LSA2 Tower-based 5.1-Channel Surround Speaker System (TPV 93)
Expectations Exceeded
August 18th, 2010 -- by Chris MartensSource: The Perfect Vision
BOTTOM LINE
The LSA2 Tower-based surround system offers smooth, neutrally-balanced frequency response, beautiful integration of mid-bass drivers and tweeters throughout, and killer imaging and soundstaging. The voices of the main, center, and surround speakers are extremely evenly matched, giving the system a cohesive, all-of-one-piece sound that is highly desirable. Apart from imaging, no one aspect of system performance might at first seem to jump out at the listener as being extraordinary, but the balance of sonic ingredients and their across-the-board excellence is what really sets this system apart.
LSA isn’t the best known name in the home theater marketplace, but it certainly deserves wider recognition. If you are shopping for a system in this price range, you owe it to yourself to at least hear the LSA option before making a purchase decision. Bear in mind, too, that unlike most other speakers on the market, the LSA’s Standard models offer a clearly-defined and easy-to-access upgrade path which allows you to raise the performance bar even higher, should you wish to do so.
SPECS & PRICING
LSA2 Towers
Type: 2 1/2-way, bass reflex floorstanding speaker
Driver complement: one 1-inch silk dome tweeter, one 6 ¼-inch treated paper cone mid-bass driver, one 6 ¼-inch treated paper woofer.
Frequency response: 35Hz – 20 kHz
Sensitivity: 88 dB
Impedance: 6 Ohms
Dimensions (HxWxD): 38.825” x 9.25” x 17.5”
Weight: 65 lbs. each
Warranty: 5 years, parts and labor.
Price: $2500/pair
LSA LCR Monitor
Type: Three-driver, 2-way, bass reflex LCR speaker
Driver complement: one 1-inch silk dome tweeter, two 6 ¼-inch treated paper cone mid-bass drivers
Frequency response: 55Hz – 25 kHz
Sensitivity: 88 dB
Impedance: 6 Ohms
Dimensions when position on its side (HxWxD): 8.825” x 22” x 14.5”
Weight: 35 lbs. each
Warranty: 5 years, parts and labor
Price: $750/each
LSA1OW On-Wall Monitor
Type: Four-driver, 2-way, bass reflex on-wall monitor with “tripole” operating modes (directional, bipole, or dipole modes are switch selectable)
Driver complement: three 1-inch silk dome tweeters, one 6 ½-inch treated paper cone mid-bass driver.
Frequency response: 55Hz – 20 kHz
Sensitivity: 85 dB
Impedance: 6 Ohms
Dimensions (HxWxD): 13.6” x 14.75” x 5.75”
Weight: 13.25 lbs. each
Warranty: 5 years, parts and labor.
Price: $1000/pair
System Price: $4250 as tested, powered subwoofers from third-party manufacturers may be used if desired.
LSA Group
(615) 356-0180
www.thelsagroup.com
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Comments
I thought the review was great, and I'm going to figure out if there is a dealer near me. That being said, the review addressed - almost exclusively - the main speakers. What about the center and surrounds? I'd be particularly interested to read how the center channel stacked-up. For me, if the center channel isn't great, the system can't be great for home theater. There's more to films than ambience and explosions (although they also have an important place). If the center doesn't do dialog well, it's a deal breaker for me.
HI quidproschmoe,
You pose an excellent question. The answer is that the center channel is extremely well-matched to the mains; they sound very similar except for the fact that the center offers less bass extension. The same is also true of the LSA1OW On-Wall monitor, but with the qualification that the on-wall does offer an unusually wide range of drive options designed to enable the On-Wall to play more of a dedicated surround-speaker role (for example, you can turn off the On-Wall's front tweeter, turn on the side tweeters, and then choose between "bipole" or "dipole" modes to suit your tastes for surround applications).
Actually, it helps to know that in a sense the voicing of all the LSA speakers flows from the sound of a model that wasn't included in this review; namely, the LSA1 two-way standmount monitor. If you read between the lines in some of LSA's materials, then, you could view the LSA2 Tower as an LSA1 with deeper, more nearly full-range bass. Similarly, the LSA LCR Monitor is much like an LSA1 with an extra mid-bass driver to allow a D'Appolito configuration that enables the LCR to be flipped on its side for center channel applications. Finally, the LSA1OW was first conceived as an "on-wall" LSA1 (which is pretty much exactly what you get when you use just the LSA1OW's front-firing drivers), but that also got a pair of side-firing tweeters and the "bipole/dipole" switch to expand its role for surround applications.
To answer your other question, yes, I felt the center did very well in terms of dialog intelligibility. The smooth voice-matching between the center and the mains really helps, too, so that potential problems with hearing an isolated, centrally-positioned "blob" of sound are greatly mitigated. Instead, you tend to get more of a smooth, well-integrated arc of sound from the front channels.
Best,
Chris Martens
Chris Martens
Editor, Avguide.com/Playback/The Perfect Vision
Thanks for the additional information. I'm sold. I'm going to an LSA dealer this weekend to give them a listen. On paper, they seem to be a good choice for my moderately bright listening area and my appearance conscious wife.
David
Nice review Chris. Did you ever get round to reviewing the LSA-1 Statement monitors as well?
Hi eRaS,
I didn't have a chance to review the LSA-1 Statement monitors on this go around (largely because we wanted to hold overall system costs down), but may have the opportunity to do so later on.
That said, I've had the opportunity to do several roughly half-hour-at-a-stretch listening sessions with the LSA-1 Statement monitors, and found them pretty impressive. One good sign: the LSA-1 Statement even wins favorable comments from those who make competing products.
Best, Chris Martens
Chris Martens
Editor, Avguide.com/Playback/The Perfect Vision
Chris,
Consider this another encouraging word about getting a review of the LSA1 Statement into TAS or TPF. I owned a pair in my 2 channel music system and just loved them. Then, I got a good deal on a competing product -- a very well regarded, high end monitor speaker -- and sold the LSA's to pay for the new purchase.
Well, several months later, I'm missing the LSA 1 Statements so much that I'm seriously considering selling the other monitors and going back to the LSA's! They are wonderful speakers for all the reasons you mention, and more people deserve to know about them.