2.3TL's I'm trying to get and an amp ?

TNHNDYMAN

I've been in contact with a lady selling a very nice pair of 2.3TL's. Think I've got the price down to around 750 and am trading some home theater gear plus setting up her system for her as a partial trade as well. Finally got to see them yesterday and they look pretty close to mint. We've been playing phone tage for 2 wks. Got to test them and everything is working to the best I could tell. Has the interconnect cable. Unfortunately her power went out about 5 min into my test so that was a downer.

She also has a few amps that her late husband used with them. 2 Yamaha M 80's, a Yamaha M 85, and a Yamaha M 70. From what info I've read online these were capable amps but had a known issue with the glue used around the caps. I currently have an Adcom 5400 and a Rotel 981 amp that are both around 125 WPC. Should I make an effort to get one of the Yamaha amps as well and sell what I have or would you avoid the yammies due to expensive repair issues could be likely?

Here's a couple pics. I'm still trying to sell some gear to come up with the money but I've never wanted another audio purchase this bad. Anyone need a kidney?

Travis

gudnoyez

Those look real nice, good luck in getting them.

Neskahi

Advise that you get the speakers. They are the best [imho] of the SDA line. Good luck.

Polkersince85

Nice looking speakers. Get them first then worry about funding the amps. The speakers are harder to find than amps. 750+ is a good deal on 2.3TL.

Mr. Bubbles

Dude! Get the speakers! I don't live too far from TN. If it doesn't work out, let me know. I haven't heard that model but from what I have heard I believe that or the 3.1 to probably be the best.

TNHNDYMAN

I've got to fund the speakers 1st. Just curious on folks opinions on the Yamaha amps vs what I have. Not sure if 125WPC will do them justice. Also can anyone confirm that all amps mentioned including what I have on hand are common ground? I've read some of the later adcom were not so I need to do more research.

TNHNDYMAN

Bubbles please don't go around me for a bit. I know I don't really have a right to ask, but these are a lifetime dream speaker for me. If we can't work things out, I'll be happy to put you in touch with the seller.

schwarcw

Good luck TNHNDYMAN!

You need to own these!

villock

I hope you get these. They are outstanding speakers. I love mine:biggrin:

EndersShadow

TNHNDYMAN wrote: »

Bubbles please don't go around me for a bit. I know I don't really have a right to ask, but these are a lifetime dream speaker for me.

I concur. I dont think Bubble's is implying that he will, but NOT sniping a deal from another Polkie is kinda a unofficial rule, so hopefully you end up getting these TNHNDYMAN!

cstmar01

Get the speakers man do it! Great model and seeing they are the the TL's even better because now you don't have to run a common ground amp.

Maybe see if she could sweeten the deal and "bundle" an amp or so with the speakers. Worse case if it is something that won't work out for you and need to be repaired could sell it off to someone as a project amp and make back a little for the expense of the speakers.

drumminman

$750 is a very good price. Forget the amps - they're nothing special. Use what you have and if it's not common ground build an AI-1 interface.

I've been powering mine with an amp that's around 150 - 175 wpc and it does fine. You can always upgrade amps after the 2.3's have settled in.

Good luck!

chandler9a

If you can get them, do it. Like drumminman said, forget the amps. I have never heard that particular model SDA but listen to their big brother's often and a couple others in that range and they are just amazing once you get them modded...even stock they are fine.

Good luck!!

gdb

As a "point of reference".....I'd happily pay $1000.00+ for such speakers and definitely will do so, if any ever show up around me !!

If I don't get sniped by a "brother Polkie" again.:mad:

dpowell

You most definitely want those speakers. Couldn't tell you whether to get an amp first or upgrade the XO's first. If it were me, I'd probably do the XO's first given the changes I've heard going from stock to modded. Good luck!

EndersShadow

gdb wrote: »

As a "point of reference".....I'd happily pay $1000.00+ for such speakers and definitely will do so, if any ever show up around me !!

LOL... its ok, you live in the "land of Carver" lol, maybe start trying to do some swapping :biggrin:... I believe there is a SoCal Polkie coming up your way... see if perhaps there are some SDA's "in route" and see if anything can be worked out... although John moving SDA's again is probably a bad combo lol....

gdb

EndersShadow wrote: »

LOL... its ok, you live in the "land of Carver" lol, maybe start trying to do some swapping :biggrin:... I believe there is a SoCal Polkie coming up your way... see if perhaps there are some SDA's "in route" and see if anything can be worked out... although John moving SDA's again is probably a bad combo lol....

I can honestly say that I didn't understand anything that you just wrote.

codyc1ark

Get em Travis, I'll be right over to help you set them up!

EndersShadow

gdb wrote: »

I can honestly say that I didn't understand anything that you just wrote.

