Need a little advice on my SDA 1's

Anthony Hinton

I picked up a pair of SDA 1's a couple of months ago almost fulfilling a teenage dream of mine (SDA-SRS's were always the actual dream) anyway I love them, they sound wonderful.

However today I noticed a problem, I was listening to Adele's newest cd and there is a song that has a lot of piano and I was hearing some serious break up in the higher notes.

My first thoughts are with the tweeters, I figure given their age and not knowing how they were used previously they are probably damaged, but I've read about parts of the crossover going bad over time.

So now my question for you guys is this: Given that you all cannot hear or see these speakers, do you think I've got a tweeter or crossover problem? Would the crossovers age cause the breakup I was referring to, or is that not a symptom of the crossover issue?

Anthony

Schurkey

WHICH model of SDA 1?

jim 249

Are both speakers breaking up or just one?

chandler9a

I have had the same problem at times with mine but only when they had the original SL-2000 tweeters in them. Thats not to say it couldn't be a crossover issue though, or an amp, connection issue...lots of possibilities.

Either way, you will benefit from upgrading to the RDO 198 tweeters. Others with more experience will chime in on this one and should be able to diagnose the most probable cause.

Welcom to the club

Anthony Hinton

Ok, you'll have to tell me what model I have, that back only says SDA-1, here's a pic.

As far as the other questions, it's both speakers, the outside tweeters only, the
sda ones. I unplug my interconnect cable and they stop playing and the static/breakup disappears. Upon closer inspection. it's there even at low volumes. I really thinking it's the tweeters, but both at the same time? Do they have a history of dying? It's the clear domes if that helps.

Schurkey

Anthony Hinton wrote: »

Ok, you'll have to tell me what model I have, that back only says SDA-1, here's a pic.

SDA1A, most likely. No nostrils by tweeters, so not the very first ones.

Anthony Hinton wrote: »

As far as the other questions, it's both speakers, the outside tweeters only, the
sda ones. I unplug my interconnect cable and they stop playing and the static/breakup disappears. Upon closer inspection. it's there even at low volumes. I really thinking it's the tweeters, but both at the same time? Do they have a history of dying?

Wouldn't surprise me that it's the tweeters. You could exchange the outside ones for the inside ones and see if the static follows the tweeters, or stays put.

pitdogg2

I'd guess SDA1b I believe the SDA1a's still had the SL1000 tweeters the same as my SDA1 signatures those came right before the B's from what i understand.

so SDA1b my .02

pitdogg2

does your speakers have the fuses in the back for each tweeter? Do you have the big square crossover plate?

Schurkey

SDA 1B did not have side-by-side tweeters.

pitdogg2

Schurkey wrote: »

SDA 1B did not have side-by-side tweeters.

thats the reason i asked the second question. It would not let me edit. I didn't think any SDA1a's came with SL2000 tweeters although i guess someone could of upgraded so to speak.

thanks Schurkey

Anthony Hinton

No fuses. I'm gonna try the tweeter swap.

chandler9a

I believe there were some SDA 1 originals that had the SL2000 tweets.

Anthony Hinton

Ok. I did the tweeter swap. They are SL2000's.

The scratchy/breaking up did NOT follow the tweeter. It still came out of the outside (sda) position.

I even pulled another SL2000 out of a pair of Monitor 5's and it sounded the same.

So, the problem lies in the sda portion of the crossover, or a connection, right?

Any suggestions on what to try now to narrow down the problem? BTW, thanks so far for your help. I'm just not experienced with electronic issues. I AM a willing student though!

Schurkey

Anthony Hinton wrote: »

The scratchy/breaking up did NOT follow the tweeter. It still came out of the outside (sda) position...

...So, the problem lies in the sda portion of the crossover, or a connection, right?

Yep.

Anthony Hinton

Hey Jim249, sorry I missed your earlier question, it is both speakers. Just the outside (sda) tweeters on both speakers.

Anthony Hinton

Hey all,

I pulled the radiators out of them and pulled the crossover boards out. I gave them a real good visual inspection. Wiggled things around. Pulled, cleaned and re-plugged all connections.

Still have the same breakup/distorted sound coming from the sda tweeters.

I also checked the tag on the back a little closer, they say SDA-1a and then a set of numbers. So I'm guessing they are actually 1a's. The drivers have December 1985 stamped on them. Does that sound like the right date for 1A's?

Anyway, I've read something about polyswitches going bad. Does the 1A's have them? When they go bad what type of problems do they cause? What do they look like? I looked the boards over pretty well when I was looking for broken connections and didn't see anything that looked like it might be a self resetting switch.

Anthony

F1nut

Check for a loose fitting connection with the SDA cable sockets. The sockets attached to the binding post plate wear out and need to be gently squeezed together.

jim 249

Some dumb questions, Is the amp set for stereo or mono? Does the problem happen with FM or any other inputs? Have you tried a different cd player? A dvd player will also play cd's. Try different things to see if it is really the speakers.