lsi lacking in bass

[surfntomm]

i recently got a pair of lsi7's and although i think the high end sounds nicer compared to my rti70's the mids and bass seem too soft. does everyone run these with a sub because it seems like that would be the only way to get the full spectrum of sound with these guys. any ideas would be greatly appreciated. thanks

[janmike]

I do run a sub with the LSi9's. That added extra.

[Early B.]

Don't expect to get significant bass from a bookshelf speaker, in general.

What are you powering them with?

[sickicw]

I think you just need to give them more high current power. They should go down to about 55hz with proper power. Also I wouldn't think that the mids should sound so soft.

[surfntomm]

im powering them with a samson servo 550 (275 watt/ch at 4 ohms). well the mids dont sound soft but it justg seems like the rti70 is so much richer in terms of mids to bass but i guess i should compare them to my rti6 to get a fair trial. the mids do seem tighter on the lsi 7's though if that makes any sense.

anyone know if there is a certain pre amp that pairs especially well with the lsi7's cus im looking at an older rotel such as the 980bx or 970x right now and was wondering if that was a good route to go or not.

[zombie boy 2000]

It's my understanding that the older Rotel pre's are not on par with their amps.

[MSALLA]

It is a bookshelf speaker with only a 5-1/4 mid-bass driver.You have to run a sub for your low bass. The rti70's you had were good speakers. Your right about them being richer in bass.

[cfrizz]

You are comparing apples & oranges. The 7's have plenty of bass for the bookshelves that they are, but with only one driver as opposed to however many that the 70's have is asking a lot from it.

[Sami]

With a good sub the 7's are much better than 70's, at one time I have had both connected to same gear. Even the "non-audiophiles" that listened to the system could tell how much better.

That being said, they are much more demanding in terms of placement and tuning in the subwoofer to get rid of bloated bass. Crossing them over with the sub was also a problem since 60Hz worked for most albums but 80Hz was a better overall point (also considering this a HT setup as well). The time spent on getting it right is well worth it though so get a nice sub and enjoy the LSi's.

[tommyboy]

Your title is very misleading. I thought when reading your title you met the lsi 15 or 25... I don't know how you would expect great base response from a smaller bookshelf speaker. get a sub.

[ND13]

Considering the size of the speaker, I've been quite amazed with the bass response of my LSi7s...of course, the room has a lot to do with it, too.

[surfntomm]

well ive got my lsi7 connected to my samson servo 550 and my rti70s to my denon 2106. i cant really hear much difference other than a lacking of richness in the 7's and a wider sound stage in the 7's compared to the 70's. any suggestions on a pre to get would be amazing before i purchase one. if people have helpful hints on lsi7 placement that has helped them in the past will be helful too. what size stands should i get for them if im using them for my pc rig so ill be in a chair most of the time.

[tommyboy]

Is it just me, or does it sound like you need to upgrade now because you won't be happy with your 7s down the road...

[MSALLA]

Is it just me, or does it sound like you need to upgrade now because you won't be happy with your 7s down the road...

If your not happy at the start, you won't be happy down the road. But what do you upgrade? When I wasn't happy, it all went and I'm still not done replacing or adding gear. I didn't like the reciever, so that went for a new one. Then the M40's for Lsi-7's, Cs-1 for Lsi-c, Building a new sub. Now that christmas is here I have to wait to buy a new amp and Lsi-9 or 15 (if the wife will let me put the 15's in the living room)

So what should he upgrade? The 7's or the gear?

[BobMcG]

Are the speaks being used in a rather large listening area? The larger the room the more likely you'll need a sub to satisfy you. For example, my CRS+ speakers in a small room have an abundance of excellent bass but when placed in a large listening area the result isn't as impressive.

[VR3]

Speakers have a tone and a sound - if you dont like that sound - all better gear will do is enhance a sound you already dont like...

