LSI C owners chime in....

[SBrown712]

I have LSI 15s as my front speakers and have been looking for a deal on a LSI C to go along. I've read that some C owners aren't that happy with it. It was suggested that I use a LSI 9 as a center.
What's the common thought on doing this?
For what it's worth, I'm hoping at some point to get a pair of LSI FX for my surrounds.

[Bamadude]

I'm in the same boat with 15's and needing a center. I've also heard folks like the 9 over the lsiC. There's a good thread I read a while back here on the subject, I'll look around for it.

Daniel

[Bamadude]

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=53242&highlight=center+lsi9
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47449&highlight=center+channel

[MikeC78]

I'm happy with my LSiC, it's doing the job it was made to do. Feed it plenty of power and you won't have any issues with it.

[john22614]

Me too.....very happy with my LSiC.....excellent sonic qualities and timbre match to the 9's, and I appreciate that it is smaller than the 9 and fits perfectly on my shelf above the plasma. It's a really good center.....dialogue is deep, crisp and natural sounding.

[tcrossma]

I'm very happy with my LSiC to go along with my LSi15's. Granted i've not tried a 9 in its place but i've no desire to switch

[haimoc]

LsiC is an excelent center speaker. It wil match well with your 15s.

[dkg999]

I have the LSiC also, and find that it's an excellent center channel speaker. I think it has better dispersion qualities for dialogue than the LSi9's. I wonder if some of the previous comments had more to do with the AVR and the setup and equalization than the LSiC?

[MikeC78]

I've heard that the "sweet spot" using an LSi9 is very narrow, compared to an LSiC.

I believe Wingnut447(?)(Darla) has used an LSi9 as a center in the past, maybe she can chime in on her thoughts.

[phuz]

Set up your LSi15s properly and you won't need a center channel speaker.

That's right, I said it.

[Face]

I've heard others complain of the LSiC also.

A phantom center(none) doesn't work for everyone, but can sound fantastic.

[john22614]

I don't like the phantom center 'cause the moment you move off the sweet spot, you're toast.....even with the LSi's toed in.

[tonyb]

I don't like the phantom center 'cause the moment you move off the sweet spot, you're toast.....even with the LSi's toed in.

Seems to me if you have the center and walk out of the sweet spot,your also toast.
I run mine with a phantom center and actually like it better.

[tcrossma]

Seems to me if you have the center and walk out of the sweet spot,your also toast.
I run mine with a phantom center and actually like it better.

If a sound is coming from a single source it's always going to sound like it's coming from that source even if you are off center. If you have a L/R speaker combining to make up a center image, then you're relying on your positioning to hear it dead-center (dependant on many factors of course)

To me a phantom center can work very well, and i've done it that way before. But I like my LSiC and think it adds a lot to my system.

[Roland P]

dvd is 5.1 and should be played back like that :p

Isn't it something about the crossover of the LSiC that makes it different from the LSi9's? The polk site says:

The LSiC Center Channel Speaker has a Cascade Tapered Driver Array to maintain wide horizontal dispersion so every listener in the room hears clear, detailed sound, even off-axis. Its low profile is designed for unobtrusive placement on top of your TV.

[donedroolin]

I Have an LSic that I have set up with LSi 15's. I think it sounds great. I am always thinking I'm going to blow it pushing 400 watts to it. The LsiC's, arent the wolfers used for different sounds or something, It works different then say the Csi5. How much power are you guys pushing to your LsiC.

[SBrown712]

OK, I'm sold. As soon as I can find a 'C' at a good price I'm picking one up. I've paid two different places for one and neither has delivered. Got my money back from one after filing a dispute with credit card company and I have a dispute filed with paypal on the other. I guess I should have gone ahead and bought one at Fry's when they had the LSI 15s on blowout. Now I have a hard time justifying buying a C at a higher price than I paid for both of my 15s.

[hockeyboy]

I love my Lsi-C. I also have 15's along with a couple of big subs. I did set my center on small and hear the dialog much better on that setting. A reliable source to purchase a Lsi-C is through Z-Tech Electronics. They can be reached via E-Bay but will not sell directly from the Bay since they are authorized. Contact Kevin over there and he will get you a quote. I bought all my Polk gear from him and it is NIB with paperwork first rate.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180231914570&ssPageName=MERCOSI_VI_ROSI_PR4_PCN_BIX_Stores&refitem=170203214444&itemcount=4&refwidgetloc=closed_view_item&refwidgettype=osi_widget&_trksid=p284.m185&_trkparms=algo%3DSI%26its%3DI%252BIA%26itu%3DCR%25 2BIA%252BUCI%26otn%3D4%26ps%3D42

[McLoki]

I have the LSiC with 15's and it sounds great. I am currently using a phantom center while I figure out how to mout the 'C' with my new plasma - but it is a great speaker.

