Calling all Polkies:Official Polk thread - Page 473

Anything wrong with crown audio amps compared to Emotiva. I see a XTi 4002 for $1k. 650 wpc 2ch.

[=http://www.adorama.com/CRWXTI4002.html][/]

Not designed for home speakers. Take a look at the specs and the inputs. The thing only weighs in at 19 lbs. I'm not an expert, but I don't think that thing is putting out 650W RMS in stereo. I could be wrong, but you just can't move that much current through a transformer on an 8 ohm load with 650W of power. That's a lot of current. Hell, the toroidal transformer in the XPA-2 300 watt amp weight more than 18.5 lbs... LOL

Guys, please help me out here. Let me know if I am off the mark and out in left field.

I have been considering a Crown XLS-2500 but I haven't found very many reviews on it with home audio though.
Edited by lapaynem4 - 7/6/12 at 2:43am

^This. You will get opinions that say they are fine for home audio and others that say they are not. I personally am NOT a fan of using pro amps for HT speakers with the exception of possibly DIY subs. You can find many good 5 used 5 channel HT amps for under 1k that would suit you just fine. That is again my personal opinion.

If you wanted to get reviews look in the DIY section of this forum as thats the place your likely to find folks using pro amps for HT speakers. I personally wouldn't but thats my opinion and your welcome to make your own

I use 2 QSC pro amps in my HT with great success. The intent of a pro amp is a quite a bit different than a home theater amp, therefore the design is much different. Pro amps are designed to be smaller, lightweight and very rugged. As previously indicated, some like and some no like for home applications. I am not one to push my opinions on others. I suggest you give this thread a read as it should supply all the necessary info you seek.

http://www.avsforum.com/t/418666/new-amp-is-making-me-grin-from-ear-to-ear

Two points of interest:

Pro amps tend to employ fans that are considered by some to annoy. (easily overcome).

Several pro amps require a pro level signal (+4dBu) that differs from a consumer level (-10dBv) and you may need a consumer to pro signal converter.

Power inputs requirements aside, I do believe that most of these pro amps are Class D. That helps explain the light weight and very little heat due to efficiency. They also have more components in them to help filter the signals and protect against EMI as the key component of a class D amp is a MOSFET (just like you see in car amps). I do know that class D amps use a modulation called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) which is a digital conversion of the analog signal. Class A/B amps will produce pure sine waves at their output from the pure sine wave from the DAC in the AVR. This is usually ok with subwoofers that do not have a wide frequency response. As a matter of fact, most HT in a box systems employ class D amps. They don't sound bad at all. My Computer speakers (Logitech Z906) have a class D amp inside the subwoofer and it sounds pretty good.

I understand the classes well being an electronics technician. I do not, however, claim to know how they perform in the home. I'm used to working with HF radio systems and audio quality is not a concern (most radios use a 3K band of frequencies for voice). If you are not sure about Class A, B, AB, and D amps, here's a link that helps to explain:

Audio Fundamentals Course 4 - Audio Amplifier Classes: A - T

To summarize: Class A/B = hot and heavy - truest reproduction and simplest design
Class D = light and cool - PWM (converted sine wave) and complex amplifier design
Edited by climber07 - 7/6/12 at 9:45am

Hi all,
I have a couple of questions before ordering speakers for my living room.
Room size is about 17ftx17.5ft, but it opens into the kitchen.

I have the folowing already purchased:
Sub: PSW505
Center: CS2

I currently have a Denon 3803 and RM series satelites, I would like to replace the satelites with in-ceilings.
I don't have the flexibility of floor standing (WAF issue, aesthetics).
I was reading some good reviews on the vanishing series (70RT is one I was looking at).

Would they match with PSW505, CS20 if I get 4 of the 70RT's (as F, R, Surround backs) for example?

At some point later, I will replace the receiver as well.

I assume in ceilings are ok to install in the lower story of my house with a room on top of the living room?

One of the problems I have with my satelites/HTiB is the dialogs are really low and I have to crank the volume to listen to the dialog and then of course when there are loud action/music scenes, it is too loud. I am hoping the bump up to the CS2 should help with this.
Perhaps a receiver with Dynamic Volume will help?
Thanks in advance,
KG

Vanishing series specs:
http://www.polkaudio.com/customaudio/vanishing/specs.php#inceiling

^^^ This. Some swear by them, others scoff just like many subjects in audio. I looked into both Crown and QSC amps before ultimately deciding on trying out several used home audio options. I went into a Guitar Center and the stacked amps with their fans blowing scared me away.

