SDA 2 series question

On3s&Z3r0s

I currently own a pair of original SDA 2's with the 2 SL2000's (one stereo, one dimensional) and 3 mid-woofers per cabinet. I'm getting ready to upgrade them (tweeters first, then XO's down the road), but there are a pair of SDA 2B's for sale in my area also.

Ignoring the economic considerations for the moment, I'm looking for opinions on what would ultimately be sonically sweeter. I know folks generally don't appreciate the dimensional tweeters, and the 2B's are well regarded when they've had the TL upgrade. What I'm worried about is the bass. The original 2's have the 3rd MW that is crossed over for bass frequencies (< 2500Hz IIRC).

I had a hard time finding equipment that would give me the bass I wanted with the SDA 2's, but I feel like I got there and don't want to take a step backward with the 2B's. Does anyone have an opinion on whether I'd be losing bass? An "I've heard both" kind of informed opinion would be great, but I'll take anything anyone wants to contribute.

As always, thanks in advance!

1's&0's

Toolfan66

EDIT:: I really need to wear my glasses LOL..

As far as BASS, what have you used????

gdb

Buy the 2Bs and compare??:D Never can have too many Polks:cool:

nooshinjohn

I like the 2b's better as I have always found the dimentional tweeter to be annoying at best.

gdb wrote: »

Buy the 2Bs and compare??:D Never can have too many Polks:cool:

I would ignore this post as even the poster admits to being confused by it:rolleyes:...


If you go with the 2B's, I doubt you would miss the dimentional tweeter. Even the good folks at Polk abandoned the idea. Second, it will be less costly to upgrade.

Good luck in whatever you decide.:)

Toolfan66

I have yet to hear the SDA2's with the dimentional tweeter. why is it no one really seems to like this? no one complains about the extra tweeters in the other SDA's or it seems they don't.. is it because they are side by side??

george daniel

+1 on the 2B's,, with just a cap upgrade(as in sonicaps) and the RDO 194 they are a very respectable speaker,,tl'ing the appropriate 2B's takes them to an even higher level.

F1nut

The 2B's with the crossover upgrade are capable of excellent bass. Add spikes, Larry's rings, do the TL upgrade and you'll be dancing in the streets.

On3s&amp;Z3r0s

Yeah, definitely if it just came down to losing the dimensional tweeter it would be a no-brainer. Most of the time the dimensional tweeter doesn't bother me, but maybe on 15% of the stuff I listen to it exaggerates any reverb in the recording to the point of being unpleasant. I generally unplug the interconnect if I'm going to be listening to that stuff (sacrilege, I know).

I know that the XO in the original can be modified to bypass the dimensional tweeter in the original 2's so it's just sitting there dead. I'd like to do the mods myself, but at the moment I'm shy about that one. If I was going to do that much of an overhaul I think I'd rather do the TL upgrade to the 2B's.

Back to the bass issue... when I first got the 2's I had a hard time getting anything respectable out of them. I was going from a pair of crappy Cerwin Vega 3-ways with a 10" active woofer. The SDA's sounded worlds better (obviously) but I was surprised they couldn't match the bass of the 10" active. Finally, I got a 225WPC B&K amp and bypassed my garbage Monster surge supressor and got the bass I wanted.

So, I'd rather not lose that by losing the MW for bass. I know the drivers are different so maybe the 2B's 6503 kicks out way more bass than the 6501's so that a single one can pull double duty?

There's no way I could keep both sets of speaks, but sounds like maybe get the 2B's and see how they stack up.

audiobilly

One thing that you might want to think about. When you get a set of speakers that are not sealed properly you are going to need to do that upgrade, fix would be more like it. I have found that the better sealed box will make a big difference.

This is where the "push on the PR and see how the drivers act routine" (go back in immediately or stay our for a couple of seconds) will come in handy when you go look at the speaker you want to buy.

Ahhhh, Toolforlifes' ring upgrade :D:D

Conradicles

My SDA-2B's amaze me with the bass output. That is a great speaker.

JPSmario

just offering my 2 cents here:)

My 2A's have the same number of MW's as the 2B's (6510's instead of 6503) and I have never lacked for bass with my 120 watt/ch Rotel amp. after the mortite and dynamat upgrade, the bass became deeper yet.

Good luck!:D

Disc Jockey

I have not heard the original 2s but I don't think you'll be disappointed with the 2Bs. They are not bass heavy but they supply plenty of it, especially with the mods F1nut mentioned.