Getting back to my roots - the Polk LSi-15

[Zero]

The Polk Audio LSi-15's were one of the first true high end loudspeakers that I've ever owned. I remember gawking at the then brand spanking new series in a Polk brochure and saying to myself "Man, It would be cool to own those speakers one day!" That was around 2001 or so, when I was still just a teen working a minimum wage job. At the time, buying into those kind of products was just a far off dream. Thankfully though, some situations changed and approximately a year later, those bad boy LSi's were mine. You could say that this is what started the spiral down the path towards audiophiledom.

As I went down ye old traditional path of bringing home tons of different gear and speakers, the LSi-15's I once lusted after ended up taking long term residents in my parents HT. Hmm.. so much for that eh? Throughout the years, this is where they have served their duty, largely ignored by yours truly.

Well, yesterday I unplugged the speakers and took them to the digs. I plugged them into about $14,500 worth of McIntosh gear (along with nearly $2,000 in MIT cables) and what can I say... I'm re-discovering these speakers all over again. Wow, I forgot just how damned good these things are for the money. Although it does seem to take a disproportionate investment in electronics to bring out all of their beauty, there is no denying how good these things can be when done right.

So how good are they? Well, let's just put it this way. I have a set of $14,000 towers on hand at the moment that have been displaced. No, I won't give out the name of those towers (either here, or in the PM), but they are from a fairly respectable brand. I've been listening to the LSi-15's play music all day, and while I can safely say that they are far from perfect, they get a lot of things right. Sometimes, its good to get back to your roots.

Much respect, Polk LSi-15... I'm glad I found you again!

[halo]

Cool beans Sean :)

[ben62670]

Upgrade the caps, and resistors. It will fix most of whats missing.
Ben

[gtu2004]

damn, you seem to be doing well despite the recession.

[madmax]

We can't let a silly little recession mess with the pursuit of audio...
madmax

[polkatese]

WHAT??? ;) Glad you found your "G" spot, Sean!

[Face]

I agree with Ben. Hot rod them and they'll almost go toe to toe with those silly shaped speakers.

[pearsall001]

You know the more I hear you guys talk about the LSi15's the more tempted I am to try a pair. I've been more into HT than 2 channel lately, so they might just fit the bill nicely. I already have the LSiFX surrounds which I simply love the way they sound. So, LSi15's with LSiC, & LSiFX surrounds paired with my dual Velo SPL-1200R subs might be a killer set-up for HT & also not too shaby for my occasional 2 channel listening. Hmmmm!!!

[TouchOfEvil]

We can't let a silly little recession mess with the pursuit of audio...
madmax

That is what i have been saying for the last month....i keep getting "THE LOOK" but so far still alive lol.

[Ern Dog]

Cool post Sean. I've still never had the luxury to hear the LSI-15's done right. My one experience was listening to them at Best Buy and there weren't being driven correctly, so they sounded flat.

Any LSI-15 owners in Southern Oregon willing to let me listen to their rig?

[Monster Jam]

You know the more I hear you guys talk about the LSi15's the more tempted I am to try a pair. I've been more into HT than 2 channel lately, so they might just fit the bill nicely. I already have the LSiFX surrounds which I simply love the way they sound. So, LSi15's with LSiC, & LSiFX surrounds paired with my dual Velo SPL-1200R subs might be a killer set-up for HT & also not too shaby for my occasional 2 channel listening. Hmmmm!!!

I thought you were running your dual Velo's with LSi15s all along. Hmm. Guess I should pay more attention. I love my LSi15s, even underpowered they sound great. I played Duran Duran in concert and forgot to turn on my Velodyne SPL 1200 - didn't realize it until the concert finished. They are very clean speakers.

[Monster Jam]

I have a set of $14,000 towers on hand at the moment that have been displaced. No, I won't give out the name of those towers (either here, or in the PM), but they are from a fairly respectable brand.

$14k and they are "fairly respectable brand"?

[SolidSqual]

Polk makes excellent speakers. I still use my Lsi9s as a reference for any new speaker I receive. I bought my 9s for $550 used, if the speaker I am listening to doesn't significantly better the 9s, then it's trash IMO. Polk sets a high bar; if a competitor is going to make a $14,000 speaker that only sounds a little better or "pretty-good compared to" the 9s, then I don't want them.

[DeusExa]

Glad you finally let yourself revisit the LSi15s Zero! I'm listening to mine every chance I've got these days...(they're in the living room, with the HT setup, so not many chances, as I'm stuck in either my bedroom or outdoors cycling/swimming...)

