Polk Audio LSi9 Stock Vs. Modded Shootout

[VR3]

Will have some awesome video/recordings of a stock LSi9 versus a Fortress modified LSi9!

Stay tuned! :)

[tommyt21]

Very cool Trey ....cant wait!

[mantis]

This should be interesting.

[bthogan]

Very interested to hear results.

On the one hand, I'm gonna get that Fortress upgrade eventually.

On the other hand, I'm very impressed w/ stock - when paired with the right amp. Adcom GFA-545 = good; Parasound HCA-1500A = great; McCormack DNA-1 = amazing.

Right now, they're on the Parasound, until the McCormack gets back. Can't imagine what Fortress will do with upgraded DNA-1, but I expect I'll know some day...

[VR3]

We just recorded the stock pair and after some microphone adjustments we had a hard time telling the real speakers from the recording so I am pretty pumped. Stay tuned!

[tommyt21]

Cant wait!! what do you think the ETA for the other recording will be?

[VR3]

1 to 2 weeks

[slider2828]

I can't wait for this two... Some real data behind the mod, but still I can tell its nice already.

[audiocr381ve]

Stoked about this!

[VR3]

Next 30 minutes??? Stock recording should be available!

[VR3]

It is up! (Stock)

http://vr3mods.com/FortressRecording.html

Check it out!

Stay tuned for the modified recording and the direct comparison recording!

[danz1906]

Sweet!

[VR3]

Thanks man!

You have heard the LSi, how do you think the recording does them justice?

[tommyt21]

Very Awsome dude!

[VR3]

Modified recording in less than a week! :)

[VR3]

Should have the modified re ording posted tonight!

stay tuned

[VR3]

I have debated posting this because of a small panning issue...

But after a 45 minute long winded conversation filled with excitement and several folks expressing they heard the difference I figure why not.

This recording is of a modified LSi9 - unfortunately the studio rushed this one out and the panning is straight center so unfortunately there is no sound stage...

The GOOD news is you can most definitely hear the difference between the modified and stock speaker.

Keep is mind this is same placement, settings, volume, EVERYTHING is the same. Any increase in volume, change in sound, etc is 100% the difference.

Here is a recording of a stock LSi9 -
https://soundcloud.com/vr3mods/lsi9stockrecording

Modified Recording -
https://soundcloud.com/vr3mods/lsi9-modded-recording

If you go to this page you can actually flip between both songs -

https://soundcloud.com/vr3mods

1) Voices are much more "airy" - cleaner
2) Hi hats are refined, cleaner
3) Snare drum has more separation/pop
4) The ride around 2:40 has ALOT more refinement, clarity and snap
5) The saxophone at the 2:40 has a lot more air and kick to it
6) Even with the panning issues it is just a cleaner, more refined recording

I hope in the next week or two I will have revised recording with correct panning, as soon as this studio recovers from this fire they had.

Please post ALL thoughts and feedback!

[treitz3]

I'll remain quiet [for now] and see what other folks have to say. Congrat's nonetheless, Trey. I love it when a good plan comes together.

Tom

[cincycat13]

VR3,

love the side by side page. what is the source track being used? i am sure you probably said somewhere but i am currently lazy. I have been working on getting some "stock" lsi9s from a member here so I hope to do this comparison from the comfort of my own chair if my onkyo 5007 doesnt totally crap out before then...dont even get me started on onkyo "support"...

[VR3]

I can't wait till we load up the Sound Cloud with HUNDREDS of studio quality speaker recordings for Audiophiles everywhere to compare speakers since brick and mortars are no more! :-P

[VR3]

VR3,

love the side by side page. what is the source track being used? i am sure you probably said somewhere but i am currently lazy. I have been working on getting some "stock" lsi9s from a member here so I hope to do this comparison from the comfort of my own chair if my onkyo 5007 doesnt totally crap out before then...dont even get me started on onkyo "support"...

It is Millage Gilbert, track 3 (don't know the name, I am a track guy)

What did you think of the recording differences?

[treitz3]

The track is ♪ Let's Straighten it Out ♪

Tom

[cincycat13]

It is Millage Gilbert, track 3 (don't know the name, I am a track guy)

What did you think of the recording differences?

I kept listening to the sax section around the 2:50 mark. and i really didnt expect to hear a difference on a PC speaker...but I think I could. i'll sober up and try again tommorrow

[VR3]

The ride and saxophone stand out the most...

Next is his voice with the hi hats/crash and snare as a sweet treat! :)

[chriscorv58]

wow, you really can tell a difference. Ive been tossing the idea around for awhile now to change the corssovers, I think this put me over the edge. Only problem can i live with out having speakers for almost a week.

[VR3]

I am very fast!

[polrbehr]

I know this is over two months in the making, and you wanted a comparison for people, but I would have held off until the panning issue was fixed.

Soundstage issue aside, I do believe the modded side has more flavor. It also seems to have more depth and separation, which will undoubtedly be more readily discernable once the recording is redone. Having only listened on my laptop with a decent pair of cans, I can only give my impressions based on that. I do like Millage Gilbert, though, Sal turned some of us on to him a few years ago when we took a roadtrip to Jersey to meet up with a few other Polkies. 3 Faces is a nice CD, I would reco it to anyone who likes smooth, well-played music.

I would like to hear the side by side again once they put up the new recording.

[VR3]

I agree with you 100%. The studio finished the 10 or so other recordings we did a while back and I am going to meet up with them soon to obtain those recordings and record some additional speakers. The issue I am running into is this may have been an initial recording issue versus mastering and if that is the case I would have to wait until I have another set of LSi9 to modify. Coming from someone who works 100 hours a week time is a commodity so if it comes to that I will have to wait until I modify another LSi9, break it in 200 hours then record so it takes alot of time to do these right, a mistake like this is costly.

I do assure you a fixed recording will happen sooner and later! :]

thank you very much for your review and I hope recording speakers will help people make some informed decisions.

:]

[DSkip]

Trey, ever done any Usher speakers?

[marvda1]

skip, with the size of the 6311's, take them to danny richie.