PinoyDVD: The Pinoy Digital Video & Devices Community
Home Theater => Audio => Speakers => Topic started by: Topper on May 15, 2011 at 10:09 AM
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Pix taken at the ongoing Lone Star Audio Fest 2011:
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/221602/Polk/LSi%20M/Lonestar%20Show/Lonestar%20Show/IMG_0774.JPG)
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/221602/Polk/LSi%20M/Lonestar%20Show/Lonestar%20Show/IMG_0776.JPG)
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/221602/Polk/LSi%20M/Lonestar%20Show/Lonestar%20Show/IMG_0786.JPG)
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/221602/Polk/LSi%20M/Lonestar%20Show/Lonestar%20Show/IMG_0787.JPG)
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/221602/Polk/LSi%20M/Lonestar%20Show/Lonestar%20Show/IMG_0790.JPG)
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/221602/Polk/LSi%20M/Lonestar%20Show/Lonestar%20Show/IMG_0792.JPG)
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/221602/Polk/LSi%20M/Lonestar%20Show/Lonestar%20Show/IMG_0793.JPG)
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/221602/Polk/LSi%20M/Lonestar%20Show/Lonestar%20Show/IMG_0796.JPG)
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/221602/Polk/LSi%20M/Lonestar%20Show/Lonestar%20Show/IMG_0801.JPG)
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/221602/Polk/LSi%20M/Lonestar%20Show/Lonestar%20Show/IMG_0803.JPG)
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/221602/Polk/LSi%20M/Lonestar%20Show/Lonestar%20Show/IMG_0806.JPG)
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/221602/Polk/LSi%20M/Lonestar%20Show/Lonestar%20Show/IMG_0808.JPG)
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/221602/Polk/LSi%20M/Lonestar%20Show/Lonestar%20Show/IMG_0811.JPG)
and here's some snippets from peeps who heard them at the show:
"I've been trying fruitlessly to find detailed pictures of LSiM online, and this was a great chance to study new design in great detail. They have a much bigger presence than pictures lead to believe. These are the most beautiful speakers Polk has ever made, and one of the nicest speakers I've seen period. The class is cut above previous LSi series and in the same league as anything I've seen under $10k. But enough with the words, here are the pictures."
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"Ok. The first thing that jump out is how new LSiM towers present a complete sound package from top to bottom. It's really is a full range speaker. They are not bright, and stay true to the Polk signature, however - they have a lot more information in the upper mids than LSi15's. Another immediate striking characteristics - is full, dynamic and tight bass. It's fast and keeps together with the upper registers, but it goes so deep that I was looking suspiciously to the left at Polk new sub sitting in the corner. It wasn't hooked up. If I want to be crude in my words, 707 remind me in their presentation of the full range speakers such as Wilson Sasha or B&W802 - not in the way of sound signature, but in the ability to present the full picture. 707 were able to load the room with music energy without showing any strain or disconnect between bass and upper range."
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"The LSiM 707 is spectacular. The weakest link in the LSi15/25 was fixed with the stellar bass these put out. It was quick and blended very well. Not sure if it was mentioned before or not, but the grilles are actually made of metal now. They have a felt backing on them so that when slapping them back on the speaker, you don't scratch the gloss finish.
The biggest surprise for me was the TL2 and TL3. These are great products that shouldn't be overlooked. They were paired with the DSW Pro 440wi and filled the room with impressive sound. If you are looking for some new desktop speakers or want a "cheaper" but solid setup for a home theater, put these on the top of your list. If you are a fan of the LSi sound, you will definitely dig the TL3's, and at $300 a pair, they are a bargain."
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"By the way, from the looks of it, Polk room was one of the busiest of the show."
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Pix taken at the ongoing Lone Star Audio Fest 2011:
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/221602/Polk/LSi%20M/Lonestar%20Show/Lonestar%20Show/IMG_0811.JPG)
What model is the bookshelf speaker?
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Thanks for sharing this heads up news. The shape of the drivers looks totally different and curious on how the sound quality is .
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What model is the bookshelf speaker?
The bookshelf is tentatively called LSiM 703
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(http://www.systemscontractor.com/uploadedimages/Residential_Systems/Slide_Show_images/Polk_LSiM_Series_Design_Drawings/LSiT2Section2.gif)
If your curious about the tech and design goals of this new LSiM series, do take the time to check out the tech brief:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/221602/Polk/LSi%20M/LSiM%20Technical%20Brief.pdf
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The bookshelf is tentatively called LSiM 703
Yup Google turned up that those will cost around $ 1,000 each!
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Nice pics, Manoj! :)
Are you getting a pair for yourself? :)
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definitely :).
Still a few months away though so gotta start saving up :)
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definitely :).
Still a few months away though so gotta start saving up :)
Nice! :)
I'm very puzzled with their choice of matching gear though, especially those Jaton Operetta power amps. Are they demonstrating how easy it is to drive these speakers?
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Nice! :)
I'm very puzzled with their choice of matching gear though, especially those Jaton Operetta power amps. Are they demonstrating how easy it is to drive these speakers?
Yep exactly. Here's the direct quote on the forum when somebody asked them about that:
"Yes Virtue Audio powering the Blackstone running on pure dc with a Dodd tube buffer installed. The Jaton gear is the new AP2140 modular system and it is not only affordable but it is rocking the LSiM's. They sent me their $5000 amp, but I wanted to show that 2 grand was more than enough to make them sing for the budget minded."
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Nice! :) I'm not so used to seeing affordable chip amps in demo systems. :) $2k is for two 2-channel Operettas already ($1k each), which they probably used for bi-amping.
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Check out this blog from The Vinyl Anachronist about the Polk LSiM at the Lone Star Audio Fest:
http://thevinylanachronist.blogspot.com/2011/05/polk-audio-at-lone-star-audio-fest-2001.html
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First on-hand review of the pre-production unit of the upcoming brand new Polk Audio LSiM Bookshelf speaker (LSiM 703)
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/221602/Polk/LSi%20M/Lonestar%20Show/Lonestar%20Show/Cherry%20Comparison.jpg)
"Well, we're coming up on 48 hours of me having the LSiM 703s in my custody, and quite frankly, I don't wanna give 'em back! They're amazing! I promised a review in the thread for our meet-up, and would have liked to have had more time with them but the threat of having to send them back is looming close and I want to share these with other TX Polkies, so I'm going to write this review while I listen to them. This is my first time critically reviewing a speaker, so bear with me as try to walk you guys through my experience so far.
First off, I'm just in love with the new cabinet design. Not that I have a single thing against the look of the LSi line, but the smooth curves are elegant but not overbearing (and are backed by equally-smooth sound, but we'll get to that later). The LSiM's cherry is very similar to the tone of the LSi's, but different enough to notice when placed side by side for comparison. It would be a lot tougher to tell if you had a set of Ms in one room and LSis in another. Since these are pre-production models, there's no way to tell if that will permanently be the case. I've included a picture to illustrate the difference for those of you who are curious. I think it would be cool if they would also include a lighter color like a natural birch, but I'd be content regardless of the color\ The grills are held on by six magnets, so the front was able to be kept smooth, beautiful and sans grill-mounting-holes. "polkaudio" logos are mounted at the bottom of the speaker, and serve as an additional support to hold the grills up, not that they really need it, but they do come off a good bit easier than your plug-socket style grill mounts, so without the emblem there I could see the grill easily being knocked off. These babies are without a doubt designed for grill-less action, but still look gorgeous with the grills on, so those of you with the curious kids need not worry that you'll be missing out with the grills in place. As far as cabinet integrity goes, Polk did it right and built in some solid cross-bracing, which will keep the cabinet walls pretty damn inert. The bracing in addition to some light polyfill stuffing and curved walls should keep standing waves to a minimum, further improving the sound of these over the previous generation. The backs of the speaker are graced by good ol' PowerPorts, and metal terminal plates with much nicer binding posts than before. Instead of using metal-tab style jumpers, Polk has supplied a short cable with loop ends that slide over the binding posts and are secured when the binding post is screwed tight.
For those of you who in the tweaking crowd who, this means doing a plate with 3 sets of binding posts for an external crossover will look right at home, but these speakers sound pretty damn sweet as is, to the point where even I'm not considering modding mine when I get them, at least not for a while. Also, since the bass driver has been stepped up to 6.5", there will be more room to fit in a modded board internally so the lower-value ClarityCaps etc. will be easier to maneuver into the cabinet.
On to the good part... how do they sound?
The highs are incredibly crisp and detailed. Polk has successfully bridged the gap between the brightness of RTi/RTiA line and the laid-back sound of the LSi. They have better clarity than my modded LSi25s, and more impact than my JBL Northridge E50s. Today's the third day in a row I've listened to LSiMs, and I have yet to experience a single hint of ear fatigue at higher volumes. The imaging is killer, the soundstage is wide, but the depth hasn't sent me checking my remote to make sure I'm in 2-channel mode like my modded LSi25s did. IMO, it's a little unfair to compare them to modded LSis, because those are so much of an improvement over the regular LSis, but I'm just trying to give a completely honest rewview. Now, I'm still not sure if this set of 703s is broken in or not, or even how much playtime they have, and if they're not, I'm sure that could affect the depth some. Considering the fact that these are pre-production models, I'm going to assume it hasn't had a lot of good break-in time and take that into consideration. I've only played them at softer volumes the past two evenings and haven't had any good "break-in" time since I haven't had the house to myself, but today it's all mine and I'm letting loose. Back to the good stuff, the LSiMs blend extremely well from highs to mids to midbass (and to bass in the case of the 707). The midbass has been a very pleasant and welcoming surprise. The first thump of "Hotel California" on the Eagles' Hell Freezes Over album had me scrambling to check my receiver's settings to make sure I had the subwoofer out switched off, and it indeed was... They relentlessly pound me in the chest with a firm midbass impact, but it wasn't the slightest bit muddy. Even at higher volumes, the sound doesn't deteriorate the slightest bit. My system's future includes an LMS Ultra 5400, and prior to today I was worried that I might have to buy some 705s to get enough midbass impact... hah! No need. The 703 have it. Now in a larger room, the 705 would probably be a better solution, but my HT room is no more than a glorified bedroom. Now if you want the full experience, I'd pair these up with a sub crossed somewhere between 70 to 80. When I coupled these with my PSW1000 crossed at 80, it brought back the recent memory of experiencing the 707s. They play pretty damn deep as-is, and make a great standalone set, but they are without a doubt missing the ultra low gut-punch supplied by the towers, which is to be expected of a bookshelf speaker. A MicroPRO 3k or 4k would be a great match, or any of the higher-powered subs from other manufacturers or past lineups.
To sum it up into one sentence: they're designed well, built strong, have a beautiful finish, and a sound signature to match all of those characteristics.
