SDAs and Home Theater?

Texas42
Texas42 Posts: 404
edited September 2011 in Vintage Speakers
Hi gang. I'm contemplating getting a pair of SDA-SRS and am curious from those who own them and use them in a home theater setting. Any issues with running dolby digital, THX, or DTS signals through the SDA 'with' the SDA cable being used? I guess I'm trying to discern what affect (if any) the SDA effect has on the home theater signals (or vice versa). Is the SRS a good choice to fill a dual role in a music AND home theater system? Thanks for any inputs.
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited September 2011
    Some people like it, some people don't. I do, when setup properly.

    No "issues" with dolby, dts, or any other format.

    As far as the effect, it is the same effect as it always has. If you've never heard SDA's it's hard to describe.

    You should hear SDA's at some point, so if you can get a good deal on a pair of SRS's, you might as well give them a whirl.

    You may end up using them in a separate 2-channel setup, or you may love them for double duty HT and music, or you may hate them and sell them. Only one way to find out.
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • Joe08867
    Joe08867 Posts: 3,919
    edited September 2011
    I enjoyed my SDA's in HT, but I preferred them without a center channel (Phantom) or with an older Monitor series speaker (Monitor 5,7 or 10) as a center.

    What center are you planning on using?
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited September 2011
    Do a search, there was just a thread about this a couple weeks ago, my response is there.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • thsmith
    thsmith Posts: 6,082
    edited September 2011
    I do and like it. I have found if powering you mains with an amp vs AVR the center in my case is weaker and found a dedicated amp for the center to be benifical but this is not an SDA problem.

    To take it one step further my tube amp is in play on the 1Cs when using HT as well. My 2 channel and HT are integrated since I have just the one room.
    Speakers: SDA-1C (most all the goodies)
    Preamp: Joule Electra LA-150 MKII SE
    Amp: Wright WPA 50-50 EAT KT88s
    Analog: Marantz TT-15S1 MBS Glider SL| Wright WPP100C Amperex BB 6er5 and 7316 & WPM-100 SUT
    Digital: Mac mini 2.3GHz dual-core i5 8g RAM 1.5 TB HDD Music Server Amarra (memory play) - USB - W4S DAC 2
    Cables: Mits S3 IC and Spk cables| PS Audio PCs
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  • Schurkey
    Schurkey Posts: 2,102
    edited September 2011
    Texas42 wrote: »
    Any issues with running dolby digital, THX, or DTS signals through the SDA 'with' the SDA cable being used?
    None that don't also exist with a two-channel-only set-up. (i.e., common-ground amp or AI-1 compatibility)

    In general, I prefer DTS to Dolby Digital, but that's strictly preference not a compatibility issue.
    Texas42 wrote: »
    I guess I'm trying to discern what affect (if any) the SDA effect has on the home theater signals (or vice versa). Is the SRS a good choice to fill a dual role in a music AND home theater system? Thanks for any inputs.
    The SDA effect on the front main speakers works just as well with multichannel as with stereo. I think it'd be mis-used on side speakers. It'd probably work well for rear channels but I've never tried it.
    thsmith wrote: »
    I do and like it.
    Ditto.
    thsmith wrote: »
    ...the center in my case is weaker and found a dedicated amp for the center to be benifical but this is not an SDA problem.
    Agreed. I have to boost my center channel above the level suggested by the "setup" calibration of my preamp/processor in order to get the dialog intelligible. I do not believe this is an artifact of the SDA speakers...I think My Bride and I just like louder dialog.
    thsmith wrote: »
    My 2 channel and HT are integrated since I have just the one room.
    Here too.
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  • audiocr381ve
    audiocr381ve Posts: 2,588
    edited September 2011
    SDA's and HT don't work for me and that seems to be the case for the majority of us. Lot's of things come into play of course (room, gear, etc.).

    Lot's of great info in the thread I started a few weeks ago.
    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=123465
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited September 2011
    audiocr381ve wrote: »
    SDA's and HT don't work for me and that seems to be the case for the majority of us.

    I'd say it's more of an even split.:wink:
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • mole'
    mole' Posts: 3,160
    edited September 2011
    i liked my SAD SRS 2.3TLs in my HT setup. used a CSia6 for the center, FXia4 and OWM5 rear/surround
    mole'
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  • evhudsons
    evhudsons Posts: 1,175
    edited September 2011
    I agree with Falcon on that. I've said a plenty in the other thread, I'll leave my opinion there.
    Polk Audio SDA CRS+ crossover 4.1TL by Trey/VR3 (Rings and custom stand by Larry)-Polk Audio SDA SRS2 crossovers by Trey/VR3Parasound HCA1500aYamaha rxa-3070 with musicast-Celestion SL6S presence,- sl9 surround backNHTsuper1's surroundMagnepan SMGParasound 1500pre- Sofia "Baby" tube amp - Monitor Audio Silver RX2 Marantz 2230/B&Kst140Technics 1200mk2 Gamertag: IslandBerserker I am but a infinitesimally small point meeting the line of infinity in the SDA universe
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  • intangible
    intangible Posts: 262
    edited September 2011
    The SDA effect does a great job of bridging the gap between the fronts and surrounds, but overall I think they are a little laid back for home theater. I eventually moved mine into a dedicated 2 channel rig. If you only want one rig, though, they are certainly useable.
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  • ShadesPG
    ShadesPG Posts: 89
    edited September 2011
    while i do have my sda 1c's and my sda 2's connected so that i can add them via preout from my theater reciever and can use them with my b&w surround setup, i mainly use them for music only
    My Living Room
    2 Channel
    source > Sony DA555ES >
    Kenwood GE-74 > Marantz SR4400 > Rotel RB980BX > Polk SDA2.
    Pioneer VSX-D909S > Carver TFM-25 > Polk SDA1c.
    Pioneer Elite VSX-99 > PSB imageB25.
    Marantz 2226 > Polk SDA CRS.
    Yamaha RX-V690 > Velodyne Servo F1000.
    Home Theater
    source > Onkyo TX-DS898 > B&W CC6 (center), B&W DM603, B&W DM601, B&W Rock Solid (rears), B&W AS6.
    Bedroom
    source > Pioneer Elite VSX-92TXH> ML Quest, B&W DM600 (center), B&W DM601 (rears), Velodyne Servo F1000.
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited September 2011
    Joe08867 wrote: »
    I enjoyed my SDA's in HT, but I preferred them without a center channel (Phantom) or with an older Monitor series speaker (Monitor 5,7 or 10) as a center.

    What center are you planning on using?

    +1,000

    they do phantom great, and if you're going to run a center, it really pays to tiber match it. :wink:

    monitor 10 all the way baby!
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • thsmith
    thsmith Posts: 6,082
    edited September 2011
    Texas42 wrote: »
    Is the SRS a good choice to fill a dual role in a music AND home theater system? Thanks for any inputs.

    Allow me to rephrase your question swapping SRS for SDA.

    Absolutely !

    I had a pair of RTi8s originally which alot of people say are great HT speakers and I agree but like my 1Cs better for HT.

    Even if I had 2 rooms, one for music and one for HT I would still use SDAs for HT.

    The reason is so many shows and movies have music and the SDAs just sound better.

    I never find I am missing anything with the SDAs in HT mode.

    Come north to Plano and will be glad to Demo.
    Speakers: SDA-1C (most all the goodies)
    Preamp: Joule Electra LA-150 MKII SE
    Amp: Wright WPA 50-50 EAT KT88s
    Analog: Marantz TT-15S1 MBS Glider SL| Wright WPP100C Amperex BB 6er5 and 7316 & WPM-100 SUT
    Digital: Mac mini 2.3GHz dual-core i5 8g RAM 1.5 TB HDD Music Server Amarra (memory play) - USB - W4S DAC 2
    Cables: Mits S3 IC and Spk cables| PS Audio PCs
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  • Texas42
    Texas42 Posts: 404
    edited September 2011
    Joe08867 wrote: »
    I enjoyed my SDA's in HT, but I preferred them without a center channel (Phantom) or with an older Monitor series speaker (Monitor 5,7 or 10) as a center.

    What center are you planning on using?

    I generally do not like center channel speakers and prefer phantom setups so I would likewise be using these in phantom mode, sans center.
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  • Texas42
    Texas42 Posts: 404
    edited September 2011
    Also, to answer an earlier inquiry, I have owned several SDA speakers in the past (SRS, 1B's. 1C's, etc) and while I enjoyed them for 2 channel music, I never tried using them in a dual setup. The SRS I am looking at are allegedly in good condition, I'll find out more about them later today or tomorrow when I listen to them in person. I know there are a number of mods to take these to yet another level (change of drivers, crossover parts, etc) and perhaps that would improve these on the HT side as well.
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited September 2011
    Texas42 wrote: »
    I know there are a number of mods to take these to yet another level (change of drivers, crossover parts, etc) and perhaps that would improve these on the HT side as well.

    Leave the drivers stock!:eek: Unless they're blown or something. You may want to update the tweeters with the RD0's, though.:wink:
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited September 2011
    Not a fan of SDA's in my HT room.
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  • WGDB
    WGDB Posts: 162
    edited September 2011
    Texas42 wrote: »
    Hi gang. I'm contemplating getting a pair of SDA-SRS and am curious from those who own them and use them in a home theater setting. Any issues with running dolby digital, THX, or DTS signals through the SDA 'with' the SDA cable being used? I guess I'm trying to discern what affect (if any) the SDA effect has on the home theater signals (or vice versa). Is the SRS a good choice to fill a dual role in a music AND home theater system? Thanks for any inputs.

    I had my SDA 2a's set up in HT mode for a short time. I actually liked them in this setup but I listen to music more than HT. I've since swapped them with the RTA 12's and once dialed in to my pioneer SC35, I'm pretty happy.
    Pioneer Elite SC-35, Polk RTA (Real Time Array) 12's,
    Polk Monitor 40 surrounds, Polk CSiA4 Center,
    Polk PSW125, Sharp LC-46D62U,
    Panasonic DMP-BD85, Harmony One,
    iMac streaming an Apple TVII, or Squeezebox Touch
    Bedroom Rig~Sony STRDG-920, Polk Monitor 60 fronts, Polk RM6750 Satellites and Sub, Panasonic DMP-BD85
    Rabbit Hole Rig~Yamaha CA1010, Yamaha CT1010, Polk SDA 2A's, Teac A1500 R2R
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  • BrettT1
    BrettT1 Posts: 560
    edited September 2011
    2 channel, thank you.
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,243
    edited September 2011
    Not a fan of SDA in my HT rig I would rather have and keep my RTiA9's for HT but I wouldn't have my RTiA9's in a 2 channel rig either..

    If I couldn't have both rigs I would do away with my HT before my 2 channel rig then just put my TV with it..
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