LS9 Review

[Hugh]

http://www.dagogo.com/View-Article.asp?hArticle=969

[topround]

lukewarm

[Hugh]

Because?

[topround]

Most likely the drivers

[bpape]

I've heard them multiple times and they CAN sound very very good indeed.  The thing that has turned me off is that they tend to need to be played pretty loud to really come alive.

Not like some speakers where you just need an amp with an iron fist to control things but volume is variable - these really just don't come alive til you push them  - then they're great.

Just my 2 cents.



Bryan

[woofersus]

I've enjoyed them at low volumes in the past, but I will agree that they need to be in a larger space and turned up enough to breathe a little in order to reach their potential.  Still, I don't think they need to be cranked to 11 or anything. (although they certainly can be)  People with a smaller space should probably get the LS6 instead.

On the flip side, I don't think many competitors can touch them when it comes to dynamics and scale while resolving such detail.

[topround]

finesse and beauty is what they lack

they are good for HT though

[tmazz]

finesse and beauty is what they lack

they are good for HT though

I don't know Mike, if physical beauty is what you are talking about I'd have to say that the high gloss rosewood finish certainly gets my juices flowing. 

[topround]

I was speaking sonic beauty, I heard the 6's and the 9's and was not impressed. They can do scale but the subtle microdynamics that evoke emotion are completly missing.

again ideal for HT though

[bpape]

I've enjoyed them at low volumes in the past, but I will agree that they need to be in a larger space and turned up enough to breathe a little in order to reach their potential.  Still, I don't think they need to be cranked to 11 or anything. (although they certainly can be)  People with a smaller space should probably get the LS6 instead.

On the flip side, I don't think many competitors can touch them when it comes to dynamics and scale while resolving such detail.

11?  Nope - but a solid 8-9.  IMO, the LS-6 is even moreso that way.  Different strokes...

Bryan

[etcarroll]

I had Shadowlight's LS6 while he redid his listening area, and found them great for 'big sound' like Rock and big symphonic stuff. The climax to Shostakovitch's 'Leningrad' symphony was 1st rate with them.

But in my 50's I find myself moving more towards intimate jazz of the 50's and early 60's, and the reviewer had the same thought I had, the line source approach really isn't the way to reproduce this type of music.

I found myself looking for more 'warmth' and 'involvement' WITH the music than the line source approach wanted to provide me.

[Response Audio]

finesse and beauty is what they lack

A lot of this has to do with what you are driving them with as well as how far back you are from the speakers. I have gone through several different amplifiers with the LS-9's I have here and they all produce different results in regard to low level resolution and information. With the LS-9's (I don't know about the 6's), synergy and listening habits are critical but I can say that they are capable of very good low level listening when paired with the right amplification.