For reference sake, I put them through their paces with a variety of music including Apollo 13, The Eagles, The Verve, Santana, Richard Cheese, David Allen Coe, the scores from Halo 2, 3, and Reach, Hans Zimmer, John Mayer, Coldplay, Dave Matthews, Enya, Blue Man Group, Prodigy, The Chemical Brothers, The Crystal Method, The Beastie Boys, Lynard Skynard, Joe Satriani, Timbaland, Ludacris, The Fray, Eric Whitacre, and I'm sure there were a few more that I didn't remember to write down. Nonetheless, I want you guys to know I put these through quite a few genres to get as detailed of a picture as possible.
Associated gear for a vast majority of the review: Pioneer Elite SC-37, Monster Cable XP speaker wire, Polk Audio PSW1000, 24" stands, my laptop with the X-Fi soundcard, my iPhone (via USB to the receiver, not via the audio jack), and Crown Royal . I also did some minor listening on my bedroom/computer rig, which consists of my laptop & X-Fi card, HK 3480 and AudioQuest Type 4 speaker cables (the EQ was not used).
I'll post up more pictures if anyone wants. I took a TON of them so there's plenty more angles etc. My computer is being kinda retarded so I decided to stop at four today."
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/221602/Polk/LSi%20M/Lonestar%20Show/Lonestar%20Show/HT%20Room.jpg)
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/221602/Polk/LSi%20M/Lonestar%20Show/Lonestar%20Show/IMG_0723.jpg)
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Excerpts from the next member who had a chance to demo the new Polk LSiM bookshelf (LSim 703) in their home:
"Jim did a great review on the LSiM 703 and after listening to them for a couple of days here are my thoughts. All of my listening so far has been music as I don't have the matching center channel. I tried to keep this short but failed...
...As expected the LSiM are much different. I find the speakers very engaging and easy to listen to for long periods. They bring me into the music in a way the RTi's don't and I found myself tapping my foot a lot. The highs are open and detailed with an air around them I have never experienced. But this is not at the expense of being too forward. I really thought there would be a loss of detail as I expected the LSiM to be laid back to the point of losing that detail. I think that there is more and better detailed information on the LSiM when compared to the RTi.
I have a big room that is open to the kitchen and the lows were very good with the speakers by themselves. If I had them in a small room I would probably forego a subwoofer. However I had to bring my sub in to add just a little fill at the bottom for me to be completely happy. I thought I would need the 705 or 707 due to the volume of my room but with a sub these bookshelves work great in my room. To me the midrange, high and lows are perfectly balanced and overall the speaker is just smooth from top to bottom.
Here some other random thoughts. I have the same speaker stands Jim was using and since my couch is not, ahem, modified to bring me to the proper level I found myself moving down to get at the right level. Having said that while I did not hear a great difference between the two positions I would purchase proper stands for them. I found the off-axis response to be very good but as expected the sweet spot is better.
I think these speakers help with poorly mastered recordings. I tired an old AC/DC CD I have had literally for decades but don?t use much as the highs are just too piercing. With the LSiM most of the songs that gave me issue are enjoyable again. I even tried the music channels I get from Verizon and was pleasantly surprised as I found myself enjoying music I normally don?t. The real test will come tonight when I put in my wife?s Celine Dion CD to see if I can actually enjoy her music....
...There you go I don't write reviews much but know everyone is eager to hear feedback on these. I am lucky enough to have access to them and for that I am very grateful to Polk and Russ. Now if I could just get the matching center channel for movie testing..."
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LSiM Series:
Serious Sound
For Serious Listeners
When you go from riding a bicycle to driving a car, it's surprising how fast you can travel. When you go from driving a car to piloting a jet, you're surprised all over again at how fast you can travel. You see where we're going with this?
The new LSiM Series of high performance loudspeakers is a complete reimagining of the Polk Audio mission of making superior audio accessible to everyone. Even though these loudspeakers straddle the very sharpest cutting edge today's technologies, and feature custom-designed components and furniture-grade wood enclosures, they remain surprisingly affordable. Ultra-high performance for today's most demanding media is within reach. And there's never been a better time!
(http://www.polkaudio.com/images/site/lsim/lsim_beauty.jpg)
(http://www.polkaudio.com/images/home/medium/black/lsim707.jpg)
(http://www.polkaudio.com/images/home/medium/cherry/lsim707.jpg)
(http://www.polkaudio.com/images/home/large/black/lsim703.jpg)
(http://www.polkaudio.com/images/home/large/cherry/lsim703.jpg)
(http://www.polkaudio.com/images/home/medium/cherry/lsim706c.jpg)
(http://www.polkaudio.com/images/home/large/black/lsim702fx.jpg)
Performance Objectives Of The LSiM Series:
The performance objectives for the new LSiM Series predate the original LSi design and are, in fact, design principles Polk Audio first set down during development of its original Monitor loudspeakers. These ideals have been guiding principles for Polk Audio's best high performance loudspeakers:
Sound that virtually transports the listener to the scene of the recorded performance.
- Pleasing tonality, even during extended listening at performance levels.
- Crisp, lifelike impulses, transients and coherent detail without any unnatural ringing or decay.
- Natural reproduction of complex low frequency instruments and special effects.
- Uniform sonic representation within the listening area and immersive spatial impression.
- Reproduce concert/theater levels while maintaining linearity and accuracy.
- Compatibility with a wide array of electronics both past, present and future.
- Work as promised for many years of enjoyment.
LSiM PDF manual:
http://www.polkaudio.com/downloads/manuals/home/LSiM_Manual.pdf
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Here's a few more posts on the new LSiM range:
(http://www.polkaudio.com/images/home/medium/cherry/lsim703.jpg)
"Ok ,
I think I got enough to tell my thoughts with my gear on what I feel about these new LSIM 703 book shelf speakers.
I don't want to just blurt it out but DAMN!!!!! They are the very best sounding polk anything I have ever heard. They have a very controlled , Detailed clear dynamic sound. Fantastic to say the least. The older Lsi models have no business even being in the same room. I'm sorry to rag on the older LSi's but it's my way of saying polk took a very good idea and a good sounding speaker and completely revamped it for the better in every possible way. I'm so impressed with these speakers.
I usually post a build up to a conclusion but I could not help myself as I'm excited to say what I want to say and better put how I feel"
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"So enough with all that they have a way of bring you into your music with a strong ability to warm your heart. You feel like a cold winters day with a warm blanket. Snow is falling outside and you have a mug of hot chocolate. I can see any music lover not liking these speakers. I can see any jazz of soft rock people not liking these speakers.
So gear I used was first up was my Pioneer Elite SC-07 which did a nice job of pushing them in pure direct 2 channel mode. I had my Cambridge audio 650BD playing cd's wired in analog and HDMI for finding the best overall sound. I liked the analog sound best for a few reasons.
Next up was my Rotel Intergraded which I felt sound more organic and clean. It had nice power and dynamics with beautiful control over the bottom end which by the way these 703's have a very controlled clean bottom end unlike the older models which are sloppy and boomy compared.
I plan on inviting a few polkies to my store next week maybe Wednesday night for a listen on Bryston , Premiere and Krell. I also have Cambridge audio and NAD laying around so many choices to see how they respond. Honestly I don't need to hear them on any of that gear personally as I'm completely satisfied with the Rotel powering them. They don't seem to be that hard to drive. The SC-07 ran them just fine just not as well as the Rotel did."
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"Bass you ask? Dude they have awesome low end for a bookshelf speaker and clean accurate not boomy like the Lsi9's do... They really sound natural and clean. I love them."
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"As usual I always run Loreena McKennitt first. She is my reference to female voice. She moves me and when I listen to her on a pair of speakers and stop judging them and enjoying her , I know I'm listening to speakers I could love.
After her I go into Al Di Meola for some incredible guitar work and a musical ride. He is fantastic and puts much soul into his playing. A good pair of speakers get out of the way of his fast fingers and let you study his attack.
Diana Krall is a beautiful singer and song writer and her CD's and SACD's are amazingly recorded. Easy way to tell sound stage and clarity.
Norah Jones Come away with me on SACD for all the right reasons.
Steely Dan Two against Nature , he's fun to listen to and has the funky jazzy type feel that good speakers can handle.
Sheryl Crow Tuesday Night Music Club. I'm not a huge fan of her but when I hear a song I like of hers , I pick up the cd. Track 11 is "I shall believe" which is one of my favorite songs from her. The LSIM703's Blew me away when I listened , I ended up listening about 6 times in a row as I was in AWE.
Keiko Matsui Walls of Akendora. Exciting up beat Japanese Jazz disc which I found a few years back when I wanted something new. The opening sound explodes out and is super dynamic. Good speakers play it , poor speakers fumble as it's to much to handle. The LSIM's hit a home run and tracked every note. Slightly more on the softer side of things but did a fantastic job nonetheless.
Yes 90125 , one of my older favorites that I like to hear good musicians get to work. Any Yes fan will want to hear this Album before they decide to purchase a given pair of speakers.
Dave Mathews I ran cuts from all of his Albums and really enjoyed how the LSIM's handled is technical style.
Christian Scott Rewind that , killer jazz album that any jazz fan should own. He's amazing and I didn't find the LSIM's to fail in any way running his difficult cuts. "
Mantis
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(http://www.joytel.es/web/images/stories/top_lsim.jpg)
"My system now easily surpasses it in resolution, depth and soundstage. It has a "reality" that was missing before. It's especially noticeable with the ambient sounds coming from the surrounds. BTW, Audyssey set my surrounds at 45Hz (side) and 70Hz (back) respectively. The 702's are some pretty hefty surrounds. My friend owns the PSB Synchrony One's and before that had the Revel Salons and in my opinion the 707's are better than the Synchrony One's and hold their own with the Revels. I think they are that good. Of course our rooms and set ups are different and need to be taken into consideration. He has a four wall dedicated HT room that is not acoustically friendly in my opinion. I have my set up in a large room (24 x 28) with a two story open ceiling. In any event, the Polk LSiM's are a system that compete's nicely with the high end audio market. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the LSiM's to anyone looking at PSB, Ariel, Energy, Paradigm, etc. Even Revel for that matter."
Bslep
Listen to the new LSiM range at the Polk Audio room at the November HiFi show at Dust Thani hotel this Nov 19 & 20 !!
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Magkano LSiM bookshelf?
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Magkano LSiM bookshelf?
LSiM 703 - Php 69,900 srp
Check it out at the Nov Hifi show this weekend. We highly encourage you to compare it to anything else in its price-range :). (heck'd i'd highly encourage you to compare it to even speakers double its price :))
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Twice the price... that's ~140k. Most BS speakers in that price range are really really good.
If the LSiM does perform to that level, then it'd be a great bargain. I'd see you on Sunday, Manoj. :)
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its the Pepsi challenge bud :).
See ya there.
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LSiM 703 - Php 69,900 srp
Check it out at the Nov Hifi show this weekend. We highly encourage you to compare it to anything else in its price-range :). (heck'd i'd highly encourage you to compare it to even speakers double its price :))
I'll definitely go, see and hear this for myself. Test CDs are already prepped up.
