SDA1 Repair.

knoppix20
knoppix20 Posts: 5
edited March 2011 in Vintage Speakers
Hey all!

Okay, so a while back, someone gave me an original set of SDA1's, these speakers have some issues. I don't have an Interconnect Cable for them, one of the tweeters are bad, and on one speaker, it has a good tweeter in it, it just doesn't produce any sound.

What I'm looking to do, is repair them, and upgrade them to the SDA1 Signature Editions. I already have taken them all apart, and the crossovers are a mess, someone tried to fix them, and got them all boogered up.

So basically right now, I have a pair of speakers that I cannot use.
I've seen the schematic for these speakers, but I have absolutely no idea how to read a schematic, or even what parts i need to get. I've seen around the forum that I should replace the original tweeters with RD0194's. Is this a good idea?

Would it be possible for someone to lay out a list of things that I'm going to need to rebuild the crossovers to sda1 signature specs? what the best part to use is, etc.

I'm looking to get these speakers sounding as good as i can, and seeing as they were free, I'm willing to dump some money into them! Once I know what parts I need, I'm going to have a friend of mine help me rebuild the crossovers.

Thanks!
Blake.
Post edited by knoppix20 on
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Comments

  • chandler9a
    chandler9a Posts: 878
    edited March 2011
    Do you know which SDA 1's you have? It sounds like the version with two horizontal tweeters Do they have a pin/blade or a blade/blade interconnect in the back? Pics will help.

    My guess is they are def fixable but it will cost a bit, might be worth it to you.

    Good Luck and welcome to the forum!
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  • knoppix20
    knoppix20 Posts: 5
    edited March 2011
    I believe that they are just plain ol' SDA's they have no model number on them other than SDA. They do have the two silver horizontal tweeters on them. and two fuse lugs in the back, of which both of the dimensional fuses are missing. but I do not have an interconnect cable. (yet) these speakers have a circular interconnect port with two prongs inside, and a prong missing. I would imagine the other prong would be on the IC cable?

    I've looked inside these speakers, and it seems that someone coated the back of all the baskets of the woofers with something that looks like sticky-tak.

    unfortunately my house is under some heavy construction at the moment, and I've got no space to take these apart to take pictures.

    Thanks so much for the help! hopefully i'll end up with a great new pair of speakers. I've heard really great things about the SDA's.
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,450
    edited March 2011
    i just got done doing my SDA 1 signatures. This may help

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=31009&d=1201824729


    we need pictures to help you there were some early versions of the SDA1 that are a little different from other SDA1 and that had to do with the inter connect cable and other parts on the boards
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  • Joe08867
    Joe08867 Posts: 3,919
    edited March 2011
    It sounds to me like you have speakers that were played around with a lot. The sticky stuff is to help vibrations of the speaker baskets. A couple of guys here have done this and swear by it. I have not tried it so I do not have an opinion either way.

    The interconnect cable uses the two prongs only. The third one is empty. I think they used this type of connector because it was what was available at the time.

    You can do the same thing with binding posts instead as that cable is very hard to find.
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  • knoppix20
    knoppix20 Posts: 5
    edited March 2011
    Hey all!

    I'm sorry that it has taken me so long to get back on this. my house has been under construction and I've barely had time to sit down at the computer.

    some pictures of the speakers and the crossovers can be found here:
    https://picasaweb.google.com/kissmyash933/POLKSDA102#

    Thanks again for the help guys!
    Blake.
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,450
    edited March 2011
    well it certainly looks like you have your work cut out for you. I have never seen crap like that on the woofers hopefully it will come off pretty clean. Some folks put dynamat on them but it's much better looking than that. Looks like someone took the mortite to a new extreme.
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  • Joe08867
    Joe08867 Posts: 3,919
    edited March 2011
    WOW!!! I say clean it off as good as possible and start all over again.

    I have seen some funky stuff but that person took it to a whole new level.

    Good Luck,
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  • snotpmah
    snotpmah Posts: 40
    edited March 2011
    My GOD! Man, looks like something I made in 3rd grade art class. Be careful peeling that stuff off. Hey you can't beat the price, though. Good luck with the re-build :smile:
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  • Schurkey
    Schurkey Posts: 2,102
    edited March 2011
    If the MW drivers work, why remove the damping material? Leave it alone, save the headache.
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