I got you confused with gimpod, ignore my post. I blame dehydration and lack of sleep from the past couple days of activity.

headrott

You should absolutely get the speakers. Good deal, and you can always upgrade your amp later on. As others have said, I would be interested in the amp too much. Worry about the speakers, and buy them. Let us know when your mission is accomplished.:biggrin:

Greg

TNHNDYMAN

Thanks for the support and encouragement guys I do really appreciate it. I'm 85% certain I'll have these within 2 wks. I've talked to her and offered to leave a sizeable 1/3 downpayment if she will agree to hold till I come up with the rest of the $ and forfeit if I don't. She was pretty touched by my motivation and desire to give them a good home and said that it would not be necessary. The amps are just icing if I can do a combo deal of some type. I may try to help her sell them and negotiate a discount for putting her in contact w/ a few buyers. I could do a title loan on my car, but I'm trying to avoid drastic measures if she's willing to let me move a few things first and I realize it's kinda crazy to even consider that but like I said this is a dream speaker for me.

My wife is on board with it at least as much as can be expected. It's alot of money for us and there are certainly other things that our home and family could use those resources for but this is very important to me and she understands that. We are expecting a pretty decent income tax refund but due to some complications with our filing that may not be here till late July so the timing is working against me.

It's probably a little TMI, but I'm going to throw this out there just because it's really overwhelmed me today. I am a recovering alcholic that wasted a good bit of my life in the gutter of the bottle. It cost me my first marriage which was not destined for greatness regardless but it still affects me daily due to the complications it has caused in my relationship with my son who is 13 from said marriage. I deal with that guilt daily. I've been married to my current wife, Debi, for almost 8 years now. We tried for years to have a child and dissappointment followed us until I was released from jail after serving time for 8 months for a DUI charge. When I found out we were going to have a little girl I vowed to do things better. I quit drinking Halloween night of 2009 and my beautiful daughter Danica was born 3 days later. It has been a difficult journey with a few failures along the way, but for the better part of 99% of the days since I have been sober.

After 8mo to a year we noticed some issues with Danica and through subsequent testing and evaluations it has been determined that she is autistic. I thank God daily that she is a happy child with a warm smile and a mischievious giggle most of the time, but her meltdowns and communication delays have been heartbreaking. At 2yr she had virtually no language at all. With my background and the great state of the economy, my options for gainful employment have been pretty bleak. So since Danica was born, I have been a stay at home dad while my wife was finishing her nursing degree. For the last year I've been taking our daughter to a social interaction play group twice a week, speech therapy comes to our home on Thursdays, and we do occupational and physical therapy on Weds. I know this is rambling and sorta off topic, but the point is that it has been a very trying time for myself for the last couple of years.

Although there are days where I don't know what else to do after dealing with insurance companies, gov. bureucrats, indifferant family, and rude people in public who think you just have a spoiled child that needs it's a$$ spanked-- my serenity comes from God, but my peace and daily enjoyment has been greatly served by this hobby. Without the search for the next great find or learning how to solder and what capacitors and resistors are I'd be in a true world of hurt. I still spend a great deal of time on the internet researching autism, therapies, local support groups, ect,, but MY time and what keeps me going day to day has been my new found love of all this vintage stereo gear. I'd love to have my own store one day selling to a new generation these blasts from the past and making a few bucks along the way. I have been a garage sale, estate sale, flea mrk hound for a couple years now and love every minute of it.

This site has occupied way too much time in the last 2 years since I joined, but it has given me a remarkable gift in return. I have friends here that I would have never otherwise met and it has kept me occupied which is a great way to stay sober. Friends are hard to come by and a few here have that title in my book. I am grateful to those who have shown me guidance and encouragement. I look forward to getting to know more of you better in the future and am holding on to a chance to maybe make it to Polk Fest this year at HQ.

The point of all this is to highlight what these speakers mean to me. These ARE coming to my house. I want pictures of me dancing with my daughter in my arms in front of these beautiful speakers. I want her to grow up remembering these as part of her history like my dad's ESS AMT1's are to me. I want us to sit on the couch and listen to music and play air guitar or pretend drums together. I want her to tell her children one day what their grandfather was like and how much these Polk SDA 2.3TL's meant to me. These are not a trivial acqisition to me to be tried and swapped out after a month. This is a legacy speaker to me that will be a part of my life's story.

I mean no offense to Mr. Bubbles or anyone else out there that would like these and has the means to make a phone call and acquire them, but these are a lot more important to me than that.

CodyClark, Enders, Scottyboy, conradicles, heiny9, mrhardy, F1, darqueknight, Geoff in WA, and many others thank you for your friendship and inspiration you have provided even if you don't really know me.


Cody and others nearby, how's a july 4th polkfest at my house with some 2.3TL's sound?

Thanks,
Travis

headrott

Travis,

Don't finacially stress yourself to get the speakers. Do it smart. And do it correctly. Put the downpayment on them like you said so you secure them, and then make payments to get them. Do Not go into debt to get them, however. All true Polkies are in support of you getting them and being happy with your purchase. Please let us know how things go. I will be praying for you.