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Coolness !! And if you got your music on iPod/iPhone/iPad, no problemo as well! We'll have onhand the new Nuforce iDo to extract the digital files bypassing Apple's crappy built-in DAC :)
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Coolness !! And if you got your music on iPod/iPhone/iPad, no problemo as well! We'll have onhand the new Nuforce iDo to extract the digital files bypassing Apple's crappy built-in DAC :)
Manoj,
One of the reasons im still holding on to my iRiver iHP MP3 player - optical line outs, better DAC than apple's and the icing - can be used as an external HDD
see you on saturday!
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LSiM 703 - Php 69,900 srp
Check it out at the Nov Hifi show this weekend. We highly encourage you to compare it to anything else in its price-range :). (heck'd i'd highly encourage you to compare it to even speakers double its price :))
Hmmmm....
I will definitely listen to this pair :)
Is the M706c will also be in the Hifi show?
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sorry the Center and Towers weren't available yet when we were preparing for the show but they will be arriving this December :)
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See and hear the new Polk Audio LSiM series bookshelf (LSiM 703) powered by Nuforce gear at the Hifi show today and tomorrow !! Room 425.
We also got a full RTi home theater setup up and running !!
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Today's the last chance to check out the new Polk LSiM speakers at the Hifi show :). Bring your CDs and see what they can do :)
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Thanks for the audition yesterday Topper. Great bookshelf indeed. Thinking of selling my set up because of this ;D
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Today's the last chance to check out the new Polk LSiM speakers at the Hifi show :). Bring your CDs and see what they can do :)
I was already sold on the first CD test, more so when Stagea played his lossless FLAC file over the NuForce DAC and Amp.
Last piece of the puzzle would be its performance with my H/K Stereo Receiver.
Oist Xandric, bring your Rotel in Marc's place na!
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Today's the last chance to check out the new Polk LSiM speakers at the Hifi show :). Bring your CDs and see what they can do :)
They sounded good! ;D
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They sounded good! ;D
They still have lots of potential. We were able to uncork some added dynamics by plugging the power amp directly to the wall socket. Mixing and matching gear will surely help as well, together with a lower jitter interface.
The LSi9 sounds very very good when matched properly. I expect the LSiM 703 to sound even better, if the owner can get the right synergy.
I suggest using an amp with lots of current capacity as the main backbone for an LSiM based system. As nice as they were with the NuForce stereo amp and compact DAC, these speakers probably would've really shone with their monoblocks coupled to the DAC9 and the P9, and tied together with cables that are more sympathetic in character.
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They still have lots of potential. We were able to uncork some added dynamics by plugging the power amp directly to the wall socket. Mixing and matching gear will surely help as well, together with a lower jitter interface.
The LSi9 sounds very very good when matched properly. I expect the LSiM 703 to sound even better, if the owner can get the right synergy.
I suggest using an amp with lots of current capacity as the main backbone for an LSiM based system. As nice as they were with the NuForce stereo amp and compact DAC, these speakers probably would've really shone with their monoblocks coupled to the DAC9 and the P9, and tied together with cables that are more sympathetic in character.
For me, the synergy is there. It just lacks a little headroom from the amp.
I was already sold on the first CD test, more so when Stagea played his lossless FLAC file over the NuForce DAC and Amp.
Last piece of the puzzle would be its performance with my H/K Stereo Receiver.
Oist Xandric, bring your Rotel in Marc's place na!
So kailan mo i=popost sa gallery mo yun LsiM? ;D
I have another suggestion. Why don't you also try the NuForce amp with your Lsi9 first.
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I was already sold on the first CD test, more so when Stagea played his lossless FLAC file over the NuForce DAC and Amp.
Last piece of the puzzle would be its performance with my H/K Stereo Receiver.
Oist Xandric, bring your Rotel in Marc's place na!
Hey! I didn't make it yesterday, too busy. ;) But it's a good thing not be there (again), otherwise alam mo na. Haha! ;D Pigil muna ng konti at mahaba-habang audition. :D
Kelan ka ba makakapunta kila Marc? Keep me posted so we can have another listening session and yes I'll bring my Rotel. :)
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For me, the synergy is there. It just lacks a little headroom from the amp.
Don't get me wrong, it sounded very good for the system cost that we're talking about (especially since the Preamp/DAC and the Power Amp were comparatively budget-fare when compared to other gear in that show). It's just that those speakers were capable of much more. :) I also feel that the output reflects the impedance characteristics of the speaker, and that it'd benefit from lots of amp current capacity and grip. :)
I'd like to note that I'm used to a fairly fast, snappy and impactful sound, and I'm sure that's not to everyone's liking.
Things I liked in this system:
1. Neutral presentation from top to bottom (spectral balance is among the best in the show, I think)
2. It never sounded bad with any good track (it seemed to be very flexible with material)
3. Clean and revealing top end coupled with a textured midrange (it might not emphasize details, but it has all you have to hear)
4. Some layering was noticeable (and this is a lot better than many systems yesterday that threw diffused images on a stage that is wide but defines no depth)
5. Fatigue-free sound for most listening levels (admittedly, there was a tendency for the speaker to be slightly forward and shouty at very high volumes, but this is typical for flat-voiced speakers)
6. Good weight and extension for bookshelf speakers (the system had notable output down to about 50Hz or so)
7. Excellent price to performance ratio (this matters to people like me who are poor and wretched)
8. Nice cabinet finish and apparent build (I've seen many pictures, and it looks better in person)
Things I missed that I believe can be fixed with different upstream components (based on my experience with the LSi9 and other similar speakers):
1. I would've liked a faster and more impactful presentation (certainly achievable with different electronics and cables).
2. Some extra bite and sparkle in the HF would make things more lively (same solution as above).
3. Large scale dynamics and bottom end extension needed a bit of help (a high current amp would likely bring out enough punch and urgency to cover for most of the lack in absolute depth).
4. Images were in soft focus and profound layering was absent (likely fixable with cables and electronics).
5. I feel that there was a lack of sufficient attack and aggression (or crunch) in the presentation of certain tracks (likely fixable with cables).
As for Topper's Pepsi Challenge: I think this drink might not be the best Champagne, but it is definitely an excellent Cremant. Something that can be as enjoyable, while being far more affordable.
The savings could be used for better electronics, which may in fact yield a much nicer system. Think of it as Cremant + Ham + Turkey versus Champagne + Hotdog + Tapa (or Tuyo). ;D
So kailan mo i=popost sa gallery mo yun LsiM? ;D
I have another suggestion. Why don't you also try the NuForce amp with your Lsi9 first.
Good idea!
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I'm glad you guys were able to check out the new speakers and over the next few days you'll be able to mix and match and play with them to your heart's content at Marc's place :).
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7. Excellent price to performance ratio (this matters to people like me who are poor and wretched)
haha now thats funny :)
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For me, the synergy is there. It just lacks a little headroom from the amp.
So kailan mo i=popost sa gallery mo yun LsiM? ;D
I have another suggestion. Why don't you also try the NuForce amp with your Lsi9 first.
I want to hear my LSi9s first with the Rotel of Xandrik at baka sakali lumitaw yung brightness na habol ko.
Remember Stagea plugging in the onkyo reference preamp to the mark levinson main amp and the revels sounded really bright to the point -1 yung attenuation sa tweeter (original was +0.5 with the mark levinson preamp)
I got the idea from there - Im thinking of using a rotel as preamp, the harmans as power.
Well, if the nuforce class d amp would be available at marc's place, I might as well try it on the LSi9s too.
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Marc has a Rotel Preamp/Processor and a Rotel Integrated Amp in his shop. You can try those on.
I have tried the Rotel versus the Mark Levinson preamp, and the Rotel is a bit brighter. Both have a fairly polite presentation, however. The Rotel PrePro's built-in DAC is grainier than the Naim DAC in sound, but it works great with certain components.
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haha now thats funny :)
If he's poor, then i therefore conclude that nobody is rich.
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For those that missed the show, here's a few pix of the LSiM 703 along with the rest of the Polk Audio room:
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/221602/Shows/Hifi%20Show%202011/IMG_4306.JPG)
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/221602/Shows/Hifi%20Show%202011/IMG_4307.JPG)
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/221602/Shows/Hifi%20Show%202011/IMG_4309.JPG)
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/221602/Shows/Hifi%20Show%202011/IMG_4310.JPG)
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/221602/Shows/Hifi%20Show%202011/IMG_4311.JPG)
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/221602/Shows/Hifi%20Show%202011/IMG_4313.JPG)
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/221602/Shows/Hifi%20Show%202011/IMG_4314.JPG)
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Hey! I didn't make it yesterday, too busy. ;) But it's a good thing not be there (again), otherwise alam mo na. Haha! ;D Pigil muna ng konti at mahaba-habang audition. :D
Kelan ka ba makakapunta kila Marc? Keep me posted so we can have another listening session and yes I'll bring my Rotel. :)
Xandrik,
I plan to bring in the LSi9s over when the LSiM703s are already there kina Marc. Ill also experiment on your Rotel RA-04 as Preamp and my HK3470 as Power amp at baka sakaling it can cajole the LSi9's brightness to life. Nasanay ako sa brightness ng RTiA3 LOL
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@Mikeer2002ph
Try Van den Hul "The Clearwater" speaker cables and/or Jenving (Supra) "EFF-I" interconnects if you can get a free trial. They are significantly brighter-sounding than average, for not much money.
The Clearwater cables are bright enough for me not to recommend them for most systems, except for those that really need some tilting in terms of tonal balance (and/or for systems that are less sensitive to cable differences).
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Xandrik,
I plan to bring in the LSi9s over when the LSiM703s are already there kina Marc. Ill also experiment on your Rotel RA-04 as Preamp and my HK3470 as Power amp at baka sakaling it can cajole the LSi9's brightness to life. Nasanay ako sa brightness ng RTiA3 LOL
Been there a while ago with master Stagea. IMHO, I don't think the Rotel would suffice your need for brightness. Best if you could ask AVshop to have the nuforce amp there.
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@Mikeer2002ph
Try Van den Hul "The Clearwater" speaker cables and/or Jenving (Supra) "EFF-I" interconnects if you can get a free trial. They are significantly brighter-sounding than average, for not much money.
The Clearwater cables are bright enough for me not to recommend them for most systems, except for those that really need some tilting in terms of tonal balance (and/or for systems that are less sensitive to cable differences).
I can vouch for those "Clearwater" cables, they do add significant brightness for systems that need them.
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@Mikeer2002ph
Try Van den Hul "The Clearwater" speaker cables and/or Jenving (Supra) "EFF-I" interconnects if you can get a free trial. They are significantly brighter-sounding than average, for not much money.
The Clearwater cables are bright enough for me not to recommend them for most systems, except for those that really need some tilting in terms of tonal balance (and/or for systems that are less sensitive to cable differences).
