Sound, Size, mountability, tweeter

Base

For the price, these are excellent speakers for a surround system. They lack base -- as will all other speakers in this size. I hooked four of these with the matching center channel to an Onkyo 676 receiver. Then, I added at small Velodyne CT80 for deep clean base. Total cost of speakers (including the Velodyne)about $600. You can't beat this speaker setup at this price range.

Price

I have to go against popular opinion on this one. I originally bought a single LX5 as a center speaker a few years back for a new surround system I was building with a Yamaha Pro Logic integrated amp. I was impressed with it as center speaker and bought a pair for the front and was using an old, low end, pair of Infinity small monitors as the rears. I liked the sound but overall was not impressed, it seemed they seemed to lack "life" when used for music but were fine for home theater. Meanwhile I had a really old pair of small, 6" Woofer Polks (From the first year of the companies existence) with blown tweeters and I found out that they used Peerless tweeters and found a source for them. After I installed the tweeters I compared the refurbished Polks to the LX5s and the difference was night and day, in essence the LX5s sucked in comparison. All of a sudden I seemed to enjoy music a lot more. I ended up selling the whole Yamaha/LX5 system and just using the Polks with a Sub in a stereo sytem for the last couple of years until recently when I bought an Onkyo Dolby Digital/DTS reciever with JBL 610s all around and HLS center. Now that is a nice, cheap, speaker. Too bad JBL quit making them.

Similar Products Used:

HLS 610s, Polk, JBL, AR,

I bought these to replace the PRO-X77s I had hooked to my SW-14 woofer. They sound a little better, but nothing to write home about. They handle a lot of power OK, and sound pretty good in the upper-midrange. The good part of this speaker is the tweeter without a doubt. The woofer is so-so, and lacks a rubber surround. They suffer from a terrible resonance at 250Hz or so when connected through the passive Xover of the SW-14, and EQ (cheesy work-around) to get rid of this was necessary. I tried reversing the polarity of the satellites, but there was only a slight improvement in the resonance. Overall, they sound pretty good. Considering the price, they are excellent!

I remember when I thought Radioshack speakers were overpriced crap. Now my entire set of HT speakers are Optimus. The only thing that didn't come from radioshack was my reciever, a Kenwood VR-205. I replaced a set of pioneer surround speakers with a pair of the PRO LX-5 II speakers. The salesperson told me that I probably couldn't do better for a satellite speaker. He was right. There is simply no comparison to anything I have heard in a satellite set. Most of the ones I see are very small and sound tinny. These are Just the right size for my taste and sound a lot larger than they are. I am overall extremely happy with my purchase and I think you would be too.

EXTREMELY good tweeter

no bass, muddy midrange

This speaker does indeed have the BEST tweeter I have ever heard in my home. It sounds even better if placed out in the open, far from adjacent walls. You get beautiful fluid sound that is never harsh. Just try listening to the violin on these little babies! Unfortunately, the midrange/bass driver is poor. I didn't try hooking it up with a sub, which is a must, but even then I think the overall sound would be somewhat unbalanced because of the inadequate midrange driver.

I'll give them a four. They make a nice bedroom speaker for easy listening or classical. Also consider NHT and Paradigm for more balanced but less spectacular sound.

Similar Products Used:

none

See my review below!!!!!

Again...These are great speakers see my previous review. I am still a happy camper...One major question. I went into a local Radio Shack store wanting to purchase a new pr. thinking the LX5-II's Guess what no longer available. Radio Shack is not putting the "RCA" label on their products. Is the new model "RCA" 5 the same as the old ones. They look close except that the top cover looks cheap plastic and cloth. The kid working didn't know. I love the LX-5's but am not sure about this new model plus having the RCA brand name on my gear leaves me with an upset stomach. If snybody can help me I would be greatful. Or maybe I'll watch the pawnshops and used market! Or go for the Atom's!