[mantis]

I have always felt the LSI15's where Polks best speakers until I heard the Lsi 25's. The Lsi 25's do everything right the 15's do and then have a cleaner mid range and stronger tighter bottom end. Once set up properly , they are fantastic.

The Lsi 15's in there own right are a speaker I would love to own again. Just to have it and listen to stuff from the early 2000's for old times sake. I plan on making a vintage polk collection one day and the lsi 15 or 25's are on the list.

[dorokusai]

I don't think the LSi25 is very good at all. The built-in subwoofer is sloppy and colors the midrange in the wrong way. I'd never own one again.

The two best upgrades for the LSi15 is to dampen the Power Port and replace the subwoofer with a DB series car subwoofer. As far as the x-over upgrade goes it's not an easy task and I wouldn't do it again.

[jimmydep]

As far as the x-over upgrade goes it's not an easy task and I wouldn't do it again.

Mark,
Did you think there was a significant improvement in the sound after the XO upgrade? Or do you feel the difference wasn't worth the Time, Energy, or money for the results. I'm trying to figure out if it's worth it or not.

I'm finding that I'm missing something in the midrange with the LSI-15's. But I'm not sure if it's the speaker or something else, My room is not perfect so that could be part of the problem.

I have to say that most of the time the LSi's really shine especially when powered with the Emotiva, with the Sunfire amp the 15's just fall flat, and with the Marantz amp they spring to life again.

Jimmy

[dorokusai]

I thought it was an dramatic improvement but it was ALOT of work. I'm sure there are easier ways but I built all new x-overs since using the existing ones is impossible. It wasn't cheap and I would never do it again.

[Face]

I thought it was an dramatic improvement but it was ALOT of work. I'm sure there are easier ways but I built all new x-overs since using the existing ones is impossible.

Sums it up for me also.

[xcapri79]

Why doesn't Polk Audio upgrade the cross-over if it works so well?
I've never understood that.
The manufacturer can typically do this at a significant cost reduction compared to the user. You would think that feedback from this forum would be useful to the manufacturer as it relates to product improvement.

[Face]

The manufacturer can typically do this at a significant cost reduction compared to the user.

You have it backwards. Yes, they can buy it in bulk cheaper than we can. But it would also add a substantial cost to the speaker and put it at a higher price point.

There are very few speakers that wouldn't benefit from crossover upgrades, and most of them are $40k+.

[xcapri79]

You have it backwards. Yes, they can buy it in bulk cheaper than we can. But it would also add a substantial cost to the speaker and put it at a higher price point.

I'm not convinced that I have it backwards. Maybe or maybe not. So what would the substantial cost be relative to the cost of the speaker? 10%? 20%? The upgraded version could be called the LSi-Plus and available in a limited edition.

[heiney9]

I'm not convinced that I have it backwards. Maybe or maybe not. So what would the substantial cost be relative to the cost of the speaker? 10%? 20%? The upgraded version could be called the LSi-Plus and available in a limited edition.

And who would they market these "ltd editions" to? What 30-40 people here on the forum? No one beyond hard core hobbiest could give 2 sh*ts if the x-over is upgraded. You're talking about a very, very, very limited market. It can't be done, that's why it's encouraged to do your own. The extra cost to the manufacturer could never be recovered on the such a low volume of sales.

WTH do you think the original SDA's have never been given new life?

H9

[xcapri79]

Well then who buys all those other expensive "silly shaped speakers"?
There must be a market for them somewhere, since they are still being produced.

Here is a good list of competitors composed by Mantis.

It really depending on to many factors. Your room , your music , your movies. What do you listen to most? How good is the rest of your system you wanna connect great speakers to?

Once we achieve this things , I can give you a list of speakers to try out.
But at the Paradigm level of speaker in general I would look at

1) Dynaudio
2)Totem
3) Martin Logan
4) B&W
5) Vienna Acoustics
6) Sonus Faber
7) Focal
8) Revel

This is a fantastic list for music first speakers. For theater first speakers

1) Definitive Technology
2) Triad
3) M&K
4) Alantic Technology
5) Klipsch Reference THX
6) Martin Logan
7) Revel
8) B&W

So there you have it. A list of speakers I feel do it right. Double duty speakers are hard to find and give you maxium pleasure for both jobs. Here is a list of Double duty speakers.

1) Definitive Technology Mythos Series
2) Revel
3) Sonus Faber
4) Martin Logan
5) B&W
6) Focal

Don't you think that potential buyers of those speakers wouldn't look at a Polk Audio LSi-Plus?

[heiney9]

No, I don't. And all those could have better x-overs as well.

