Getting there is half the fun!

newbie308

It looks as though my 2 channel system is comming together nicely! My gear is neither new or high end, but it is what I can afford right now. I'm waiting for Sonicaps and Mills resistors for the SDA's crossovers, and I don't know if standard 14ga 300v tinned copper wire will be suitable for connecting the speakers to the crossovers, so if you have any suggestions, please share! Once I have completed the rebuild of these speakers (new cherry wood veneer, replacing dammaged speakers, and if I find them four RDO198 silk dome tweeters) , I will be ready to plug it all in and throw the switch. Here is a list of what I have gathered so far:
SDA1 Signature speakers with upgraded crossovers & binding posts.
Adcom GFA1 amplifier (not sure if I'm going to use this)
Adcom GTP500 II preamp with tuner and remote (definitely going to use this)
Thorens TD280 MK II turntable (will do for now)
Carver TFM35 amplifier (I like the idea of 350watts per channel)

Im open to suggestions for: interconnect cables, future turntables, etc.

George Grand

newbie308 wrote: »

Carver TFM35 amplifier (I like the idea of 350watts per channel)/QUOTE]


Then buy the Carver M1.5t (350wpc) because the TFM-35 is only 250wpc.

heiney9

Nice approach, have fun and remember Watts don't mean a damn thing. Buying mostly on the wattage rating written on a piece of paper means nothing.

H9

Timothy Smith

A word of caution:

I am pretty sure that the Adcom GFA-1 (I used to own one) is common ground design.

That would make it unsuitable for use with the SDA-1 speakers if the interconnect cable is used between the speakers to get the SDA effect.

You could damage your speakers and/or your amplifier.

Can anyone confirm?

Tim

Bobsama

Uh, what? SDA's NEED common ground amplifiers. Trust me--I'd know. I nearly killed my SDA-1's and a poweramp by having it in non-common-ground mode.

newbie308

I hang my head low and stand corrected! (or rather "sit" its hard to type while standing)

Timothy Smith

Bobsama wrote: »

Uh, what? SDA's NEED common ground amplifiers. Trust me--I'd know. I nearly killed my SDA-1's and a poweramp by having it in non-common-ground mode.

Bobsama, I stand corrected, I used the wrong terminology (brain ****...at work)..

I believe that the Adcom GFA-1 is a non-common ground amp (like two mono amps in the same chassis), therefore, it should not be used with SDA speakers if the interconnect cable is being used.

Anyway, the point is DON'T use the Adcom GFA-1, with the SDA's, with the interconnect cord!

Same problem with Harmon Kardon Citation 16 and some others.

cristo

Actually, you can use SDA speakers with a non-common ground amp, but you have
to insert an isolation transformer along the interconnect cable as outlined here:
http://www.polksda.com/A1_Interconnect.pdf
I'll enjoy some popcorn now while others discuss to what audible extent an isolation transformer
may degrade the sound quality. I can't comment on this myself due to lack of personal
experience with this setup.

hearingimpared

cristo wrote: »

Actually, you can use SDA speakers with a non-common ground amp, but you have
to insert an isolation transformer along the interconnect cable as outlined here:
http://www.polksda.com/A1_Interconnect.pdf
I'll enjoy some popcorn now while others discuss to what audible extent an isolation transformer
may degrade the sound quality. I can't comment myself due to lack of personal experience with this setup.

It doesn't! I do have the experience. IIRC the isolation xformer can only be used on certain SDA series or models.

hearingimpared

Timothy Smith wrote: »

Bobsama, I stand corrected, I used the wrong terminology (brain ****...at work)..

I believe that the Adcom GFA-1 is a non-common ground amp (like two mono amps in the same chassis), therefore, it should not be used with SDA speakers if the interconnect cable is being used.

Anyway, the point is DON'T use the Adcom GFA-1, with the SDA's, with the interconnect cord!

Same problem with Harmon Kardon Citation 16 and some others.

Can the speaker negatives on each channel be strapped like they can on the 565 mono blocks?

Timothy Smith

hearingimpared wrote: »

Can the speaker negatives on each channel be strapped like they can on the 565 mono blocks?

If smokes comes out of the amplifier, or the speakers, or both, when you try, the answer is probably no.

I am not exactly sure about how the toaster work, maybe someone else can help???

Tim

newbie308

I was most likely going to use the Carver anyway, But I appreciate the warning and input. I am trying to decide who's cables and what gauge to use for all the interconnects. What's more, I don't know if there is any benefit in replacing the wires in the speaker cabinet, and if I do should I use 12 awg there as well?

hearingimpared

Timothy Smith wrote: »

If smokes comes out of the amplifier, or the speakers, or both, when you try, the answer is probably no.

I am not exactly sure about how the toaster work, maybe someone else can help???

Tim

Perhaps a call to Adcom tech support is in order. That's how I verified that the 565s I used to own were strapable. Additionally he tech told me to strap the chasis too.

Rev. Hayes

I wouldn't bother replacing the wiring in the cabinet...

