New member with an SDA 2a ?

almostdeaf

First of all, hello from Iowa.

Back in the day, I remember sitting in the sound room at Audio Labs in Des Moines, IA. This was around 1986-87 (I was still in college) and the sales person was demo-ing the new Polk Audio SDA 2As to me. Wow, I couldn't believe what I was hearing (I could actually still hear pretty good at the time). It was a sound I hadn't heard before from a loud speaker and I was in total bliss as he was playing a little Dark Side of the Moon for me. Needless to say I was hooked, but being a college student, I was dirt poor and couldn't afford the $990 price tag.

Fast forward to this last weekend, as I was doing my usual scour of the CL electronics listings, I came across an ad for some Polk Audio SDAs. The kid had inherited them from his father, and wanted to trade them for some car audio stuff. HEY, I had what he wanted! So I contacted him, told him what I had, he was interested, we set a meet-up time, and I came home with a pair of barely used SDA 2As. These were the natural wood grain, and included the connector cable. I think I scored pretty well.

So now my dilema and question. For those of you with experience in the SDA listening room, what is the ultimate reciever/amp to drive these and do them justice? I plan to purchase something just to drive these alone, and I want to do it right. :cool:

danger boy

congrats, I owned a pair of 2A's for a short time. nice size and sounding speaker.

woodsman10b

First of all, whats your budget? Secondly there is not a receiver that will "do them justice", a power amp with either a preamp or a receiver with pre-outs to control it. Those are great speakers and will sound excellent with some good power, check the classifieds here, ebay, audiogon, or craigslist.

cnh

WELCOME TO CLUB POLK!!

Enjoy the SDAs, I have a pair of those myself...and while woodsman is basically right, there are some vintage receivers that can drive SDA-2A/Bs...I know because I used one at one point--an old Kenwood 130 Watt/channel that was also able to drive 4 ohm speakers. I could never get the volume knob past about 1 o'clock on that amp. But you're better off with separates or a GOOD integrated...a NAD or Cambridge Audio, perhaps?


cnh

comfortablycurt

No receiver is going to do those justice.


I've got a pair of 2A's myself, and love them. I'm running them with the gear listed in my signature. My Adcom GFA-545 will drive them to very high levels with ease.

Conradicles

comfortablycurt wrote: »

No receiver is going to do those justice.

Not true Curt. My harman/kardon HK-3480 and 3490 did the SDA-2B's justice.

chandler9a

Welcome to the Club! I too have a pair of SDA 2A's. When I first got them I ran them off a lower end Sony AVR. I now run them off a Sony 555ES powered by an Adcom GFA-555. The improvement in sound was mind boggling! I would high suggest listening to these guys here, they know how to make these SDA's shine.

Good luck and let us know how you do!

Fongolio

I could see the Marantz 2300 series receivers working quite well with those 2A's.

almostdeaf

chandler9a wrote: »

Welcome to the Club! I too have a pair of SDA 2A's. When I first got them I ran them off a lower end Sony AVR. I now run them off a Sony 555ES powered by an Adcom GFA-555. The improvement in sound was mind boggling! I would high suggest listening to these guys here, they know how to make these SDA's shine.

Good luck and let us know how you do!

You know, that's another high-end company that I drooled over when I was younger, but couldn't afford. And that GFA-555 is something that I would definately like to see sitting on the shelf with my other components. I've got a couple on my watch list now over on epay. Would love to come across something locally on Craigslist though. Thanks to all of you for your responses. I'm really tempted right now to go ahead and hook them up to my Yamaha 5.1 receiver, just to hear them again. Or should I wait for the "proper" amp. Dang, I'm like a kid in a candy shop.

almostdeaf

woodsman10b wrote: »

First of all, whats your budget? Secondly there is not a receiver that will "do them justice", a power amp with either a preamp or a receiver with pre-outs to control it. Those are great speakers and will sound excellent with some good power, check the classifieds here, ebay, audiogon, or craigslist.

There's always a budget, which is why I'll probably buy "lightly" used. But I'm not going to skimp either. I'm definately leaning towards seperate components.

almostdeaf

Fongolio wrote: »

I could see the Marantz 2300 series receivers working quite well with those 2A's.

You see, that's been part of my dilema. I'm a big early solid state Sansui fan. I currently own an AU999 that I just love, but I'm not sure that "warm, tube-like' sound will be right for these SDAs. I should probably just try it and see.:cool:

ben62670

Congrats on the new speakers. Where are you located, and welcome to club Polk.
Ben

almostdeaf

I live in southern Iowa, work in Des Moines, and thanks for the welcome Ben! You guys are a friendly bunch on this PA forum.

hearingimpared

Welcome to Club Polk fellow ear problem dude!:eek:;):)

almostdeaf

I can hear things. It just needs to be loud.

Not sure if this is the right area to ask this, but would it be worth a 3 hour one way drive to pick up an Adcom GFA-555 for $180? The same person has a 535 as well, and would sell both for $250.

ben62670

It's worth the trip. The 535 can be had for $100 if you shop so I am not sure it would be worth it.
Ben

seeclear

I'd say those amps are worth it if they are working and you've got the time.

woodsman10b

almostdeaf wrote: »

I can hear things. It just needs to be loud.

Not sure if this is the right area to ask this, but would it be worth a 3 hour one way drive to pick up an Adcom GFA-555 for $180? The same person has a 535 as well, and would sell both for $250.

The 555 sells for $250-350 consistantly on ebay, so If you can get both for that $250 amount I say go for it!

almostdeaf

Finally got around to getting "the" amp to power the SDA's, and I'm pretty happy with the choice. Settled on a vintage GFA-555 with a GPA-450 pre to run my vinyl spinner through. Spent the last couple evenings sampling some of my albums that I haven't listened to in years. It's been total bliss!

Polkersince85

You have only just begun.

JPSmario

Welcome to CP! I picked up a pair of 2A's last February, but didn't totally love them as they were when I got them home. They respond well to mod's and tweaks however, and I'm loving them now. The folks on this board know their Polk's; you can find out most anything you want to know here.

Have fun with your journey! it's just starting...

helipilotdoug

Welcome to Club Polk. I bought a set of 2A's new back in the 80's and have loved them. If you can do a little tweaking and modifications to them, you will be rewarded a bunch. As Polkersince85 said, you have only just begun. Look at my signature to see why.

indyhawg

Congrats on the speakers. Enjoy!

almostdeaf

something a little odd though while listening at moderate levels; I'll get an occasional "I swear that sound just came from the other room" moment. It will be like the front soundstage just disappears for a split second, I hear this noise behind me and to the left, then it's back in front of me. It's actually a little unnerving. Anyone else experience this. It's a fraction of a second kind of thing, but definately noticable.

hearingimpared

almostdeaf wrote: »

something a little odd though while listening at moderate levels; I'll get an occasional "I swear that sound just came from the other room" moment. It will be like the front soundstage just disappears for a split second, I hear this noise behind me and to the left, then it's back in front of me. It's actually a little unnerving. Anyone else experience this. It's a fraction of a second kind of thing, but definately noticable.

The SDA effect can be quite startling if you are not accustomed to them especially if you have a version with the dimensional tweeters.

inspiredsports

A belated Welcome Aboard.

The SDA 2A is a fine and nicely upgradeable speaker. If you choose to modify the crossover and "TL" with the RDO198-1, it is one of the best you can own.

The Adcom's were a great choice for diving them, but contrary to notion there was never a receiver made worth a damn, there was at least one in the NAD Monitor Series 7600 Receiver that will do an impressive job with even old 4ohm SRS models.