Look at all the mods available for automobiles.........rarely do you see the actual manufacturer offer upgraded hi-perf cars right out of the factory. Yes, it does happen is some very small and specific cases, but that's a whole other ball game. Same applies here. It doesn't make economical sense. You obvioulsy have never taken a business class or economics class.

Plus, Polk Audio isn't a specialty speaker maker......they are a mass production audio company.

H9

[Bernal]

:):):):)I love my LSi15s:):):):)

-------------------
01) DENON AVR-4308CI: Advanced 7.1 CH/5.1+2 CH/ 3.1+2+2 CH A/V Home Theater /MultiMedia Multi-Source/Zone Receiver with Networking and WiFi/170 watts x 7 channels
02) SUNFIRE Grand Signature - Bob Carver's
03) OPPO DV-980H 1080p Up-Converting Universal DVD Player with HDMI and 7.1CH Audio
04) OPPO BDP-83 Blu-ray Disc Player w/SACD & DVD-Audio / DENON DVD-2500BTCI: Blu-ray Disc™ DVD/CD Digital Player/Transport
05) HITACHI P55T501. 55" HD1080 Plasma HDTV
06) POLKAUDIO LSiC (Center speaker)
07) POLKAUDIO LSi15 LEFT (Front speaker)
08) POLKAUDIO LSi15 RIGHT (Front speaker)
09) POLKAUDIO LSif/x LEFT (Surround speaker)
10) POLKAUDIO LSif/x RIGHT (Surround speaker)
11) VELODYNE OPTIMUN 12" (High Output Digital EQ SubWoofer 2400W/1200WRMS)

[xcapri79]

No, I don't. And all those could have better x-overs as well.

Look at all the mods available for automobiles.........rarely do you see the actual manufacturer offer upgraded hi-perf cars right out of the factory. Yes, it does happen is some very small and specific cases, but that's a whole other ball game. Same applies here. It doesn't make economical sense. You obvioulsy have never taken a business class or economics class.

Plus, Polk Audio isn't a specialty speaker maker......they are a mass production audio company.

H9

Oh really. Why do you often try to insult others, who may disagree with you, with your ridiculous comments?

With automobiles it is often due to warranty concerns. That being said, Ford does have their SVO. There have been many special performance vehicles produced over the years by several mass market manufacturers. Quit while you are behind.

[heiney9]

Like I said in the automobile world there are a few exceptions. Consumer electronics don't have warranty concerns???? Sorry you took it as an insult.......point being if you had taken some business and economics classes you would have a better understanding why this couldn't possibly occur at a company like Polk.

Certainly when a revised product comes out during the natural product lifecycle many of these successful idea's could be incorporated up to a point to improve the overall product to the masses, but those improvements are almost always incremental and not on the scale most hobbiests operate within.

H9

[Zero]

I fired up more music this afternoon just to check if I wasn't falling victim to a brief re-infatuation moment. Some of you know how that can be.. you get excited to the point of making a few over the top comments that in hindsight, may not completely or accurately assess the situation. Sure enough, there is no hindsight to be found. The LSi-15's can indeed, be bad-ass in the right situation. Granted, one has to remember that I'm pairing them with electronics that are normally suited for speakers that are 10 to 15x the price of the speakers, so that helps.

I also want to clarify the last statement I made in my initial post... Are they better than the $14k speakers I have on hand? No. But are those expensive towers worth $12,300 more? In my opinion - hell no. Now this doesn't mean I will be dropping my main speakers (Wilsons and Totem's) anytime soon? No way man... but it's cool to hear just how good the stock Polk LSi-15's can be. I'd certainly take them over lots of speakers I've had come through these walls in the past, to include some very respected consumer-direct products.

As for mods: I usually try to enjoy any product based off the merits of what it is. That said, I'd be curious to 'pimp out' the LSi-15 to see how far it can go. Maybe when I get the spare cash on hand.. I'll give it a whirl. Until then, I'll just kick back and enjoy them in stock form.

[xcapri79]

Like I said in the automobile world there are a few exceptions. Consumer electronics don't have warranty concerns???? Sorry you took it as an insult.......point being if you had taken some business and economics classes you would have a better understanding why this couldn't possibly occur at a company like Polk.

Certainly when a revised product comes out during the natural product lifecycle many of these successful idea's could be incorporated up to a point to improve the overall product to the masses, but those improvements are almost always incremental and not on the scale most hobbiests operate within.

H9

I'm quite well educated. Don't assume the worst if someone disagrees with you.
At any rate we should try to get along on here with differing views.
Polk Audio could introduce a LSi-Plus. For example, look at the RTiA vs the RTi or the TSi vs the Monitor. They have the Surroundbar50 vs the Surroundbar42. Upgrades can be done.