Gimpod's Custom SDA Crossover Boards
F1nut
Posts: 50,567
First, let me thank Tony (Gimpod) for allowing me to be a beta tester for his custom SDA crossover boards.
His original thread can be found here, http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=107115
I examined the layout and found everything to be in order and well thought out. These boards are top notch! Tony included a mounting hole drill guide template for remote mounting, if desired or required and a comprehensive list with part numbers and sources for the pin headers and mounting hardware. A very thoughtful touch. He also included his contact info should one have any questions.
I used Tony's boards to upgrade a pair of SDA 2B's to TL status. I purchased the usual Sonicaps and Mills resistors, which all fit like glove without having to stack or have caps hanging off the edges....what a pleasure. The only things I needed to remove from the stock boards were the inductors, which is the hardest part of this whole deal. (I saw someone comment recently that they cut the leads to the inductors rather than de-solder them. Do NOT cut the leads.) The inductors are attached to the original boards with zip ties and hot glue. You will need to pry the hot glue loose with an Xacto knife or a similar tool. It comes off easily once you get going. After removing the inductors from the board you can peel the rest of the hot glue off of them.
Because the new boards are much larger, as in longer, than the stock ones I had a concern about the new board flexing from sound waves inside the speaker. After mounting them with the new hardware I realized my concern was for naught. They are not going to flex, period.
Sorry, I don't have any pictures because...well, I just didn't think about it. However, I understand that Sal is doing a set of the new boards, so rest assured that he will have plenty of pics posted when he gets his done.
I'm very pleased with the outcome and highly recommend the purchase of Tony's new crossover boards.
It's so easy, even a monkey could do it.
His original thread can be found here, http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=107115
I examined the layout and found everything to be in order and well thought out. These boards are top notch! Tony included a mounting hole drill guide template for remote mounting, if desired or required and a comprehensive list with part numbers and sources for the pin headers and mounting hardware. A very thoughtful touch. He also included his contact info should one have any questions.
I used Tony's boards to upgrade a pair of SDA 2B's to TL status. I purchased the usual Sonicaps and Mills resistors, which all fit like glove without having to stack or have caps hanging off the edges....what a pleasure. The only things I needed to remove from the stock boards were the inductors, which is the hardest part of this whole deal. (I saw someone comment recently that they cut the leads to the inductors rather than de-solder them. Do NOT cut the leads.) The inductors are attached to the original boards with zip ties and hot glue. You will need to pry the hot glue loose with an Xacto knife or a similar tool. It comes off easily once you get going. After removing the inductors from the board you can peel the rest of the hot glue off of them.
Because the new boards are much larger, as in longer, than the stock ones I had a concern about the new board flexing from sound waves inside the speaker. After mounting them with the new hardware I realized my concern was for naught. They are not going to flex, period.
Sorry, I don't have any pictures because...well, I just didn't think about it. However, I understand that Sal is doing a set of the new boards, so rest assured that he will have plenty of pics posted when he gets his done.
I'm very pleased with the outcome and highly recommend the purchase of Tony's new crossover boards.
It's so easy, even a monkey could do it.
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
"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
Post edited by F1nut on
Comments
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Nice review F1nut. I was wondering how you held this board while soldering the components on. This is a fairly sizable PCB, and would have a pretty good heft to it with all the components mounted. Do you have any type of special vise or recommendation for handling this task?
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I used the hide of a Yak blessed by Buddhist monks on my work bench. Completely ESD safe. :biggrin:
Nah, nothing to handing it. Just don't drop it and you're good to go.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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Great review! I think they will be a big hit. The idea of listening to your speakers while you build a fresh new set of xovers is great. Assuming you can source all of the necessary components.Polk Audio SDA SRS 2.3TL
Parasound Halo A21
Parasound Halo P3
Home theater
Polk LSiM 707, 706c, 703, 705
Polk Blackstone TL3 for height
SVS PB12-ISD Sub
Denon AVR-X6400h
Parasound Halo A51
LG OLED65B7A
Sony UBPX800
Logitech Harmony Elite
PC LSiM 703
Spare LSIM 702 and 706c
Home Theater #2
Polk Audio LS70, CS350LS, LSF/X, S4
Onkyo TX-NR808 -
Great comments in regards to the product, which on top of TLF's offerings brings everything up many notches when it comes to vintage support and upgrades.
However, you seriously think sound waves would affect the performance or cause minute board flexing given the composition? That's a bit much, even coming from a solid individual such as you F1nut....didn't you teach me to not over think stuff?CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint. -
However, you seriously think sound waves would affect the performance or cause minute board flexing given the composition? That's a bit much, even coming from a solid individual such as you F1nut....didn't you teach me to not over think stuff?
Umm... I just got done re-reading DarqueKnight's AI-1 Dreadnought thread where the discusses the sonic improvements to be had by wrapping the stock AI-1 in 10 layers of aluminum foil. I thought paying bizarre and insane amounts of attention (relative to the average MP3-from-my-iPhone listener) to those kinds of details was what we're supposed to do here at CP!
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YAY!!! awesome work gimpod. Thanks F1-Nut for the write up.. you guys rock
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A big thanks go's out to Jesse (F1nut) for taking the time and expense to do this for me. It is greatly appreciated.
It is stuff like this that make CP a great place. “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” ~ Mark Twain -
Damn that's gorgeous! I love the explicit step-by-step pictures (just don't tell my wife about any of this... she's not a big fan of me looking at explicit pictures, especially those pertaining to audio electronics). One question though, is there a benefit to using the double sided foam tape instead of the hot glue? I was planning on using the glue instead... just wondering if it would hurt the board?
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Hot glue won't hurt the board but I wouldn't it's a big PITA to get off if you need to.
The purpose of the stick foam tape and zip ties is to try and dampen any ringing in the caps also to hold them in place. I set these boards up like this because I HATE hot glue with a passion, that crap gets everywhere.
Jesus SAL you weren't kidding when you said you were taking pics of every step. KOOL I think it's great and a big help. Nice work.“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” ~ Mark Twain -
Very nice job on those PCBs, Tony. Nice write-up Jesse, very cool project. I wonder how Teflon circuit boards would sound? That's what most high frequency gear uses (radar detectors, radio telescopes, etc). I think I have some plated Teflon boards around somewhere. I know drilling holes in Teflon wears out bits quickly, but it might be interesting.
Cheers, Ken -
Thanks Tony!, I selected every 4th or 5th pic in the series that I took. So I have a whole log more of them!
I wanted to show every single step so that even a novice can do it.
Looks like I'm working tomorrow but wednesday I am home all day and so I'll try to finish up mine then,
Thanks again for sending them out to me!, They sure are nice!!!
I will eventually buy a final pair in the Black & White so that I can redo my crossovers for my 1.2TL's
Sal
I am not an SDA/CRS owner but if you post all your pic's on one of your web link's it will be encouraging for me and others to preserve these babies
Great work Gpod/Las/F12-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC
erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a -
Lasareath,
You are doing these on the 1.2TL's that have made so many of us 1.2TL owners drool? You are doing a great service! Thank you!:biggrin::biggrin: -
No, he is doing them in a pair of 4.1TL's.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 -
post #19 reported
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Boy am I glad I waited to do my CRS+'s. This is fantastic. Good work and please keep it coming."The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it." Neil deGrasse Tyson.
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