Very interesting read from page 1 of the thread. A few guys swear by the Pro Amps for HT. They say it works great. Now im leaning towards maybe getting a used Pro Amp and trying them out.

Thanks, I will give this a read.


The Polk Thread is awesome!!

Let me start off by saying I don't have near the set up that many of you have. That being said, it's sad when you go to a movie and you wish you were watching it on your home theater because the sound surpasses the over priced movie theater lol. Entry level HIFI Polk audio speakers murdered the digital theater I went to last night for the Abraham Lincoln movie. I think my wife has come around quite nicely with the home theater as well because when I looked at her in disappointment, she said I know this would be so much better at home LOL.

I feel the same way lol. Wondering if they turned down the bass in the theater I went to for this flic or if the movie was just low on bass itself.

What are your running gear and speaker wise? Also why not just go with an in wall center and just forget the towers nd center you have now?

It looks like you have enough bass to cover the low end very well.

I got towers because the rc series in walls IMHO opinion shouldn't be LCR speakers. I had those as mains and upgraded to towers to improve sound and for the price it was a huge improvement. The rc's are now front heights. I have no complaints at this time with my setup except I want to step up to the rti or Lsi series. My complaint was the expensive movie theater last night and the crappy sound there. I could tell the movie had fantastic bass just from what I heard, but their system was severely lacking for a movie theater. Maybe I'm just spoiled. *grin*

Stepping up to Rti's is indeed a rewarding step. No hurry... you'll get there eventually, especially since your wife seems to appreciate high fidelity audio as well. Those look like M60's and I know I enjoyed mine for two years before I felt that I needed to upgrade them.

Regarding movie theaters, I know what you mean. We generally go for a large venue IMAX showing which has great audio. Sometimes noise from the audience becomes distracting... talking, rustling popcorn bags etc (they seem to have "upgraded" recently from cardboard boxes to obnoxious, crackling plastic bags).

There is a penny saver theater near here that has horribly PAINFUL audio. We saw A-Team there and vowed to never return. I had to sit thru the entire movie with my fingers in my ears, it was that harsh. But when I find myself saying "this will look better at home" is usually when the movie has obviously been made by a director who came from directing television. JJ Abrams and McG - as talented as they are - tend to use extreme close-ups and shaky camera techniques that do not play well on a giant screen, but do look good on a 50-60 inch home screen.

You have a killer set up! Everything moves in steps. I upgraded to the monitors like yours, then added amps, then upgraded to the RTiA. Like Rob says, you'll get there.

I too can relate to the movies, my wife and I went to see the new Sherlock Holmes here some time back and it was just way too loud. On the other hand, they had power recline theater seating and my wife said, "you just have to have these for your set up" Schwing

Sweet!

You pick up that amp yet Rob?

Probably not going to happen. I called about maybe getting a refurb and turns out their sale price for a new unit is only about ten bucks more than a refurb. So I'm not going to get any tremendous savings there. But I felt our money would better be spent replacing our 24 year old air conditioner. It's been needing recharging every year or two for the past few years and with the recent heat wave with 12 days at or near 100 degrees it's been running 80% of the time and just barely keeping up.

On the other hand I just bought a pair of RtiA7's from another AVS member (right after ordering A5's for the bedroom) and they sound so sweet I think I may pick up another pair to use as wides. And as I've mentioned before, I don't think an 80 lb discreet amp fits well in our plans to "downsize" for retirement. But I will keep the option in mind for the future

My wife actually found the seats she wants lol.

Picking up my M1.0t tonight! Looking forward to hooking it up to my LSi 15s and jamming!

Wow. Can't wait to hear your thoughts. Congrats!

You're in there brother. Once they get something they like, they spend more time there. The more time they spend there, the more their ears hear. The more their ears hear, the more they want.... Good job.

I must admit... It started with kicking and screaming and a couple compromises Compromise #1 I got home from a deployment and with my extra money I had to start a remodel to get her to agree to let me put audio gear in the living room. Compromise #2 (after i got her hooked like a junkie) I can turn the living room into a theater room provided when we sell this house and get a new one, the living room and theater room WILL be separate. The down side is her side is very expensive but the plus side is she loves it now and can't do without it either muhahahaha. I love master plans lol.

