Next Upgrade from Lsi series

[pmckeealaska]

I am perfectly happy with my LSi setup now, but if one was looking to upgrade to new speakers, what would be the best place to start looking for a brand and still spend say less than 10K for a pair of speakers that would be a step up from the LSi? Any suggestions?

[MikeC78]

:)Ask Joey V...

Martin Logan's is a good start, or some Von S's. There are various options depending on taste. IMO, I'd probably get the ML summits. Those are some sweet sounding speakers!

Mike

[Zero]

There is at least over 100 options you have in this price range. We could list a whole bunch of gear based on bias or reputation but that wont do anyone any good. Why dont you give us an idea of what you want....


What type of sound are you going for... what electronics do you intend on upgrading to? What are you looking for cosmetically?

[jm1]

If I was looking for a PAIR or speakers and had up to 10K of a budget with your system, I would first start replacing/complementing some of the existing components. By stating a pair of speakers and not knowing exactly your ultimate intent, a two channel upgrade path could be:

NAD T763 Receiver -> add a two channel pre with HT pass through
Rotel RB 1080 2-Channel Amp -> upgrade to a more refined amp (does not imply more watts; it may have less than the 1080)
Denon DVD 2900 Universal Player -> external DAC or dedicated player

With the money left over, sell the front and center speakers and upgrade to a brand of speakers for L+R duty and buy a matching center from the same manufacturer. The LSiFX will be more than adequate for HT duties. Your current LSi speakers leave you some room to upgrade other parts of the system and still enjoy the benefits of the new components.

To answer your original question, what Zero said.

Just some quick thoughts.

[madmax]

LSi's should carry you for awhile. I would add a preamp for two channel use only if that is one of your goals.
madmax

[heiney9]

Gear to compliment $10K speakers has to be a consideration. Look at the whole package and go that route not just one part of the package. The Lsi's are damn nice (not without their minor faults). What I've found in this hobby is you usually you move from one compromise to another. There is no holy grail. Certainly some combination's are better than others but it's the system synergy you should be concerned with.

Before you consider moving up the speaker chain you should address the components and especially your source. The source is where it all starts at.

YMMV

H9

[Joey_V]

:)Ask Joey V...

Martin Logan's is a good start, or some Von S's. There are various options depending on taste. IMO, I'd probably get the ML summits. Those are some sweet sounding speakers!

Mike

Thanks for the comment!

As for my opinion... there are several that I would look at, even some beyond the ML brand.

1. Martin Logan Summit
2. Wilson Sophia
3. Magnepan 20.1
4. Innersound Kachina Reference
5. BW 802D
6. Sonus Faber Cremona
7. Audio Physic Avanti
8. Vandersteen 5a

Those are the ones I like, in no particular order....

However, there are others that stand out with others as the speaker for them... like the VS.... they make the Von Schweikert VR4SR, which is supposed to be killer from what I read.

There are more speakers out there that might tickle you better than anything I listed... but no man can ever hear them all.

I will add... front end equipment is just as important as the speakers you are putting infront of you. If you are serious about $10K speakers, then you better be open to the possibility of putting out another $10K on amps, preamps, and CDP.

JOey

[McLoki]

As a few brands that make very worthwhile contenders for your more expensive speakers tastes,

Magnepan
Dynaudio
Vandersteen

All offer excellent speakers with a different sound than you would get from the LSi's.

Michael

[Dennis Gardner]

Nice suggestions guys!................It is refreshing to see reasonable, sane, thought processes surface when someone asks for the next upgrade path. I agree that I wouldn't throw more $$$ on speakers as the next upgrade.

Your HT system has a great amount of balance as it is if you would add a nice fat SVS or similar sub. This would make your HT a 9 out of 10 in most people's books.

For a 2 channel rig that would rival your HT, I would change out the Denon and Rotel gear for dedicated CD/LP and some tubes in either a preamp or integrated amp regardless of your speaker choices.

At the $$$ level you are at, you deserve to have dedicated rigs, or choose components as if they were going to be used that way, not for how good they are at double duty.

Just my thoughts....

