Planning an LSI 15 based HT system-need advice

[loufmd]

I'm planning a new custom multimedia HT room in my existing family room. It is 23 by 14.5 feet and I plan to hang my future Video projection screen on the far wall, with the main sitting area about 15 feet from far wall. LSI 15 fronts and lsi center/and fx surrounds are within my budget. Which sub should I complement this system with (I know the freebie one is the PSW-10, but I could get $200 towards one of the bigger ones).
Also, my main problem is which reciever &/or amp combination is best. I have demo'd and like the Denon AVr-3805. I have also tried Onkyo's high-end Integra line; both of these are similarly priced and similar credentials/power/build. Are these enough for my room-size and these power hungry speakers (4 OHMS!). Our do I opt for a smaller "high-end" reciver with good build/quailty but less power and add one the amps others have mentioned (outlaw, etc.)? I'm trying to keep the budget for the amp/receiver <$1,500).

Thank you Polkies- looking forward to some awesome explosions and rumbling...... thx for the advice, and excuse me for my inexperience.

[okiepolkie]

If you are just wanting 5.1 or 6.1, go for the Outlaw pre-amp/amp combo(B-stock pre-amp and new and for $1500)

Get the free sub, sell it on ebay or the forum, then buy the SVS
PB10-ISD.

Just suggestions. Hope this helps.

[bertram]

My living room is about the same size as yours with 8' ceilings and my Denon 3803 drives 8 LSi speakers just fine at reasonable listening levels. I have never raised the volume to deafening levels and it would probably be asking for trouble to do so.

This Denon FAQ (see Item #9) talks about using 4-ohm speakers with their receivers. Remember that the LSi series is a "soft" 4 ohms and behaves more like 6 ohms much of the time.

[Tour2ma]

Welcome to the Club, loufmd...

Your room is on the big side, pushing around 2800 cu ft. Any openings to additional rooms that cannot be closed off during listening? These do add to the volume your system must fill and is a consideration, especially for sub selection.

No doubt at low to moderate volumes the 3805 will hang in there as bertram stated, especially with a sub handling the deep bass duties. But for real jollies, you almost certainly will want to add an outboard amp.... someday. Likely that a 2 ch supplementing the power to the 15's as mains will do.

Sub-wise, I half agree with op, consider an SVS. However, your room is a bit too large for a single PB-10 I think. SVS CS will guide you in your selection. Also know that there are other worthy contenders out there...

[dorokusai]

Start selling neighborhood children now, it will make this process so much easier.

SVS or HSU would be perfect choices. The SVS PB12-ISD would be just dandy for your room size.

Onkyo - No. Denon - Yes. You will definetly benefit from an outboard amplifier for the LSi15's later on, but you will be ok in the interim.

There is a Polk employee running a full LSi rig, LSi15's included, on a lesser Denon....and hasn't had any issues.

Don't get frightened by all this "Well, I don't know..." stuff.

[audiobliss]

I most definitely would go with a pre-amp and amp/amps. With a budget of <$1500, I would think you could put together quite a nice combo. I've heard a lot of praise for Outlaw and even some B&K separates on this forum. Yeah, the Denon might be ok; other guys here would be able to say so better than I could, but I would feel a lot safer with separates. I'd say the sound would definitely be better, and you should have a lot more head room for dynamics; I would think that'd be especially important for movie, and it seems that's what you're going to be using this rig for mostly. If you're going to be using it a lot for music, also, you might want to consider getting a 2-channel amp and then a 5 channel amp to power the rest so you wouldn't have to turn on a huge 7 channel amp just to pump 2 speakers.

Anyhoo, with those speakers I'm sure you won't get a bad sounding system no matter what you do; well, just about.

Good luck!

[VR3]

Night and Day difference, any seperates over Denon...

[Frank Z]

Originally posted by loufmd
Which sub should I complement this system with .....

Sunfire TrueSub EQ.

[Airplay355]

i think you will be happier with the pre/pro combo then a denon receiver. the amp is definitely going to have more balls the the receiver, and the processor has all the surround bells and whistles you will need.

if you don't mind the B stock processor then go for it.

if you are only going 5.1, then you could use the extra two channels on the amp to bi-amp your mains....right?

[dorokusai]

The Outlaw suggestion is excellent.

[Zero]

You got my reply on the S&V boards.

