Carver AL-III Plus or SDA SRS 2's

cstmar01

So ok. Which one of these would be the better choice. I really know nothing of the Carver. I am currently trying to get in contact with the seller as they were posted on craiglist today and say they are in my city which is strange but it is what it is. http://madison.craigslist.org/ele/1712593959.html asking 600.00 and that was delivered within 100 miles so I would try and talk him down a bit.

Otherwise I can get some SDA SRS 2's for 350.00 bucks in great condition. These I will have to drive for a bit but heard they are great.

I would be probably setting these up for another 2 channel system in a bedroom for now and then probably move them to my girlfriends new apartment (hehehehe) where they would have more room to breath. would have about a month or less time in my place.
Any ideas of which ones would be the "better buy"

nooshinjohn

For those prices, I would grab both and compare. You can double your money on the Polks and at worst, break even on the AL III's.

That said, the ribbons are a tad on the delicate side, and can be expensive to fix/replace, whereas the Polks are a known quantity with reletively easy parts access for repairs and upgrades, so for that reason alone, I would go Polk!

cstmar01

Thanks for the info. I also found the guy on audiogon saying 550 OBO. I honestly don't have enough to pick up both at this point only one really and would have to wait about a month to get the others. ( I could pull some money but would rather not) I just dont' want to get stuck with something and not like it so I'm going for sure this weekend to hear the SRS and hoping to get to hear these amazings this week sometime.

Polkersince85

Bang for the buck, get the SRS 2 provided they are the later biamp version. They would be easier to move around and repair if needed. For maintenance, they only need tlc.

nooshinjohn

cstmar01 wrote: »

Thanks for the info. I also found the guy on audiogon saying 550 OBO. I honestly don't have enough to pick up both at this point only one really and would have to wait about a month to get the others. ( I could pull some money but would rather not) I just dont' want to get stuck with something and not like it so I'm going for sure this weekend to hear the SRS and hoping to get to hear these amazings this week sometime.

In that case grab the SRS-2's. You can upgrade the Crossovers and tweeters, and still be a touch ahead in price.:)

leroyjr1

Get the 1.2tl's down in Chicago and call it the day.

engtaz

I would say get the ALIII's.

TNRabbit

It will ultimately come down to personal preference. Either are excellent speakers. The Polk SDAs sound like the better deal at this time.

Dawgfish

Get the SDAs and don't look back. The Amazings are a great speaker also, but that's a steal of a price on the SDA's (and a pretty darn good price on the Amazings). Like the others have said, it will be much easier to maintain the SDAs going down the road.

cstmar01

well I got contacted back from the guy about the carver's. There is a guy coming today from milwaukee to take a look at them. He stated he won't let them go for less than 550.00 even though audiogon has OBO which I would have offered like 500.00. He stated I could have come over yesterday and listen to them but it was late when he finally got back to me (11 at night) so there wasn't any chance to do so.

Tony M

Do you have a powerful amp to drive either set?

I have a great feeling almost every time I turn my SDA-SRS2s on. What comes out of them is just beyond belief to me and most who hear them.

I demo'd the Carvers, but that was way too long ago to remember. They were new speakers then in some show room.:rolleyes:

2-tall

I have the Carver's and 3.1tl's. completely different sounds.The polks are a bit warmer the carver's are a bit more detailed.Room placement is tougher with the carver's and you better have a lot of power.I am using tfm24's,one for each speaker and could use more power.The same amps handle the polks well.

cstmar01

The amp for now would be a Adcom 5802 until I figure out what I want to start to make a another 2 channel system. I was thinking of maybe going a tube route if I did but not sure yet. Otherwise it would be another solid state amp, probably parasound 3500 is what I was thinking

Tony M

I think that Parasound will do the tricks. Nice choice!

heiney9

cstmar01 wrote: »

The amp for now would be a Adcom 5802 until I figure out what I want to start to make a another 2 channel system. I was thinking of maybe going a tube route if I did but not sure yet. Otherwise it would be another solid state amp, probably parasound 3500 is what I was thinking

Keep the 5802 and forget about the Parasound...................YES, the 5802 is that good. A completley different animal than other Adcom's.

