The SDA Effect issue

as some already know my dad picked up a pair of SDA 1A's from a thrift shop up the road. I have just today hooked up the SDA interconnect cable, it looks at though this cable is polarized (one small and one large blade), when I plugged this in I noticed that one is hooked with the large blade up and small down.

Here's the dilemma, one speaker sounds incredible, the other I believe the SDA tweeter and woofer are either blown or I've hooked them up wrong. I don't want to try forcing the plugs with large blades facing the same way because they will not go in and I don't want to blow up his amp. Surprisingly this little integrated amp sounds wonderful especially for the size room he has.

I really do hope they aren't blown... then again he only paid $60 for them, if new drivers are needed I don't think it'll matter much.
Home theater:
43” Westinghouse Displayer
Marantz UD-7007 Player
Emotiva MC-700 Processor
Adcom GFA-5006 Amplifier
Parasound Zamp Amplifier
Ethereal ESO-1 Power Conditioner
Klipsch RC-10 Center
Klipsch R34c Fronts
Klipsch RB-41 Surrounds
Polk audio PSW-505

Stereo:
Polk audio RTA-12c’s fully upgraded crossovers
DIY 12tc braided speaker cables
Denon DVD-5910ci Spinner
Parasound P6 Preamplifer
Parasound HCA -1500a Amplifier

Comments

  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 24,477
    edited September 2017
    Check fuse if it has one clean fuse holder. Blade/blade is pretty hard to hook up wrong. Many folks get inside and try to make them "normal" speakers check wiring inside.
    The wiring interconnect inside is reversed from the left to right speaker so do not think you will be "fixing" it to make it the same on both. That might just let the magic smoke out of the amp or speaker. Is the cord loose in the socket then spread put the blades a little see if it helps.
  • Mr. Sharpe
    Mr. Sharpe Posts: 1,354
    the connection is plenty tight. If the interconnect is reversed inside that would explain the large blade being on the bottom on one speaker and top on the other.

    is the fuse inside the rear terminal?
    Home theater:
    43” Westinghouse Displayer
    Marantz UD-7007 Player
    Emotiva MC-700 Processor
    Adcom GFA-5006 Amplifier
    Parasound Zamp Amplifier
    Ethereal ESO-1 Power Conditioner
    Klipsch RC-10 Center
    Klipsch R34c Fronts
    Klipsch RB-41 Surrounds
    Polk audio PSW-505

    Stereo:
    Polk audio RTA-12c’s fully upgraded crossovers
    DIY 12tc braided speaker cables
    Denon DVD-5910ci Spinner
    Parasound P6 Preamplifer
    Parasound HCA -1500a Amplifier
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 49,708
    The cable sockets are exactly as they should be. Your problem is elsewhere.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."


    President of Club Polk

  • Mr. Sharpe
    Mr. Sharpe Posts: 1,354
    I pulled the PR and didn't see a fuse anywhere. both the drivers read 8ohms and continuity. I don't know what the deal is.

    I'm sure they'd be worth recapping...
    Home theater:
    43” Westinghouse Displayer
    Marantz UD-7007 Player
    Emotiva MC-700 Processor
    Adcom GFA-5006 Amplifier
    Parasound Zamp Amplifier
    Ethereal ESO-1 Power Conditioner
    Klipsch RC-10 Center
    Klipsch R34c Fronts
    Klipsch RB-41 Surrounds
    Polk audio PSW-505

    Stereo:
    Polk audio RTA-12c’s fully upgraded crossovers
    DIY 12tc braided speaker cables
    Denon DVD-5910ci Spinner
    Parasound P6 Preamplifer
    Parasound HCA -1500a Amplifier
  • gimpod
    gimpod Posts: 1,793
    edited September 2017
    Mr. Sharpe wrote: »
    the connection is plenty tight. If the interconnect is reversed inside that would explain the large blade being on the bottom on one speaker and top on the other.

    is the fuse inside the rear terminal?

    To begin with there is no such thing as an "SDA Effect". The simplest way IMHO to explain SDA's without going into a bunch of techno speak is to think of them as headphones for your living/sound room. Here's a post about it Thoughts on SDAs

    According to the SDA 1A Schematics your SDA's don't have external fuses but a pair of polyswitchs per speaker one each for the high and low pass section of the crossover. This is the most likely culprit as they like to fail over time, You can bypass them for testing purposes but if they are bad I would replace them in your case.

