Spiked The SDA2Bs - Done Deal
PreCd
Posts: 786
Porcupined the 2Bs tonight. Hit them with standard spikes that look just like the standard that Meniscus sells. I have had the spikes laying around for about a week and hurricane nuts came in today. So I jumped right on them. The spikes are a little short I think as the speakers are hovering about a half inch above the carpet. I made sure they hit rock bottom by standing on them, jumping up and down. 
I sat down to listen a little but need to get up and clean the work area. Just like a car runs better washed and vacuumed the speakers need a clean room to shine.
I sat down to listen a little but need to get up and clean the work area. Just like a car runs better washed and vacuumed the speakers need a clean room to shine.
SDA2BTL
Marantz CD5004
Adcom GFA-545
Bottlehead Quickie Tube Preamp
Marantz CD5004
Adcom GFA-545
Bottlehead Quickie Tube Preamp
Post edited by PreCd on
Comments
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As long as they are off the carpet, you're good.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
Thank you sir. You are always good for some peace of mind. They sound great by the way. Really made a difference in the sound stage and the mids are not as muddled. Good mod.SDA2BTL
Marantz CD5004
Adcom GFA-545
Bottlehead Quickie Tube Preamp -
I'm glad you're enjoying the benefits. BTW, which spikes did you end up with?Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
I ended up with spikes just like the Meniscus standard spikes. I got the set for $8 with inserts. I ended up not using those because I had read from yours and others posts that the hurricane nuts were the way to go. So I ordered a handful of those. I can see where they are better however when I went to gently tighten the lock nut they tried to pull up so I went very easy with that nut.
Went I set them upright you could hear them piercing the carpet and padding. It did not take long for them to hit rock bottom.SDA2BTL
Marantz CD5004
Adcom GFA-545
Bottlehead Quickie Tube Preamp -
I had the chance to do some critical listening last night and all I can say is WOW. The spikes are the coup de gras! Really I should have done this many many days ago. Here are the changes it made:
- Tightened Up The Bass/Mids Quite A Bit
- Improved The Overall Musicality Of The Speakers. Everything was sounds a little blah lately and the SDAs were growing old. This woke them up.
- Adjusted Them So That The Tweeters Are More At Ear Level
- Greater Sound stage. I have really noticed a great improvement in this and was very pleased to have that happen. Very hard to deal with in my listening space and the spikes improved that.
SDA2BTL
Marantz CD5004
Adcom GFA-545
Bottlehead Quickie Tube Preamp -
Thanks for the write up. I finally got around to installing Larry's rings in my 1C's the other day...Much better sound. I've had the spiks and T-nuts laying around for some while now and just haven't put them in but this has been a great encouragement to do it soon.
Enjoy the sound, Pre. -
I don't suppose you took a picture of the bottom of the speakers as spiked, did you? I'm trying to figure out the best way to spike mine.Ludicrous gibs!
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I sure didn't but I can explain what i did. The wooden form that the SDAs sit on was gently removed with a angled wood chisel from the back as F1nut suggested in another post. I then measure in 1.5 inches and off each corner and drilled the hole for the hurricane nut. I marked the drill bit with a sharpie to get the proper depth. No need to penetrate the inside of the speaker as the nuts were not longer than the wood on my speakers. Set the hurricane nuts with light taps from a hammer. Screw in the spikes. I leveled mine all the way around.I don't suppose you took a picture of the bottom of the speakers as spiked, did you? I'm trying to figure out the best way to spike mine.SDA2BTL
Marantz CD5004
Adcom GFA-545
Bottlehead Quickie Tube Preamp -
I sure didn't but I can explain what i did. The wooden form that the SDAs sit on was gently removed with a angled wood chisel from the back as F1nut suggested in another post. I then measure in 1.5 inches and off each corner and drilled the hole for the hurricane nut. I marked the drill bit with a sharpie to get the proper depth. No need to penetrate the inside of the speaker as the nuts were not longer than the wood on my speakers. Set the hurricane nuts with light taps from a hammer. Screw in the spikes. I leveled mine all the way around.