Oh, and when you finally get the LSiC - yes the left speaker puts out less sound than the right, it is designed that way. (just saving you the post later... :D )

Michael

[john22614]

tcrossma nailed it.....a phantom is fine if you're sitting in the right spot.....but, if you move away from it, the sound becomes unbalanced and the dominant speaker is quite noticeable. With a center, the sound always is coming from the middle, no matter where you sit.

[Timobi]

I'll echo what Michael stated regarding the LSiC. I've had a pair of LS9s & the LSiC for about 2.5 weeks now and I've been breaking them in as they say. So...i've got some decent opinions. :p

I was coming from a system of RTi6s, CSi3, RTi4s etc...I thought that set was really good-especially for the price. The Csi3 center was punchy, and produced clear dialougue.

BTW, at the heart of my system is the Onkyo 805 THX-Ultra 2 receiver.

At first, I was on the fence regarding the LSiC. It certainly wasn't bad, but I was a tad underwhelmed. Longtime Polkies know the LS series really does require some serious current and nothing against the 805 Onkyo as it's a very well reqarded AVR. However, I found a nice deal on an Acurus 3 channel amp. (200x3) and this made all the difference in the sound of the LS center.

I'm not sure why or how but it seems that the LSiC has benefitted the most from the added oomph of the Acurus amp. :) Re-watching the Blu-ray of I Am Legend again made me appreciate what more juice did for this center. We watched this film the other night before the Acurus arrived. Sounded fine but at times I felt I needed to turn up the center...with the Acurus in play, no need.

So I think those who are slightly unhappy with it or are wanting something more, should really consider finding a nice amp for these. I wasn't a believer in separates until now...until the LS speakers. These babies LOVE current and the more the better.

BTW, I also have the LSi7s on the way via Crutchfield; will be here Friday! In fact, I am not watching anything until then. ;)

[McLoki]

Tim,

So enjoying the Acurus? You were not really sure when I last talked to you. Did your interconnects finally come in or just getting more used to the sound with the external amp? Glad you are enjoying it - I would have hated to feel I had pointed you in the wrong direction....

BTW - the LSi7's are really closer to 6 ohm speakers than 4. The 805 should not have much of an issue with them as rear speakers. (Since it does not have to handle the 9's or the C anymore...)

Michael

[Timobi]

Oh, yes...I purposely waited a little bit to really let the system sink in and wanted to have enough time for the right cables etc...like we chatted about. First, I'm new here but not new to other forums and I want to point out that Michael & Ron Temple are 1st rate guys who are truly helpful, polite, and know their Polks. Both Michael & Ron were invaluable during this process of upgrading to the LS line as well as which ICs, speaker wire and of course, proper ampage. :) Funny, I've been a Home Theater guru (in my mind;)) for a long, long time but this was my first venture into the land of separates. So even the basic questions of Interconnects became something I really never needed. I always used pretty good Digital Coaxial cables but now with an amp? Whoa! New Territory, USA. :D

Just from browsing other threads here & on AVS, it's clear that Michael & Ron T are helpful to many. A genuine "Thanks".

But yes, the Acurus has really opened everything up. Especially the center. I've been really busy at work and also in the middle of trying to calibrate Dual SVS PB12 Plus/2 subwoofers! Talk about a load and some...um...overkill. :)

Hey the Onk is a great one but for these speakers the Acurus is really a perfect match. I've read some places where some thought it leaned on the bright side? Not to me. So far it's really made the front soundstage bigger, clearer, and more dynamic. The Onkyo will be fine running the 7s for sure. I can't wait for them to arrive.

Got some good ICs and the next venture will be better speaker wire since I've had my current wire since Jimmy Carter was president. :D

[tonyb]

If a sound is coming from a single source it's always going to sound like it's coming from that source even if you are off center. If you have a L/R speaker combining to make up a center image, then you're relying on your positioning to hear it dead-center (dependant on many factors of course)

To me a phantom center can work very well, and i've done it that way before. But I like my LSiC and think it adds a lot to my system.

True.....but for the most part,I don't get up and walk around during a movie.:D

[Marcinko7]

I love the sound of the LsiC but it cannot handle the watts that the 15's or 25's can handle. One night after several cocktails I burnt out one side of the speaker (not to mention a few brain cells).

[demaples]

Love my LSic. Will probably like it more when my amp gets here.

[fatchowmein]

I tried the 9's as a center with 15's for fronts driven by an Emotiva LPA-1. Worked well but it projected sound in a rather narrow field when placed on it's side but was a bit wider when upright IIRC. I replaced it with a LSi-C and I'm much happier with the results. I would be interested to hear what two LSi9's as centers sound like and I think Darla (???) was testing it. In the end, I didn't have the proper amp to drive two LSi9's at 2ohms correctly.

I would like to see Polk make a larger LSi-C whenever they get around to upgrading the LSi line.

[SBrown712]

I have an Emotiva LPA-1 also and currently have a HK AVR435 as the pre. I'm ready for a C when they are available and I can find one at a price I want.