another *need help with interconnect cable thread*

NoObTecH
NoObTecH Posts: 22
edited May 2011 in Vintage Speakers
Hello,

I just picked these sda 2 up after many months reading about them. I searched the forum, but I'm overwhelmed with information. I just want to listen to these the right way. So far, without the interconnect cable, they're not any better than my psb stratus goldi. Please help me to find this magical sound. What do I need to listen to this? I attached the picture of the connector, blade/blade? Can I make one or is there somewhere that I can order?
Thank you
Nathan
Post edited by NoObTecH on
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited October 2010
    You can order them from Polk CS.
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • NoObTecH
    NoObTecH Posts: 22
    edited October 2010
    thanks for the quick reply, is there a link?
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  • Audioquest
    Audioquest Posts: 104
    edited October 2010
    NoObTecH wrote: »
    Hello,

    I just picked these sda 2 up after many months reading about them. I searched the forum, but I'm overwhelmed with information. I just want to listen to these the right way. So far, without the interconnect cable, they're not any better than my psb stratus goldi. Please help me to find this magical sound. What do I need to listen to this? I attached the picture of the connector, blade/blade? Can I make one or is there somewhere that I can order?
    Thank you
    Nathan

    ...keep in mind the Stratus Gold is a pretty darn good speaker as well and much newer
    HT: Polk SDA SRS 2.3 main fronts, Klipsch RC-25 center channel, Polk RTi-150 rears, M&K V1B sub, Denon AVR-5800, Samsung 52" LCD, Sony BDP-S550

    2 Channel: Carver ALS Platinum, Audio Research LS-2B preamp, Counterpoint SA-100 amplifier, Integra CD player, Denon SL7D tt, TC750 phono pre, Nikko tuner
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited October 2010
    NoObTecH wrote: »
    thanks for the quick reply, is there a link?
    Just call them up. They are very good at taking care of their customers.
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • NoObTecH
    NoObTecH Posts: 22
    edited October 2010
    ben62670 wrote: »
    Just call them up. They are very good at taking care of their customers.

    Aww, Thanks.. I called but they're gone for the day being Eastern time, I'm in the West. Does anyone know if I can just stick 2 separate cables into these places? I'm so eager to hear them. I will order them tomorrow but I want to listen to them while waiting for shipment.
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited October 2010
    Just wait it out. You don't want a misshap and short an amp.
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • allhailRITTER
    allhailRITTER Posts: 7
    edited January 2011
    Hi everyone! So I just picked up a pair of SDA2s that have the blade/blade connection for the interconnect cable.

    I also have a Pioneer SX1010 receiver which Pioneer tells me is a non-common ground receiver.

    I bought these and researched them and saw that I needed to make an AI-1 to make it work with a non-common ground amp which I can absolutely do. It wasn't until after I purchased them that I saw in a thread that you can't use an AI-1 with the blade/blade connection.

    Is there absolutely no way to get these speakers to work with a non-common ground amp?

    Is it just because its blade/blade? In other words could I replace the blade/blade connection in the back with something else(say a pin blade connection or some other form of wiring) so I can build an AI-1 and make these speakers work with my non-common ground amp.

    Could I build this kind of connection(XLR)?
    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30467&highlight=Interconnect

    Or am I just 100% screwed?
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  • gimpod
    gimpod Posts: 1,793
    edited January 2011
    allhailRITTER wrote: »
    Hi everyone! So I just picked up a pair of SDA2s that have the blade/blade connection for the interconnect cable.

    I also have a Pioneer SX1010 receiver which Pioneer tells me is a non-common ground receiver.

    I bought these and researched them and saw that I needed to make an AI-1 to make it work with a non-common ground amp which I can absolutely do. It wasn't until after I purchased them that I saw in a thread that you can't use an AI-1 with the blade/blade connection.

    Is there absolutely no way to get these speakers to work with a non-common ground amp?

    Is it just because its blade/blade? In other words could I replace the blade/blade connection in the back with something else(say a pin blade connection or some other form of wiring) so I can build an AI-1 and make these speakers work with my non-common ground amp.

    Could I build this kind of connection(XLR)?
    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30467&highlight=Interconnect

    Or am I just 100% screwed?
    You can NOT use an AI-1 with any blade/blade SDA's don't even try you'll end up smoking something.

    But you may not be screwed, According to the service manual the SX 1010 is common ground, here's a link to the manual , but to be on the safe side get out a VOM/DMM and check it yourself.
    “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” ~ Mark Twain
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,566
    edited January 2011
    I have a hard time believing that it isn't common ground. However, you can test this for yourself with a DVOM.

    If it is found to be non-common ground, you cannot use it with your SDA's, period.



    Eh, Tony types faster.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • allhailRITTER
    allhailRITTER Posts: 7
    edited January 2011
    Alright thanks! Yeah I'm still waiting on the receiver(just purchased it on ebay) but I will check that first thing.
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  • allhailRITTER
    allhailRITTER Posts: 7
    edited January 2011
    BTW what should I be looking for in the service manual to show it's common ground because it does not say anywhere "this is a common ground receiver".
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  • gdb
    gdb Posts: 6,012
    edited January 2011
    SDAs play much better with separates than receivers, for the most part. Perhaps two systems are in your future... hmm ? :biggrin:
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  • Schurkey
    Schurkey Posts: 2,102
    edited January 2011
    gimpod wrote: »
    You can NOT use an AI-1 with any blade/blade SDA's don't even try you'll end up smoking something.
    Yes and no.

    I re-wired my SDA 1Bs to allow use with an AI-1. It's just a matter of connecting the ground side of the SDA drivers together while bypassing the 185 uF capacitor banks. I used the schematic for the SDA 1C for guidance. It did affect the sound and not for the better. More-or-less an experiment with an undesirable outcome.