    Hope this helps.
    “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” ~ Mark Twain
  • Mr. Sharpe
    Mr. Sharpe Posts: 1,354
    That is very informative! And really cool to read something about what the SDA actually is.

    It would be very well worth bypassing, i'm guessing the value would be written on the switch then? if so just tie a wire on either lead of the switch to create a signal between yeah?
    Home theater:
    43” Westinghouse Displayer
    Marantz UD-7007 Player
    Emotiva MC-700 Processor
    Adcom GFA-5006 Amplifier
    Parasound Zamp Amplifier
    Ethereal ESO-1 Power Conditioner
    Klipsch RC-10 Center
    Klipsch R34c Fronts
    Klipsch RB-41 Surrounds
    Polk audio PSW-505

    Stereo:
    Polk audio RTA-12c’s fully upgraded crossovers
    DIY 12tc braided speaker cables
    Denon DVD-5910ci Spinner
    Parasound P6 Preamplifer
    Parasound HCA -1500a Amplifier
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 49,708
    Twisting the polyswitch leads should be a temporary thing, very temporary as that makes for a crappy connection. Removing them and soldering in a jumper is the proper way.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."


    President of Club Polk

  • Mr. Sharpe
    Mr. Sharpe Posts: 1,354
    Sounds like a plan sir's, thank you for the helpful replies! These speakers sound amazing, like I'm surprised at how good they sound, we have the volume at an average 85 db and are incredibly smooth, the low end is so clean to where it sounds like stated above, I'm listening to music through headphones.
    Home theater:
    43” Westinghouse Displayer
    Marantz UD-7007 Player
    Emotiva MC-700 Processor
    Adcom GFA-5006 Amplifier
    Parasound Zamp Amplifier
    Ethereal ESO-1 Power Conditioner
    Klipsch RC-10 Center
    Klipsch R34c Fronts
    Klipsch RB-41 Surrounds
    Polk audio PSW-505

    Stereo:
    Polk audio RTA-12c’s fully upgraded crossovers
    DIY 12tc braided speaker cables
    Denon DVD-5910ci Spinner
    Parasound P6 Preamplifer
    Parasound HCA -1500a Amplifier
  • gimpod
    gimpod Posts: 1,793
    edited September 2017
    That's nice to hear IMHO there's nothing like listening to SDA's!.

    Like @F1nut said twisting the polyswitchs is only a temporary fix, but in your case seeing how your driving them with a "little integrated amp" (I'm assuming low watt & current) I would just replace all of them in both speakers at $0.49 each why not.

    Here's a link to the ones for the SDA 1A's RXEF050 0.50A Polyswitch
    “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” ~ Mark Twain
  • gimpod
    gimpod Posts: 1,793
    gimpod wrote: »
    According to the SDA 1A Schematics your SDA's don't have external fuses but a pair of polyswitchs per speaker one each for the Stereo and Dimensional Hi-Pass sections of the crossover. This is the most likely culprit as they like to fail over time, You can bypass them for testing purposes but if they are bad I would replace them in your case.

    Hope this helps.

    Fixed it, my bad the polyswitchs are only used for the tweeters. :blush:
    “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” ~ Mark Twain
  • Mr. Sharpe
    Mr. Sharpe Posts: 1,354
    It's an 80w per channel amp, not that little, sounds surprisingly good but of course dad wants 400 per channel.... I understand wanting headroom and all but....
    Home theater:
    43” Westinghouse Displayer
    Marantz UD-7007 Player
    Emotiva MC-700 Processor
    Adcom GFA-5006 Amplifier
    Parasound Zamp Amplifier
    Ethereal ESO-1 Power Conditioner
    Klipsch RC-10 Center
    Klipsch R34c Fronts
    Klipsch RB-41 Surrounds
    Polk audio PSW-505