[audiobliss]

Originally posted by Zero
You got my reply on the S&V boards.

umm.....and what was it? I wanna know! I wanna know!:p

[Tour2ma]

Originally posted by Vr3MxStyler2k3
Night and Day difference, any seperates over Denon...

Any??? Puh-leeeez...

[Airplay355]

how bout a rat shack amp with an onkyo pre?

[loufmd]

Thanks for the excellent recommendations Polkies. I may decide to go with the Denon afterall, since many agree on its potential. Or maybe go with the less expensive DENON AVR-2805 with an added amp (denon avr2805- $600 plus ~$1200 for a good amp (ie outlaw 755). I will also most definitely look at the SVS SUB, as for my large room I'll need some kick.

BTW I'm planning to close off any open area (windows/hallway) to my living room with thick red velvet black-out drape and place a nice thick custom-cut rug to cover most of the room's hardwood floor.....

Will keep ya posted- still looking and planning- as I feel I'm a fellow "polkie" already...... thanks again for the advice both here and at S&V forum!

[Tour2ma]

Great... the 3805 does have an edge processor-wise over it's 2000 series cousin.

Also know that deep bass will pass through your black out drape like a... like a... something through a something (or something) like it wasn't even there... so that hall/ living area is still in play when determining your sub needs.

Ditto the carpet, although it will (with the drapes) help tame what sounds like what would otherwise be a very "live" room for high frequencies.

Glad you feel at home here...

[dvdchance]

I'm currently running a denon 2805 with a Rotel RMB-1075 amp. Real nice.

Have the Rotel power the front, centre and surrounds, the Denon handles the surround backs.

[bbeacham]

I had a Denon 3805 powering the LSi15s (front), LSiC (center), LSi7s (rear), and although it worked well it got hotter than Hades. This is in a 12x8 room at low volume levels. I had to elevate my DVD player over it and have a fan running to keep it cool.

I replaced it with the new Sony digital amp (5000ES) which runs very cool, and has a much more detailed and open sound than the analog Denon.

For a sub use the LSiW. After I replaced my PSW404 with the LSiW I was amazed at how much bass was missing with the PSW. Unfortunately, the LSiW has been recalled and is temporaly unavailable, but get it once it is again for sale.

[ezc]

Nice setup! I have 15's C & FX system & have tried different receivers. I had a onkyo txds595 when I purchased the LSi's. The receiver just didnt have enough power, as the vol was turned up the sound got compressed & sounded worse. After a post on the forum members recomended nad, rotel, sunfire & a few others. I purchased the Rotel 1065 & that made a world of difference. Surround & 2ch is noticablly improved. We are dealers for Denon & Onkyo & I have tried the AVR 3805, AVR 2805 & the TX SR702 recently in my system. The 702 most recently tested. the 702 soundstage wasnt as deep & high compared to the rotel & sounded compressed. I tried the 3805 about 3 mo ago & it sounded ok. 2ch wasnt as clean as the rotel. the topend wasnt as open & didnt float as the rotel, the mids were sightly congested & the bass was loose. The 2805 was about the same as the 3805 but you could tell there wasnt as much power as the sound wasnt as clean as the vol was pushed up to reference level. The Rotel 1065 is rated at 100w same as the 702 & 2805 & the 3805 is ratred higher but the Rotel sounds much better for movies & music. We used the same 3 receivers on our store demo system which drives NHT St4 mains SB3 surrounds & CS2 center w/SW10II sub. The 3805 sounded the best It sounded very smooth & clean mids were tight & topend was very open, The 2805 & 702 also was good & about the same, the denon seemed to be slightly better in the mids. I have since sold the 3805 & the 702 & have kept the 2805 for our store system & am happy. As for the LSi system the Rotel stays! Lsi's like power! The more you can feed them the better they sound. The easy way to describe what the diffrence was between the onkyo/denon & rotel is the denon onkyo sounded good, but when the rotel was hooked up, it sounded like packing & boxes were removed from the speakers.

[2+2]

I have the LSi 15...if you plan on doing serious critical music listening, I suggest you get a higher current amp with a high dampening factor. I found that 120 watt/ch Rotel 1075 passively biamped was not enough to control the woofer in the 15s. I had to upgrade to a 1080 which has 200 watt and more than 5 times the dampening to get a nice tight bass. A real good value 5 ch amps you can pick up from e-bay is HK5800...about $350. Actually sounds better than the Rotel 1075 imo. I think it has higher current capacity...about 40 amps IIRC. Good luck.