The Polk LSiM 703 is one of the very finest bookshelf speakers that Polk Audio has ever made, it has garnered many praises due to its exceptional sonic performance at such an affordable price point. The 3-way speaker design of the Polk Audio LSiM 703 is pretty rare for a standmounter which also makes it unique and stand out from the crowd. Are you currently looking for an amp to match the LSiM 703? If yes, please continue to read on.
All speakers will require matching amplifiers so that they can sound their best, and the Polk LSiM 703 is no exception. In order to find the best amp for this loudspeaker, it is crucial to learn more about them first. With a better understanding of how they perform, then we can find the matching amps to partner with them.
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Sound Characteristics and Strengths of Polk Audio LSiM 703
Even after all these years, the Polk LSiM 703 still looks good, the elegant curves give out that premium feels and makes them look sophisticated. Aesthetically, they will be an ideal fit for most home interiors, without disrupting or getting too much attention. They will also look great with most modern amplifiers, and even vintage amps. The Polk LSiM 703 starts off with a 3.25″ (8.26 cm) Super Cell Aerated Polypropylene midrange driver, followed by a 1″ (2.54 cm) Enhanced Ring Radiator tweeter, and lastly a 6.5″ (16.51 cm) Super Cell Aerated Polypropylene mid/woofer driver. It uses PowerPort bass venting which is located at the back of the speaker cabinet. The unique design of the bass port does allow you to slightly place it nearer to the back wall than most other speakers with a rear-firing port.
The speaker sensitivity of the Polk LSiM 703 is 88dB which is slightly below average but it is still not bad. The frequency response of 50 Hz to 30kHz (-3dB) is above average for a bookshelf speaker of this size and price range. Still, it is more than likely you will need a subwoofer to supplement the bass. The nominal impedance is 8 Ohms which is great. The recommended amplifier power has a wide range, which is between 20W to 200W. To be on the safe side, we shouldn’t go for low-powered amps as Polk Audio speakers can be quite demanding when it comes to power.
The clarity of the Polk Audio LSiM 703 bookshelf speakers is truly exceptional, it provides a very detailed music presentation of our favorite tunes. The sound quality is clean and crystal clear, it remains composed even when the music passage gets very busy. At high volumes, the Polk LSiM 703 still maintains its integrity with a touch of brightness but never sounding harsh or cringe. It is more neutral sounding and provides a tonally balanced music delivery as faithful to the source.
More Details at Amazon – Polk Audio LSiM 703 Flagship Bookshelf Speaker
These are lively speakers with accurate and detailed imaging which fills the wide soundstage with rich musical details. The low-end frequency is not deep enough to really provide more depth and weight onto the sound reproduction but this could easily be fixed by adding an active subwoofer into the mix. The bass performance is tight and agile, it doesn’t linger when it shouldn’t. It may not be powerful enough for bass fanatics or home theater enthusiasts though. All 3 drivers blend seamlessly together to produce a coherent and natural sound quality which is an impressive feat for a speaker in this price range.
The Polk LSiM 703 may like to dig out a lot of details but they never sounded clinical. With an addition of a high-quality subwoofer, you would have an incredible sounding audio system that is more than enough to handle most music genres. They will also be excellent as surround speakers as they are revealing and have clear sound reproduction, able to bring out the surround effects in spades. They might be a little too big as nearfield desktop speakers but if space isn’t an issue, then the Polk LSiM 703 bookshelf speakers are a fine choice. The LSiM 703 are quite unfussy speakers, as long the amplifiers have ample power to drive them, they should be fine. We have what we need, and it is time to share with you the best amps to pair with your Polk LSiM 703 speakers.
Polk LSiM 703 Specifications
- Speaker Type: 3-Way Vented (PowerPort Plus Bass Venting)
- Drive Units: 1″ (2.54 cm) Enhanced Ring Radiator tweeter, 3.25″ (8.26 cm) Super Cell Aerated Polypropylene midrange driver, 6.5″ (16.51 cm) Super Cell Aerated Polypropylene mid/woofer driver
- Total Frequency Response: 36Hz-40kHz
- Frequency Response (-3dB): 50Hz-30kHz
- Recommended Amplifier Power: 20-200 Watts
- Nominal Impedance: 8 Ohms
- Sensitivity (2.83V/1m): 88dB
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 426mm x 224mm x 370mm | 16.8″ x 8.8″ x 14.6″
- Weight: 13.4kg (29.6lbs)
Best Amps to match with Polk LSiM 703
The Marantz PM8006 will be one of the best amps to partner with the Polk LSiM 703, the warm house sound of this integrated amplifier will blend in nicely with the sound characteristic of the speakers. This integrated amp will also provide more refinement onto the table with more full-bodied sound reproduction, providing a well-textured soundstage. The clarity and accuracy of the Polk LSiM 703 also complement well with the Marantz PM8006. You can use the Pre-Out to connect to an active subwoofer so to enhance the bass performance.