    Stereo:
    Polk audio RTA-12c’s fully upgraded crossovers
    DIY 12tc braided speaker cables
    Denon DVD-5910ci Spinner
    Parasound P6 Preamplifer
    Parasound HCA -1500a Amplifier
  • soundfreak1
    soundfreak1 Posts: 3,374
    From my experience 80 watts won't even get their attention! Start at 200 and go from there!
    Main Rig:
    Krell KAV 250a biamped to mid/highs
    Parasound HCA1500A biamped to lows
    Nakamichi EC100 Active xover
    MIT exp 1 ic's
    Perreaux SA33 class A preamp
    AQ kingcobra ic's
    OPPO 83 CDP
    Lehmann audio black cube SE phono pre, Audioquest phono wire (ITA1/1)
    Denon DP-1200 TT. AToc9ML MC cart.
    Monster HTS 3600 power conditioner
    ADS L1590/2 Biamped
    MIT exps2 speaker cable
  • Mr. Sharpe
    Mr. Sharpe Posts: 1,354
    Will do:)
    Home theater:
    43” Westinghouse Displayer
    Marantz UD-7007 Player
    Emotiva MC-700 Processor
    Adcom GFA-5006 Amplifier
    Parasound Zamp Amplifier
    Ethereal ESO-1 Power Conditioner
    Klipsch RC-10 Center
    Klipsch R34c Fronts
    Klipsch RB-41 Surrounds
    Polk audio PSW-505

    Stereo:
    Polk audio RTA-12c’s fully upgraded crossovers
    DIY 12tc braided speaker cables
    Denon DVD-5910ci Spinner
    Parasound P6 Preamplifer
    Parasound HCA -1500a Amplifier
  • K_M
    K_M Posts: 1,627
    edited October 2017
    To the OP, have you thought about Replacing Caps in tweeter circuit, or was that mentioned?

    One of our vintage Pairs, when purchased sounded almost as if one tweeter was bad, but after replacing the cap, turned out it was just the cap had gone astray.
    2nd the idea of the Polyswitches.
  • Mr. Sharpe
    Mr. Sharpe Posts: 1,354
    I have considered that yes sir bc neither driver is bad.
    Home theater:
    43” Westinghouse Displayer
    Marantz UD-7007 Player
    Emotiva MC-700 Processor
    Adcom GFA-5006 Amplifier
    Parasound Zamp Amplifier
    Ethereal ESO-1 Power Conditioner
    Klipsch RC-10 Center
    Klipsch R34c Fronts
    Klipsch RB-41 Surrounds
    Polk audio PSW-505

    Stereo:
    Polk audio RTA-12c’s fully upgraded crossovers
    DIY 12tc braided speaker cables
    Denon DVD-5910ci Spinner
    Parasound P6 Preamplifer
    Parasound HCA -1500a Amplifier
  • Montoya
    Montoya Posts: 506
    edited October 2017
    I have a similar issue one of the SDA tweeters is not working on a pair of SDA 1 with the two fuses in the back. Tried swapping tweeters the problem stays with the speaker the fuses appear to be good. Didn't think about possible corrosion on the fuse holders maybe that is it.
  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 24,477
    Montoya wrote: »
    I have a similar issue one of the SDA tweeters is not working on a pair of SDA 1 with the two fuses in the back. Tried swapping tweeters the problem stays with the speaker the fuses appear to be good. Didn't think about possible corrosion on the fuse holders maybe that is it.

    You using the interconnect cable?
  • Montoya
    Montoya Posts: 506
    Yes I am using the interconnect cable.
  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 24,477
    Test fuse with dvm or continuity tester. That wire is so small it is very hard to tell at times. Still I would clean holder and check wires inside. Wire corrosion could also be the culprit.
  • Mr. Sharpe
    Mr. Sharpe Posts: 1,354
    I have had problems with corroded volume pots on my amps... they are bothersome
    Home theater:
    43” Westinghouse Displayer
    Marantz UD-7007 Player
    Emotiva MC-700 Processor
    Adcom GFA-5006 Amplifier
    Parasound Zamp Amplifier
    Ethereal ESO-1 Power Conditioner
    Klipsch RC-10 Center
    Klipsch R34c Fronts
    Klipsch RB-41 Surrounds
    Polk audio PSW-505

    Stereo:
    Polk audio RTA-12c’s fully upgraded crossovers
    DIY 12tc braided speaker cables
    Denon DVD-5910ci Spinner
    Parasound P6 Preamplifer
    Parasound HCA -1500a Amplifier