That amp will drive either with ease but with the SDA's you may have a common ground issue. IIRC, (and I'm going on memory here) the 5802 needs to have the negative speaker terminals strapped and then you'll be fine.

Ease of use, ease of set-up, ease of transport and long term reliability I give the edge to the SDA's. Either would be a nice choice.

H9

cstmar01

heiney9 wrote: »

Keep the 5802 and forget about the Parasound...................YES, the 5802 is that good. A completley different animal than other Adcom's.

That amp will drive either with ease but with the SDA's you may have a common ground issue. IIRC, (and I'm going on memory here) the 5802 needs to have the negative speaker terminals strapped and then you'll be fine.

Ease of use, ease of set-up, ease of transport and long term reliability I give the edge to the SDA's. Either would be a nice choice.

H9

Sorry ment to clarify a bit.

I would most likely make another 2 channel set up. The 5802 I have isn't going anywhere lol. I would probably start another 2 channel system and for the amp I was thinking of the parasound 3500 for the other set up with a tubed pre amp. Otherwise something I really really really would want to try out would be a manley stingray but then not sure if that would be a good pairing with either of these (the carver or the SRS 2's).

Ron Temple

I'd be on the fence with that choice. I've heard the ALIIIs on fredv's 100w tube monos and they were pretty astounding with their image and detail. Also, the bass was much more pronounced than my 1Cs. That siad, the ribbon's fragility and the fact it takes tons of power for them to play loud (if that's important), would probably sway me towards the SRS2s.

cstmar01

I heard the carvers tonight playing a bunch of different music. He had it powered by an adcom 555. I was blown away by their sound, very open and detailed and even though it was just a 555 he had it cranked and it shook the room and the adcom never ran out of juice. I told him I would take them however there is a guy from milwaukee that was given first dibs on them seeing he contacted him first, which is only fair. I am praying he doesn't take them as I really really want them.

BIZILL

my brizzo, weren't you just bitchin' 'bout the neighbors bitchin'?

cstmar01

BIZILL wrote: »

my brizzo, weren't you just bitchin' 'bout the neighbors bitchin'?

yes but for me that was a venting. I am not going to let a deal pass me by on speakers that sounded just amazing to me (even at low volumes they were very enjoyable).

BIZILL

yeah, i hated keeping the volume down in all my apt living years. once i got the house, ****, that svs really comes into play vs all the cheapo sony 12" subs i got from best buy when i was younger. and now the sda's .....well, it gets a tad bit loud, to say the least.

cstmar01

well it looks like I lost out on the Carvers. Man this sucks so bad. If anyone ever has a pair again close to WI, like MN, IL, IN, IO, let me know I would possibly try and pick them up because I really liked these.

comfortablycurt

I'd go for the SRS 2's...especially at that price.

leroyjr1

cstmar01 wrote: »

well it looks like I lost out on the Carvers. Man this sucks so bad. If anyone ever has a pair again close to WI, like MN, IL, IN, IO, let me know I would possibly try and pick them up because I really liked these.

What about the srs's?

cstmar01

leroyjr1 wrote: »

What about the srs's?

those for sure I'm seeing this weekend on saturday. If they are in great shape like he says with no frozen drivers or anything I'm getting them.

heiney9

The SRS2's will make you forget about the Carvers

H9

Ron Temple

heiney9 wrote: »

The SRS2's will make you forget about the Carvers

H9

I don't know about that, but they are both an experience that will make you very happy.

engtaz

Two different sounds. Carver and Polk. There Carvers have sweet ribbon sound and 4 woofers of bass per speaker. The Polk's are have SDA effect and solid from top to bottom. If you love bass, the Carver's (w/ample amp power, because the do push your amp) will hit harder.

cstmar01

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idiot sold the SDA's on me even though we had an agreement that I was to listen to them this weekend for sure. god I wanna just break something!

nooshinjohn

sorry to hear that...
I will keep my eyes out and pm you when I find something good