gaskets and dynamat

sda2mike
sda2mike Posts: 3,131
edited May 2012 in Vintage Speakers
i did these mods to my 2b tl's...is it possible that the low end is stronger and the midrange more defined...as in i'm hearing stuff that i hadn't before...or, am i crazy? pipe in if you've done these mods, with your impressions...


thanks
mike
Post edited by sda2mike on
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  • brgman
    brgman Posts: 2,859
    edited May 2012
    if you sealed up any leaks in the cabs you will definitely get tighter bass and more defined mids
    that's why you did it mr mike!
    now what about rings?
    got rings?
    Main Rig-Realistic AM/FM Record player 8 track boasting 4 WPC

    Backup Rig-2 CH-Rogue Audio Zeus w/Factory Special Dark Mods,Joule-Electra 300ME Platinum Preamp,OPPO-105 w/Modwright Tube Mod, Auralic Aries G2.1,Polk 2.3TL,3.1TL's,Dreadnought,RTA-15TL's,1C's All Fully Modded,2xRTA-12c's ,Benchmark DAC3 HGC,Synology NAS,VPI Scout w/Dynavector DV-20XH and Rogue Audio Ares Phono Preamp,Sony PCM-R500 DAT,HHB-850 Pro CDR,Tascam CC-222SLMKII Cassette/CDR,MIT S3.3 Shotgun Cables,Shunyata Hyra-8,Shunyata and Triode Labs Power Cords

    I’M OFFENDED!!!!
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  • muncybob
    muncybob Posts: 3,042
    edited May 2012
    I did these mods at the same time as the tl upgrade so I can't say exactly what the gaskets/dynamat alone did for me, but I can say these speakers never sounded as good as they do now. Almost like hearing the music for the first time again. I'm very impressed as I have not even connected my better amp yet....really looking forward to that day!
    Yep, my name really is Bob.
    Parasound HCA1500A(indoor sound) and HCA1000(outdoor sound), Dynaco PAS4, Denon DP1200 w/Shure V15 Type V and Jico SAS stylus, Marantz UD7007, Polk L600, Rythmik L12 sub.
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  • sda2mike
    sda2mike Posts: 3,131
    edited May 2012
    i do have rings;) and actually, my speakers didn't have any leaks..doing the push test on the pr, the mids just stayed out there until i released the pr...so larry's rings are awesome...i put the gaskets in for additional sealing...
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  • Denzel
    Denzel Posts: 78
    edited May 2012
    I have upgraded two sets of my Polks with gaskets and Dynamat. I used Dynamat Extreme on baskets and Mortite for the gaskets.. First was my SDA 2.3's... I have very impressed with the results, much tighter low-end and more focused mids like you indicated. I then tackled my RTA15TL's.. same but different improvements in sound, they are a totally different loudpseaker, but nonetheless I think there were considerable improvements in the low mid and deep bass departments. The mods are a little pricey and time-consuming (as you now know), but IMO well worth the effort. If you havent replaced the tweeters (SL-2xxx for RDO-19x) you might look into that as well... big improvements there too. (dont forget rebuilding the crossovers as well)
    SDA SRS 3.1TL, Adcom GFP710 (preamp), GFA5400 amplifier, Pro-Ject TT
    SDA SRS (circa 1988), Integra DHC 60.3 (HT preamp) Adcom GFA555 II, CS400i (center), Monitor 4.6 II (rears) Adcom GFA2535 & Oppo BDP-103, TCL 55R617 55" 4K Display, RTA 15TL (crossovers by VR3), Adcom GFP710 pre & GFA545 II amplifier, NAD C545BEE. AppleTV 4K
    Other Polks not in service currently; SDA2a, SDA CRS+, SDA SRS 2.3, Monitor 4.6 II, Monitor 5jr+
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  • sda2mike
    sda2mike Posts: 3,131
    edited May 2012
    Denzel wrote: »
    If you havent replaced the tweeters (SL-2xxx for RDO-19x) you might look into that as well... big improvements there too. (dont forget rebuilding the crossovers as well)

    thanks...i've been enjoying TL status for a couple years now
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  • brgman
    brgman Posts: 2,859
    edited May 2012
    sda2mike wrote: »
    i do have rings;) and actually, my speakers didn't have any leaks..doing the push test on the pr, the mids just stayed out there until i released the pr...so larry's rings are awesome...i put the gaskets in for additional sealing...

