Polk TSI100 wins at BB listening test

[diegs]

Hi, this is my first post and I want to say thanks to everybody here, lots of great info.

I went to BB last night to listen to bookshelf speakers, the kid gave me the satellite tv remote, showed me how to use the electronic switcher panel and actually let me alone. For the receiver I choose the most expensive Yamaha, switched it to 2 channel and turned off the subs, center and rears. This is the first demo I have done in 4 years.

First Up: Insignia Bookshelf for $90 a pair. Listened to Soul and some classic rock on XM. Not very clear, almost no sound stage. Lacking in bass, midrange and highs. It seemed like they were muted or something strange. Maybe they were defective or blown out. The cabinet was pretty solid, but a hard knock with the knuckle made some noise. The driver looked high tech, some type of woven material like carbon fiber.

Second: Polk TSI100 for $199 a pair. I listened to the same XM channels and wow what a difference. They sounded really clear and detailed and had a sound stage. The song was CCR and the vocals where spot on, the guitar and bass sounded great, I was really impressed. So I switched back and forth between the Insignia's and the Polk's blew them away.

Third: Klipsch Icon for $299 a pair. They also sounded great, but I didn't care for the highs. The bass was tight and the midrange was really detailed. I think it was a Heart song and the vocals sounded great. However the highs were a little to pronounced for me. I switched back and forth between the polks a few times and confirmed the highs being, well to high!

I didn't listen to the Bose or floor standers, but some younger guy, with a little note pad and pen was outside the demo room at the Bose kiosk annoying me by blasting some movie... I wonder what he was writing down?

Eventually I stitched to a movie and changed the Receiver to 5.1 and added the Polk CS10 with the TSI100. Physically the CS10 is really heavy and solid. More so than the TSI100's, not that the TSI100's are light or flimsy. I watched the Replacements and I really liked what I heard. Gene Hackman's distinct voice was really nice on the center. For the front 3 the Polk's seemed great. Plus Newegg has them for a really good deal... the TSI100's for $149 shipped and the CS10 for $129 shipped.

Here's my question: How do think the Polks would compare to TSC's bookshelf offering and also the Behringer B2030P's?

Thanks,

My setup:
Denon 2808CI
Infinity TSS-750 5.1
Toshiba HD-A2
Motorola QIP 72161
Sony Grand WEGA KDF-50WE655

 

[Seth=L]

The Behringers are in a different league than all other speakers mentioned here. Polk and Klipsch have been throwing woofers and tweeters in boxes since the 90's. IMO, they haven't been doing very many innovative things with speakers. All the Polk tweeters I've heard don't handle power very well and begin to exhibit break-up even at modest volumes. The LSi series might be an exception, but I've not had time to sit and listen to them.

Klipsch does a lot of research, but R&D isn't working on accuracy. They make speakers that are efficient and loud. They are better than the average "loud" speaker (Cerwin Vega, KLH, and many other garbage speakers) in that they can be more tonally accurate than Cerwin or others. They are a rock speaker, and they are good for background noise as well because of the extended high end they have.

The Behringers are studio monitors that exhibit good on-axis and off-axis response, far above their price suggests. If it's accuracy that you are after, then the Behringers will fit the bill.

 

[diegs]

Thanks for the reply, I first heard of the Behringer's in the Audioholics bookshelf speaker shootout and they caught my interest. I want a neutral accurate reproduction of music and movies. The Behringers would seem to fit that bill and be in my price range. I am going to try and find a place local to me and have a listen.

 

[Seth=L]

Thanks for the reply, I first heard of the Behringer's in the Audioholics bookshelf speaker shootout and they caught my interest. I want a neutral accurate reproduction of music and movies. The Behringers would seem to fit that bill and be in my price range. I am going to try and find a place local to me and have a listen.

Sounds like a plan.

 

[A/VUSMCSGT]

Good luck with whatever you choose.

I'm running the center you listened to, the CS10 and it is a great center. I also have the TSi400 towers and the TSi line is really good. There are tons of options, but if you go with what you auditioned at BB, you won't be dissappointed.

Good luck either way!

 

[richandy]

I brought the full line of TSI, the TSI500 / CS20 / TSI100. I'm impress with them. The center is clear, the rear (TSI 100) handles the signal very well, listening to a 7 channels music shows how well they handles. The TSI 500 is more warmer than the TSI 400, I guess due to the larger speaker size.
They are powered by a Denon 2809.
I like you auditioned them at BB, and purchased them at Newegg. Newegg for the past two weeks have the TSI 500 for $279.00 each on sale. At that price it's a deal not to be missed. I got mine for $299.00 a pair. The sale so far have been on the weekends (saw them on Sundays)

 

[bandphan]

As Seth stated the 2030s are best choice mentioned and are built like tanks. There are a couple of mods that can be done to even improve them. Search the forum and you will get some good assurance.

 

[diegs]

Last weekend I auditioned some Def Tech speakers at a local shop:
The ST Towers are really amazing and really out of my price range!
The pro series 800 system was equally amazing and in my price range. But the owner suggested a mix of Mythos 4 or 5 towers, promonitor 800 sats, the procenter 100 and a prosub 1000. The total just a hair under $2000 with the mythos 4 and $2300 with the mythos 5, based on hearing the ST's and the 800 system, I would say it is completely worth it, but they didn't have the Mythos 4 or 5 towers out! I plan on driving out to Magnolia to have a listen to the Mythos 4.

In general I think I may want towers for the front 2, but it may vary on brand/series based on hearing them. I went back to BB and listened to the TSI300 towers and compared them back to the TSI100 bookshelf and I think I liked the bookshelf's better from a sound stage and midrange perspective. This could have been due to placement within the audio area.

I still want the hear the 2030s and I may just order a pair and if I don't like them, resell on ebay. I read the mods and wow... that is some serious reinforcing going on. But rattles, dampening and sound leaks need to be addressed. I don't think the def tech's would need the same mods. Then again they are 4x more expensive.

 

[lsiberian]

Go with you ears not others opinions. FYI you can do a trial of the TSC offerings in home. I suggest you give that a go.

 

[sholling]

FYI Newegg has the Polks (cherry) on sale for $149 shipped.