How is the LSi15 at low volume?

[hophung2]

Hi All,

I'm thinking about upgrading my RT55/CS400 to LSi15/LSiC. I would like some opinions on how the LSi sounds for music at low volume. I feel that my RT55 sounds less detailed and compressed at low volumes. I'm currently using a Rotel 1075 amp. Thanks.

HP

[polkatese]

welcome to the forum. The secret to make your LSi15 to sing beautifully at low volume is a high current amplifier rated above 200 watts @ 4ohms. While I have no experience with 1075, I did at one time owned a Rotel RSX-1065 rated at 185 watts @ 4 ohms per channel. It was not enough to open up the 15 at low volume, I can relate to your needs, and not until I use my current amp, a Krell 400xi before I am satisfied with the low level sound of my 15. It is rated at 400 watts @ 4 ohms per channel. I High current amp being the key words. YMMV.

[jdhdiggs]

At low volumes, the W/channel numbers won't make any difference. You're probably only using the first watt of power anyway if I'm reading you right. If you are listiening at low levels far more than higher, I'd reccommend amps that have rolled-off/less detailed highs and/or have mid-bass to bass bloom.

HK and Carvers may be good choices, howewever I've found the HK's to veil the speaker too much at moderate to reference levels. I would reccommend against adcom's as they will push your speaker to sound too forward at lower volumes. Rotel? No experience with them.

[G-2]

Our 15's sound great at all volumes with our Carver A500-x (2x400WPC).

[heiney9]

I have 9's and the low level resolution is excellent. It really depends on your gear (pre-amp, source and amp). I'd think with all the comments about the Rotel here on CP you'll be fine in that department. No speaker/gear combo is going to help if the volume is too low. It's a matter of electro-mechanical properties, etc. Higher current will help in this situation.

H9

[heiney9]

At low volumes, the W/channel numbers won't make any difference. You're probably only using the first watt of power anyway if I'm reading you right. If you are listiening at low levels far more than higher, I'd reccommend amps that have rolled-off/less detailed highs and/or have mid-bass to bass bloom.

HK and Carvers may be good choices, howewever I've found the HK's to veil the speaker too much at moderate to reference levels. I would reccommend against adcom's as they will push your speaker to sound too forward at lower volumes. Rotel? No experience with them.

Never ever found Adcom's to be as you say. Synergy is the key as well as room dynamics, placement and other associated gear. Much of what you state can be true if one is using an AVR as a pre-amp. AVR's just can't get there like a true high quality pre-amp.

[engtaz]

jdhdiggs

That is the first I have heard that said about Adcom. I have found them to be clean and clear.

engtaz

[jdhdiggs]

Yes, they are clean and clear, unfortunately at low volume, that's a problem. Your hearing sensitivity to low frequencies drops as volume drops so any amp that is really clear on the high end will start moving to the bright side as your sensitivity to midbass and bass drops. the speaker and amp are playing just as flat of a profile as they were at high volume, but your hearing has changed.

Now othe amps that are a little laid back will have the opposite effect of becoming "clearer" and lower volumes.

H9: As you said, it is synergy, but in this case it's not just the type of amp, but the volume it's played at. If he has to play the speakers a lot at low volume, the adcoms can come off as being very forward. My only experince is with the 565 mono's so maybe they act different on the 9's than other adcom's

[Mick88]

Like the others have said power really make the LSI15's shine. I added an Emotiva LPA-1 amp to my Sony ES receiver and my LSI's came alive. I mean a major difference to the listening experience. The sound now is detailed and effortless at all volume levels. Good luck with the LSI15's.......just make sure you power them.

MNSACD

[hophung2]

Has anybody have experience driving the LSi series with class D amps?

[sbpolk]

Like the others have said power really make the LSI15's shine. I added an Emotiva LPA-1 amp to my Sony ES receiver and my LSI's came alive. I mean a major difference to the listening experience. The sound now is detailed and effortless at all volume levels. Good luck with the LSI15's.......just make sure you power them.

MNSACD

Mick, I just bought a complete LSi setup, LSi15's, LSic, and four LC65i's. Give us more info on the difference in using the Emotiva amp. Are you still happy with it? What ES receiver did you have, and was it four ohm stable? Wattage per channel? Are you using the two lower powered channels in a 7.1 system as well?

This amp, due to price, is at the top of my list. I love the LSi's, but know I will love them more with amplification.

Also, do you have BLu_ray where you can listen to LPCM soundtracks?

[Mick88]

Mick, I just bought a complete LSi setup, LSi15's, LSic, and four LC65i's. Give us more info on the difference in using the Emotiva amp. Are you still happy with it? What ES receiver did you have, and was it four ohm stable? Wattage per channel? Are you using the two lower powered channels in a 7.1 system as well?

This amp, due to price, is at the top of my list. I love the LSi's, but know I will love them more with amplification.

Also, do you have BLu_ray where you can listen to LPCM soundtracks?


Yes I still have the Emotiva amp and extremely satisfied with it. The difference in sound is drastic from my old Sony STRDA4ES reciever which I am now using as a pre-amp. The Sony was rated 110w per channel into 8ohms and 90 into 4 ohms. I am mostly a music listener but I also watch movies. Using the old Sony, If I listened for a few hours at a fairly loud level the top of the unit would get so hot I could almost not touch it. The build quaility of the Sony is stellar because it soldiered on for 2 years driving my LSI series. When I think about the first time I listened with the Emotiva amp it reminded me when I first upgraded ffrom my Polk RTI800's to the LSI's....it was like wow....what a better speaker! With the Emotiva I listened to Genesis Trick of the Tail and Dance on a Volcano and Entangled just blew me away. More of everything, detail, crisp sound, and the middle and bottom end were just solid as a rock with my HSU VTF3-MK2 shaking the house. I then listened to Beck's Sea Change SACD and Pink Floyd's DSOTM SACD.....in 5.1 it was simply beautiful. Crystal clear sound and all channels coming to life. The best way to describe it is with the Emotiva the sound is "effortless"......it just drives these speakers so much better than the Sony. I am not using the additional 2 channels of the amp.....just the 5. Last weekend I watched 2 movies back to back and then about an hour and a half of music.......at the end of that the Emotiva was a little warm on top....thats it. I hope this helps you out and I don't think you can go wrong with the amp and at that price it's a real value. I am holding off on Blue Ray or HD at the moment. I am very happy with the current picture I have but will upgrade sometime.

Mick