![]() ![]() |
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
This weekend took my wife to hear and possibly purchase the polks. I brought our Lionel Riched cd which we are both very familiar with. Let me first preface this comparison with the fact that these speakers were setup far from the ideal; up on a shelf, in a room loaded with many speakers powered by a pioneer receiver. We first compared the lsi9 to the lsi7. We found the lsi7's to project the mids a little more where the lsi9's had a fuller midrange. Both were very smooth overall with good detail. We then listened to the lsi15's which were very similar to the 9's with more bass. The bass was a bit boomy on both, more so on the 15's but that was to be expected with the close positioning to the rear wall. I really wanted to pull out my wallet at that time but both my wife and myself could not get past the way they look. The bookshelfs have black laquer on the front, bottom and top and a cheap grey woodgrain on the sides that clash horribly. The floorstanders aren't quite as bad but the lower half again has the side woodgrains that would have best been either left off, finished also in laquer, or at least finished in solid black oak. As much as I wanted to bring these home for a serious audition I realize that no matter HOW good they were I could not live with their aethetics. We left the listening room, me disappointed, the wife really not caring and were about to leave the store when I said to my wife lets listen to one more speaker. She agreed and we proceded back to fire up the klipsch rb-5II. The song we played over and over with the polks was "all night long" so we played that again. Then something happened listening to the klipsches that didn't with the polks. We were listening for about 30 seconds and as with the polks I'm trying to dissect and get a feel on the sound. Pretty smooth, vocals more upfront, imaging maybe not as precise as the polks but then I looked down to see my fot tapping in beat with the music. At that point my priorities changed as I began emotionally invloved in the music. My wife commented they were more lively but seemed a little bright at times. After this I plan on taking the rb-5's for a serios spin at home.
Follow Ups:
When I went into the store to listen to the Polks there where harsh. I heard both the Lsi7 and Lsi9 - the problem is that they've been playing for less than 4 hours since I got there. I suspect that these will take about 150-200 hours of break in and at the rate the stores around here play them it's going to take a good 4 weeks for them to log that many hours.###Make sure you ask how long they've been playing the polks because the place I went to had no concept of breaking in the rubber surroundings###
I think they were bright. I also think they are will need some good amplification. The stereo store was using a DVD player and a reciever to play music and I have a gut feeling that these will require a nice dedicated CDP/hirez, amp, and preamp to pull the best out of these speakers - but then again if the Klipsch get you going without anyone of these than you should buy the Klipsch - Toe tapping is the ultimate test :)
I personally like the black (with grey streaks) and the black laquir top. It just appealed to me for some reason. I actually prefer it over the cherry. It has a contemorary look about them ...
I owned the polks and up until i sold them,AT A HUGE LOSS, i kept hoping they would sound better.I now have owned KLIPSCH for 2 months,and they sound better each time i listen,I have found a little bright to be blessing over muffled,non musical,components and source are key to ENJOY KLIPSCH!
Just curious which of the LSi series you owned. They have only been avalible since February. What didn't you like about them?
I've not seen the black models but I find the cherry ones to be quite attractive. The panels are real wood and go a long way, I'm sure, to adding strenth to an already extremly inert cabinet.
I like the cherry wood they use also but why black laquer on top and bottom. It looks they they're trying to appeal to two different markets. How about at least offering the option of either all woodgrain or all black laquer.
I only spent time studying the fit and finish of the Lsi9 model in ebony finish -- with the grill off, you could plainly see where the wood panel had been affixed, with some glue-like adhesion, to the cabinet, very tacky I thought. But the speakers do sound nice.The dealer only had the 9s and 7s in house, and will only order the floorstanders as long as you keep them, no returns! I think Polk has annoyed their dealer base somewhat in regards to this Lsi line -- the only dealer within 75 miles of me is certainly not helping sell the line. I put in a call to Polk and was told I should ask other smaller non-Lsi Polk dealers to start carrying them or if they would at least special order them. Hmmm, maybe it would be best to wait another 9 months and get these on blowout?
Anyone have Lsi15s or 25s and really really thrilled?
The klipsch can sound good when you first listen to them but don't forget you have to live with that brightness and less than great imaging for a long time. When you tire of their sound (and you will) go give the Polks another try.
while looking for a budget speaker. I auditioned them as an after thought, and I found myself totally involved in the music! My Hales had a difficult time doing that for me. The Klipsch are very dynamic and involving, but they can get bright really fast under the wrong conditions. I highly recommend driving them with tubes, as budget SS amps can bring out the worst in the reference line. I have found that the Antique Sound Labs Wave-8 tube monoblocks ($200/pair) work fantastically with my RF-3s. If tubes are not an option look for a warm SS amp and see what you can do. Good luck!Steve
Remember, it's all about the music.
Are there times you miss some of the things your hales did better and have you tired of your klipsches at all?
The Hales Rev 3s had better tonality and balance from top to bottom. They were more laid back and refined, much less agressive than the Klipsch. They also had much deeper bass than my RF-3s. However, they needed huge amounts of power, and didn't have the dynamics I was looking for. The Klipsch aren't the last word in tonal accuracy, they are a bit colored. But the subtle changes in sound pressure levels and dynamics are laid out amazingly. To me that goes a long way in making recorded music seem more lifelike. The Hales will relax and seduce, while the Klipsch will grab you by the heart strings and toss you around. The greatest gift that the Klipsch gave me was the $2000 I received from selling my ARC VT-100 and buying the ASL Wave-8 to drive the RF-3s. I do miss the Hales on occasion, but since I sold them to one of my better friends I have good visitation rights.Steve
Remember, it's all about the music.
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors: