SDA 2a's or RTA 12C's - which one is better?

Michael8it
Michael8it Posts: 192
edited August 2011 in Vintage Speakers
I have an opportunity to pick up a set of SDA 2A's or RTA 12C's for the same price ($200) in my area. Any feedback on which set you prefer and why would be appreciated.
Carver C-1, M-500 MKII, Yamaha HTR-5835, Polk RTA 12BM's (M-for mod'd).
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  • audio_alan
    audio_alan Posts: 770
    edited May 2011
    Why not buy both sets and sell the set that you like least? Who knows, you might end up keeping both sets! :biggrin:

    Seriously (well, actually that was serious, but maybe not practical for you...), they are different speaker technologies. The 2A's are SDAs and the 12C's are RTAs. With the proper room and setup, the SDAs will probably give you a much wider soundstage...

    Personally, I don't like the way the 12C's look either, so I'd probably go SDAs based on that... plus I know what SDAs sound like already.
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,447
    edited May 2011
    yep I'd do the same although i'd keep both at that price
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  • geppy1
    geppy1 Posts: 3,075
    edited May 2011
    Where is your area.??
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  • Joe08867
    Joe08867 Posts: 3,919
    edited May 2011
    SDA's all the way but if you can swing both do it.....
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited May 2011
    RTA 12C's are nothing to sneeze at... at that level of SDA.. i'd opt for the RTA12's.
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • Joe08867
    Joe08867 Posts: 3,919
    edited May 2011
    Danger, you really think 12c's are better than SDA2a's? I can't agree with that personally. No 12C's are nothing to sneeze at but the SDA effect alone changes my mind.
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited May 2011
    Those are two totally different loudspeakers so it's not a fair comparison. If I was to pick between the 2, I'd grab the RTA12C since I believe they are more unique in sound and design. If you haven't heard SDA, sure the SDA2 but I've heard enough SDA to not care about it that much anymore.
    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.
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  • Michael8it
    Michael8it Posts: 192
    edited May 2011
    Well, I wound up getting....(wait for it)... neither! It was quite a drive to where the 12C's were, and this guy had done some modifications to the SDA's - one speaker was replaced (not with a polk) and he added Yamaha drivers where the passive radiator was. AND he used two subs (this guy really liked bass). But all was not lost.... He had a pair of KEF 103/3's for the same money. Maybe I should not say that here... :) Yep, bought the KEF's. For my musical taste they were superior to the SDA's and were much much smaller footprint, which makes placing them easier for my house.

    So anyone in the Detroit Metro area that wants some SDA 2's he still has them. The 12C's are in Pinckney, MI. Both are listed on Craigslist.
    Carver C-1, M-500 MKII, Yamaha HTR-5835, Polk RTA 12BM's (M-for mod'd).
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited May 2011
    It's not one of the better vintage KEF but a solid model nonetheless. This was a very cool time for KEF loudspeakers since they were hitting a stride. The entire lineup in the couple years prior and after were really a departure from the previous series and started the concentric phase evolution in R&D.
    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.
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  • geppy1
    geppy1 Posts: 3,075
    edited May 2011
    Doro hit it on the head. The SDAs are not better then RTA12s or the other way around. . Just different.
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited May 2011
    dorokusai wrote: »
    Those are two totally different loudspeakers so it's not a fair comparison. If I was to pick between the 2, I'd grab the RTA12C since I believe they are more unique in sound and design. If you haven't heard SDA, sure the SDA2 but I've heard enough SDA to not care about it that much anymore.

    exactly! although the SDA"s are fine speakers... believe it or not.. a more traditional type designed speaker can and often times sound just as good.

    check out these amazing looking and sounding RTA 12C's newly remolded and updated crossovers.. http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1537770&postcount=20

    they sound every bit as good as they look... trust me.. i've heard them in person. the tweeter sitting on top of the cab give it a very open 180 degree wide open sound field. something much different than any SDA because the tweeter is enclosed in the cab.
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • audiocr381ve
    audiocr381ve Posts: 2,588
    edited May 2011
    danger boy wrote: »
    exactly! although the SDA"s are fine speakers... believe it or not.. a more traditional type designed speaker can and often times sound just as good.

    check out these amazing looking and sounding RTA 12C's newly remolded and updated crossovers.. http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1537770&postcount=20

    they sound every bit as good as they look... trust me.. i've heard them in person. the tweeter sitting on top of the cab give it a very open 180 degree wide open sound field. something much different than any SDA because the tweeter is enclosed in the cab.