I can vouch for those "Clearwater" cables, they do add significant brightness for systems that need them.
I hope Marc has these cables or members willing to have their cables 'borrowed' for audition. What's currently connected to the LSi9s are the Tsunami competition cables (bought from Marc's shop) and generic ICs
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I hope Marc has these cables or members willing to have their cables 'borrowed' for audition. What's currently connected to the LSi9s are the Tsunami competition cables (bought from Marc's shop) and generic ICs
Tsunamis are a little on the warm and sonorous side, and may be a better match for the RTi line.
The LSi speakers have different "needs."
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Tsunamis are a little on the warm and sonorous side, and may be a better match for the RTi line.
The LSi speakers have different "needs."
And so does Mikeer. ;D
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I hope Marc has these cables or members willing to have their cables 'borrowed' for audition. What's currently connected to the LSi9s are the Tsunami competition cables (bought from Marc's shop) and generic ICs
Watt Hifi has these cables. I think they are selling for 700/meter :D
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Watt Hifi has these cables. I think they are selling for 700/meter :D
They used to have Jenving cables din, di ko alam kung andun pa (old stock na, if ever).
I miss the higher model Supras. They're excellent for the price, imho.
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Watt Hifi has these cables. I think they are selling for 700/meter :D
Yup Watt Hifi at Makati Cinema Square has these. If I remember right 2 pairs of 6 meters complete with banana plugs goes for around 4th or 4.5th.
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(http://www.polkaudio.com/images/home/medium/cherry/lsim703.jpg)
LSiM703 Bookshelf - Now at Marc's place :).
Have fun :)
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(http://www.polkaudio.com/images/home/medium/cherry/lsim703.jpg)
LSiM703 Bookshelf - Now at Marc's place :).
Have fun :)
Oist paging Xandric! o kelan tayo magkikita dun?
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I almost went there today having read this this morning. Good thing is I decided not to at the last moment :).
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(http://www.polkaudio.com/images/home/medium/cherry/lsim703.jpg)
LSiM703 Bookshelf - Now at Marc's place :).
Have fun :)
With a matching amp for Mikeer? :D
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With a matching amp for Mikeer? :D
im looking for a preamp first Nelson, Baka sakaling mas murang alternate ang bright preamp (rotel/onkyo/technics) and a dark power amp (my HK) as compared to jumping in and getting a Rotel 1520
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im looking for a preamp first Nelson, Baka sakaling mas murang alternate ang bright preamp (rotel/onkyo/technics) and a dark power amp (my HK) as compared to jumping in and getting a Rotel 1520
Dagdagan mo na lang kaya ng tweeter? :D Joke! You're right. But then, how much would the preamp cost? Then add it up to your amps cost. Baka ganun din. ;)
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Dagdagan mo na lang kaya ng tweeter? :D Joke! You're right. But then, how much would the preamp cost? Then add it up to your amps cost. Baka ganun din. ;)
Well I already own an HK amp (HK3470) I'll just take off the jumper block from the preout-amp in on the HK and route it through the Rotel's preamp out.
Since ecks_xnm is coming over to also audition his gears at AVShop, this would be a nice time to bring in the LSi9 and HK3470 and see how the LSi9 would fare with the HK3470 as amp+Rotel RA04SE as preamp, vis a vis how the LSiM 703 would sound with the HK3470 with its onboard preamp.
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Well I already own an HK amp (HK3470) I'll just take off the jumper block from the preout-amp in on the HK and route it through the Rotel's preamp out.
Since ecks_xnm is coming over to also audition his gears at AVShop, this would be a nice time to bring in the LSi9 and HK3470 and see how the LSi9 would fare with the HK3470 as amp+Rotel RA04SE as preamp, vis a vis how the LSiM 703 would sound with the HK3470 with its onboard preamp.
Pwede ka din mag-biamp so you'll have control over the tweeters. :)
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Try pairing the LSi9s to something that has serious grip and current capacity at this price point (like the NAD C375BEE or the Roksan Kandy K2). You might end up with a more satisfying system in the end. :)
If you want something brighter that's fairly cheap, the CA 740A might be a good pick. :)
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Try pairing the LSi9s to something that has serious grip and current capacity at this price point (like the NAD C375BEE or the Roksan Kandy K2). You might end up with a more satisfying system in the end. :)
If you want something brighter that's fairly cheap, the CA 740A might be a good pick. :)
this also comes to mind - Class D nga lang
http://www.pinoydvd.com/index.php/topic,109776.0.html (http://www.pinoydvd.com/index.php/topic,109776.0.html)
Heard the LSi9s with Marc's Onkyo A5VL (also class D) and carried itself well - very bright (which is good) and had decent bass, not as full as the HKs, but I can always augment with a sub
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Oist paging Xandric! o kelan tayo magkikita dun?
;D FRIDAY!! Haha! But I'll be a bit late because of work. And yes I'll bring the 04se so you can give it a try/listen. :)
Actually, I went there a while ago. ;D But I didn't bring my amp, saving it for Friday's session. Compared the lsi m703s to B&W CM5 & AE Radiance 1. It's the 703s for me! Haha! Everything rests on Friday's session, that's when I'll decide if indeed I should get one. See you at Marc's place. :D
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The LSiM speakers sound very very good when matched well. :)
Nelson had a chance to hear it. :)
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which gear and wires did you end up trying? which combinations tickled your fancy? :)
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It was hooked up with marc's plinius power amp. A Rotel integrated was used as a preamp. And my CA 740c as a source.
It was jaw dropping! Never has any bookshelf sounded this huge. :o It's quite easier to drive than the LSi9s which became laid back when compared to the LSiMs. It's a very good match for any floorstander in its price range. Very dynamic with the plinius power amp. Polk outclassed itself again with the LSiMs. Definitely on top of my wish list. :D Metal instruments sounded al dente and not harsh on my ears. The mids were very present. The string instruments were immediate and prompt. And the plump mid-lows and lows is really something to die for in a bookshelf.
Thanks for bringing it here in our islands. :D
Definitely a very good option for anybody lookin for BS or FS speakers within the budget.
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It was hooked up with marc's plinius power amp. A Rotel integrated was used as a preamp. And my CA 740c as a source.
It was jaw dropping! Never has any bookshelf sounded this huge. :o It's quite easier to drive than the LSi9s which became laid back when compared to the LSiMs. It's a very good match for any floorstander in its price range. Very dynamic with the plinius power amp. Polk outclassed itself again with the LSiMs. Definitely on top of my wish list. :D Metal instruments sounded al dente and not harsh on my ears. The mids were very present. The string instruments were immediate and prompt. And the plump mid-lows and lows is really something to die for in a bookshelf.
Thanks for bringing it here in our islands. :D
Definitely a very good option for anybody lookin for BS or FS speakers within the budget.
Upgrade ka na master? ;)
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Upgrade ka na master? ;)
Definitely of course!
In my dreams.
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which gear and wires did you end up trying? which combinations tickled your fancy? :)
We had quite a few items at our disposal. Nothing truly high end or state-of-the-art, but we found an odd mix that really worked.
This combination sounded great:
Cambridge Audio 740C CD Player -> Cambridge Audio Azur IC -> Rotel RA-1520 Integrated (as Preamp) -> Monster THX I100 IC -> Plinius SA-50 Power Amp -> Generic AWG12 Speaker Wires -> LSiM 703.
The sum of parts made for a very crisp and urgent presentation, with realistic weight and tension. The Plinius power amp made the biggest difference on the electronics side though, and I think it's because it's a truly high current design (this amp is very capable of low impedance loads). The system sounds good with the amp in Class AB operation, but running in Class A adds an extra modicum of polish that brings the set firmly into high end territory.
Being capable of this much with relatively humble gear, it makes me wonder how it'd sound when paired with upper tier components. Another thing that surprised me is how easily the speaker paired with different cables and electronics. It never sounded bad.
Special thanks to:
1. Nelson for bringing a worthy source and investing on world peace
2. Marc for the lovely power amp and having the venue to make this possible
3. Manoj and Sanjay for bringing these wonderful speakers over
4. James and Rey for their tireless support
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Is it better than the LSi9? I think it's a significant improvement on what had been a good speaker for over a decade. It sounds more open and revealing, with a little more shimmer, snap, and extension. I also noticed less nasality in the midrange, coupled with fleet-footed lows.
The LSiM 703 could revitalize the sub-100k bookshelf speaker segment. I honestly can't think of a better one at this price point; the only downside being that it sounds less spectacular with weaker amps (budget tube and flea amp owners may be better off looking elsewhere). The Rotel RA-1520 or the Cambridge Audio 740A would probably be the lowest that I'd go. I could imagine it delivering great (if a bit laid back) music with the NAD C375BEE too, as this amp is truly an unsung hero at this price segment (due to its outstanding current capability).
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the only downside being that it sounds less spectacular with weaker amps (budget tube and flea amp owners may be better off looking elsewhere).
Yeah but it's tad easier to drive compared to the LSi9s and bi-ampable. :D I just wonder... ;D
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Yeah but it's tad easier to drive compared to the LSi9s and bi-ampable. :D I just wonder... ;D
Mukhang bibili ka na ah. ;D
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Yeah but it's tad easier to drive compared to the LSi9s and bi-ampable. :D I just wonder... ;D
I agree. It went fairly loud with the 50 watter Plinius and the 60 watter Rotel. :) The Plinius is a current monster though, and as with all Pliniuses I had been fortunate to use... very easy to listen to. :) There are bright and warm Pliniuses, but all seem to have that effortless "easy on the ears" sound.
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its the Pepsi challenge bud :).
Glad to hear its living up to expectation :). Can't wait to hear the synergy you guys were able to cook up :)
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Glad to hear its living up to expectation :). Can't wait to hear the synergy you guys were able to cook up :)
Let us know when you'd want to try it, so that we can bring the stuff over. I would've wanted to take my electronics with me, but it'd be a huge mess to dismantle my gear.
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Check out the new Polk lsi m series with Rotel integrated amps. :)
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Had a chance to audition this yesterday. Nice, very nice ... though for me they do not present a strong enough argument to upgrade from my current LSi9 set. If I were looking for a new setup, the ease of driving the LSiM (88db/8ohms versus 88db/4ohms) would probably sway me to it since it would probably be easier to find electronics that would do it justice. Aesthetically, while LSiM is more sexy, I prefer the more professional look of the LSi series.
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Had a chance to audition this yesterday. Nice, very nice ... though for me they do not present a strong enough argument to upgrade from my current LSi9 set. If I were looking for a new setup, the ease of driving the LSiM (88db/8ohms versus 88db/4ohms) would probably sway me to it since it would probably be easier to find electronics that would do it justice. Aesthetically, while LSiM is more sexy, I prefer the more professional look of the LSi series.
