LSi HT Setup

[Roshisan1]

Hello,
I will be running a Denon AVR-3805 as pre/pro, an ADCOM GFA-7000 rated at 130 x 5 into 8 ohms, 200 x 5 into 4 ohms, and 2 LSi 9 fronts, 1 LSi C, and 2 LSi 7 rears. I am going to run speaker wire for biwiring/biamping for all speakers to allow for future tweeks and gear changes. I have three options for wiring.

1) Run all speakers directly off the Adcom biwired.

2) Use the 7000 to biamp the LSi 9s and use the remaining amp channel for the center and the Denon for the rears

3) Run the low-end of all 5 speakers off the amp and amplify the top end with the receiver (full biamp)

To complicate things I also have a GFA-6000 (100 X 3 and 60 X 2 into 8 ohms, 150 X 3 and 100 X 2 into 4 ohms) that I could bring into the biamp mix but would rather not unless it will make a drastic improvement.

Which option will provide the most power to the speakers and best overall sound quality?
What is the nominal impedance of each setion of the LSi when the biding post jumper is removed?

Thank you in advance for your advice.

[PSOVLSK]

May I suggest Option 4: Run all speakers off of the Adcom (no bi-wiring).

This would be my choice.

[EndersShadow]

May I suggest Option 4: Run all speakers off of the Adcom (no bi-wiring).

This would be my choice.

What he said. That or use your 2 dedicated amps, but that gets tricky since the wattage isnt the same. If your going to do that I would (Ghetto) bi-amp the fronts ONLY via your 2 amps (using the lower wattage amp on the highs).

[B Run]

Just keep it simple, wire the 5 speakers to the 5 channels and replace the stock jumpers with some nice speaker wire.

[tonyb]

Just keep it simple, wire the 5 speakers to the 5 channels and replace the stock jumpers with some nice speaker wire.

I'll second that thought.

[Roshisan1]

So biwiring is useless and biamping would only be worthwhile if I had 2 GFA 7000's and an outboard active crossover. Is that about right?

[B Run]

So biwiring is useless and biamping would only be worthwhile if I had 2 GFA 7000's and an outboard active crossover. Is that about right?

You got it! 200wpc for HT is enough to open your lsi's up nicely. If you want to tweak look into some nice interconnects and speaker cables.

[Sherardp]

With Brun and the other guys. Speaker wire/HDMI and HT cables from Bluejeanscable if in doubt. For HT it performs very well.

[Roshisan1]

Thank you all for your advice which saves me money and time. Now for the next question. I know that LSI 9s are best on speaker stands and have heard they need to be 20-24 inches away from the wall. That kind of set up is not realistic in my house (3 kids, 3 dogs). Has anyone had the same problem? I was envisioning using some kind of CRT TV mount and hanging them 6.5 feet up the wall (9 foot ceilings) angled down toward the listening area. If needed, I could put sand or lead shot in the hollow arm and use sound deadener on the metal tray to kill vibration. Any other ideas to keep the speakers high and safe and still provide good sound quality would be much appreciated.

[EndersShadow]

Thank you all for your advice which saves me money and time. Now for the next question. I know that LSI 9s are best on speaker stands and have heard they need to be 20-24 inches away from the wall. That kind of set up is not realistic in my house (3 kids, 3 dogs). Has anyone had the same problem? I was envisioning using some kind of CRT TV mount and hanging them 6.5 feet up the wall (9 foot ceilings) angled down toward the listening area. If needed, I could put sand or lead shot in the hollow arm and use sound deadener on the metal tray to kill vibration. Any other ideas to keep the speakers high and safe and still provide good sound quality would be much appreciated.

I would almost then recommend going with LSi 7 fronts and mounting those on the wall. You just need to augment the low end the 7's cant get to with a more capable sub (or more gain on a sub you own).