What a sec.....are we're talking about 2B studios or what? If studios, I don't recall my saying anything about using a chisel. The platform is screwed into the cabinet, 4 screws to be exact. Simply unscrew the platform and make sure to fill the holes as they go all the way thru the cabinet wall.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
This is a case of I assumed there was one version of SDA2B. I do not have the studio version so mine were nailed on with 4 finishing nails and some light glue from the factory.
The chisel was not used as such but more of a gentle pry bar. The curved end of the wood chisel acted as a fulcrum for very light prying all the around the perimeter of the platform. Prying only a small space at a time as you go around. Much like tightening a wheel on a car but in reverse. Just loosen each little side a little at a time.
O and the part I quoted you on was not the wood chisel part but the prying from the backside a little at a time using care.
Lol Jesse. I can see why you were renouncing me!What a sec.....are we're talking about 2B studios or what? If studios, I don't recall my saying anything about using a chisel. The platform is screwed into the cabinet, 4 screws to be exact. Simply unscrew the platform and make sure to fill the holes as they go all the way thru the cabinet wall.SDA2BTL
Marantz CD5004
Adcom GFA-545
Bottlehead Quickie Tube Preamp -
Ok, I'm completely confused. I understand now that you have the regular 2B's, but why did you remove the base to install spikes?Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
The base is to thin to install any kind of mounting hardware and about 2 inches long. So since I could not install mounting hardware and did not feel like looking for 3 inch spikes I just removed the base. It was very easy, the base was removed all intact, and can be restored to its original position very easy.
If I would have had them on tile or hardwood I could have installed 2.5 inch spikes but my SDA2Bs are on carpet.Ok, I'm completely confused. I understand now that you have the regular 2B's, but why did you remove the base to install spikes?SDA2BTL
Marantz CD5004
Adcom GFA-545
Bottlehead Quickie Tube Preamp -
Hmmmmm.....from what you are describing it seems you have 2A cabinets.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
Just spiked my SDA 1c's a few days ago. Those wood bases are just not kool, mine pretty much fell apart in my hands when I removed them.Speakers:
Kinima G1 bookshelfs
Kinima G3 Towers
Kinima KC-3 center channel
Polk SDA 1C's
Polk Rtia5's (cherry)
Polk RTI4's
Blue sky media desk
Yorkville ysm1p's
JBL LSR4312sp subwoofer -
You know what......this confirms that you know what the hell you are talking about. I bought these speakers in 1987. They are 2As. The sound shop I purchased the speakers from also sold me a Yamaha R-9 to drive them. Well the Polks are its lunch. So I bitched and a few months later they upgraded the cabinet with 2B parts. Drivers. Xovers. Everything...except the base I guess!
The 2As were 2/4 Ohm speakers and the upgrade to the 2B by the shop brought them to 4/6 ohm speakers. It did not help and I have not enjoyed them until that amp died and I bought the Adcom 555.Hmmmmm.....from what you are describing it seems you have 2A cabinets.SDA2BTL
Marantz CD5004
Adcom GFA-545
Bottlehead Quickie Tube Preamp -
sheathensemble wrote: »Just spiked my SDA 1c's a few days ago. Those wood bases are just not kool, mine pretty much fell apart in my hands when I removed them.
Can you please post a picture of yours?Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
You know what......this confirms that you know what the hell you are talking about. I bought these speakers in 1987. They are 2As. The sound shop I purchased the speakers from also sold me a Yamaha R-9 to drive them. Well the Polks are its lunch. So I bitched and a few months later they upgraded the cabinet with 2B parts. Drivers. Xovers. Everything...except the base I guess!
The 2As were 2/4 Ohm speakers and the upgrade to the 2B by the shop brought them to 4/6 ohm speakers. It did not help and I have not enjoyed them until that amp died and I bought the Adcom 555.