Yeah, they're a good deal easier to drive. :)
Some go into the extremes of pairing them with dinky amps (at least for aesthetic purposes)....
(http://www.starav.com.au/wp-content/gallery/polk-audio-lsim-series/lsim_stereotowers.jpg)
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Talk about spartan! This seems to verify for me my thinking that speakers should be given the highest priority in a setup. Other components are of course important but selection should start with the speakers with the rest of the system being chosen so you get what you want (speakers singing with their full voice).
Listening now on the RTi A9, which is comparable in cost to the LSiM 703, I think I'd still go for the A9. Midrange of the A9 seems comparable, if not better, and the bass is definitely superior. For the highs, I can't give an opinion yet.
[ADDED]
My hearing was diagnosed as "less than par", really. So this is just my opinion and it is always best to form one's own - audition, audition, audition.
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Will audition this today and bring my Parasound 2channel power amp. Tignan natin ano kahihinatnan ;D
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Will audition this today and bring my Parasound 2channel power amp. Tignan natin ano kahihinatnan ;D
Ayun o. :)
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The Polk Audio site say for the LSiM707, "compatible with 8 ohm outputs" - what does this mean? Why only 300 watts? :)
I noticed to that it has a "subwoofer" then a "midrange/bass" driver, then a separate "bass" driver. It must have been quite complicated to balance these. Is this a commonly employed configuration?
This is all suppose to significantly improve the distortions. Do speakers have distortion ratings?
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Had a chance to audition this yesterday. Nice, very nice ... though for me they do not present a strong enough argument to upgrade from my current LSi9 set. If I were looking for a new setup, the ease of driving the LSiM (88db/8ohms versus 88db/4ohms) would probably sway me to it since it would probably be easier to find electronics that would do it justice. Aesthetically, while LSiM is more sexy, I prefer the more professional look of the LSi series.
Kaya nga im thinking of a secondary stereo system, since the LSi9s are geeky looking speakers - too beautiful and rare to end up in the 'marketplace', but the 703s are more brighter at everything 'flat'.
The LSiM703 is also much forgiving for electronics whether its a class D or class AB amp
I like the paintjob of the 703s .. and the grilles are on a league of its own
Only gripe with the 703s is the higher cabinet resonance when music is being played (put your hand on top of the 703s while music is playing and compare it with the 9s and you know what I mean), the cabinet is not as 'solid' anymore as compared to the 9s
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The Polk Audio site say for the LSiM707, "compatible with 8 ohm outputs" - what does this mean? Why only 300 watts? :)
It probably still drops quite a bit below 8 ohms, but they didn't want to alienate customers with amps that aren't rated to drive "4 ohm" or "6 ohm" speakers. The language is appropriate however, as many other makers just badge an "8 ohm nominal" spec on speakers that present very difficult loads (yes, some "8 ohm nominal" speakers drop below 2 ohms and trigger protect modes in certain amps).
I noticed to that it has a "subwoofer" then a "midrange/bass" driver, then a separate "bass" driver. It must have been quite complicated to balance these. Is this a commonly employed configuration?
Multi-way arrays have been around for sometime.
This is all suppose to significantly improve the distortions. Do speakers have distortion ratings?
Speakers introduce the greatest amount of distortion in a typical system. Makers just don't quote their measurements partly because it doesn't look good, and partly because it's far more complex and hard to interpret (you can't just put it as a part of a numeric spec sheet and make sense). :)
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I was able to audition this sexy speakers yesterday paired with my Parasound poweramp.
Hmmm. Initial impression... I think it's not match with my Parasound, too forward and bright for me.
In my opinion it's character is between RTi and previous LSi series when paired with my poweramp.
But still these are great sounding speakers. Mids and highs are clear and detailed. Those who are fond listening to female voices will love these new LSIMs. Also it excels in bass department. It can go quite deep that you can actually feel it ;)
For for now... Will try out this week for other options :)
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Master Billabong and I did some cable rotation today, and we still ended up liking the same combination that worked before.
Our golden-eared test subject (let's hypothetically call him "Paul") was blindfolded and was asked to differentiate between three sets (Brands V, P and G). I agree that our methodology may not be the most scientific, but we arranged the test to go against the trend by using three sets and putting what I find the most desirable cable first (supposedly, A/B testing statistics show that people tend to prefer the second set when listening to different gear). Our test subject immediately noticed some differences, and favored the first combination. "Paul" had never heard this cable/gear combination before, but he clearly liked what he heard (at least against the other choices at hand). He did not know that he was choosing between three sets (he was under the impression that there were only two sets being switched around), yet he clearly noticed differences between all three sets. He deserves a 24K golden ear award. :)
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I was able to audition this sexy speakers yesterday paired with my Parasound poweramp.
Hmmm. Initial impression... I think it's not match with my Parasound, too forward and bright for me.
In my opinion it's character is between RTi and previous LSi series when paired with my poweramp.
But still these are great sounding speakers. Mids and highs are clear and detailed. Those who are fond listening to female voices will love these new LSIMs. Also it excels in bass department. It can go quite deep that you can actually feel it ;)
For for now... Will try out this week for other options :)
There are a lot of speakers out there to choose from. Just choose the ones that'd suit your preference. :)
Speakers voiced to measure near flat in terms of FR (like most speakers from Polk, Infinity, PSB, Focal, Wilson, Mordaunt-Short, Revel, etc.) tend to sound "forward" to people who aren't used to this character (this is partly a function of the Fletcher-Munson curve).
Men are particularly sensitive to midband harshness (especially elderly ones), which is why many prefer the sound of speakers (or systems) with a "gundry dip" -- or an attenuated response in the 6th to 7th octaves. Since the hifi audio market is dominated by adult men, many speakers are thus designed to appeal to the typical hearing preference of this demographic. The local hifi sound largely reflects this preference, and is quite different from the typical american/canadian hifi sound (which had been guided by their hifi press' emphasis on measured performance in the 70s and 80s).
To illustrate, these would likely be popular speakers to the typical Filipino enthusiast (and I've heard many coin the term "neutral" for such a response):
(http://www.stereophile.com/images/archivesart/1008harH40fig3.jpg)
(http://www.stereophile.com/images/archivesart/bw800FIG4.jpg)
These are likely what many Filipinos might describe as bright, forward, shouty, clinical, sterile, tinny or brittle sounding speakers (when they are much closer to flat/neutral from objective measurements):
(http://www.stereophile.com/images/archivesart/905Mp6fig4.jpg)
(http://www.stereophile.com/images/archivesart/308Revfig5.jpg)
There really is nothing wrong with preferring one over the other (and I appreciate both kinds), as long as we don't use the former ones for mastering recordings as-is (unless we intend to make the recording sound good only on gear with a similar character). I prefer to use the terms pleasant, musical, sonorous, etc. for the prior curves, and neutral, flat, accurate, etc. for the latter curves.
Of course, frequency response is only one of the many factors that can affect the apparent performance of a speaker, but it typically is among the few that make the biggest impact. This is most evident in conventional HiFi systems, as most HiFi people are processing-averse. In typical Home Theater and Pro Audio environments, the response curves are often pre-equalized in the active domain.
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^Another informative and professional grade write up master Ivan. Thanks :)
There are a lot of speakers out there to choose from. Just choose the ones that'd suit your preference. :)
+1
Totally agree
Men are particularly sensitive to midband harshness (especially elderly ones)
Tumatanda na ata ako ;D ;D ;D
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There really is nothing wrong with preferring one over the other (and I appreciate both kinds), as long as we don't use the former ones for mastering recordings as-is (unless we intend to make the recording sound good only on gear with a similar character).
This is sometimes a problem for me when buying local music in cds. They sometimes sound compressed even though i haven't heard the master copy. Is this primarily because they were pre-equalized to be listened in commercial players and the likes?
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^Another informative and professional grade write up master Ivan. Thanks :)
You're welcome, Master Louie. In case you're wondering, the curves above are from the following brands:
1. Harbeth
2. B&W
3. Mordaunt-Short
4. Revel
Tumatanda na ata ako ;D ;D ;D
Hindi pa bro. :) Malayo pa yun. :)
This is sometimes a problem for me when buying local music in cds. They sometimes sound compressed even though i haven't heard the master copy. Is this primarily because they were pre-equalized to be listened in commercial players and the likes?
They compress/constrict the material in terms of dynamic range (and sometimes frequency range too) to ensure that it plays louder without excessive unpleasant distortion. This allows the music to reach a larger audience (since it'd still be listenable with less capable gear), and/or play louder/suffer less degradation when broadcast over the air.
Isa pa diyan ang "loudness wars." Record labels are churning hotter and hotter records, as this seems to sell.
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(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/221602/Polk/LSi%20M/polk_floorstander.jpg)
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/221602/Polk/LSi%20M/polk_bookshelf.jpg)
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/221602/Polk/LSi%20M/polk_grille.jpg)
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Speakers voiced to measure near flat in terms of FR (like most speakers from Polk, Infinity, PSB, Focal, Wilson, Mordaunt-Short, Revel, etc.) tend to sound "forward" to people who aren't used to this character (this is partly a function of the Fletcher-Munson curve).
These are likely what many Filipinos might describe as bright, forward, shouty, clinical, sterile, tinny or brittle sounding speakers (when they are much closer to flat/neutral from objective measurements):
(http://www.stereophile.com/images/archivesart/905Mp6fig4.jpg)
(http://www.stereophile.com/images/archivesart/308Revfig5.jpg)
xxx...Of course, frequency response is only one of the many factors that can affect the apparent performance of a speaker, but it typically is among the few that make the biggest impact.
+ 1 tera
i believe this frequency response plot should be included as basis when describing the sonic charecteristic of a speaker, especially in terms of whether or not it measures flat or neutral. because it puzzles me when people recommend a specific model/brand and say that speaker X sounds neutral compared to speaker y, when in fact the FRP indicates otherwise.
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Check out the lsi M matched with Rotel gear. :)
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(http://www.polkaudio.com/images/home/medium/cherry/lsim707.jpg)
Check out the brand new LSiM707 review by TONEaudio
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/221602/Polk/Polk%20Reviews/TA_042%20-%20LSiM707%20v2.pdf
Here's my favorite part:
"The LSiM707s’ greatest virtue owes to their overall performance
level; they have no shortcomings. Honestly. The speakers offer
major bass grunt—Polk claims 22Hz-40kHz, with a -3db point
at 42Hz. However, when listening to test tones, the 30Hz band
remains very solid. Moreover, the smooth high-end is grain-free
and the mid-band extremely natural. The well-designed crossover
network also provides a top-to-bottom coherence that’s rare at
this price."
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We have the new lsi m705 and lsi m703 on display. Come by the shop to check them out. Will postics later. :)
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With all the talk about matching the lsim with all these gears. How oils they sound with an onkyo and do you Gus think the lsim 703, their big center perform in a ht setup and just audio
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Bring your Onkyo over and try the pairing out with the actual speakers :). Can't beat experiencing the combination with your own ears :).
