Polk LSi9, Monitor Audio RS1 or S2, JBL L830

[vdefrancjr]

High everyone

I have narrowed down my bookshelf speakers to the following

Polk LSi9
Monitor Audio RS1 or S2
JBL L830's

I have auditioned the Polk and MA RS1 however have not heard the S2 or the JBL's. My primary usage will be 2 channel stereo music and TV audo (in place of my TV's speaker)

I love the seperation and soundstage of the the LSi9's and RS1's however was not able to listen to them at the same time.

Just looking for people's thoughts and suggestions especially if you have listened to any of these together?

Thank you

 

[Halvie]

Looking for some opinions on the JBL L830. Amazon has a pretty crazy deal on them right now. http://www.amazon.com/JBL-L830CH-6-Inch-Bookshelf-Loudspeaker/dp/B000MQKHTG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1203099100&sr=1-1

 

[leo1058]

Lsi9 would be my choice.they are a bit forward but they seem to do every thing else just fine.
Monitor audio RS1 where just a little too laid back for me, i guess you can say they are
neutral speakers. JBL's never heard them.

 

[cfrizz]

I love the LSI series! The 9's would be great & for a bookshelf they have wonderful bass.

It's a very heavy speaker, that sounds best when fed lots of power. And the tweeter doesn't give me a headache.

My brother has the LSI 7's & his just rock no matter what kind of music is being played.

 

[mike c]

i haven't listened to the others except the Monitor Audio RS1's ... but instead of commenting on the sound, I would like to comment on the build quality, it's super nice with the wood finish, it's like a high end speaker.

 

[codexp3]

I liked my LSIs until I started auditioning other brands...Paradigm and B&W speakers that cost slightly more than my LSIs blew them out the door. Both brands had much more detail on the high end. (Granted I'm auditioning towers and not bookshlef). I was able to hear that last little bit of clarity in voices and on strings that my LSIs just didn't have. Just my two cents. I'd hit some shops and check out as many brands as I could.

 

[cfrizz]

It comes down to a matter of preference. That extra detail by B & W and Paradigm tweeters give me a headache after about an hour of listening to them.

So whenever I go looking at speakers, metal tweeter automatically get a bypass from me.

 

[codexp3]

It comes down to a matter of preference. That extra detail by B & W and Paradigm tweeters give me a headache after about an hour of listening to them.

So whenever I go looking at speakers, metal tweeter automatically get a bypass from me.

Really? I loved the highs with the sword fights on Kill Bill and House of Flying Daggers. I didn't listen to them for a full hour...Hope they don't fatigue my ears!

 

[gus6464]

That's funny because I find the tweeter on the LSi to be a delight. Not bright yet very detailed and smooth. I just wish the low end wouldn't cloud the mids at times. If I could take the Epos midrange coupled with the LSi tweeter I would be in musical heaven.

 

[codexp3]

That's funny because I find the tweeter on the LSi to be a delight. Not bright yet very detailed and smooth. I just wish the low end wouldn't cloud the mids at times. If I could take the Epos midrange coupled with the LSi tweeter I would be in musical heaven.

I have the LSI 25s as my mains, I recently decided to upgrade my system. I honestly thought even the paradigm studio 100s sounded better...mainly in the midrange. The signature s8 killed them (of course for 5k more). I loved the highs on the s8...other than that I thought the studio 100s were close in quality. I have my 25's running on the same mac amps the dealer used to demo the paradigms. I still love the LSIs, just not as detailed in theater applications. House of Flying Daggers and Kill Bill are the two movies where I really noticed.

 

[gus6464]

I have the LSI 25s as my mains, I recently decided to upgrade my system. I honestly thought even the paradigm studio 100s sounded better...mainly in the midrange. The signature s8 killed them (of course for 5k more). I loved the highs on the s8...other than that I thought the studio 100s were close in quality. I have my 25's running on the same mac amps the dealer used to demo the paradigms. I still love the LSIs, just not as detailed in theater applications. House of Flying Daggers and Kill Bill are the two movies where I really noticed.

The main problem of the LSi is the midrange. They have too much slam on the low end which clouds the mids a bit. My main complaint about my Epos was that while they had superb midrange, the highs were lacking in detail. Now with my new Dali Ikon 2 the highs are insanely detailed but the magic of the Epos midrange is not there. It's just so hard to find the perfect speaker as one could audition forever and still find something wrong with a speaker.

 

[cfrizz]

I listen more to music than I watch movies. So long as the dialog is clear I'm happy. But I will listen to music all day long & there is no way I can do that with any speakers that have metal tweeters. After a while they simply drill right through my head & I have to get away from them. Or I'm picking up sibilance up the creek which drives me crazy as well.

Really? I loved the highs with the sword fights on Kill Bill and House of Flying Daggers. I didn't listen to them for a full hour...Hope they don't fatigue my ears!

 

[gus6464]

I listen more to music than I watch movies. So long as the dialog is clear I'm happy. But I will listen to music all day long & there is no way I can do that with any speakers that have metal tweeters. After a while they simply drill right through my head & I have to get away from them. Or I'm picking up sibilance up the creek which drives me crazy as well.

You should try Epos. They use metal dome tweeters but their simple crossover design doesn't make them bright or harsh in any way. It's the only manufacturer I have found so far that uses metal domes yet speakers are not bright.

 

[codexp3]

I listen more to music than I watch movies. So long as the dialog is clear I'm happy. But I will listen to music all day long & there is no way I can do that with any speakers that have metal tweeters. After a while they simply drill right through my head & I have to get away from them. Or I'm picking up sibilance up the creek which drives me crazy as well.

I'm actually going to have to listen to the s8s for an extended period of time. I only auditioned them for 15 minutes before falling in love w/ them. I didn't know the metal tweeters cause ear fatigue (I guess you wouldn't know until you get them home and listened for an extended period of time).

 

[cfrizz]

Make a cd with some of your favorite music that you know very well. Listen to see if you hear anything that you never noticed before. Listen to the any words that start with S if you hear a lot of SSSSSSS... then trust me after an hour you'll be ready to throw the speakers through a window! I have yet to hear a metal tweeter that my ears could stand.

For alot of people metal tweeters is the only way to go. But for some of us, it's like nails on a chalk board. Like I said it's all individual preference.

I'm actually going to have to listen to the s8s for an extended period of time. I only auditioned them for 15 minutes before falling in love w/ them. I didn't know the metal tweeters cause ear fatigue (I guess you wouldn't know until you get them home and listened for an extended period of time).