More Information at Amazon – Marantz PM8006 Integrated Amplifier
If a warm-sounding system is never to your liking then the Yamaha A-S501 will be an ideal choice for you. This integrated amplifier may not sound warm like the Marantz amps but it is still musical sounding. The Yamaha A-S501 is a revealing and transparent amp where it focuses on delivering a faithful music presentation with clarity. Much similar to the Polk LSiM 703 speakers, and this amp has sufficient power to drive them as well. Connect a subwoofer and you will be able to enjoy the low-frequency sonic prowess of the A-S501. It is recommended to have a listen first even if you are used to a bright sounding system before making any decision.
More Details at Amazon – YAMAHA A-S501 Natural Sound Integrated Stereo Amplifier
Polk LSiM 703 scales well with power and the Peachtree Audio Nova150 has plenty of that in its Class D ICEPower amplification. To find such a powerful integrated amp in this price range is already very rare and the Nova150 has loads of features to boot. Such as a built-in premium digital to analog audio converter, a MM Phono preamp for your turntables, home theater bypass, and more. The warm-sounding nature of the Peachtree Audio Nova150 helps soften the harshness and makes it easier for you to listen to your favorite music for hours on end. The sonic characteristic of this integrated amp is amazing for vinyl analog sources too.
More Details at Amazon – Peachtree Audio Nova 150 Integrated Amplifier with DAC
NAD D 3045 will be an amazing digital amp for a desktop sound system setup. The continuous power output and IHF dynamic power make this amp capable of driving your Polk LSiM 703 speakers. It is recommended to connect an active subwoofer though, as it not only helps improve the overall bass performance, it also helps to take a load off from the D 3045. This digital amplifier comes with a DAC, a 2-Way Bluetooth powered by Qualcomm aptX for higher streaming audio quality, it even has a moving magnet phono input for your turntable, etc. Another notable feature will be the compact size of the NAD D 3045 and the small footprint, which makes it easy to place this amp on your desktop. It does not sound bright so it would be an easy match with your Polk LSiM 703.
More Details at Amazon – NAD D 3045 HybridDigital DAC/Amplifier
Cambridge Audio CXA81 is another ideal amp to go for if you want a livelier sound reproduction with a bold presentation of your favorite tunes. The clarity and details are well-matched with the Polk LSiM 703, the Cambridge Audio CXA81 also brings snappy timings into the mix, making the overall music delivery even more engaging. The power output is sufficient and with an active subwoofer to supplement the bass, you got a mighty 2.1 sound system that can be great for watching movies as well. It is recommended to hear them out first especially for listeners who are used to warm sound quality.
More Details at Amazon – Cambridge Audio CXA81 Stereo Amplifier – Built-in DAC
The Polk Audio LSiM 703 will be excellent in a home theater setup due to its transparent and clean sound quality with high clarity. If you do not want the overall sound quality to sound harsh, you can either go for Marantz or Denon AV receivers. For slightly better performance when playing back music sources, go for Marantz. If you want a livelier or brighter-sounding HT system, you can go for Onkyo or Sony. No matter which brand of AV receivers you go for, you should at least get an active subwoofer. The Polk Audio PSW505 subwoofer will be a good choice since is from the same company. If after listening to the PSW505 sub and you don’t like the performance then you probably should go for SVS subwoofers.
More Details at Amazon – Polk Audio PSW505 12″ Powered Subwoofer
To Sum It Up
You can also just go for external power amplifiers if your current stereo/AV receiver has Pre Outs. The listed amps are some of the very best you can go for and is worthy of your time to hear them out. At least audition two of them from the list and better yet, do a side-by-side comparison, so that you can immediately hear the difference. Only when you have listened to most of the shortlisted amps then you should start making a decision. In terms of sound quality, your ears will always be the best judge.