    WHOA. You have to tell me more about these. Are all the RTA lines tweeters mounted on top like that?
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited May 2011
    audiocr381ve wrote: »
    WHOA. You have to tell me more about these. Are all the RTA lines tweeters mounted on top like that?

    no.. only the RTA 12's have top mounted tweeters and crossovers... the RTA 8's, 11's, and 15's do not.. and are a different speaker.. the 12's are unique..
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited May 2011
    RTA12C vs SDA 2A? No contest, 12C (all things equal, condition, etc).

    I wouldn't even consider SDA with dimensional tweeters unless from a collectable, early stages of the line, I have the B and C models, I want the missing link etc standpoint. They are rubbish compared to the later counterparts as the line was refined.

    Cheers,
    Russ
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,967
    edited May 2011
    12c all day, every day.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • intangible
    intangible Posts: 262
    edited May 2011
    RuSsMaN wrote: »
    RTA12C vs SDA 2A? No contest, 12C (all things equal, condition, etc).

    I wouldn't even consider SDA with dimensional tweeters unless from a collectable, early stages of the line, I have the B and C models, I want the missing link etc standpoint. They are rubbish compared to the later counterparts as the line was refined.

    Cheers,
    Russ

    2As don't have a dimensional tweeter. You are thinking of the original 2s with the three mid drivers.
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  • Melz709
    Melz709 Posts: 32
    edited May 2011
    SDAs...all the way. Just bought SDA 2s about two months ago. Awesome.
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  • audiocr381ve
    audiocr381ve Posts: 2,588
    edited May 2011
    This thread has me super gotten me super interested in the 12C's.

    Does anybody know the different characteristics between the 12C's and the SDA-2B's? Random question I know but somebody must have heard both. Do they both use the same midrange drivers?
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited May 2011
    intangible wrote: »
    2As don't have a dimensional tweeter. You are thinking of the original 2s with the three mid drivers.

    Good point. And BTW aren't the specs for the 12Cs and 2As pretty similar with only the SDA effect being the main difference? 1" dome tweeter, 2 x 6 1/2" mid-woofers, one 12" passive--cabinet and weight pretty equal?

    OK, and the 12s have that tweeter mounted on top of the cabinet...probably other internal differences..but frequency responses are nearly identical? Not that specs mean much. But they're not entirely useless.

    I guess I'm just saying that there is no 'clear' superiority either way unless you're a fan of SDA effects? Seems mostly to be had in the 'listening' and in 'opinion'?

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited May 2011
    audiocr381ve wrote: »
    This thread has me super gotten me super interested in the 12C's.

    Does anybody know the different characteristics between the 12C's and the SDA-2B's? Random question I know but somebody must have heard both. Do they both use the same midrange drivers?

    It has nothing to do with the midrange drivers. They are two totally different cabinets, designs and loudspeakers.
    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.
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited May 2011
    Got to bow to Doro's knowledge and experience on this one.

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited May 2011
    get the ones you want.. just lending my two cents.. have a nice day!
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • Michael8it
    Michael8it Posts: 192
    edited August 2011
    The gut wanted a premium price for the 12B's ($350 with no hats). I found a pair of 12's for $200 with hats, original stands, original everything, even the manuals and registration cards!

    I am pricing out an overhaul of the crossovers and with Erse caps I am still under $350 for the pair.
    Carver C-1, M-500 MKII, Yamaha HTR-5835, Polk RTA 12BM's (M-for mod'd).
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