As for HT, we're expecting a center within the month and you can try it out as well. I'm certain your going to be very pleasantly surprised :)
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Thank you Topper. Ya I'm planning to check out the set of the 703 and the big center of the lsim series. Where can I check them out? Will marc have the set at his shop soon?
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We have the new lsi m705 and lsi m703 on display. Come by the shop to check them out. Will postics later. :)
Thank you Topper. Ya I'm planning to check out the set of the 703 and the big center of the lsim series. Where can I check them out? Will marc have the set at his shop soon?
Check out the 703s na. I'm sure naman if you'll like the 703 BS, the center would also be to your liking.
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polk audio lsi m705 beside the b&w 803d. :)
(http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/marcyao/IMG_4726.jpg)
(http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/marcyao/IMG_4727.jpg)
(http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/marcyao/IMG_4728.jpg)
(http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/marcyao/IMG_4729.jpg)
(http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/marcyao/IMG_4730.jpg)
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I seriously love these speakers and they sounded awesome with he 3008. I can't wait
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Naman!!! Arriving soon na ba? ;)
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SOON!!!!
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Congrats carlo.A!
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Congrats carlo.A!
Pumasyal tayo one last time sa AVShop pagdating ng complete LSiMs bago hakutin ni Carlo A yun laman ng AVShop.
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Pumasyal tayo one last time sa AVShop pagdating ng complete LSiMs bago hakutin ni Carlo A yun laman ng AVShop.
Narinig ko na yung 705. Maayos din with Rotel.
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@ master Nelson and stagea
Thank you so much! It really does sound great but I'm still contemplating if I'll be getting the tower or just stay with the bs.
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If your not on a budget, get the FS. ;) You'll never know kung bigla kang mahilig sa music. Especially sa bedroom set-up mo, masarap makinig with wifey. :D
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thats true but its so much more but i did like the fs alot. still thinking about it though. but i was also wondering because when i'd watch movies and listen to music. my volume almost never passes 65 and thats with the dynamic eq turned off. (i like the dynamic eq turned off, it just sounds more open).
just a thought....what would be better in movie performance. tower or dual sub?
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thats true but its so much more but i did like the fs alot. still thinking about it though. but i was also wondering because when i'd watch movies and listen to music. my volume almost never passes 65 and thats with the dynamic eq turned off. (i like the dynamic eq turned off, it just sounds more open).
just a thought....what would be better in movie performance. tower or dual sub?
You can get the bookshelves and back them up with a DSW MicroPro 4000 (or two of them). ;) This way, your AVR won't be toiling to power your main speakers (if crossed properly).
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I wonder when the centers will arrive along with the fx
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Nice sir Carlo.. ;D super upgrade pla kayo.. hehe.. ;)
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Ya...sobrang Ganda ng tunog e.
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You can get the bookshelves and back them up with a DSW MicroPro 4000 (or two of them). ;) This way, your AVR won't be toiling to power your main speakers (if crossed properly).
Wala na daw stock. But may better options daw in 3 months. :D
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The countdown begins!!!!
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Parang mabagal ang countdown kung kulang ang gears... ;D
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Tell me about it but I want to make sure of what I'll get because the fs may be overkill in my bedroom. Try muna bs first then if it's kapos, I'll order everything na. Would also like to hear the centers first
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Are you going to be the first to own locally ng LSiM?
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I be honest I'm not sure. Would be cool though. Hehe ya I am going for the fs. At least I won't regret later down the road
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I was doing some reading on the net regarding the lsim 707 and it's coming 2nd to the lsim 703 bs on sound quality. I don't get it. I'm now wondering how the 705 will fair and also the centers. Can't seem to find any reviews
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See how Home Theater is supposed to be done!
(http://www.polkaudio.com/images/home/medium/cherry/lsim706c.jpg)
Check out home theater on the new Polk LSiM System !!
(LSiM706c center now at MLY)
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See how Home Theater is supposed to be done!
(http://www.polkaudio.com/images/home/medium/cherry/lsim706c.jpg)
Check out home theater on the new Polk LSiM System !!
(LSiM706c center now at MLY)
finally got to try out the lsim706c. AWESOME center!!! come over and check it out. :)
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finally got to try out the lsim706c. AWESOME center!!! come over and check it out. :)
Yan din ang sinabi sa akin ni Carlo. :D
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Ya awesome is the word talaga!!! Ang linaw ng tunog.
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Yan din ang sinabi sa akin ni Carlo. :D
Wala pang break in yun. :)
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Check out the review of the Polk Audio LSiM series on www.hometheater.com:
http://www.hometheater.com/content/polk-lsim707-surround-speaker-system (http://www.hometheater.com/content/polk-lsim707-surround-speaker-system)
(http://www.hometheater.com/images/612polk.promo_.jpg)
Polk Audio speakers are available in most reputable AV shops.
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Ya awesome is the word talaga!!! Ang linaw ng tunog.
=)
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(http://www.steinwaylyngdorf.com/images/news/2011/Sound+Vision-logo.jpg)
Test Report: Polk Audio LSiM Speaker System
Polk’s powerful towers will rock your room’s foundation.
(http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/files/imagecache/blog_author_75x75/category_pictures/2012-certandrec-seal.jpg)
(http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/files/imagecache/article_main_photo/_images/201205/polk3.jpg)
"the LSiM Series array I auditioned is a reference contender that should happily stand comparison with low-production- volume, high-end designs of similar heft and price, and even substantially higher."
http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/article/test-report-polk-audio-lsim-speaker-system
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Hmmm....interesting reviews
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Hmmm....interesting reviews
Si carlo, narinig mo na rin ba yung LSiM703? How was it for stereo listening? And do you have an idea how much this bookshelf is?
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I have the lsiM 703 set for my ht. It's great! I'm really happy with them
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Si carlo, narinig mo na rin ba yung LSiM703? How was it for stereo listening? And do you have an idea how much this bookshelf is?
Brader, ayon sa aking aklat...
Php 69,900 ang SRP ;)
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Brader, ayon sa aking aklat...
Php 69,900 ang SRP ;)
Di pa discounted yan right?
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Sir courage,
The stereo listening is great. It really does sound like as if the center is working as well
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Di pa discounted yan right?
Korek brader.
Usually 15 to 20% discount pagcash...
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I have the lsiM 703 set for my ht. It's great! I'm really happy with them
Between the LSi9s and the 703s for HT, im betting on the 703s.
But for pure 2 channel audio im still torn, more so now na I think broken in na yung 9s ko, finally getting the brightness I deserve.
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Between the LSi9s and the 703s for HT, im betting on the 703s.
But for pure 2 channel audio im still torn, more so now na I think broken in na yung 9s ko, finally getting the brightness I deserve.
Ano kayang magandang i match na amp for stereo listening dito?
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Ano kayang magandang i match na amp for stereo listening dito?
rotel 1520
or cayin tube amps hihihi
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Ano kayang magandang i match na amp for stereo listening dito?
That I'm not too sure either. I'm actually looking for power amp for my speakers too. I'm currently using an onkyo 3008. I wonder if anyone out there can help us out.
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rotel 1520
or cayin tube amps hihihi
+1 sa tube amp brader to make them more balanced.
When I auditioned the 703 before its somewhere on the bright side paired with my parasound power amp.
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+1 sa tube amp brader to make them more balanced.
When I auditioned the 703 before its somewhere on the bright side paired with my parasound power amp.
sarap pumasyal sa audio amplified lapit lang pala sa office ko
daming CAYIN hahaha
parang porche lang din ang price
hahaha
porche cayene hahaha
tama ba spelling ko
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sarap pumasyal sa audio amplified lapit lang pala sa office ko
daming CAYIN hahaha
parang porche lang din ang price
hahaha
porche cayene hahaha
tama ba spelling ko
you mean "Porch" brotha! It's just outside of the door of Audio Amplified with a good view of Libis 8)
But when you look inside the store, you will also see alot of Cayin's. So when you think of it, you are on the Porch, looking the Cayin amps. Then it becomes, Porch Cayin ;D
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That I'm not too sure either. I'm actually looking for power amp for my speakers too. I'm currently using an onkyo 3008. I wonder if anyone out there can help us out.
Ano kayang magandang i match na amp for stereo listening dito?
The missing link in my case (for the 9s) is a Rotel RB-1582. The RA-06SE loses steam at my listening volume for the 9s.
I tried the 703s in MLY when my RA-06SE arrived last december - in one word = perfect
LSiM 703s driven by the RB1582 with RA-06SE as preamp is also perfect
Also tried the RA-1520 lying around there, it had tad more midrange on the 703s., same is true when the RA-1520 as preamp and RB-1582 as power amp
You get a different sonic character with the 703s when paired to a tube / hybrid power amp, so goes with tube/hybrid preamps
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The missing link in my case (for the 9s) is a Rotel RB-1582. The RA-06SE loses steam at my listening volume for the 9s.
I tried the 703s in MLY when my RA-06SE arrived last december - in one word = perfect
LSiM 703s driven by the RB1582 with RA-06SE as preamp is also perfect
Also tried the RA-1520 lying around there, it had tad more midrange on the 703s., same is true when the RA-1520 as preamp and RB-1582 as power amp
You get a different sonic character with the 703s when paired to a tube / hybrid power amp, so goes with
tube/hybrid preamps
Thanks sir mikeer2002ph for the help. I wonder though what will make the towers really sing properly. When I heard them, they seemed to lack the midrange and some of the highs that the 703 clear had in spades
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I'm asking because I miss seeing towers as my fronts
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Brader, ayon sa aking aklat...
Php 69,900 ang SRP ;)
sir Louie_18 pair na po yan 69K?
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Carlo,
The oval drivers on the LSiM 705s/707s are tough nuts to crack when it comes to breaking them in.
I heard the 705 out of the box - it was BLAND, went back a couple of months after and it sounded a lot better but the folks in MLY need more R&B and other bassy albums to work out those ovals.
Only thing that got worked out were the mids/highs LOL
I dont think typical entry to midlevel AVRs would be able to let the 705s/707s (as fronts) sing to their full potential unless you couple them to a beefy power amp via the AVR's preouts
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I was thinking of the same thing. When went back there after ages months, the towers din sound better but compared to the 703, they were still very different when it came to the mids and highs.
But I guess you are right, I'd need a really beefy amp for them.
Hmmm.....
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I was thinking of the same thing. When went back there after ages months, the towers din sound better but compared to the 703, they were still very different when it came to the mids and highs.
But I guess you are right, I'd need a really beefy amp for them.
Hmmm.....
That's the wisdom behind me ordering the RB-1582 (should I decide later on for a LSiM FS). The LSiMs may be 8ohms, but the towers crave for current.
The 703 is a different case though, the woofer cone is easier to break in hence is a joy to use out of the box.