    So, yeah, it's POSSIBLE to modify (at least some blade-blade) SDA speakers for single-conductor SDA interconnect use (and therefore AI-1 use), it's just not DESIRABLE.

    Damn shame, 'cause I'd just love to power the 1Bs with a pair of Aragon Palladium IIs that are sitting around getting dusty.
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  • gimpod
    gimpod Posts: 1,793
    edited January 2011
    allhailRITTER wrote: »
    BTW what should I be looking for in the service manual to show it's common ground because it does not say anywhere "this is a common ground receiver".

    Look on page 7 (4. BLOCK DIAGRAM) lower right corner speaker output terminals, you will see that one side of the terminals are all tied together. It is also shown on page 21 (12. 1 CIRCUIT CONNECTION DIAGRAM AND MISCELLANEOUS PARTS).
    “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” ~ Mark Twain
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,566
    edited January 2011
    allhailRITTER, all receivers are common ground...nature of the beast.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • Big Dawg
    Big Dawg Posts: 2,005
    edited April 2011
    Schurkey wrote: »
    Yes and no.

    I re-wired my SDA 1Bs to allow use with an AI-1. It's just a matter of connecting the ground side of the SDA drivers together while bypassing the 185 uF capacitor banks. I used the schematic for the SDA 1C for guidance. It did affect the sound and not for the better. More-or-less an experiment with an undesirable outcome.

    So, yeah, it's POSSIBLE to modify (at least some blade-blade) SDA speakers for single-conductor SDA interconnect use (and therefore AI-1 use), it's just not DESIRABLE.

    Damn shame, 'cause I'd just love to power the 1Bs with a pair of Aragon Palladium IIs that are sitting around getting dusty.

    I'm buying a non-common ground amp (Sonic Frontiers Power 2) and have SDA SRS2 (1986 blade-blade). The designer of the amp has offered to modify my crossovers for use with the AI-1. What are your thoughts, please?
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  • Schurkey
    Schurkey Posts: 2,102
    edited April 2011
    Big Dawg wrote: »
    I'm buying a non-common ground amp (Sonic Frontiers Power 2) and have SDA SRS2 (1986 blade-blade). The designer of the amp has offered to modify my crossovers for use with the AI-1. What are your thoughts, please?

    1. Same crossover as mine, except one resistor has a different value, and that resistor is not important for the purposes of non-common-ground issues.

    2. I'd love to know what he comes up with in terms of a modification (that still allows SDA functionality.) The method I tried was not optimum. Whatever he does, get the details, and PLEASE let us know. If he wants a sketch of what I did, I'd be happy to provide one.

    3. The cheap way would be to just disable the SDA effect, and you can do that (reversibly!) by yanking the SDA interconnect cable out of the sockets.
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  • Big Dawg
    Big Dawg Posts: 2,005
    edited April 2011
    Schurkey wrote: »
    1. Same crossover as mine, except one resistor has a different value, and that resistor is not important for the purposes of non-common-ground issues.

    2. I'd love to know what he comes up with in terms of a modification (that still allows SDA functionality.) The method I tried was not optimum. Whatever he does, get the details, and PLEASE let us know. If he wants a sketch of what I did, I'd be happy to provide one.

    3. The cheap way would be to just disable the SDA effect, and you can do that (reversibly!) by yanking the SDA interconnect cable out of the sockets.

    1) yeah.

    2) I plan on sharing his approach, hopefully with a complete schematic. However, I'm trying to learn what's been done in the past. I thought that I read somewhere that someone (Ben?) had figured out how to rewire the crossover for AI-1 without diminishing the sound quality. If I'm going to lose SQ, then I need to go in a different direction. I'd like to learn from both good and bad experiences of others.

    3) if that turns out to be the only solution, then either the SDAs or the amp will have to go!
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,450
    edited April 2011
    I have an extra interconnect i'm willing to get off of.
    I have one B/B original and one i made with tributaries wire
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  • Big Dawg
    Big Dawg Posts: 2,005
    edited April 2011
    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    I have an extra interconnect i'm willing to get off of.
    I have one B/B original and one i made with tributaries wire

    Thanks - I have a couple B-B interconnects too, including an original, though. My problem lies in a deeper, darker realm...
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,450
    edited April 2011
    Big Dawg I really was offering to the OP he seems to be without
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,450
    edited April 2011
    NoObTecH wrote: »
    Hello,

    I just picked these sda 2 up after many months reading about them. I searched the forum, but I'm overwhelmed with information. I just want to listen to these the right way. So far, without the interconnect cable, they're not any better than my psb stratus goldi. Please help me to find this magical sound. What do I need to listen to this? I attached the picture of the connector, blade/blade? Can I make one or is there somewhere that I can order?
    Thank you
    Nathan


    read post 20 pm me and we can work out the details
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  • Big Dawg
    Big Dawg Posts: 2,005
    edited April 2011
    I'm pretty sure he bought a cable from Polk 6 months ago.
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,450
    edited April 2011
    DOH "slaps forehead" dag nabbit
    i really need to start looking at the dates i guess
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  • Schurkey
    Schurkey Posts: 2,102
    edited May 2011
    Big Dawg wrote: »
    I'm buying a non-common ground amp (Sonic Frontiers Power 2) and have SDA SRS2 (1986 blade-blade). The designer of the amp has offered to modify my crossovers for use with the AI-1. What are your thoughts, please?
    Big Dawg wrote: »

    2) I plan on sharing his approach, hopefully with a complete schematic.
    Crossovers modified yet? Results? Schematic?

    Tried my 1Bs with the revised SDA circuit again; again I still don't like it as much as the original SDA wiring.
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