Your Thoughts on Polk?...

[timoteo]

I have a chance to get a pair of PolkAudio LSiM707 tower speakers at a great price. I have had a few minutes to set & listen to them but it was too short of a session to come to a conclusion on them.

My question is what are your thoughts on PolkAudio speakers?
Anyone have experience with this new LSiM line?...thoughts?

I have never owned PolkAudio & am going to start reading reviews & things on them. But i am a regular here & have gotten a lot of great help from you all, so naturally id love some feedback from you all.

You can see from my signature that i currently own B&W 600series.

Would these Polks be a nice step up?

They looked great from the little time i had with them. Big but i liked that about them.

I could also get the 705s at a great price so maybe they would be better suited for my room. But id just like some thoughts/experiences with either of these 2 speakers, 705 or 707.

Thanks guys!!!

 

[Lulimet]

The LSi line is the only Polk line that I like. Always liked the LSi 9 and 15.

 

[j_garcia]

Same here. I liked the LSis. The mids aren't quite where I feel they should be for the MSRP prices, but they are still good speakers. I have not heard the LSiMs yet though.

 

[Nuance AH]

In my opinion the LSi line is Polk's best, but only you can decide if you prefer their sound over the B&W's.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Same here. I liked the LSis. The mids aren't quite where I feel they should be for the MSRP prices, but they are still good speakers. I have not heard the LSiMs yet though.

Couldn't say it better myself. In fact I consider anything below LSi a trash (Never heard RTi line, but i assume it's not as good as LSi)
However even at 1/2 off msrp I don't think LSi worth their heavy price tag

For same price (retail) , imho, SIERRA TOWER absolutely kills LSiM707.
Replace Sierra with Salk's towers or Philharmonic speakers for same results..

 

[billy p]

^^^...I dunno exactly how far Ascend is from the OP but they have a demo room ready to go...it might be worth the drive if he is considering new speakers....

 

[timoteo]

Thanks guys for the comments!

I really liked their sound even before i knew what i could get them for. Yeah they retail for $3999. a pair (707) & $2999. a pair (705) but i would only have to pay $1998(707) or $1498(705) so it pretty much a 50% discount for new on their whole LSiM line centers bookshelves etc. Thats why it really peaked my interest.

What would you guy recommend in the $1500-$2000 range.

I will do a search on this forum for answers but im working right now. Any thoughts in the meantime would be appreciated!!

BTW they look killer IMO.

Im gonna schedule to bring my 683s to A/B them with the LSiM707s.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Thanks guys for the comments!

I really liked their sound even before i knew what i could get them for. Yeah they retail for $3999. a pair (707) & $2999. a pair (705) but i would only have to pay $1998(707) or $1498(705) so it pretty much a 50% discount for new on their whole LSiM line centers bookshelves etc. Thats why it really peaked my interest.

What would you guy recommend in the $1500-$2000 range.

I will do a search on this forum for answers but im working right now. Any thoughts in the meantime would be appreciated!!

BTW they look killer IMO.

Im gonna schedule to bring my 683s to A/B them with the LSiM707s.

Well for 2k/pair , Sierra towers is almost double the price, but Philharmonics is probably you best bet. Songtower are 2k and also excellent choice...
I don't know much Denis was involved with Songtowers, but they both share same philosophy and a "type" of sound...

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

You already have B&W speakers, which seem to get a few friendly bashing from people whom I don't know and never heard of.

Like a lot of other speakers, B&W seems to have the reputation of being tuned/voiced by ear, and are not usually considered to be "ultra accurate".

I think Polk has a rather poor reputation among audiophiles because most of their speakers are considered to have mediocre SQ.

I think it's time you try the other side of the fence.

Say, KEF Q900 or Revel F12 or Ascend, Salk, Philharmonic?

At least just audition, right?

 

[zieglj01]

The Polk line from the RTi series down, is somewhat artificial sounding
and are lacking in midrange detail and definition. In your area, I would
find a way to audition some Ascend and Salk Song tower speakers, to
compare with the new LSi line. Make sure that you spend some more
time with the new LSi line, before making a final decision on what looks
like a real good deal.

