LSi7 - Naked !!!!!

[faster100]

Its a good thing your handy, because those could have been ruined easily if not so gingerly.. That gloss seemed real sensitive to marks when i had my lsi7's.. and if you spend 4 -5 hundred on a set or more retail.. you may be scared to try the removal... But they do look cool.. I liked the side panels myself though

[McLoki]

From the Polk CS rep I talked to, you want to make sure you get the old series if you want to try this.

They now use a glue rather than tape to attach the sides in the new series - sticks much harder and will be equally hard to remove from the gloss once the side is off - I don't know how truthfull that info is, but that is what I was told.

I purchased a used pair just for this project for $350. A good deal, but still alot of money to waste if it didn't work out. I knew what I wanted it to look like when I was done and photographed/documented my progress so others could learn from my sucess / mistake. That is the point of being part of an online community like this one isn't it. Now that I have done it, I can say it is really pretty easy and no real skills are required. (I just didn't know that going into it)

If anyone plans to do this in the future and would like some ideas, just drop me a PM and I will do / show what I can.

Michael

[faster100]

Cool, glad it worked out easily.... I'm very mechanically inclined id like to think and work with wood for a hobby.. and still would feel uncomfortable doing it.. But that's just me, i'm sure its no big deal once you have done it.. ;)

[Gaara]

McLoki,

Thanks for all the info in this thread, I was considering doing this to my 7s a while back and took the plunge. It really wasn't that hard to do, all said in done it took me around half an hour for both speakers including cleaning them.

Personally the first speaker I tried to pry it off from the top and bottom and it didn't want to seem to go, but I tried the back of the side, 1/3 of the way from the top, and this did the trick. With the second speaker I did it in the same place, 1/3 from the top of the back of the wood side, and it popped of with little resistance.

Taking the tape off I tried pulling it off which was really time consuming, but found a easier way. I used a plastic putty knife at a 45 degree angle while pulling lightly and it came off quick and easy.

End result, the cabinet sounds more hollow, but the speakers are smaller size wise, and I love the look of the my all black 7s. They match my new speakers better, and don't look nearly as large on my walls.

Jared

[Early B.]

Gaara --

You said the cabinet sounds more hollow. When you play your "new" 7's, can you tell a sonic difference between the before and after?

[Gaara]

Early B.

Well they were used for back surround duty, so any difference in sound quality won't be a huge detriment to the system. As for sound quality, I should have tested when I had one speaker with the panels and one without, but it’s a little late. I will test them out once I get my A23 back in the system, right now it is down stairs breaking in the new speakers. All I know is comparing them with the knuckle rap it was a noticeable difference in the way they sounded.

Jared

[Early B.]

Thanks for your response. It would certainly be interesting to know if there's a difference. Looks neat naked, though.

[SKsolutions]

Does anyone when the old series and new series began/ended. I have LSi9's, and may consider "Stripping" them. I wouldn't think of it if they were of the glue/on/type. They are damn sexy with sides on, but would match my Pro series Panny better sans wood. My Lsi9's birthday 6-04

[VR3]

Send Ken a model number and he should be able to tell you all about the particulars of that batch... :)

[McLoki]

Does anyone when the old series and new series began/ended. I have LSi9's, and may consider "Stripping" them.

It is easy to tell the difference between the old and new series.

If you look at the back of the speaker and the entire back is smooth from edge to the box holding the binding posts - it is the new series.

If you look at the back and it looks like the gloss was put on the back and then the side gloss was wrapped around the back and folded down (making a seam traveling around the back of the speaker) it is the old series.

Michael

[Joey_V]

As Mike said, look at the back or the front face of the speaker. If it looks like there is a portrait "frame" (you know, like the borders are distinct from the rest of the black gloss), then you have the older LSi.

[McLoki]

You can also see it in the picture in post #8 pretty well.

Michael

[Gaara]

Early B,

I hooked my naked 7s up a couple of days ago and watched a few movies since then, and played some games. Using them as rear surrounds I honestly can say I don't hear a difference. The only time I hear a little bit of a difference is when I listen to music with just those two going, which I never do. Anything with lots of bass the sound just seems less detailed, it kinda loses it's focus. For what I am using them for, no difference.

Jared

[theunknown]

This is great. Thanks for sharing!

[JimAckley]

Yay for bringing back old threads! I like these so much more side-less. My sides looked like more of a Walnut than Cherry... idk. Either way, I wish they would make these like this now. They're freakin sexy. I'm glad I did it. All it took to get them all off was about 5 min and a butterknife. Peeling the double-sided tape off was a bit of a pain but, in the end, worth it.

[skrol]

They look great without the sides. Polk should have made the panels optional like Denon and others used to do with their components.

[thesurfer]

Why anyone would spend that kind of money on speakers,, just to deface them,, is beyond me,, alot of the dampning quality, is taken away by removing the sides,,, but hey,, if it makes ya happy,,

[McLoki]

Why anyone would spend that kind of money on speakers,, just to deface them,, is beyond me,, alot of the dampning quality, is taken away by removing the sides,,, but hey,, if it makes ya happy,,

It is still internally braced 3/4" wood for a single 5.25" woofer and 1" tweeter.

In my case - it is also crossed over at 80hz, driven by a large amp, has upgraded crossovers and used as my rear surrounds. It looks and sounds fantastic.

I made an decision to take a great speaker and make it work perfectly for me. I could not be happier with it.

Michael