Harman Kardon AVR330 receiver running the 9s and then I moved up to the Rotel RB1070 - what a difference! Glad you heard the same thing! :D

[cmy330go]

I 've had them for 2 weeks (brand new) running a little jazz some lite rock and r&bthrough them. In 2 ch mode the volume has to be cranked to around -31db to achieve sound that I enjoy. when i switch the receiver to 7ch mode the center LSi/C is dominates the environment, almost drowning the LSi/9.
d-eur

-31 on that receiver is fairly low. Don't let the scale fool you. Just because it goes down to -80 or -100 (can't remember) this does not mean that you have it cranked more than half way up. The digital volume controls on equipment today are quite different than the potentiometer volume controls from the old days.

With my HT system (see below) I frequently run at -25 to -15 when listening to movies. Even in those ranges it is not stressing my receiver.

BTW....Great choice on the amp. :)

Enjoy and Welcome!
Dave

[jgladden]

I had a similar situation. I traded JBL 4312 Monitors for Polk Lsi9’s. I had to buy an Adcom amp to drive them. My Yamaha 2200 kept shutting down. The Lsi9’s do sound better now, than they did when I first bought them. You do have to put more power thru them to get the best sound from them. I am going thru a similar thing with my LSiFX rears. The highs are not as good as the treble I got with my former Polk FX30’s. Hopefully a little more break-in time will do the trick. Are you bi-wiring your Lsi9’s? I am, but I don’t know how much difference that makes. I did get some improvement by adjusting the room dimension settings from my DVD player. I set it as if the room was smaller, and the sound is better. Also, you may need a bit of “Toe-in” to direct the sound better towards your listening position. My LsiC also can be over powering. I turn down the center and adjust the center channel equalizer settings thru the Yamaha to maintain voice clarity at the lower volume setting. I am no expert, but hopefully my observations will be helpful.

[disaeur]

I had a similar situation. I traded JBL 4312 Monitors for Polk Lsi9’s. I had to buy an Adcom amp to drive them. My Yamaha 2200 kept shutting down. The Lsi9’s do sound better now, than they did when I first bought them. You do have to put more power thru them to get the best sound from them. I am going thru a similar thing with my LSiFX rears. The highs are not as good as the treble I got with my former Polk FX30’s. Hopefully a little more break-in time will do the trick. Are you bi-wiring your Lsi9’s? I am, but I don’t know how much difference that makes. I did get some improvement by adjusting the room dimension settings from my DVD player. I set it as if the room was smaller, and the sound is better. Also, you may need a bit of “Toe-in” to direct the sound better towards your listening position. My LsiC also can be over powering. I turn down the center and adjust the center channel equalizer settings thru the Yamaha to maintain voice clarity at the lower volume setting. I am no expert, but hopefully my observations will be helpful.
no bi-wiring going on yet but i'll try your suggestion on toe-in and play with the volume on the center channel.

thanks,
d-eur

[MartinG.]

Hey there, hope this thread can be activated once more.

I've got an Yamaha Ax-596 Amp, delivering 220 Watts at 4 Ohm - will this be enough to power the Polk lsi9 ??

Thanks for your answers
Martin