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So what you are saying is that the fs will get better. I guess when I was there last, it wasn't fully broken in yet. Thats why I ended up getting the bs set instead.
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So what you are saying is that the fs will get better. I guess when I was there last, it wasn't fully broken in yet. Thats why I ended up getting the bs set instead.
yep. I also sent you a PM regarding a workaround on getting those oval drivers whipped to shape.
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Yup. Saw the pm na. Replied
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Is there any other amp that would work well with the LSiM bookshelf?
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Is there any other amp that would work well with the LSiM bookshelf?
If you'd like to check them out with either a NAD or Nuforce amp - just let me know k
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I hope that the Polk guys can help me out with the 705 fs on how to make it sound the best
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If you'd like to check them out with either a NAD or Nuforce amp - just let me know k
Thank you sir.. Will try to visit your shop...
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I hope that the Polk guys can help me out with the 705 fs on how to make it sound the best
A fast break-in and a powerful amp. :D
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A fast break-in and a powerful amp. :D
+1
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Is there any other amp that would work well with the LSiM bookshelf?
Mat binabalak na masama si brader. ;D ;D
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Mat binabalak na masama si brader. ;D ;D
Matagal na yan. Ayaw lang kamutin. :D
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A fast break-in and a powerful amp. :D
Sounds good master Nelson. I guess that I need to hear a properly broken in na 705 that's properly powered as well before I do anything nanaman.
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(https://encrypted-tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTaxdmrIQyryzQNyLhkk5vNvqguqkht1exLZRVUQI5l-W_wdk4L)
Anyone want to hear what the LSiMs can do for home theater? or perhaps a multi-channel concert? we have prepared a full setup at Audio Excellence at Mandaluyong for anyone who wants to demo.
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CARLO.A - Hope you enjoyed the LSiM towers demo :)
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Any reviews on the 704c compared to the 706c?
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I can't seem to find any review on the net about the 704c
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I can't seem to find any review on the net about the 704c
Go for the 706c na lang daw... ;D
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Go for the 706c na lang daw... ;D
mahal eh hehe!
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mahal eh hehe!
704 na lang. pwedeng pwede audition kay insan. Hehe!
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Hey guys - Polk Audio will be at the NOVEMBER HIFI SHOW at Dusit Thani hotel this weekend (Nov. 10 and 11) with a rocking Home Theater and HiFi demo.
Do drop-by and say hello and see whats new :)
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704 na lang. pwedeng pwede audition kay insan. Hehe!
Ya just swing by
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704 na lang. pwedeng pwede audition kay insan. Hehe!
haha dami beses na master nelson.
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Ya just swing by
di na! Mabuti pa wag na muna tayo magkita! Magastos ka makausap hehe
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Here's a few more posts on the new LSiM range:
(http://www.polkaudio.com/images/home/medium/cherry/lsim703.jpg)
"Ok ,
I think I got enough to tell my thoughts with my gear on what I feel about these new LSIM 703 book shelf speakers.
I don't want to just blurt it out but DAMN!!!!! They are the very best sounding polk anything I have ever heard. They have a very controlled , Detailed clear dynamic sound. Fantastic to say the least. The older Lsi models have no business even being in the same room. I'm sorry to rag on the older LSi's but it's my way of saying polk took a very good idea and a good sounding speaker and completely revamped it for the better in every possible way. I'm so impressed with these speakers.
I usually post a build up to a conclusion but I could not help myself as I'm excited to say what I want to say and better put how I feel"
---
"So enough with all that they have a way of bring you into your music with a strong ability to warm your heart. You feel like a cold winters day with a warm blanket. Snow is falling outside and you have a mug of hot chocolate. I can see any music lover not liking these speakers. I can see any jazz of soft rock people not liking these speakers.
So gear I used was first up was my Pioneer Elite SC-07 which did a nice job of pushing them in pure direct 2 channel mode. I had my Cambridge audio 650BD playing cd's wired in analog and HDMI for finding the best overall sound. I liked the analog sound best for a few reasons.
Next up was my Rotel Intergraded which I felt sound more organic and clean. It had nice power and dynamics with beautiful control over the bottom end which by the way these 703's have a very controlled clean bottom end unlike the older models which are sloppy and boomy compared.
I plan on inviting a few polkies to my store next week maybe Wednesday night for a listen on Bryston , Premiere and Krell. I also have Cambridge audio and NAD laying around so many choices to see how they respond. Honestly I don't need to hear them on any of that gear personally as I'm completely satisfied with the Rotel powering them. They don't seem to be that hard to drive. The SC-07 ran them just fine just not as well as the Rotel did."
---
"Bass you ask? Dude they have awesome low end for a bookshelf speaker and clean accurate not boomy like the Lsi9's do... They really sound natural and clean. I love them."
---
"As usual I always run Loreena McKennitt first. She is my reference to female voice. She moves me and when I listen to her on a pair of speakers and stop judging them and enjoying her , I know I'm listening to speakers I could love.
After her I go into Al Di Meola for some incredible guitar work and a musical ride. He is fantastic and puts much soul into his playing. A good pair of speakers get out of the way of his fast fingers and let you study his attack.
Diana Krall is a beautiful singer and song writer and her CD's and SACD's are amazingly recorded. Easy way to tell sound stage and clarity.
Norah Jones Come away with me on SACD for all the right reasons.
Steely Dan Two against Nature , he's fun to listen to and has the funky jazzy type feel that good speakers can handle.
Sheryl Crow Tuesday Night Music Club. I'm not a huge fan of her but when I hear a song I like of hers , I pick up the cd. Track 11 is "I shall believe" which is one of my favorite songs from her. The LSIM703's Blew me away when I listened , I ended up listening about 6 times in a row as I was in AWE.
Keiko Matsui Walls of Akendora. Exciting up beat Japanese Jazz disc which I found a few years back when I wanted something new. The opening sound explodes out and is super dynamic. Good speakers play it , poor speakers fumble as it's to much to handle. The LSIM's hit a home run and tracked every note. Slightly more on the softer side of things but did a fantastic job nonetheless.
Yes 90125 , one of my older favorites that I like to hear good musicians get to work. Any Yes fan will want to hear this Album before they decide to purchase a given pair of speakers.
Dave Mathews I ran cuts from all of his Albums and really enjoyed how the LSIM's handled is technical style.
Christian Scott Rewind that , killer jazz album that any jazz fan should own. He's amazing and I didn't find the LSIM's to fail in any way running his difficult cuts. "
Mantis
---
(http://www.joytel.es/web/images/stories/top_lsim.jpg)
"My system now easily surpasses it in resolution, depth and soundstage. It has a "reality" that was missing before. It's especially noticeable with the ambient sounds coming from the surrounds. BTW, Audyssey set my surrounds at 45Hz (side) and 70Hz (back) respectively. The 702's are some pretty hefty surrounds. My friend owns the PSB Synchrony One's and before that had the Revel Salons and in my opinion the 707's are better than the Synchrony One's and hold their own with the Revels. I think they are that good. Of course our rooms and set ups are different and need to be taken into consideration. He has a four wall dedicated HT room that is not acoustically friendly in my opinion. I have my set up in a large room (24 x 28) with a two story open ceiling. In any event, the Polk LSiM's are a system that compete's nicely with the high end audio market. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the LSiM's to anyone looking at PSB, Ariel, Energy, Paradigm, etc. Even Revel for that matter."
Bslep
Listen to the new LSiM range at the Polk Audio room at the November HiFi show at Dust Thani hotel this Nov 19 & 20 !!
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Test Report: Polk Audio LSiM Speaker System
(http://www.soundandvision.com/images/styles/600_wide/public/polk3.jpg?itok=UfAyesyE)
History may one day judge “offshoring” to be the macroeconomic disaster that some pundits would have us believe. Still, you can’t argue that it’s been a microeconomics windfall for American consumers.
I mean, just look at these things: Polk’s new LSiM707 towers stand taller than some adults, weigh nearly 100 pounds, and incorporate five proprietary drivers — each. They’re beautifully finished with real wood veneers, are screwed together as nicely as almost any mass-produced loudspeaker you can name, and arrive loaded with proprietary driver and crossover technologies. Sure, $3,990 for the Polk pair ain’t cheap, but it’s half the cost of many domestically built equivalents.
Setup
And the 707s are just the anchor. Polk sent a full pallet of a supporting cast, beginning with the LSiM706c center channel, which shares the towers’ vertical-array, tweeter-under midrange-tweeter module, while omitting the oval “subwoofer” drivers. (Both models include Polk’s PowerPort, a tapered-cone external diffuser deployed as an anti-port-noise measure; the tower’s is down-firing, while the center’s faces rearward.) Polk touts the 706c as “the big center channel for serious listeners,” and there’s no arguing the quantifiable part: The 706c weighs some 46 pounds, is nearly a yard wide, and was barely accommodated by my low, below-the-TV center-channel stand.
Completing the lineup was an LSiM702 surround pair, a single-woofer variant in a wall-hugging, bow-front enclosure. These went on my high shelves, flanking and slightly behind the listening position.
As if this wasn’t enough, Polk threw in not one but two lily-gilders: a pair of DSW microPRO 3000 subwoofers of the modern, ultra-power/ultra-compact ilk, in this case a 10-inch design with a novel square, down-firing passive radiator. I located one sub in my established woofer home behind/outboard of the right-front speaker, and its twin roughly a third up the left-side wall. After a week’s medical leave to recover from the unboxing — a decidedly two-man job — I placed the 707s in my usual locations, about 3 feet from the front wall, and wired up their high-grade, all-metal terminals. With the center and surrounds in place, and the system balanced up with the fronts full-range and the center and surrounds both crossed over at 60 Hz, I was ready to proceed.
Performance
After my usual break-in routine — a couple weeks of low-attention, utilitarian duty — I began as always with close listening of 2-channel music via the 707s alone, operating full range. The big take-away from these sessions? The hulking Polks simply do not “sound like big speakers.”
Which I mean as high praise. The 707s effected no over-emphasis of bass, whether middling or deep; no “extra” etching of treble detail; and no breathed-upon conjuring of depth. On technically and musically excellent recordings such as a recent HDtracks 96/24 download of a Ravel string quartet by the Eroica Quartet, the Polk towers produced focused, beautifully detailed, timbrally honest music. And I could easily discern the players’ U-shaped seating via a stereo image that conveyed a nice lateral precision along with a comfortable illusion of stage depth.
More full-range music only added to the impression of effortless excellence. Pop vocals were uniformly correct, by which I mean free of narrow colorations such as honk or nasality (especially on male voices), and powerfully anchored at the mixed location without any of the vagueness or slight lateral wandering that one occasionally hears from some speakers. This was quite dramatic on Natalie Merchant’s “San Andreas Fault” (an HDtracks hi-rez file culled from her remastered Retrospective masters), on which her distinctive voice, lovingly miked and recorded as always, sounded preternaturally intimate and textured.
