Bi-Amping 2.3TL's with Adcom 555 II

Viking64

Hello, I am looking to get more out of my Polk SRS 2.3 TL's. I am currently powering them with an Adcom GFA 555 II power amp (200 watts). They are bi-wired with Monster Z Series Speaker Cables. I want to bi-amplify the 2.3's but I am not sure which method is best. The Adcom is bridgeable, resulting in 600 watts. Would it be better to get another used GFA 555 II (for approxiamately $400) and bridge them both, thus using one per each channel @ 600 watts and maintain my bi-wiring set-up, or should I use one for low pass and one for high at 200 watts each? I have been told by some "experts" that my high pass amp should be half the wattage of the low, but my original user guide from Polk says they should be equal, if not identical amps. I have been told that 200 watts is WAY too much for the high end in ANY speaker by a representative at the Polk dealer where I bought them in 1992. He recommended that I use the Adcom for the low pass and jumper (via 2 "y" cables splitting from the pre/main coupler on my Yamaha DSP A-1) through the internal 110 watt main amp and out to the high pass. Also, would bridging two GFA 555 II's result in any issue regarding "non-common ground" amps that I have read about?

george daniel

if you use monos you should comply and use the AI-1 non common ground interface.
Bridging 555's is painful to one ears-- just my .02

I think that you would be better off spending the monies or tubed amplification,,ot a better ss amp with more current/power,, such as Parasound,Musical Fidelity,,VTL,Manley,Belles 350 a reference,,etc-- good luck

tonyb

I agree with George. Plus in bridged mode,the amps may not handle less than 8 ohms very well. Spend the cash on a better amp.

george daniel

I've actually run a pair of 2.3tl's with bridged adcoms--IMHO-it was not worth the time/effort,,it lasted all of 20 minutes,,let us know what you do.

Viking64

george daniel wrote: »

I've actually run a pair of 2.3tl's with bridged adcoms--IMHO-it was not worth the time/effort,,it lasted all of 20 minutes,,let us know what you do.

Well, I guess I won't be perusing Craigslist for a twin 555!!!

Thanks everyone for your input.

george daniel

Are the croosovers upgraded,and do you have the replacement tweeters,,if not,,might I suggest you spend the money on sonicaps,mills,and RDO 198's,, I think that you will be more than pleased with the results.

Viking64

george daniel wrote: »

Are the croosovers upgraded,and do you have the replacement tweeters,,if not,,might I suggest you spend the money on sonicaps,mills,and RDO 198's,, I think that you will be more than pleased with the results.

Everything is original except I have fried and replaced one tweeter in each cabinet and I put an inline fuse in to prevent it from happening again (per someone at Polk circa 1994).

I have read about the RDO 198's for the first time on here today and I am interested. Where can I find them? Also, can you please define "sonicaps" and "mills" for me?

Osarion

You can order the RDO's from Polk at the # at the top of the page. Sonicaps are a brand of capacitor and mills are the brand of resistors that are recommended to upgrade the crossovers.

george daniel

here you go--sonicap brand of capacitors and mills resistors,,your caps and resistors are getting close to 20 years now.A significant upgrade awaits your ears


http://www.soniccraft.com/sonicaps.htm

http://www.soniccraft.com/mills_resistors.htm

F1nut

Do the crossover upgrades and the RDO198-1 tweeters. Then, apply Dynamat Extreme to the stamped steel baskets, upgrade the binding posts and install Larry's rings. You'll think you died and went to audio heaven. Oh yeah, a different amp would be a good idea too.

dpowell

F1nut wrote: »

Do the crossover upgrades and the RDO198-1 tweeters. Then, apply Dynamat Extreme to the stamped steel baskets, upgrade the binding posts and install Larry's rings. You'll think you died and went to audio heaven. Oh yeah, a different amp would be a good idea too.

+1 What he said.

Viking64

Thanks everyone. I will take some time and do some research on this site and upgrade as recommended. Both the bass radiators and the mids were manufactured in June, 1989 so there is definitely some aging involved. I haven't had my whole system set up since 2003 and the 2.3's have been in storage in a non-climate controlled unit in Florida all of these years. I may have even more work cut out for me. I am back in my home state and I am going to spend the winter in a huge house in the country with a windowless room of ideal proportions for my gear. :P

P.S. - Santa Claus will be bringing me a tube amp this Christmas I assure you.

Viking64

Sorry if bumping old posts is frowned upon. I wanted to update this thread. I have been reading a lot of related 2.3TL stuff and I have decided to dive into the world of that lovely amber glow. Last night I ordered an MS38SE from Ray at Silk Audio. It is already on it's way to me. I have NEVER heard a tube amp in ANY home stereo and I am very excited.

Today I ordered the Fortress crossover mod from Trey(?) at Vr3 Mods. That amp should be approaching a sweet state of burn-in by the time that build is complete. Do my ears even deserve this? HAHAHAHA

Meanwhile, I plan to update the SL3000's to the proper RDO's. I read somewhere on here where someone recommended disconnecting 2 of the 4 tweeters in a pair of 1.2TL's. Has anyone heard of a similar recommendation for the 2.3's? Or should I just go ahead and buy all 6?

I have seen photos of a Dynamat mod, and that too is on my list. That leaves hurricane nuts and Larry's rings. Can anyone point me in the right direction for both of those?

I will do some more research as far as what do do about glue deterioration and wandering magnets, or whatever the term was. I added the floor spikes for the first time ever yesterday, and there was a nice improvement as far as low-end punchiness.