Unless the insulation has degraded you would probably be going to a lot more trouble than it would be worth.
Other more experienced folk here have also suggested that the existing wiring is just fine. the real benefit is to be had in the crossover upgrade which you seem to have under control.

hearingimpared

Rev. Hayes wrote: »

I wouldn't bother replacing the wiring in the cabinet...

Unless the insulation has degraded you would probably be going to a lot more trouble than it would be worth.
Other more experienced folk here have also suggested that the existing wiring is just fine. the real benefit is to be had in the crossover upgrade which you seem to have under control.

Absolutely agree! Just to add; when I was getting ready to upgrade/update my 1.2 TLs I was seriously considering some Cardas wire to replace the internal wiring. Discussing this with a senoir member, I changed my mind. 1.) the internal wiring is a heavy guage and there was no signs of degradation. 2.) what if, just think about it I didn't like the sound imparted by the Cardas wire!?!:eek:

Many more hours of removing the Cardas wire reinstalling the original wire not to mention Cardas wire is not cheap not to mention very stiff. Try reselling custom cut pieces of Cardas wire even though it is burned in.

I am glad I left it as I am very happy with the tweaks done to the 1.2TLs.

Bobsama

hearingimpared wrote: »

It doesn't! I do have the experience. IIRC the isolation xformer can only be used on certain SDA series or models.

Most if not all of the pin/blade SDA's could use that isolation transformer. Basically all SDA-1C's and all SRS's (iirc) could use the modified cable. Taking a look at the XO and comparing it to the diagrams should tell you if you have an oddball model.

cristo wrote: »

Actually, you can use SDA speakers with a non-common ground amp, but you have
to insert an isolation transformer along the interconnect cable as outlined here:
http://www.polksda.com/A1_Interconnect.pdf
I'll enjoy some popcorn now while others discuss to what audible extent an isolation transformer
may degrade the sound quality. I can't comment on this myself due to lack of personal
experience with this setup.

If you can strap the negative terminals, you're fine. So far as I know, you can strap the negs on all common-ground amps and on SOME non-common-ground amps. Ask the manufacturer if it's possible. McIntosh, for example, will tell you (via email) and if not will find out which models are common ground, which models need to be strapped, and which which can't be used.

reeltrouble1

and your off, having fun, thinking about it which is a key to any rig, enjoy your ride and the sweet anticipation, whatever you buy, after "dipping" your toe and deciding what your strengths or weaknesses may be I would get the piece of gear I could budget, in the end you will save dough, I would get the Carver or a NAD, the 2600/2700 are quite nice with NAD's soft clipping and substantially more headroom than most, they are common ground as well. They also have a very cool big green button, its awesome, kinda like Flo's big tricked out name tag.

Not all 1C's can use the AI-1, most but not all.

In the end any SDA rig is better off without an AI-1.

RT1

newbie308

Do you think the monoprice 12 awg speaker wire will work well for the initial hookup? I was looking at the RCA patch cords they offer as well, but the low price scares me. Monster brand can go pound dirt! I won't buy anything that doesn't list the wire size or advertizes "flux tube insulation" whatever the heck that is!

cristo

I just finished trying to search here and elsewhere which SDA models can be used with an AI-1 interconnect
or its equivalent (an isolation transformer spliced into the interconnect) to accommodate
non-common ground amps, but clear info on this seems hard to find.
As best as I could figure, it appears that the SDA 1C is the first model that works with that and
the SDA 1 and SDA 1B won't work. Perhaps someone else knows this and can chime in.

heiney9

Only certain model SDA 1C's...........this has been discussed many times before. I have even posted the serial numbers you need to look for. I know the search engine isn't that great but try again. I have the compendium at home so I can't help at this moment.

No SDA 1A's or 1B's or SRS2's or 2A's could be used with the AI-1. It started with the later model 1C's and SRS 1.2, 2.3 and also the "TL" versions as well as the 3.1 TL. There never was a non TL 3.1 version. Also only certain SDA 2B's could use the AI-1.

There were 2 editions of the SDA Compendium (now long out of print) compiled by our very own DarqueKnight that covered all this. Pehaps search for his posts as there will be a plethorea of ideas and info. It's basically the SDA Bible and DK spent a lot of time and effort compliling it whilt talking with Polk engineers, Matt Polk, Stu, Ken, etc.

H9

cristo

Thanks!

maandjojo

Welcome to the club, another Pa. Polkie. Getting there is fun, but not as fun as being there. Once you get those babies hooked and sit back and listen you will know what I mean.
Quite a bit of contradictory info here today. Carver's are always a good Polk match, if you are sure of a common ground amp, no problems, if not then get some good sound advise. heiney is a great source of info, hard to go wrong there.

Joe

newbie308

Thanks everyone! This site/forum has been everything I anticipated. Informative with a comic edge, and the deals in the "for sale" area can't be beat!

Any suggestions for tracks to test (push) the limits of my system? Vinyl preferred. I will be visiting the Princeton record exchange this weekend, and I'd like to compile a list before I go.