 

[Nuance AH]

Well for 2k/pair , Sierra towers is almost double the price, but Philharmonics is probably you best bet. Songtower are 2k and also excellent choice...
I don't know much Denis was involved with Songtowers, but they both share same philosophy and a "type" of sound...

^ This! The Salks, Ascends (and I assume the Philharmonics) are far superior on paper and sound wise (the latter is my opinion of course).

 

[j_garcia]

Don't use MSRP to guage a "good" price on the LSis either, since I can't say I've seen them go for the MSRP. That price is what I would call and optimistic price at best. 50% of MSRP (Polk's site) is probably what they will actually sell for retail, so they'd likely need to be below that to actually be a good deal.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Don't use MSRP to guage a "good" price on the LSis either, since I can't say I've seen them go for the MSRP. That price is what I would call and optimistic price at best. 50% of MSRP (Polk's site) is probably what they will actually sell for retail, so they'd likely need to be below that to actually be a good deal.

I think I'll start a speaker company, list all the prices like $20,000 MSRP, and sell them for only $2,000!

A lot of people will say, "Wow, here is my chance to get some good deals".

No. If you are going to spend $2K or more, I would look elsewhere.

 

[Nuance AH]

I think I'll start a speaker company, list all the prices like $20,000 MSRP, and sell them for only $2,000!

A lot of people will say, "Wow, here is my chance to get some good deals".

No. If you are going to spend $2K or more, I would look elsewhere.

HA - count me in on that one. We could be partners in crime...I mean business - LOL!

 

[zieglj01]

Here is an old LSi review
Polk LS<I>i</I> Speaker System | Home Theater

 

[STRONGBADF1]

I think I'll start a speaker company, list all the prices like $20,000 MSRP, and sell them for only $2,000!

A lot of people will say, "Wow, here is my chance to get some good deals".

No. If you are going to spend $2K or more, I would look elsewhere.

HA - count me in on that one. We could be partners in crime...I mean business - LOL!

You could call it "AV123"!

 

[j_garcia]

I think I'll start a speaker company, list all the prices like $20,000 MSRP, and sell them for only $2,000!

A lot of people will say, "Wow, here is my chance to get some good deals".

No. If you are going to spend $2K or more, I would look elsewhere.

AND you should have a network of guys who drive around in white vans offering to sell them at that great price to random people on the street

The difference is, Polk has a name and a history of good speakers that they rely on to be able to ask those prices for these speakers IMO. They aren't bad speakers for sure, but they aren't even as good as their previous speakers that Polk's good reputation is based on IMHO. Some of their older speakers are still impressive today.

 

[lsiberian]

AND you should have a network of guys who drive around in white vans offering to sell them at that great price to random people on the street

The difference is, Polk has a name and a history of good speakers that they rely on to be able to ask those prices for these speakers IMO. They aren't bad speakers for sure, but they aren't even as good as their previous speakers that Polk's good reputation is based on IMHO. Some of their older speakers are still impressive today.

Blue vans was my plan given the bad rap white vans have gotten.

 

[timoteo]

I absolutely agree with you guys on not rushing into ANY buy. Like i mentioned, i only spent a few minutes with the LSiM pair. I can in no way make a final assesment on their sound. I do plan to A/B them with my 683s soon.

Prior to hearing the 707s i always thought my speaker upgrade would be to the Songtowers. But that is a thought based souly on reviews & recommendations & not on actually hearing them in person. So i now want to find someone (L.A. CA) who has the ST to demo.

When i bought my 683 system i didnt know much about speakers, how to demo properly, what to listen for how to view its measurements etc. I am VERY happy with my B&Ws for movies! Its with music that im left wanting more. Yes i know that my speakers dont measure all that great & thats probably revealed more with music. So now if i am going to venture in selling my system to upgrade, then i am going to take it slow & make SURE im making a purchase that i will be very happy with for hopefully a long time.

My short list as of now:
Salk Songtowers
Ascend Sierras
Polk LSiM 707 or 705

The Phillharmonics are just too ugly for me. Im sure they sound fantastic but im dealing with a livingroom system not a dedicated room otherwise id be considering them for sure. Thats just my opinion not trying to offend anyone.

 

[Lulimet]

If your budget is $2k then I suggest you give Dynaudio DM 3/7 a listen too. Awesome tower speakers for $2k.