Viking64

Reading my sig, I have to laugh. After 23 years, my Adcom GFA555II died last year. I currently don't have my rear speakers or sub hooked-up. And I never use my center speaker, as movie vocals sound better through my 2.3's than my little, dinky CS400. I guess I have become a 2-channel man by default. HAHAHAHA What a perfect time to upgrade the SDA crossovers and "tube it".

agfrost

There are people more knowledgeable about the 2.3TL than I, but I'll take a shot...

•No benefit on doing less than all the tweeters--buy all 6: "In for a penny, in for a pound!"

•Larry makes rings "periodically" and the period differs. You can inquire as to whether he has a set for your speakers at the moment, but if not you will have to wait... He makes them in large bunches when demand, his workload, and his equipment availability all come together.

•There are a lot of threads about preventing magnet shift. This thread shows the "current state-of-the-art" in material (Loctite Power Grab) and technique (where to put it).

•"Do my ears even deserve this?" --I can't answer that one. If you've been nice to your family, your coworkers, and animals you're probably OK. You may want to donate a few bucks toward Harvey disaster relief funds just to be safe.

Anyway, enjoy the journey! You're making some significant changes (crossovers & amplification), so your listening experience should definitely be different. Post back after you've had your ears on things for awhile, I for one will enjoy reading your impressions.

Viking64

Thank you, Jay! I appreciate your advice. The amp should be here soon. I expect that I will be very impressed right out-of-the-box. My Yamaha integrated amp, that I am now using to power the 2.3's, is itself almost 20 years old, so there seems to be vast amounts of room for improvement. I'll keep updating as things progress.

pitdogg2

Yea do all tweeters doesn't make sense to just do a few and unhook the rest. It's a progressive point source so not all play at the same loudness. IIRC

michaeljhsda2

Nice choice on the tube amp! The only speakers that improve by disconnecting the dimensional tweeter are the SDA 2's (maybe the older SDA 1's, not sure though) with the side by side tweeters.

machone

michaeljhsda2 wrote: »

Nice choice on the tube amp! The only speakers that improve by disconnecting the dimensional tweeter are the SDA 2's (maybe the older SDA 1's, not sure though) with the side by side tweeters.

My SDA-1A's improved with the dimensional tweeters disconnected.

pitdogg2

michaeljhsda2 wrote: »

Nice choice on the tube amp! The only speakers that improve by disconnecting the dimensional tweeter are the SDA 2's (maybe the older SDA 1's, not sure though) with the side by side tweeters.

any that has dimensional tweeters yes SDA1 SDA1a

dpowell

I bi-amp my 2.3TL's with a Sunfire Signature Cinema Grande 400x5. It has dual outputs for each channel which give you the option of a more solid state sound from one output and a more tube sound from the other. Mine are setup with SS for Bass and the tubey goodness sound for the highs/mids. Because the amp allows you to pass the signal through from one channel to another with a simple interconnect, it makes bi-amping a breeze. The sound is phenomenal.

Viking64

dpowell wrote: »

I bi-amp my 2.3TL's with a Sunfire Signature Cinema Grande 400x5. It has dual outputs for each channel which give you the option of a more solid state sound from one output and a more tube sound from the other. Mine are setup with SS for Bass and the tubey goodness sound for the highs/mids. Because the amp allows you to pass the signal through from one channel to another with a simple interconnect, it makes bi-amping a breeze. The sound is phenomenal.

I see you have "Modded SDA SRS 2.3TL's". What have you done? So far, I have ordered updated crossovers and six RDO tweeters.

dpowell

Gimpod XO boards with Sonicaps and Mills
Larry's rings
Dynamat all drivers
VR3 Mods binding post plate/connectors and Speakon connector for dreadnaught
1000k dreadnaught with larry's custom box
RDO-198 tweeters

Last thing I need to do is replace the SDA inductors

Viking64

Nice! How much Dynamat was needed to do all 12 drivers? Did you do the sub bass radiators also?

dpowell

Seems to me it took 2 or 3 sheets of it. I did the bass radiators. With all the mods complete, the 2.3TL's are a phenomenal sounding speaker.

dkfreebird

The wedge pack on eBay is more than enough.It is 4 square feet and you should have some left over. The Passive radiators should be done too and if you want to go a step further you can put black hole 5 behind the drivers.

Viking64

dpowell wrote: »

Seems to me it took 2 or 3 sheets of it. I did the bass radiators. With all the mods complete, the 2.3TL's are a phenomenal sounding speaker.

Thank you. I am getting excited. After owning these for almost 26 years, it is certainly due. My new Silk Audio tube amp is "out for delivery" via FedEx today.

Viking64

dkfreebird wrote: »

The wedge pack on eBay is more than enough.It is 4 square feet and you should have some left over. The Passive radiators should be done too and if you want to go a step further you can put black hole 5 behind the drivers.

Thank you! I found a thread on the "Black Hole 5". The pictures aren't visible, though. HAHAHA

dkfreebird

http://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/163982/money-well-spent#latest

This is a link when I did mine.The pics should show you where to put it.

Viking64

dkfreebird wrote: »

http://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/163982/money-well-spent#latest

This is a link when I did mine.The pics should show you where to put it.

Thank you! I spy with my little eye an Adcom power amp. HAHAHAHA Are your 2.3's "walnut"? My cardboard freight boxes have the check boxes on them for both "oak" and "walnut", but I have only seen the oak, which is what I have, obviously. :P

dkfreebird

Yes, I have all 3 of the tl models in walnut.The Adcom in the pic is long gone and am running a McCormack amp now. You will be in for a treat once you upgrade them, but they are great in stock form too.