Outstanding value

Requires subwoofer

IMHO I would highly recommend Radio Shack's Optimus LX5II speakers(aka RCA PRO -LX 55). The sound is excellent and compares well against my Rogers LS 3/5a. The imaging is very good, not quite as wide as LS 3/5a's. The accuracy is excellent not excessively bright. The highs are very detailed, thanks to the Linenium ribbon tweeter. The bass and midrange is muddy on the stock speaker but if you plug the bass port with a piece of rolled up cotton fabric the bass and midrange is clear and well defined. These speakers do not reproduce frequencies below 100 hz and require a subwoofer. Additionally, these speakers are inefficient only a sensitivity of 87 db. Since I don't play my music very loud and it was not a problem. However, my guess is that these speaker are not for people who like to rock, bend the walls or wake the neighbors.

I felt RCA Pro-LX 55's are superior to Pro x88av, x55av, x44av. I really disliked the x88's because they were very harsh. The x44's were sounded excellent (4 stars) but had exaggerated highs and even had even less bass than the PRO-LX55 and therefore they aren't as accurate a speaker. The x55's were fair (4 stars) more accurate and smoother than the 44's. The detail and imaging were definitely poorer that the PRO-LX55 (w/bass port plugged) and Rogers LS 3/5a's.

I would try all the Radio Shack speakers together and see and hear for yourself.

Similar Products Used:

Rogers LS 3/5a, RCA Pro-x88av, RCA Pro-x55av,RCA Pro-x44av,

Metal case (Durable), Linaeum Tweeters, binding post connectors (also uses banana plugs)

None in my opinion.

Excellent for main speakers. I hear alot of complaints about no bass and a subwoofer needed.
My speakers have very nice bass response. Not a subwoofer mind you but I am not tring to crack plaster or go deaf. Clean sound and the Linaeum tweeters give exceptional highs. I returned my Polk Audio R-10 speakers as they didi not sound nearly as good as the Pro LX5's do.

Similar Products Used:

Polk Audio R10

Out of great curiousity, I decided to check out the Optimus Pro LX5 speakers. I waited until Radio Shack had them on sale for half price and at $150.00 a pair the price seemed fair. I hooked them up to my stereo kit (Zen SET amp at a glorious 5 watts a channel; Philips LHH1000 CD player, AMC Ace-Bass B1-20 powered subwoofer; Carver C4000 preamp; speaker cables are Barracudas by Custom House; interconnects are entry level Vampire Wire; plus other assorted audio components). By themselves (no sub) the LX5's sound anemic, a bit open and airy at the top thanks to the fancy tweeter, the midrange is very congested, and I found the sound dissapointing. From what I had been lead to believe, from reading reviews in stereo mags and here, is that these speakers were a fantastic best buy and a bit of a giant killer. I'm not convinced.
I hooked up the subwoofer and in combination with the LX5's the sound improved. At least decent bass was present, but the mids still were unsatisfactory. Vocals were not pleasing. The LX5's don't do well with opera nor with big orchestral works. Night Train by Oscar Peterson sounded alright, almost palatable. On the whole, the LX5's were a pretty lousy speaker if one has great expectations (or, for that matter, wants to play stuff at loud levels).

Now at $150 a pair, the LX5's aren't a bad deal. They sound okay, would be fine in an office system or in an undemanding application where they are used primarily for background music. A powered subwoofer definately helps for the LX5's really don't have much bass. After a few hours listening to them, I found them fatiguing and generally unpleasant; however, I was listening critically and paying much too much attention to them.

My overall verdict? Bose 301's are much better and more satisfying for an undemanding application, but for $150 a pair, the LX5's are worth an audition for a bargain basement budget stereo kit. Frankly, I can't stand them. I was informed that when I returned them to Radio Shack, that I was the first person in that store's history who had ever returned a pair of LX5's. It's nice to make history.

I'd have to agree with Dr. Hunchuk. This speaker can be used as a surround, or a bedroom speaker- better with a sub. For the price they have a great tweeter, but a vague midrange. I hear there is a series II due out that may improve this. I am a DIY kind of guy, so I don't purchase monitor types. The lx-5 really only gets a generous 3 stars due to price, and tweeter. Even with a sub, you can't mask the flaccid midrange. I would opt to spend a bit more. If you like Optimus, go for the 7's to get better body.
The point I totally disagree: C'mon doc, Bose is junk at any price range. At least the lineaum is a real tweeter compared to BOSE's whizzer cone, and BTW BOSE has horrible midrange too.