[wingnut4772]

Definitely audition some Von Schweikerts. Make sure they are well broken in becuase it's a different speaker if it's not.

[ohskigod]

definitly put me in the "throw that money in the electronics" camp. those LSi's have more to give you with a beefy amp, and improvement in preamplification.

[Midnite Mick]

I agree with the others regarding the electronics for improvements especially if you do in fact like the lsi's. However, in the speaker realm I think that Usher offer very good bang for the buck. I think one can find models pretty close to the price of the lis's that sound very good. Totally different speaker than the lsi's.

Just my thoughts,
Mike

[wingnut4772]

Having owned the LSis and now the Von Schweikert VR4 Jrs I can tell you that electronics will only make so much difference. The LSIs are good but there are much more rewarding speakers available if you want to up the budget.

[LuSh]

Sure there are wing, but his electronic's are holding him so far back even with the LSi's why waste money on better speakers? He'd be better off getting a new source and at least a top flight intergrated. I'd take LSi15's with a VAC Avatar intergrated, Museatex digital front end then a pair of VR 4jr's with his NAD/Rotel combo with a denon front end.

[cfrizz]

I too would also start with upgrading other components before getting different speakers. Start looking at getting a prepro rather than a receiver. Also consider getting a 5-7 channel 200wpc or more amp for all of your speakers! All those LSI's will apreciate the extra power.

[mantis]

For Lsi money, there isn't much better if any. Maybe some personal tastes but I think they can hang with anything in there price class.

There are 2 many better speakers on the market to list them. I went from Lsi to Dynaudio and I don't look back.

A also agree with Martin Logan. If I didn't own Dynaudio, I may own Martin Logan. There speakers and subs are some of the very best I have heard. There subs are so musical.

Dan

[Phasearray]

This post makes me realize how poor I am

[Phasearray]

4 LSI (2front 2 back) is my goal! Can't believe there are people who wants to upgrade out of them!

[Joey_V]

4 LSI (2front 2 back) is my goal! Can't believe there are people who wants to upgrade out of them!

Hey man...

There are people who want to upgrade from whatever they upgraded to from the LSi.

It's a crazy world, my friend!

Joey

PS
I want the next level Martin Logan above mine, once it comes out in 2 years. :)

[Phasearray]

Hey man...

There are people who want to upgrade from whatever they upgraded to from the LSi.

It's a crazy world, my friend!

Joey

PS
I want the next level Martin Logan above mine, once it comes out in 2 years. :)

Garsh, Martin Logan cost more than my car.

[Joey_V]

Garsh, Martin Logan cost more than my car.

Yup... and it's worth it.

(Though I will confess that I bought them used, I cant afford new! Heheheh)

[ohskigod]

I've gone through a number of levels of amplification for my LSi's, and I heard big deiierences between

I went from a 60 watt X 2 Rotel 960, to a 2 X 120 (200 into 4 ohm) Rotel 980, to Outlaw monoblocks at 300 watts into 4 ohms, then to a Carver m4.0t (or currently a Hafler DH500) 500Watts into 4 ohms. Every step, the Lsi's gave more. upgrading speakers before the electronics wopuld be pure silliness.

to me, the LSi's really seemed to like the Carver. the only reason they are still not on the Carver, is because I need it to power my Carver Amazing speakers.

The 500 watts from the Hafler is doing them just fine in my theater currently

[Monster Jam]

Garsh, Martin Logan cost more than my car.

My 5 LSi speakers have a higher resale value than the car I drive to work!

[markmarc]

First try improving the room acoustics if you haven't already (WAF, of course). You'd be amazed at how much better your current setup will sound.

Now, if that has been done, I'd having your universal player modified, for $4-600 dollars you will hear a vast improvement in sound.

[janmike]

Proac.

[ohskigod]

First try improving the room acoustics if you haven't already (WAF, of course). You'd be amazed at how much better your current setup will sound.
.

excellent point. the treatments I did in my basement for my 2 channel were apparent to many of my friends during our weekly poker game, most of which do not exactly have trained ears.

[josh_parsons626]

4 LSI (2front 2 back) is my goal! Can't believe there are people who wants to upgrade out of them!

Amen brother! LOL