Thanks, hit a small roadblock I need to figure out. The M1.0t does not have standard metal binding posts. It has plastic binding posts so you have to use bare wire or pins on your speaker wire.....

My MIT EXp2 cables have banana's. I started building a couple quick cables out of FLX 14/4 wire to use, but need to figure some things out since I dont have spades for regular speaker wire and my custom jumpers use banana's, so I need spades....

Will probably just use these for a short time till I get some pins for my MIT EXp's or get the M1.0t switched over to regular binding posts so I can use standard banana plugs....

Either way its gonna be tomorrow before its hooked up. Have to do some rewiring of my rack as well...

anyone here with an 11.2 set up with all polk speakers
im upgrading from 6.1 (with front presense) to 11.2

Whoa! You might be a first. Sure would like to see that.

Here are my thoughts: HOLY $HIT!!!!!

I feel like I have 18" subs in my apartment right now. I am rocking in Direct mode and honestly dont ever see myself going back to Stereo EVER for music. These LSi 15's are producing enough bass that I literally can feel it in my chest! Looks like I just need some more power for em than I had.

I just changed the crossover for them to "Full Range" because they are kicking A$$ down low compared to my PSW125.....

There is a bit of static/noise in the left channel when there is no music playing, so I plan to use the 12v trigger on my Integra and H15 to turn off and on both the Carver M1.0t and the AV-705x.

I think I need to get 2 more of these amps for my center, surrounds and a passive sub and I will no longer need to EVER go to the theaters :smile:.

In total 2 channel Heaven right now!

I've been following this thread for about the last 90 pages and you guys talked me into starting to upgrade my system (thanks, I think). So far I have only upgraded the the most lacking areas with a pair of A3's for my rears and an A6 center and I love them. I'm slowly building a 9.1 (or 2) system for a 30x30 game/HT room with the system centered on one side and music being the bulk of my listening. My mains are next on the list and I don't know whether to go with the A9's or LSI25's that are selling for the same price on polk e-bay. I'll probably eventually get some A9's for my wides and figure out the rears as I go. Would the LSI's sound good in a predominantly RtiA system? Does it make sense to mix 'n match LSI's in just because they're a good deal (can't afford a total LSI system) or should I just get some A9's and not look back?

If your mainly doing music, I would suggest the LSI line over the RTi's. From the LSi line I would suggest the 9's or 15's for your fronts. The 15's kick rear with the proper power (you will need a dedicated amp for the LSi line). If you can get a dedicated amp for your LSi's then you will be shocked at how well the will reward you.

The 25's while nice with their built in amp, simply are IMHO not worth it. You can get the 9's or 15's and get just as much sound from them. Paired with a good sub the 9's + sub will win over the 15's and 25's and not cost too much more if any.

I just moved my LSi 15's from a 5 channel Carver AV-705x amp to a M1.0t while leaving the rest of the speakers on the AV-705x and am currently listening to music in "Direct" mode on my receiver and you wouldnt know I dont have my sub cranked at all. I am in a room thats 14x23 long and am about 9 feet from the speakers. I have some pics of my setup here.

If you join the Polk Forum you can build your LSi setup for low cost. To give you an idea of cost, here is the cost of the stuff I bought off members on that forum:

LSi 15's: 500 (I later purchased Polk db840 subs to replace the stock ones for 160)
LSiC: 325
LSi F/X: 425


As you can see I have less into my entire setup than the purchase price for one set of LSi 15's at cost.

If you want to do it, you can slowly build up your setup, the only thing is you need to realize, you must have one dedicated amp channel per LSi to really get what you want.

I have only a 5.1 and honestly I dont see myself going for more anytime in the future. I am setup perfectly for 7.1 but dont feel the need at all as these things already destroy my place.

Uhg.... Ender when have you ever used a pro-audio amp for your HT? I have offered more than once to swing by next time when in Indy and bring a Crown XLS and let you compare to your Carver. Nothing that I have ever read from you leads me to really believe you have honest to god experience.

I've OWNED Carver/Adcom/Parasound on the 'audiophile end'. My A/B International straddles the fence, my Crown and Behringer are squarely in the 'Pro-Audio end'.

I've offered and I don't know what motive you have for not allowing for a comparison. Do what ever you have to do personally but this stance of coming out strong against 'Pro-Audio' then going immediately to 'It's just my opinion' or 'I have my reasons' IMO is just telling of inexperience.
Edited by Jinjuku - 7/8/12 at 8:59am