Post by ocezam on Nov 17, 2012 10:36:21 GMT -5
I don't consider myself an audiophile, even though I've spent a good deal of my disposable income on audio equipment over the past 30 years. To me, the term audiophile conjures up images of very high priced esoteric and exotic equipment. Although I enjoy listening to, and looking at such equipment at events such as the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest, I could never afford such equipment.
I started with a Yamaha C-80 preamp and a Soundcraftsmen A5002 amp in the early eighties, and these remained the heart of my system for about 15 years.
For the last 5 or so years budget constraints, along with a desire to provide my family with a good home theater, have forced me to combine my two channel listening with my 7.1 theater system. My attempt at this consisted of using Magnepan 1.6's driven by a XPA-5 as my main speakers in the theater. This wasn't a good compromise for me on at least two levels.
1. While my "theater" is a great place to watch movies and TV. I always found it some what claustrophobic for listening to music. I'd prefer a room with more windows.
2. After two years of ownership, I found the Maggies to be a big compromise for the theater and a somewhat smaller compromise for music. I know that statement will offend some, and I apologize. What Maggies do well, they do EXTREMELY WELL. They are also an incredible audio bargain in my book! However, for me they are simply not dynamic enough. They simply lack the "punch" of cone speakers. They also are visually overwhelming. Not a problem in my theater, but less desirable in my living room.
So several months ago I decided to invest some money to create a separate two channel system in my living room. I sold the Maggies and purchased a new TX-NR 3009 receiver to upgrade the theater to 9.1 sound. And I bought a pair each of Polk Monitor 70's, 40's, 30's. These along with an already owned pair of Polk FXi4's, and Martin Logan center channel gave me the punch I wanted for the theater. Their low cost also helped me save money to put toward a two channel system.
I was psyched! It had been a long time since I had a dedicated stereo system. Now to plan and buy equipment.
A power amp wouldn't be a problem. An XPA-2 or a pair of UPA-1's would work well. I could use a Yamaha processor I have on the "pure direct" mode for a while, until I could find something better. A Marantz DVD player I own would also do as a CD player until I had more funds.
Speakers would be a problem. I thought I'd have to save for a year to get something in the $2K to $5K range in order to get the sound I want. My taste runs pretty wide. From quiet songs by Melody Gardot or Joss Stone to Aerosmith and Rush. (Maggies are great with the former, not so much with the latter.)
So while I was saving, I hit the internet for some reviews and inspiration.
The last time I attended the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest in Denver was maybe 2009 give or take. At the time Richard Vandersteen was just debuting his new model 7. What an incredible speaker! That's the sound I would shoot for.
Yeah I know, the sound of a $45,000 speaker from an "affordable" speaker. Good luck...
Once back in the real world I realized what I admired the most from the Vandersteen's, and my Maggies too for that matter, was the crystal clear clarity an low and medium volumes from quiet songs and instrumentals. Lots of speakers can play loud rock 'n roll. Less play easy listening and quiet jazz well.
Over a few weeks of internet research it seemed the Polk Lsi 15's kept popping up with incredible reviews. Really?! Polk speakers mentioned in the same breath with Paradigm, Aperion, Theil, Totem, and others? This didn't happen once or twice, it happened at least a dozen times. I put these speakers on my "consideration" list. When I ran across a further review that mentioned buying these for under $1K, I put them on my "consider them now!" list.
Low and behold Polk's ebay store was selling LSi15's factory refurbished for $850 shipped. At that price I couldn't go wrong I thought, so I ordered a pair.
A quick trip to Emotiva's site informed me they no longer sell the UPA-1. Apparently it's now an XPA-100 with a slightly increased power output along with a slightly increased price. This made them about $90 more than an XPA-2 with the Holiday pricing.
While I've never had mono blocks and was looking forward to owning a set, I couldn't rationalize paying more money for less power. Even the promise of better channel separation couldn't change my feeling the XPA-2 was the better buy. I ordered one.
They both came in this week. I've set them up and have about 3-4 hours listening time on them.
The amp: What can I say. I don't think you can go wrong with any Emotiva amp. They are simply an incredible bargain! The XPA-2 isn't my 1st Emotiva amp, and likely won't be my last!
The speakers: Also incredible! At $850 they are unbelievable. If I had to pay their full msrp ($1800) I'd still say they are a great speaker. However, much higher than that, say $2K plus and there are other speakers to give consideration to.
I believe I'll keep these speakers for many years. They are extremely versatile and do VERY WEll under a wide range of listening circumstances and musical ranges.
If you are in the market for speakers, and on a tight budget, run don't walk, to your nearby Polk eBay store. Don't let the brand name fool you. These are excellent, high quality speakers.