With regard to bass, the 707s make some. Actually, they make a lot. I kept pulling the towers farther and farther forward until I achieved what I considered an honest balance; this put the baffles nearly 6 feet from the front wall and left the speakers alarmingly close to the listening position (about 8 feet). They then sounded great for stereo listening, but it’s not a layout I could live with long-term in my studio.
Still, the 707s could be a little over-enthusiastic on the bottom octaves. A record like James Taylor’s Hourglass, an effective yardstick for bass-rich mixes, sounded superb — if you like bass, and I do. But inferior pop productions with hyped-up 50- to 100-Hz octaves, which include most mass-market R&B from the past dozen years or so, frequently sounded a little overwhelming or even a bit thuddy. By contrast, full orchestral music, which often seems a bit bass-shy to our pop-jaded modern ears, brought out the Polks’ full bloom.
On the film-sound front, a throwaway like Tower Heist (an object lesson in all that’s wrong with Hollywood) barely raised the Polks’ collective pulse, though the Ferrari-out-the-window sequence had some moments that briefly suspended this viewer’s torpor. I next tried the Tom Cruise War of the Worlds, and was immediately sucked into a fully integrated, big-theater (in truth, better) experience.
In fact, whatever disc I played sounded clear, intelligible, smooth, and big. Really, I established one beef only with the LSiM system’s surround persona. The 706c center speaker sounded admirably unchanged from virtually any practicable listening/ viewing angle. But most male speaking voices sounded distinctly fuller, or even bassier, via the center-channel unit than did the same voices heard in mono mode via the 707 towers.
Pulling the center a couple feet farther out in front of the screen seemed to make a slight improvement, and I will say that without direct comparisons I never found male dialogue objectionably or event noticeably “fat” under continuous listening.
The 702F/X surrounds are neither bipole nor dipole but conventional forward-radiating speakers with an unusual, dual-face layout. I was repeatedly impressed by just how effective they were at both envelopment and discrete effects, smooth and non-localized to a degree that I had thought only dipoles capable.
As to level, the Polk system played far louder than I’d ever ask via my 150-watts-per-channel power amp without the least sign of strain or change. All three Polk models are of comparatively high sensitivity (at least as far as their maker’s specs go), and I could in fact play movie sound many decibels beyond “reference level” with no hint of stress — way, way louder than any sane home theaterphile would ever demand.
Note that at this point I haven’t even powered up the subwoofers yet. Connecting these to my processor’s subwoofer outputs and setting the front towers as “small” (hah!) with a crossover of 80 Hz had the expected result: tight, powerful, full-range sound. But with such wide-range main fronts, what’s the point? Instead, I returned the fronts to “large,” leaving center and surround crossovers at 60 Hz as before and allowing the subs to function purely as LFE-channel adjuncts, reproducing only the bass that sound designers judged to belong exclusively to a subwoofer channel.
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Honestly, the net result wasn’t all that different — most of the time. The system sounded slightly leaner or perhaps “tighter” on more subtle deep-bass passages such as the sliding tomb door from the opening of Stargate. However, big-budget bass like the pod-emergence sequence from War of the Worlds went right over the freaking top, yielding a seismic, foundation-fracturing moment that was, frankly, somewhat alarming.
Bottom Line
Do you need a sub (or two) with these biggest of Polks? Probably not — unless you’re a bit bass-hungry, that is. At any rate, Polk’s new flagship suite’s as-tested system price is well into “esoteric speaker” territory. Fortunately, the LSiM Series array I auditioned is a reference contender that should happily stand comparison with low-production- volume, high-end designs of similar heft and price, and even substantially higher. Just be sure you have a nice, big room, and solid foundations.
Extended Test Bench
Frequency response
tower 34 Hz to 20 kHz ±4.6 dB
center 46 Hz to 20 kHz ±3.6 dB
surround 65 Hz to 20 kHz ±5.3 dB
subwoofer 34 to 450 Hz ±3 dB
Sensitivity (SPL at 1 meter/1 watt)
tower 86.5 dB
center 87.7 dB
surround 87.8 dB
Impedance (minimum/nominal)
tower 2.8/5 ohms
center 3.5/5 ohms
surround 4.0/5 ohms
Bass output, tower (CEA-2010 standard)
• Ultra-low bass (20-31.5 Hz) average: 99.2 dB
20 Hz: 73.8 dB
25 Hz: 92.2 dB
31.5 Hz: 107.1 dB
• Low bass (40-63 Hz) average: 120.1 dB
40 Hz: 119.5 dB
50 Hz: 120.4 dB
63 Hz: 120.3 dB
Bass output, subwoofer (CEA-2010 standard)
Ultra-low bass (20-31.5 Hz) average: 100.9 dB
20 Hz: 85.1 dB
25 Hz: 100.7 dB
31.5 Hz: 106.3 dB
Low bass (40-63 Hz) average: 118.5 dB
40 Hz: 118.8 dB
50 Hz: 118.4 dB
63 Hz: 118.2 dB
Bass limits
center 100.0 dB at 40 Hz
surround 91.9 dB at 40 Hz
I measured the Polk LSiM speakers with the microphone placed at a distance of 2 meters, using quasi-anechoic technique to remove the effects of reflections from nearby objects. The LSiM 707 tower speaker was placed directly on my measurement turntable, with 2 feet of attic insulation on the ground between the speaker and the mike to minimize the bounce from the ground. The LSiM 706c center speaker was placed atop my 2-meter-high measurement stand. Because it’s designed for on-wall use, the LSiM 702f/x surround speaker was mounted on the 2-by-4-foot swivelable ersatz wall I use to measure on-wall speakers. Because the surround is designed more like a wall-mounted minispeaker than a typical dipolar or bipolar surround speaker, I measured it just as I did the tower and center: I adjusted the microphone position for the flattest on-axis response, then averaged the measurements at 0°, ±10°, ±20°, and ±30°, smoothed to 1/12th octave. Bass response of all speakers (including the DSW 3000 MicroPRO subwoofer) was measured using ground plane technique with the microphone on the ground 2 meters from the speaker; these were smoothed to 1/3rd octave, then spliced to the quasi-anechoic measurements at 300 Hz. All frequency response measurements were made with a Clio FW audio analyzer, then imported into a LinearX LMS analyzer for post-processing.
The measurements of the LSiM 707 tower and the LSiM 706c center are fantastic. Although on-axis measurements are not shown in the accompanying chart, they’re as close to perfect between 500 Hz and 20 kHz as I can remember seeing: ±1.37 dB for the tower and ±1.49 dB for the center.
The tower speaker’s off-axis response is similarly great. Out at ±30°, there are no off-axis response artifacts except a mild rolloff above 8 kHz, which pretty much every speaker with a 1-inch tweeter has. Even at ±60°, the only response error besides the increased treble rolloff is a dip of about 2 dB between 800 Hz and 2.5 kHz. As you can see from the measurement chart, the tower’s bass is boosted by about 5 dB between 40 and 90 Hz, although the effects of this boost will be altered tremendously by the distance from the speaker to the nearby walls, and by room acoustics.
The center speaker frequency response measures almost just like the tower speaker’s, which is pretty remarkable — something made possible by its three-way, tweeter-over-midrange design. It shows the same off-axis treble rolloff, but instead of the dip between 800 and 2.5 kHz ±60°, the center shows a deeper, narrower dip: 5 dB between 500 and 650 Hz.
I measured the center speaker without its grille, but then also measured it with the grille to gauge the effect. There’s no difference in the midrange, but the grille causes a treble rolloff that begins above 9 kHz and runs -2 to -3 dB above 12 kHz. Because the tower speaker’s grille looks to be constructed the same way, its effects are probably similar.
That’s kind of a lot of rolloff for a grille, so I recommend using the grilles only when kids, dogs, or inebriated houseguests are present.
Because the surround speaker was wall-mounted for the measurements, and because of its angled design, it showed fairly random frequency response errors off-axis. However, it shares the basic design of the tower and center,and the same basically good behavior, so all the response errors caused by wall-mounting average out into a reasonably flat response.
Impedance measurements (also performed with the Clio FW) indicate that these speakers may be a little tough to drive for inexpensive receivers. All have a fairly low measured nominal impedance of 5 ohms. The tower is the toughest load, hitting a minimum impedance of 2.8 ohms at a low frequency of 66 Hz with a fairly reactive phase angle of -32°. That’s enough to cause some inexpensive receivers to shut down if you crank up the volume, but I think a typical mid-to-high-end receiver (say, $1,500+) or any good stereo amp should handle it fine. The center and surround present a somewhat easier load. The center hits minimum impedance of 3.5 ohms at 9.5 kHz/+4° phase angle, while the surround’s minimum is 4.0 ohms at 7.2 kHz/+1° phase angle. Fortunately, all of the speakers deliver roughly average sensitivity, so they usually won’t be pulling more than a few watts from your receiver or amp.
The DSW 3000 MicroPRO subwoofer’s frequency response measurement that you see here was taken through the LFE input, after I hit the reset button to clear out any previous auto-EQ settings. The response shown here is in the Cabinet mode, which gave the flattest response. The other modes boost bass to varying degrees below 50 Hz, with the strongest effects at about 40 Hz: +1.2 dB for Corner mode, +2.8 dB for Mid-Wall mode, and +4.0 dB for Mid-Room mode. The low-pass function of the internal crossover set to 80 Hz was about -22 dB per octave, but the control is not well calibrated; the rolloff was 3 dB at 52 Hz.
CEA-2010 output measurements for the subwoofer and the tower speaker were taken at 2 meters, then scaled up +6 dB per CEA-2010 requirements so that they are equivalent to 1-meter results. At press time, the CEA had instituted changes to the CEA-2010 standard but had yet to publish them. The CEA has informed me that the new standard requires averaging in pascals rather than in decibels, so that’s the procedure I followed here. The subwoofer’s output is: low bass 118.5 dB, ultra-low bass 100.9 dB. That’s pretty high for a subwoofer of this size, but not for one in this price range. With most subwoofers, second- or third-order harmonic distortion dictates the maximum output rating, but with the DSW 3000 MicroPro, higher-order distortion and mechanical noises from the driver defined its limits. I didn’t encounter a limiter threshold during my measurements, indicating that the internal limiter’s threshold is set very high or that maybe there isn’t an internal limiter.
I measured the tower’s bass output by connecting it to the Krell S-300i integrated amp. The amp was turned full up, and it was definitely running near its limits during the 63-Hz measurements; it’s possible that a more powerful amp would have delivered a better measurement at this frequency. That said, the tower’s bass output measurements were great: low bass: 120.1 dB; ultra-low bass: 99.2 dB. This is comparable to what I’ve measured from some good (and fairly large) 12-inch subwoofers. — Brent Butterworth
http://www.soundandvision.com/content/test-report-polk-audio-lsim-speaker-system (http://www.soundandvision.com/content/test-report-polk-audio-lsim-speaker-system)