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Upgrade from Polk Audio LSi9's

Just trying to gather up some ideas. I currently have a set of Polk Audio LSi9 speakers hooked up to a SimAudio intergrated amp and fully modded Museatex Bitstream DAC and Museatex Transport done by John Wright. All wiring is Moray James, Kimber and Harmonic Tech's.

The Polk Audio LSi's have been a great pleasure but I'm starting to slowly outgrow them. They deliver a sweet sound and airy musical feeling when I listen. The lower bass is quite surprising, it's in a small room right now. And will be for quite awhile. What I lack in my music is that mid-bass and symbol smash. My music rangers from Bjork-Massive Attack to Nivrana, Alice in Chains, radiohead. I want to hear a bit more punch in the kick drums, a better definition of symbol smashes. All without adding harshness which is otherwise never there. My speakers basically disappear since adding the modded Museatex DAC and I want that to continue.

I have heard offerings from PSB, Paradigm, Energy and Monitor Audio. Quite honestly I don't think they can do what the LSi's can and I wouldn't consider this an upgrade. I would like to make the jump, and obviously listen on my own, but could I get a few ideas from people who have listened to better speakers. I'd like to keep it in and around $3k new or used. If somebody thinks they can do better then my existing speakers with less money then please fill me in. I would make the jump up (to higher then $3k) only if the speakers 1. would give me the ability to improve my sound from a small room and 2. would not outmatch my Simaudio intergrated amp. The Museatex stuff is staying.
lush

Showing 4 responses by lush

lush OP
262 posts
 
Thanks Phasecorrect.

Time916 I actually use the i-5080 which is pretty much the same amp with less voltage...what were you driving the LSi7's with? Do the Dynaudios give as sweet presentation to music as the LSi's? I'm looking for improved dynamics over the LSi's but without losing the musical aspects I currently have. I will seriously look at the Dynaudio's now that you've mentioned them. As for the totems. I've heard Totem Mani 2's using dedicated two channel Sim amps and HATED THEM. Way way to bright. In fact that same owner listened to the LSi's (after he had sold the Mani's) and was impressed with how much more musical they were.
lush OP
262 posts
 
Hey Tim, I've been reading the dynaudio's are pretty picky on room placement, I can only manage having them roughly 18-24" away from the wall. Do they have a monitor that can breathe in this close a space?

Meisterkleef:

I quite disagree, I hated Polk Audio speakers...muddy was the word I often used when listening to them, the LSi's weren't muddy at all but open and musical. I have not heard the Paradigm sig's as of yet but people have told me they are a step up from their previous reference line. The Paradigms have always left me a little cold because of the sizzle in the top end and overly forward presentation. To my ears the Polk Audio LSi9's were warm and musical, the Paradigm Studio 40's were a smooth but a little more forward sounding with a tweeter that could get stuck sizzling.
lush OP
262 posts
 
thx meisterkleef

Jh2os

I've only heard the Mani2's but not in my own system. I didn't like them at all, hard to explain, just totally uninvolving, dry, thin, stale...hard to explain. It was being powered at the time by an older Simaudio celeste amp and Anthem pre. Maybe the Forrests or Hawks will sound better.
lush OP
262 posts
 
I dont think I have pre-outs on my simaudio fatcatudio...thanks for the kind words on my source, I got really lucky, John actually sold me his reference transport, only thing he never did with it was replace the caps with the Blackgates.

I was wondering if I should maybe look too the LSi15's if I like the smooth presentation of the 9's and then look for better amplification later.
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