I see Polk's replacement for the LSi speakers, the LSiM series have an msrp of $3K and $4K a pair for the top two towers. Are they that much better that the LSi's? I personally doubt it, but money plays a big role in my estimation of a speakers value.
I started with a Yamaha C-80 preamp and a Soundcraftsmen A5002 amp in the early eighties, and these remained the heart of my system for about 15 years.
For the last 5 or so years budget constraints, along with a desire to provide my family with a good home theater, have forced me to combine my two channel listening with my 7.1 theater system. My attempt at this consisted of using Magnepan 1.6's driven by a XPA-5 as my main speakers in the theater. This wasn't a good compromise for me on at least two levels.
1. While my "theater" is a great place to watch movies and TV. I always found it some what claustrophobic for listening to music. I'd prefer a room with more windows.
2. After two years of ownership, I found the Maggies to be a big compromise for the theater and a somewhat smaller compromise for music. I know that statement will offend some, and I apologize. What Maggies do well, they do EXTREMELY WELL. They are also an incredible audio bargain in my book! However, for me they are simply not dynamic enough. They simply lack the "punch" of cone speakers. They also are visually overwhelming. Not a problem in my theater, but less desirable in my living room.
So several months ago I decided to invest some money to create a separate two channel system in my living room. I sold the Maggies and purchased a new TX-NR 3009 receiver to upgrade the theater to 9.1 sound. And I bought a pair each of Polk Monitor 70's, 40's, 30's. These along with an already owned pair of Polk FXi4's, and Martin Logan center channel gave me the punch I wanted for the theater. Their low cost also helped me save money to put toward a two channel system.
I was psyched! It had been a long time since I had a dedicated stereo system. Now to plan and buy equipment.
A power amp wouldn't be a problem. An XPA-2 or a pair of UPA-1's would work well. I could use a Yamaha processor I have on the "pure direct" mode for a while, until I could find something better. A Marantz DVD player I own would also do as a CD player until I had more funds.
Speakers would be a problem. I thought I'd have to save for a year to get something in the $2K to $5K range in order to get the sound I want. My taste runs pretty wide. From quiet songs by Melody Gardot or Joss Stone to Aerosmith and Rush. (Maggies are great with the former, not so much with the latter.)
So while I was saving, I hit the internet for some reviews and inspiration.
The last time I attended the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest in Denver was maybe 2009 give or take. At the time Richard Vandersteen was just debuting his new model 7. What an incredible speaker! That's the sound I would shoot for.
Yeah I know, the sound of a $45,000 speaker from an "affordable" speaker. Good luck...
Once back in the real world I realized what I admired the most from the Vandersteen's, and my Maggies too for that matter, was the crystal clear clarity an low and medium volumes from quiet songs and instrumentals. Lots of speakers can play loud rock 'n roll. Less play easy listening and quiet jazz well.
Over a few weeks of internet research it seemed the Polk Lsi 15's kept popping up with incredible reviews. Really?! Polk speakers mentioned in the same breath with Paradigm, Aperion, Theil, Totem, and others? This didn't happen once or twice, it happened at least a dozen times. I put these speakers on my "consideration" list. When I ran across a further review that mentioned buying these for under $1K, I put them on my "consider them now!" list.
Low and behold Polk's ebay store was selling LSi15's factory refurbished for $850 shipped. At that price I couldn't go wrong I thought, so I ordered a pair.
A quick trip to Emotiva's site informed me they no longer sell the UPA-1. Apparently it's now an XPA-100 with a slightly increased power output along with a slightly increased price. This made them about $90 more than an XPA-2 with the Holiday pricing.
While I've never had mono blocks and was looking forward to owning a set, I couldn't rationalize paying more money for less power. Even the promise of better channel separation couldn't change my feeling the XPA-2 was the better buy. I ordered one.
They both came in this week. I've set them up and have about 3-4 hours listening time on them.
The amp: What can I say. I don't think you can go wrong with any Emotiva amp. They are simply an incredible bargain! The XPA-2 isn't my 1st Emotiva amp, and likely won't be my last!
The speakers: Also incredible! At $850 they are unbelievable. If I had to pay their full msrp ($1800) I'd still say they are a great speaker. However, much higher than that, say $2K plus and there are other speakers to give consideration to.
I believe I'll keep these speakers for many years. They are extremely versatile and do VERY WEll under a wide range of listening circumstances and musical ranges.
If you are in the market for speakers, and on a tight budget, run don't walk, to your nearby Polk eBay store. Don't let the brand name fool you. These are excellent, high quality speakers.
I see Polk's replacement for the LSi speakers, the LSiM series have an msrp of $3K and $4K a pair for the top two towers. Are they that much better that the LSi's? I personally doubt it, but money plays a big role in my estimation of a speakers value.
