Polk Audio LSi 15 - are these the REAL DEAL ???

LSi 15, the continuing story! I feel that Lush has some perfectly valid points about the Politics of Audio. I personally know of a strong Totem dealer who had to get rid of QUAD'S L series loudspeakers for one main reason.

Whenever a potential buyer would audition any of the QUAD offerings (mainly the 21L and 22L), it would make for a harder sell to spend the extra green for a Totem product. This does not make Totems any less of a speaker, but speaks volumes for QUAD value.

I am absolutely convinced that if the LSi found it's way in High-End Audio Snob Shops, it would be exaclty the same story. The LSi series would hold its own agains twice-the-price comptetition, and smoke a few in the process. Someone in this forum mentionned that for a bit more money ($300.00?) he gladly went for a B&W 704. It is a fine speaker indeed, and all a matter of taste...but for my taste at least, I feel that the 704 is very expensive...

I think this Polk Audio LSi series, along with the ''L'' series from QUAD, deserve better exposure. But let's face it, it will never happen. At least for Polk - imagine, a Polk speaker next to a B&W, JM Lab or Sonus Faber speaker - in the the SAME ROOM !! Rags do not hang out with the riches in Audioland...except when clearly identified as budget gear, and placed in the ''lifestyle'' corner of the shop alongside the theatre-in-a-box systems and Bose wave radios. Too bad, dealers (and manufacturer's reps) might learn a thing or two about going back to just plain having fun with audio, instead of this *%$@/?? analyzing the ''sound'' all the time. Tapping your feet because it sounds good without having to break the bank, and getting connected with the music and the artists are the only way to go, in my book !!!! I'm open to comments here, tell me I'm wrong on this one!

There are a few factors that come into play here.

First of all, Polk Audio is a fantastic company that unfortunately carries virtually no respect in the hi-fi world. Lush listed just one of many reasons why that is so. I have asked numerous dealers on why they would not carry Polk’s Lsi line, and the answer is the same harmony; “Because…, its Polk”.

Very few manufacturers actually demand or request a dealer to drop another line if they are to bring in their own. This is almost always up to the dealer, whether they want to admit it or not. Of course, every manufacturer expects a dealer to bring in worthwhile business, some very few even setting stipulations per year. The question is can that dealer satisfy all manufacturers that he represents? If not – then something has to give and something has to be dropped. Dealers may claim they ‘had’ to drop a certain line to bring in another – which can sometimes paint a mis-leading picture.

It all just comes down to the bottom line and ole fashioned business. It is up to the dealer to listen to his/her customers and to provide them with different exciting options that feed the craze. Any dealer with their salt will try different avenues and never lose sight of what they are doing and the difference they make in peoples lives…, but its ultimately up to the customers to keep the flow going, to control demand and to make demand.

Anyway, back to the LSi series. This is certainly an admirable series that is one of the many under-appreciated products in this hobby. I am glad to see you (audiokicks) and many others have discovered them and can hopefully expose them to others as opportunities present themselves.

Rumadian, you are right on the money here. After all is said, it is up to the dealer. How many are truly listening to clients out there ? A few I'm sure, but for the most part, they are elitist and look at you the wrong way if you do not speak ''their'' language. I have been around, and owned obscenely expensive gear myself, but it's all personal. I would never judge on ones knowledge - or lack of- the audio scene. Again, most of them would never carry Polk Audio. And this is pretty stupid as this should be a business decision, as these babies should sell well, especially if you can A-B them with other, more expensive speakers that the store carries. - I would surely carry this line if I was a dealer - if only to make it more affordable to get a whole new group of potential audiophiles, in this great hobby. Then, if they liked it, they would be back for cables, cd players, you know, the works. And with the Polk LSi series, many would stop right there and be done with it for speakers and just enjoy the music. Not a bad scenario if you asked me, because there are so many other opportunities to spend in audio it's not even funny. Sure there are good dealers. The one close to my place ? Never a smile, and they follow you around as if you were about to steal something...so much pressure.Sooo unpleasant. On the other hand, this very situation makes Audiogon a welcomed and justified place in audiophilia. It's not all bad after all.

Man it is so old hearing people bash speakers like Polk, some guys that need to feel good about their purchase wont allow themselves to admit a speaker can be good and not break the bank, this is such a snobs hobby...if a guy owns an ultra elite product...just laugh it off, or laugh at them, guys who own a bragging rights speaker like a Wilson, or some 40K Dali wont give anyone props that didnt by the hype.........it takes all kinds. This ofcourse will piss those type of folks off, but they never worry about bashing others for less expensive gear, plus if they have that much money to blow then who can actually feel sorry for them in the first place?

The Polk Audio LSi 15 is equipped with a Vifa ring radiator tweeter, and I can attest to a giant killer value with this speaker. Not because it sounds riveting with this tweeter, but because the whole package is a bona-fida work of art. I own some expensive Totem Mani2 speakers in my ''high end''system . I purchased a pair LSi 15 as the first building blocks of an upcoming Home Theater system to be used with an (also upcoming) ARCAM AVR 300 HT receiver. The other day, just for the fun of it, I installed the LSi 15's in my ''serious'' rig. The sound is HUGE maybe a side effect of the high position of the drivers. Better yet, it was FUN and I could crank it up and get extremely good bass to complement the refined high frequencies and midrange. Let me tell you. I'm done with monitors. Once you get them on proper stands, they take up as much space, if not more than many speakers. Their imaging is legendary, but now that ''full range'' speakers are slim and deep, that advantage is no longer obvious. And I couldn't care less about the ''prestige'' branding anymore. I mean, there are so many ''High end'' manufacturers having their gear made in China right now, that a name no longer means the same as before. And I'm not knocking chinese products, some of them are well made and are incredible values. I'll take a beautifull, well made, and nice sounding speaker like the LSi 15 any day over the flavor of the month speaker. AS nice as those Totems are,(and they ARE exquisite) I just cannot justify keeping them after hearing what a huge sounding and near full-range gem like the LSi speaker can do for the equivalent of the price of some speaker cables. And there are many other speakers that are just as good just waiting to be discovered. To make a long story short, yes, the LSi 15 are a major real deal,(so is the rest of the line, but not by such a wide margin) at least for me.