Polk LSi9 as center (1 Viewer)

[Albert Damico]

I am thinking of trying a pair of Polk LSi9's for my main speakers in my HT system. Rather than use a traditional center channel I was wondering if just using a third LSi9 made sense and if anyone had any experience and could offer an opinion. Thanks

 

[Paul Seyfarth]

The LSi9 is almost the exact same speaker as the 9 only it goes on it's side. Plus the lsi9 speaker has a crossover if next to some tv's might cause a little distortion. The LSiC has an upgraded crossover that doesn't do this.

 

[Brian Kleinke]

I'm perfectly happy with my LSiC as my center... you can't buy just one 9 so I don't see the point.

 

[Guyza]

Maybe Albert would buy 2 pairs of LSi9s and use one for a center and one for a 6th rear channel in a 6.1 setup?

It'd be cheaper than 2 centers for the same purpose.

 

[Albert Damico]

Actually my intention was to buy two pair, and stash one away for parts etc. I have reconfigured my center channel 4 times now as well as three different combinations of mains. I am finding it impossible to get a good match, regardless of what I do. My thought was to mount two LSi9's on corner shelves the same height as the one I would use for the center and stand the center vertical. That way, I could approximate, as closely as possible three exact speakers. The only other option I have is to eliminate the center and balance the mains to compensate, which I have heard that more than a few people do.

 

[Tony Genovese]

Have you tried the LSiC as a center channel? It should sound virtually identical to the LSi9 which begs the question: why not just get the LSiC?

 

[Tim Christianson]

See this thread. I asked POLK the same question.Polk LSi users

 

[Albert Damico]

Tim:
Thanks for the link. What I have not made clear is that I don't want "another" horizontaly placed center channel speaker in my system. After experimenting with more than a few from cost effective to more expensive. I am fast approaching the camp that regardless of what you do, unless all three speakers across the front are not only the "exact" same speaker, but also placed in "exactly" the same confuration, (position, height, etc.) they just won't match. I am willing to give it one more try, but regardless of what speakers I go with, I am going to insist that they meet the criteria of matching exactly. I was looking at B&W mid tier, Thiel, upper tier, but then read some reviews of the Polk's. Heck, I can pick up 4 of them for peanuts and give them a shot, but just wondered if anybody had tried them this way. I appears not

 

[Tony Genovese]

Albert:

There is a problem with using the Polk LSi9 as a center. You see the speakers are handed with a left and a right. Polk recommends that the tweeter fire inboard for correct dispersion and wavelaunch. If you use the 9's as a center, you'd need to make a determination as to how you want to configure the tweeter. Unfortunately, what makes a center sound different is not only the drivers, cabinet, etc,. it's also its positioning relative to the seating position. I've got 3 M&K S150s up front. They utilize the same drivers, same cabinet, same everything. Well guess what, in running through the test tones from my pre-pro, the left and right sound different than the center. Of course, the center is being heard by both ears equally (from a centrally located chair) whereas the left ear hears the left speakers more than the right ear.

So I think a perfect timbre match might not be feasible even with three of the same speakers for the front three.