RTA-11TL or SDA-2's

ambiophonics

Question for you guys. I currently own a pair of original SDA-2's (with dimensional tweets). The cabs are a bit rough on the rear corners, dimensional tweets have been disconnected, and main tweets upgraded to RDO-194's. A few magnets have been reseated and glued and overall they sound great with proper amplification.

So I have a chance to trade them for a pair of minty RTA-11TL's - a friend is buying the RTA's today but would prefer the SDA sound... what would you guys do? I sort of prefer the look of the RTA's but i'm concerned that I won't get the bass extension with the RTA that I get with my SDA's.

What do you guys think?

chumlie

see thread i just bumped

ambiophonics

thanks chumlie - sounds like SDA's trump RTA's... :cheesygrin:

lifelongnewb

I just love my 11tl's..I guess room size would be the difference though..

boston1450

if you do get a chance to listen to them please post how it goes. ive been looking at some also. good luck on your choice

bluecomet

I would go for the minty RTA's in this case against the Dimensional SDA 2's. Especially if some of the magnets have shifted in the SDA's.

SDA1C

I have to agree. I have a st of 11t and to be honest they rock ****. With the issues you mention on the 2's I'd go for the 11s.

Toolfan66

I would pass on both but that's just me. I would save my money for a set of SDA 2B's or 1C's

The 11t's are ok but if I bought a set it would be for the extra drivers and because I picked them up on the cheap. Don't bother flaming they are just not my cup of tea as well as the 15t's, IMO I would rather have the RTiA9's-7's or 5's.. Even the RT55i's are better IMO..

Mr. Bubbles

Haven't hard either of those 2 models but I like my 2A's better than any other speaker i currently own. Even the SRS and VMPS units. I'm sure the original 2's sound somewhat different on the dimensional side than the 2A's. with the dimensional tweet disconnected maybe not. That still leaves a little difference in planar response due to the difference in tweeter mounting in relation to the other drivers but would guess that they still have a very similar overall sound and presence (this is simply a guess on my part).

boston1450

im sitting here listening to my rta15tl's and im not the best judge on either but these 15 rock. and so do my sda2's maybe soon ill own some 11's then i can compare myself. but its up to what you like best. good luck. find what meets your needs.

boston1450

tradem n get some nice sda's if you can find them n get them before someone else. or fix what you have,if your crafty

ambiophonics

Thanks for all the responses. I currently have both pairs of speakers setup at home and I have to say, the RTA-11TL's image really well. They don't dig quite as deep as the SDA but the bass that is there seems more articulate, tight, and accurate. Some of this could be contributed to the crosover components in the SDA-2's being older but i'm very tempted to stick with the RTA's...

I'm not so concerned about losing the "SDA" effect as I use a 24bit ambiophonic processor in my listening room which is basically a recursive crosstalk cancellation box which will provide a similarly "wide soundstage". I'll keep you posted on my listening impressions over the next few days.

heiney9

I owned RTA11's for 20 years, bought them new. I always thought they were a fantastic speaker and I'd own them again if I had a need. I won't give up my SDA 1C's for them. The RTA11's imaged extremely well becuase of the D'Appolito array and I thought as long as they were far enough off the wall they put out excellent, controlled, deep bass. Reminded me of a Monitor 5B on steroids.

H9

TennMan

It would be interesting to see how the RTA11s would sound with the SDA crossovers and dimensional MWs installed in them. You might get the tight, controlled bass of the RTAs and the SDA benefits as well. It should be an easy swap.

ambiophonics

TennMan - interesting idea, but I don't follow how that would be an easy swap... where would you put the dimensinoal MW :question:

TennMan

The RTS11 has two 6510 MW in each speaker. I'm not sure what MW drivers are in the SDA2 with 2 tweeters. If they are both 6510s no change to MWs would be needed. Otherwise you would want to swap the MWs from the SDAs into the RTAs so they would match the SDA crossovers to get the proper SDA sound.

I have done this with my monitor 10Bs using the crossovers and drivers from my CRS+ speakers. I only had to drill one hole in the center brace of the cabinet to mount the crossover. To my ears the results were great. I also have the 194 tweeters. I don't know of anyone else who has tried this swap. It would be interesting to see how your swap would turn out.

ambiophonics

I think you may have the RTA-11TL confused with a different speaker. These speakers are vertical... from top to bottom, MW, SL3000, MW, Passive One, Passive Two. There would be no location for a dimensional woofer as it would need to be placed to the left or right of one of the MW's.

TennMan

ambiophonics wrote: »

I think you may have the RTA-11TL confused with a different speaker. These speakers are vertical... from top to bottom, MW, SL3000, MW, Passive One, Passive Two. There would be no location for a dimensional woofer as it would need to be placed to the left or right of one of the MW's.

You are correct. I was thinking of monitor 11s. Sorry.