[surfntomm]

im not disappointed with the gear, i just thought there would be more a difference in sound from my rti70's to the lsi7's. to me they sound pretty similar while the new rti8's sound largely different in terms of brightness compared to my rti70's.

i dont think i will upgrade anything because i have been more than happy with my rti70's ever since i bought them. i got them for 150 each at a frys sale and i guess ive always put them in that price bracket which isnt fair to the other speakers.

the 7's are good for where ill have them (in my room/office) i cant really afford to get more gear considering im a college student and i live in an apartment complex, any more and ill turn into circuit city.

i kept hearing that the lsi line is amazing for vocals and what not but i feel that with what i have right now in terms of amplification and sources, that i do not hear a difference between the soft dome tweeter and the vifa tweeter other than that the soft dome is more laid back and quieter but tonality seems to be pretty much the same.

so pretty much what im wondering is...am i missing something in terms of setup to get the full or close to full potential of the lsi7's or is it just the truth that they are not THAT much of a step up from the rti line. which component will give me the most improvement in sound. pre, source, amp, cables(doubtful)?

ive been doing tests the past few days with my denon as a pre and using my samson to power the lsi's while using the denon as receiver for the rti70's or the rti6's and the two bookshelves dont differ too much and the floorstanders are obviously different.

[surfntomm]

i just listened to the cranberries "dreams" (flac) and the voice sounded more detailed and lifelike. i do enjoy the sound of the lsi series but there just comes a time when the money to upgrade is hard to justify to difference in sound quality. thanks for your input guys, i still need some help on a pre, are there any decent ones that are cheap and have a sub out? (im getting my hands on a psw650 for 200 bucks and in mint condition :) )

[Sami]

or is it just the truth that they are not THAT much of a step up from the rti line
I guess we all are different. To me the LSi's are a huge step up in terms of sound quality. Really huge, but YMMV. I suspect the lack of subwoofer is playing a big part in your experience here.

[surfntomm]

in my testing i use a subwoofer that is in my ht rig but the majority of the listening ive done with them has been sans sub in my room. i brought them out due to my roof leaking in my room (****ty landlords) so they are stacked on top of my rti70's when i use them lol. 2 rigs in 1 room for now i guess.

[cstpeter]

Reward the LSi with nice electronics, and they'll reward you. That said, when you talk about expectations v. price paid, I think you're referring to the point of diminishing returns...but if you set up those LSi7 with the respect they deserve, well, then I think you're a ways from diminishing returns. In my experience with the LSi9, everything I put into them was returned two-fold.

Regardless, I'd suggest you try to not compare the LSi to your other speakers (it's tough, I know). Instead, try to enjoy them for what they are (a beautiful speaker, IMO). If you don't dig 'em, sell 'em for something you do.

Rock on.

[beardog03]

I run my 7`s with a 980bx and I get great bass...
Small room though...like Noel said

I also hooked up an 8 sub just to check it out and it blended really well..

I dig my 7`s..............and my 9`s...!!!

[F1nut]

Reward the LSi with nice electronics, and they'll reward you.

Bingo, we have a winner.



which component will give me the most improvement in sound. pre, source, amp, cables(doubtful)?



All of the above, but cables won't do much until the resolution of the other gear is increased.

[Refefer]

I've got a question as well surfntomm: Are these resting on a literal bookshelf or a desk? Or do you have them perched on some heavy (ala sand-filled, lead,buckshot, etc.) stands? I know when I got my 7's I was using them for near-field monitors, placed on my desk and they sounded like poo. The second I invested some dough on some good stands, clarity and bass became much more pronounced (in a good way).

[amulford]

Your asking too much of them, and they need a little help. Get a small sub and work it in to the rig.

[surfntomm]

i am placing them directly on my desk unfortunately but i have also listened to them in my room. i am planning on getting stands for them, any recommendatios? i see a lot of people use sanus? i will be getting a sub for them as well just depends on which one (psw650 or some old klh sub).

i do enjoy them for what they are and i think they are a terrific speaker, i was just surprised at how little of a difference i could hear between my other speakers. i guess i was just comparing the two because i got them for the same price. for my room they are perfect since i didnt want huge speakers since i move every year and having 9 speakers to move is quite a hassle.