There we go, that explains it. :cool:Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
F1:
You missed your calling. Private Investigator.SDA2BTL
Marantz CD5004
Adcom GFA-545
Bottlehead Quickie Tube Preamp -
I wish I could erase this post as it could lead someone to believe that their 2Bs are like my 2As/2Bs. But then again if one had good sense the 1st thing one will do is remove their PR and view the bottom of the cabinet. That is what I did and processed the rest.SDA2BTL
Marantz CD5004
Adcom GFA-545
Bottlehead Quickie Tube Preamp -
Funny you should mention that. At one time I was looking at the CIA.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
I came awfully close to being a Tennessee Highway Patrolman. THP.Funny you should mention that. At one time I was looking at the CIA.SDA2BTL
Marantz CD5004
Adcom GFA-545
Bottlehead Quickie Tube Preamp -
sheathensemble wrote: »Just spiked my SDA 1c's a few days ago. Those wood bases are just not kool, mine pretty much fell apart in my hands when I removed them.
There is no reason to take off the base to install spikes. -
I came awfully close to being a Tennessee Highway Patrolman. THP.
Cool......any regets? I don't have any.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
Tool,
They must have been Studio 1C's. The base that is on there should be removed if you want to spike them as they are about as stable as a roll of wet toilet paper.
NathanHome Rig
SDA 2.3TL's front and center
Polk 1000p Center
Pioneer Elite SC35 Receiver (Pre/Surround
Sunfire Cinema Grand 5X200-Back in the mix.
OPPO BDP-93
Squeezebox
Stepped up to name brand Speaker Cables and interconnects!
Monitor 4, 5, 7, 10's, SDA 1B's, 2B's, 2.3TL's, RTA 15TL's all in storage waiting for me.
Sales Rating #1!! -
SDA2BTL
Marantz CD5004
Adcom GFA-545
Bottlehead Quickie Tube Preamp -
I guess now I want my thread to contain the message, "Spike Your Freakin Speakers" Yep thats the theme of the thread now.SDA2BTL
Marantz CD5004
Adcom GFA-545
Bottlehead Quickie Tube Preamp -
I guess now I want my thread to contain the message, "Spike Your Freakin Speakers" Yep thats the theme of the thread now.
Yep makes a huge difference!!!
Congrats!! -
WastelandWand'r wrote: »Tool,
They must have been Studio 1C's. The base that is on there should be removed if you want to spike them as they are about as stable as a roll of wet toilet paper.
Nathan
LOL!! I would like to see pics of what and how you guys did this. -
Hey there guys, I can't visualize the written word. Please post some pictures so we all can keep up and see how to do this. Do we need to spike the SDS-SRS also?Main Family Room: Sony 46 LCD, Sony Blue Ray, Sony DVD/VCR combo,Onkyo TXNR 708, Parasound 5250,
Polk SDS-SRS with mods, CSI 5 center + Klipsch SC2, Polk RT2000P rears, Klipsch KG 1.5's sides, Polk Micro Pro 1000, Polk Micro Pro 2000, Polk SW505, Belkin PF60, Signal Cable Classics,Monster IC's, 2 15 amp circuits & 1 20 amp circuit.
Living Room: Belkin PF60, Parasound HCA2200, MIT ProlineEXP balanced IC's,Emotiva XDA-1 DAC/Pre,Emotiva ERC2 transport,MIT AVT2, Polk LSI 9's. -
There is no reason to take off the base to install spikes.
there was a reason: The bases on my 1c's were literally falling apart.
I removed them and put shorter screws into the existing screw holes that held the base on. The spikes are mounted directly onto the speaker box. I got great results.Speakers:
Kinima G1 bookshelfs
Kinima G3 Towers
Kinima KC-3 center channel
Polk SDA 1C's
Polk Rtia5's (cherry)
Polk RTI4's
Blue sky media desk
Yorkville ysm1p's
JBL LSR4312sp subwoofer
