Sda 1c vs lsi 15/25

[bobt]

OK, I posted this in the "vintage" forum, got back a 3 word reply, rebuild the SDA....LOL
The people over there..shell i say seem to think the SDA is the end all be all.
Which to be honest..could be true.
I have a set of SDA 1C that i've had..forever. I have not used them in 3 plus years do to where i've beeen living. Now I'm moving. Even when I stopped using them, I needed to replace at least 1 if not more drivers.
Basically...everything needs to be replaced, updated Xover, tweets...everything.

Even at club pricing...i'm up to $800(probably min)

On the polk ebay site...i can get (refurbished)..kind of leary about that.....LSI 15/25 for about 1 K.

I have never heard or seen these speakers..nobody has them around here.

I have heard some things that they are..more laid back?....which could mean anything...just not real bright?...hard to get a handle on.
The SDA..is pretty up front and in your face.

This is a 2 channel system..records and cd's...I play rock, blues, and classical, and I play them LOUD.
The speakers will be placed in a 15X25 foot room. I have no idea as to what the LSI 15/25 sound like...
I would like sombody that has had the SDA 1C and LSI to give a good opinon on both, and how the sound. Which they would buy the 15 or 25...or just rebuild the SDA.
Thanks

[raidersrule76]

My opinion dosen't mean a whole lot because I just have the LSI 25 and have never owned the sda and I went from RTI 8 to the Lsi huge improvement for me so thats my 2 cents. I assume that you have an amp and If not these speakers are very power hungry and you will want to have good power going to them. Good luck with the search. Also dont bother with ebay beacuse all the speakers on there always get bid over the buy it now price, so I just called polk direct and bought them for the BIN price they were very helpful in fixing me up 1-800-764-1801 ask for Phil he's very nice and helpful.

mark

[bobt]

Well raider...

What do you like about the LSI25????

Are you using it as just your 2 channel set up...or tv stuff?

What music do you play?.....what do you like about it?
Any info is good info...LOL

[george daniel]

I don't mean to be contrary,, but my SDA 1C's are certainly not in your face,,more of a "laid back",,maybe it's the tubes.:)

[nooshinjohn]

I have auditioned the LSI's before I bought my 1c's and I found them to be so bright as to be painful for me to listen to. They are nice thru the mids but seem to be somewhat lacking at the bottom. My 1c's on the other hand are very tight and clear from a fairly deep bottom end thru the mid range. I am replacing my SL2000 tweets with ther newer RDO-194's and have been told this will result in a much inproved higher end over stock. You mentioned above that you need to rebuild your 1c's, and it is my belief that once your 1c's are restored you will be in total two channel bliss. the other thing to suggest is a good strong amp to drive them whether you choose to go with a 40watt tube or a 400watt mega amp you will be glad you kept them. On the other hand, if you really want something new, take the LSI25

[tcrossma]

I've never had the privilege of experiencing the SDA's yet, but I have been very happy with my LSi15's. From what I've seen on this forum you're going to see a lot of fans of both LSi's and SDA's. And while I'm sure there are exceptions, most people seem to feel the "other side" is good, just not quite as good as what their own personal preference is (i.e. most SDA fans seem to have some respect for the LSi series, and vice-versa).

I don't think you could go wrong with either, but I will say that I would recommend that 15's over the 25's. Not that the 25's aren't good, but if more bass than the 15's can give is needed, I'd rather outsource that duty to a dedicated sub. Leaves the options open for customization.

Have fun with your research and ultimate decision.

[thsmith]

I don't mean to be contrary,, but my SDA 1C's are certainly not in your face,,more of a "laid back",,maybe it's the tubes.:)

I think the SDA-1Cs are laid back too but I do not have tube amps but I do have a Carver TFM-45 but they sounded just as laid back with my Carver TFM-25 and my Denon 2808 AVR.

Must be a SDA-1C thing except for OP.

Hey Bobt, where do you live and what do you want for your 1Cs?

[bobt]

Well...in you face, may not be the best description, and was not ment in a bad way. Maybe more articulate.
Sorry, don't intend to sell them. If I don't rebuild them completely, as my main 2 channel setup, they would just be used in another room.

I don't hear a lot of love for the LSI 15/25. Very divided camps here. The SDA owners, don't have a lot of good things to say about them. In some cases have only heard the LSI in a store like Fry with a really bad or under powered reciever. The people who do have the LSI, in most cases, have never heard the SDA's.

[timlitton]

The people who do have the LSI, in most cases, have never heard the SDA's.

I think you'll find that to be pretty accurate although there are exceptions. It also seems that the folks who have SDA's have heard the LSi series in more cases. Most stuck with SDA's - if that tells you anything.

People aren't joking about needing good amplification to run the LSi15's. I liked the sound alright before, but I literally smiled the first time I went from AVR power to 200WPC of dedicated 4ohm stable power. Add that into the cost of ownership.

[george daniel]

If they are doing 2 ch duty,, the money that you will spend on the 15's and related ,almost necessary amplification, will yield far greater results if you re-invest/upgrade tweak those 1C's.If they seem "in your face",try the rdo replacements tweeters,,you won't lose either way,, if you don/t like em,, flip em' here,,or sell the 2000's.If you are looking for something where the speakers just "disappear",then the 1C's are for you.Like I said before,I had a pair of 15's,,and high current/power and placement are critical to their success. Good luck in whatever way you go.Let us know.

[Texas42]

I've owned the 1Bs, 1Cs, SRS, LSI-15s and LSI-25s. I preferred the SDA (any of them) over either LSI model. The LSI models are nice (craftsmanship is far superior to the SDAs from a purely aesthetic standpoint) but I like the nice full-bodied sound of the SDAs. (but then I have Klipschorns too so I've never been trapped into the WAF factor regarding speaker selection). Just my two cents. Go with what moves you...

[ohskigod]

it's subjective, I owned 1B's and have heard 1C's, and while I have much love for the SDA, I prefer my Lsi15's. timlitton isnt kidding though, it's beaten to death but ever so true......they love the power. I went from a 120 watt rotel to a 200 watt outlaw and eventually to 500 watts from a Carver m4.0 and each step was a marked improvement in overall imaging and balance of sound. seemed the improvements came from weaknesses being diminished, I assume, by the increase in power.

the need for silly power to get them to sound there best is the line's biggest weakness.....luckily for the used amplification market it is not so hard to overcome

[danger boy]

bobt, so much has been updated to more current parts when people update their SDA's. that plus a good beefy amp.. and the SDA's still hold up well for their age. If your 1C's have the SL2000 tweeter.. that should be your first update/upgrade. it's well worth updating the tweeter. Updating the crossover also shows big improvements over the 20 yr old stock parts.

Some of the drivers are still available from polk, depending on which part number they are. I don't think you can compare the LSi's with the SDA's. two different animals.

[lumpy]

if you like to constantly adjust and tweak - the Lsi25s are for you. I can make mine sound however i want (via adjustments to the amp, the receiver or the speaker itself). I can make them bright and detailed, I can make them shake the walls and I can get them anywhere in between. I very much enjoy making these constant adjustments.

if you are a set it and forget it person - the 25's may not be for you

I have not heard the sda's - although I would like to.

[mmadden28]

...

On the polk ebay site...i can get (refurbished)..kind of leary about that.....LSI 15/25 for about 1 K.

...

I can't provide input on comparisons but have no fear going the refurb from PolkDirect route. Haven't heard anybody report they got anything less then what appears to be brand new (if not actually). And they still come with the full warranty.