    Hopefully not those crappy gaskets some guy on this forum was selling!
    Main Rig-Realistic AM/FM Record player 8 track boasting 4 WPC

    Backup Rig-2 CH-Rogue Audio Zeus w/Factory Special Dark Mods,Joule-Electra 300ME Platinum Preamp,OPPO-105 w/Modwright Tube Mod, Auralic Aries G2.1,Polk 2.3TL,3.1TL's,Dreadnought,RTA-15TL's,1C's All Fully Modded,2xRTA-12c's ,Benchmark DAC3 HGC,Synology NAS,VPI Scout w/Dynavector DV-20XH and Rogue Audio Ares Phono Preamp,Sony PCM-R500 DAT,HHB-850 Pro CDR,Tascam CC-222SLMKII Cassette/CDR,MIT S3.3 Shotgun Cables,Shunyata Hyra-8,Shunyata and Triode Labs Power Cords

    I’M OFFENDED!!!!
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  • sda2mike
    sda2mike Posts: 3,131
    edited May 2012
    brgman wrote: »
    Hopefully not those crappy gaskets some guy on this forum was selling!

    ha! the very ones! boy, i got suckered! they were of high-quality AND easy to install...the guy who sold them was a real - nice guy, too!
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  • brgman
    brgman Posts: 2,859
    edited May 2012
    thanks brother.glad they worked well for you.
    Main Rig-Realistic AM/FM Record player 8 track boasting 4 WPC

    Backup Rig-2 CH-Rogue Audio Zeus w/Factory Special Dark Mods,Joule-Electra 300ME Platinum Preamp,OPPO-105 w/Modwright Tube Mod, Auralic Aries G2.1,Polk 2.3TL,3.1TL's,Dreadnought,RTA-15TL's,1C's All Fully Modded,2xRTA-12c's ,Benchmark DAC3 HGC,Synology NAS,VPI Scout w/Dynavector DV-20XH and Rogue Audio Ares Phono Preamp,Sony PCM-R500 DAT,HHB-850 Pro CDR,Tascam CC-222SLMKII Cassette/CDR,MIT S3.3 Shotgun Cables,Shunyata Hyra-8,Shunyata and Triode Labs Power Cords

    I’M OFFENDED!!!!
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  • teekay0007
    teekay0007 Posts: 2,289
    edited May 2012
    sda2mike wrote: »
    thanks...i've been enjoying TL status for a couple years now

    So, what's the difference between "TL status" and non-TL? I have a pair of pre-modded SDA-2Bs and I'm trying to get an idea of what would be the best way to go. From some other threads, I've got the impression that the TL includes the RD-0198 tweeters vs. the 0194's for non-TL. Is one route better than the other, and if so, better in what ways?
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  • sda2mike
    sda2mike Posts: 3,131
    edited May 2012
    tl all day long....aside from updating 20+ yr old parts, the tl mod will make your speaker much more listenable, at higher volumes and for much longer periods...the difference is amazing...do some forum searches on the subject
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  • teekay0007
    teekay0007 Posts: 2,289
    edited May 2012
    I've done some forum research on it and it's still not clear, that's why I'm specifically asking "What's the difference btw the TL mod and the non-TL mod?" Don't they entail use of different tweeters for the TL vs. non-TL? And different changes/mods to the crossovers?
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  • brgman
    brgman Posts: 2,859
    edited May 2012
    194's and 198's are TL's
    Tri-Laminate tweeters.
    Main Rig-Realistic AM/FM Record player 8 track boasting 4 WPC

    Backup Rig-2 CH-Rogue Audio Zeus w/Factory Special Dark Mods,Joule-Electra 300ME Platinum Preamp,OPPO-105 w/Modwright Tube Mod, Auralic Aries G2.1,Polk 2.3TL,3.1TL's,Dreadnought,RTA-15TL's,1C's All Fully Modded,2xRTA-12c's ,Benchmark DAC3 HGC,Synology NAS,VPI Scout w/Dynavector DV-20XH and Rogue Audio Ares Phono Preamp,Sony PCM-R500 DAT,HHB-850 Pro CDR,Tascam CC-222SLMKII Cassette/CDR,MIT S3.3 Shotgun Cables,Shunyata Hyra-8,Shunyata and Triode Labs Power Cords

    I’M OFFENDED!!!!
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  • teekay0007
    teekay0007 Posts: 2,289
    edited May 2012
    So TL just stands for "tri-laminate"?

    What's the advantage of the 198 over the 194 (or vice versa)? Do they both work (plug and play) for the SDA2Bs without further modification?
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,561
    edited May 2012
    teekay0007 wrote: »
    So TL just stands for "tri-laminate"?

    Yes, with the original 3.1TL, 2.3TL and 1.2TL models, the TL stood for tri-laminate in reference to the SL3000 tweeter.
    What's the advantage of the 198 over the 194 (or vice versa)? Do they both work (plug and play) for the SDA2Bs without further modification?

    The RD0198-1 has a more refined sound. You have to add a 5.8uF cap. It's all documented here, get your search on.
    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."

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