Polk Audio Announces New LSi Series Speakers

Advanced Technology Drivers Featured In New Step-Up Line

4-Jun-01

Polk Audio announced a new series of high performance speakers designed to take advantage of todayís high definition audio media such as DVD-Audio and Super Audio CD. The LSi Series speakers feature advanced transducers, highly-styled enclosures, and proprietary Polk technologies, to produce the highest level of performance, fit, finish, and reliability in Polkís history. Key to LSi performance is the use of a ring radiator tweeter similar to those used in costly audiophile systems. Ring radiator tweeters have inherently few performance-robbing resonance modes. The result is flat, extended frequency response, low distortion, excellent dynamics, exceptional detail, and transparency.Also new is the mid/bass driver used throughout the range - a 5.25-inch driver with an Aerated Polypropylene cone that suppresses unwanted cone resonance with its light, rigid, and mechanically stable structure. The new driver also features a cast aluminum basket, rubber surround, and a soft rubber dust cap tuned to absorb any additional cone resonance. This driver represents a significant evolution of Polkís Dynamic Balance driver technology that uses laser imaging techniques to develop low resonance, high performance driver units. There are four models in the line: - LSi7, a compact bookshelf unit - $399 each MSRP- LSi9, a larger bookshelf model with dual drivers - $519 each - LSi15, a four-driver three-way floor-stander - $869 each - LSi25, a floor-standing model with built-in powered subwoofer - $1499 eachìRight from the start of Polk Audio, our mission was to put great sounding speakers into the homes of anyone who appreciates good sound regardless of their circumstances. Although I personally enjoy cost-no-object products as much as any audiophile, our goal is to make good sounding, well-built speakers that real people can afford and can live with.î said Polk Audio co-founder and Chairman Matthew Polk. ìIn the LSi Series we have combined some of the best audiophile design ideas with our own strengths in engineering and manufacturing to create the best performing, most solidly-built products we have ever made.î All LSi models are housed in rigidly-braced enclosures. The striking cabinets feature black high gloss and real wood veneers with double-wall cabinet construction that is extremely rigid and acoustically inert. Polkís in-house wood machining and laminating capabilities allow Polk to make this otherwise cost prohibitive design affordable. All models are mirror-imaged for superior soundstaging and three-dimensional imaging. LSi models feature Polkís patented Power Port venting technology that reduces turbulence at the mouth of the port. Power Port vastly reduces ìchuffingî or ìport noiseî and provides deeper, more powerful bass than could be achieved with conventional ported or sealed designs of comparable size. The Power Ports are on the rear panels of the bookshelf models and integrated with the bases of the floor-standing units. In the case of the LSi7, the Power Port assembly also serves as a built-in wall mount bracket.The two small ports on the front baffles are Acoustic Resonance Control (ARC) ports, tuned to cancel internal enclosure standing waves that would ordinarily distort midrange reproduction. Patented ARC technology gives the LSi models unusually clear, natural and detailed midrange performance.Other features that contribute to LSi performance are oxygen-free copper internal wiring, all Mylar crossover capacitors, gold-plated five-way bi-amp/bi-wire binding posts, and integrated carpet spikes (floor-standing models only). ìWhile we designed the new LSi Series with two-channel music listeners in mind, we understand that most people have only one audio system for both music and home theatre use,î continued Polk. ìWe steadfastly maintain that an accurate speaker serves both music and movie reproduction. The wide dynamic range, detail and neutral tonal balance of the LSi models make them excellent home theatre speakers as well as superb music speakers.î Polk Audio will also offer matching center channel and surround LSi units to complement the new stereo/front models.The LSiC center speaker ($579 each MSRP) uses the same driver and tweeter as the front models. It maintains broad, uniform dispersion and maximum fidelity throughout the listening room via a Cascade-Tapered Array - that is, one driver plays only bass frequencies, and the other driver covers the bass and the midrange. This technique avoids the ìcomb filterî effects that plague other horizontal-oriented, multi-driver center speakers. For enveloping and non-localizable surround effects the LSiFX surround speaker ($469 each) features components mounted on opposing baffles set at a 45-degree angle. This arrangement provides the listener with a balance of direct and indirect sound. Each baffle contains the same 5.25-inch driver and ring radiator tweeter, identical to the components used in the LSi front and center speaker models, for smooth effects panning without tonal shift. Dual rear-mounted Power Ports help the LSiFX deliver impressive bass as well as act as built-in wall mount brackets. A switch on one baffle allows the LSiFX to be switched between bipolar and dipolar radiation patterns. This feature, pioneered by Polk Audio in the original LS f/x surround speaker in 1993, enables the user to select the polar pattern that gives the best performance for the chosen room placement. All LSi models will be available in North America in November 2001. For more information about Polk Audio, visit www.polkaudio.com.

Read More:
http://www.polkaudio.com