SDA-1 vs SDA-2A question

ncbuckeye3

I know about all there is to know about the Monitor line, I have 6 different sets, and have now decided that I want to try a set of SDA's. I have had two sets popup locally in the last few weeks and need help deciding which to get and if it is a good deal.

One guy has a set of SDA-2A that he wants $215 for with the interconnect cable.

Another guy has a set of SDA-1 he wants $400 for (photos below).

My question is are these good prices from what others have seen and which set would give me the biggest bang for my buck.

I would have these on a HT stereo most likely but listen to a good bit of music. May dedicate them to a 2-channel rig, have not decided yet.

On3s&Z3r0s

My vote's for the 2A. I haven't heard the original 1's, but I do own a pair of original 2's (closer to the original SDA 1) and 2B. I like the 2B's better (they are fairly close to the 2A). They are simpler, easier to drive, and I prefer the single tweeter to the side-by-side dimensional and stereo pair of tweeters. Price depends a lot on your market, but I'd say $200 is not too high. You could always offer less.

chandler9a

I would have to say my vote goes for the 2A's as well. I have a pair and for a normal size listening room they are great. I also like the single tweeter better as well. $215 is a good price as long as everything is working.

Make sure you have a common ground amp with good power and you'll love the sound. I would also suggest upgrading to the RDO-194 tweeter, much smoother highs.

Let us know what you decide!

P.S. those SDA 1's look nice but I wouldn't pay $400 for that model.

pitdogg2

I have a pair of both and i like the SDA1's better. More defined bass,that being said i would not pay 400. I got both of my SDA's for 100.00 per pair. Also remember that you may end up dropping 5-6 hundred if you chose to rebuild the XO's. Both are fine speakers good luck

inspiredsports

Several points:

You can "TL" the (1986) SDA 2A's with a 5.8uf cap and RDO-198's, and the "single point source" (whether you "TL" or not) will give you a much more focused high frequency range. In my opinion, the RDO-198 is a superior sounding tweeter.

As the tweeter is not in the SDA circuit, (in my opinion) the SDA-2A also has a more refined SDA effect.

The 12" PW-121 Passive radiator produces amazing bass when the backs of the cabinets are properly located from 5-8" from the wall, and if you treat room modes. It will fill at least 7,000 cubic feet with pleasing bass.

You can probably get the 2A's for around $190 and have the additional benefit of only needing to upgrade 2 instead of 4 tweeters. You also have more larger (expensive) caps to replace in the (1984?) SDA 1's if you decide to rebuild the crossovers (which I think we can agree is a must in a crossover that is 25 or more years old).

When you are done and side by side, completely modded 2A's will cost less and sound (in my opinion) better.

geppy1

I would go 2As

chandler9a

Speaking of TLing the 2A's... There was some discussion of doing this a while back if my memory serves me right. Has anyone done this yet? I was thinking of going this rout instead of just upgrading the xovers, I mean without TLing them.

It can't cost much more to TL them if I'm going to do the xovers anyway right? And I have to buy another set of RDO's anyway so I would put the 194's in my monitor 10's and buy the 198's for the 2A'S TL'd.

Just wondering if anyone has actually done it yet.

ncbuckeye3

Okay, help me out here, what does "TL" the 2A's mean?

helipilotdoug

chandler9a wrote: »

Speaking of TLing the 2A's... There was some discussion of doing this a while back if my memory serves me right. Has anyone done this yet? I was thinking of going this rout instead of just upgrading the xovers, I mean without TLing them.

It can't cost much more to TL them if I'm going to do the xovers anyway right? And I have to buy another set of RDO's anyway so I would put the 194's in my monitor 10's and buy the 198's for the 2A'S TL'd.

Just wondering if anyone has actually done it yet.

Wondering the same thing. I've been told 2A's can't be tl'd. If they can, I might want to try it on my 2A's.

chandler9a

I'm no expert but I don't see why they couldn't be TL'd. Basically change some things on the xover, put in some RDO-198's and maybe swap some 6510 MW with 65011 and 6503's?
I think in the last thread though there was talk about just leaving the 6510 MW in there.

Other more experienced guys will have to chime in but I'm sure it can be done so I would def get the 2A's at this point.

Joe08867

To hopefully answer part of the SDA2 types question.

SDA2's or SDAII are the original model with a dimensional tweeter and three drivers per cabinet. Usually came with either a Peerless or SL1000 tweeters.

SDA2A's are the 2nd Generation and do not have the dimensional tweeter and also lost the low mid Driver. Usually came with SL2000

SDA2B's have a more refined Crossover and I believe some cabinet differences from the A model. Also came with SL2000

SDA2C's are the final series and were the best of the bunch IMHO. Most refined crossover and best tweeter for the time. Came with SL3000 or Maybe it is the SL2500 Tweeter.

The TL mod is the only mod sanctioned by Polk to improve there crossovers. It really helps definition and focus of the high frequencies. I recommend this to anyone that has a model that fits the criteria.

chandler9a

SDA 2C? I have never heard of this model. Did you mean SDA 1C?

heiney9

There is no SDA 2C...........there were two versions of the 2B.

H9

On3s&Z3r0s

ncbuckeye3 wrote: »

Okay, help me out here, what does "TL" the 2A's mean?

TL was a designation for later models of Polk SDA speakers, so named (I think) for the tri-laminate tweeters they used. The tweeters in the SDAs you're looking at are the SL2000. Some folks say the SL2000 is overly bright or has a volume spike at a certain frequency. I definitely agree that they can be shrill in a certain range when listening at moderately loud volumes.

Anyway, Polk makes some direct replacements for the SL2000 called the RD0-194. Folks buy these new tweeters to upgrade the vintage SDAs, and it's plug-and-play. You don't have to touch anything but the tweeters if you don't want. But, with a slight modification to the speaker's crossover (you have to solder a new capacitor onto it), you can use the modern replacement of the better trilaminate tweeters (RD0-198), which some say sounds a lot better than even the 194. So when people talk about "TL'ing" the vintage SDA's they mean modifying the crossover so they can use the RD0-198 tweeter in their speakers.

If you wanted to do this, you'd want to get the 2A's. But the rest of the discussion on this thread is around whether this is guaranteed to work. A lot of people have done exactly this with other SDAs (2B's, CRS+) that are similar to the 2A's. And the part of the crossover network in front of the tweeter in the 2A's is basically the same, so it's a pretty safe bet. Just sounds like maybe no one has done it yet.

Joe08867

heiney9 wrote: »

There is no SDA 2C...........there were two versions of the 2B.

H9

Sorry, I forgot it wasn't called 2C it was still 2B. My Bad!:frown:

Comments still apply though. the Final version is the best IMHO.