Greg

TNHNDYMAN

^ I know what you are saying and appreciate it. I won't be missing the mortgage pymt or power or other basic bills and understand how debt can also cause huge problems. I just want these so friggin bad it's driving me bonkers. I'm sitting on prob 3 grand worth of other vintage gear and just have to be more disciplined about bringing it in and then moving it on to the next person. Anyways- off to CL to post some ads. Everyone have a good night.

nooshinjohn

TN... shoot me a pm when you can. I owned a pair of these for a couple years before moving on to Magnepan MG-20's. I think you are making a smart move to pick these up as they are one of the best of the SDA line. I think I may have a lead on an amp or two that would make these speakers sing like angels when you get them home, and I would love to help you get the most enjoyment you can from them.

Music therapy is one of those things that seems to help make life a little better. I have a cousin that has an autistic son, and helping him relax and understand music has opened his world considerably. He is still several years behind where he should be, but the music does help him quite a bit. Hopefully your daughter can find a sense of calm and understanding while sharing the "sweet spot" between the SDA's with her father.

Take care bro.

TNHNDYMAN

^ will do. Thanks for the kind words. I'll PM tomorrow. Have to say that I love your amp project so looking forward to talking to you.

EndersShadow

DSkip wrote: »

You've always got an excuse, don't you?

Of course I do, its never my fault . Thats like the first thing they teach you in school now-a-days :biggrin:. Its always "society's" fault, that or my parents :eek:.

chandler9a

Thanks for sharing TN, I have very fond memories of growing up with a pair of 2.3's in the house and it is a now a hobby for my father and I to enjoy together. It's the main reason my mother puts up with all of the BIG purchases, she loves seeing us guys listening to music together. You certainly have a great reason for wanting these speakers, its amazing how music touches people and your daughter is lucky to have you as a father.

Let us know how it turns out!

Mr. Bubbles

TNHNDYMAN wrote: »

Bubbles please don't go around me for a bit. I know I don't really have a right to ask, but these are a lifetime dream speaker for me. If we can't work things out, I'll be happy to put you in touch with the seller.

I wouldn't do that to you as much as I would like to have them. I do already have 2A's, SRS, and 1.2TL's, I just sold my 1C's, so i have plenty to enjoy. I believe the 3.1's and 2.3's to probably be the better sounding of the SRS models. ( though this is just from theory and not actual A/B comparison.)

But dude, if it doesn't work for you for any reason, please send me a PM so I can get a shot at them.

Good luck.

TNHNDYMAN

^ I appreciate that, and like I said if something comes up I will put you in contact with her.

I discussed this purchase with my wife in more detail last night and we are in agreement to go get them. I am going to extend a line of credit on a note we already have and though not ideal it is a short term deal. We have some money coming from my mother in laws life insurance policy (she passed May 17th) as well as a decent tax refund due within the month so it will be paid back quickly. I also will be more pro active on selling more of the vintage gear I have acquire over the last couple of years. So now it's time to contact the seller and make arrangements to set up her home theater and find a truck to move these to their new home. Fingers crossed.

Thinking of how to safely transport- I think I'm going to remove and label the drivers and pack them in bubble wrap in a storage tote and move them in the car. I'm concerned about magnet shift. I need to search the threads for the best way to JB Weld the drivers and do that after getting them home.

Where is the best source for dynamat and how much do you think I would need for the 12 MW's and 2 Pass Rads?

EndersShadow

TNHNDYMAN wrote: »

Where is the best source for dynamat and how much do you think I would need for the 12 MW's and 2 Pass Rads?

Caraudiodeals.com has the best prices I have ever seen. I used them to order enough to do all 4 doors on my car and 2 layers in my trunk. You dont need nearly that much lol.

I will let others weigh in on which kit to get.

drumminman

TNHNDYMAN wrote: »

^ I appreciate that, and like I said if something comes up I will put you in contact with her.

I discussed this purchase with my wife in more detail last night and we are in agreement to go get them. I am going to extend a line of credit on a note we already have and though not ideal it is a short term deal. We have some money coming from my mother in laws life insurance policy (she passed May 17th) as well as a decent tax refund due within the month so it will be paid back quickly. I also will be more pro active on selling more of the vintage gear I have acquire over the last couple of years. So now it's time to contact the seller and make arrangements to set up her home theater and find a truck to move these to their new home. Fingers crossed.

Thinking of how to safely transport- I think I'm going to remove and label the drivers and pack them in bubble wrap in a storage tote and move them in the car. I'm concerned about magnet shift. I need to search the threads for the best way to JB Weld the drivers and do that after getting them home.

Where is the best source for dynamat and how much do you think I would need for the 12 MW's and 2 Pass Rads?

I bought my 2.3TL's from a gentleman 4 hours away. Drove home on the interstate mainly. No need to remove the drivers - just don't drop the cabinets putting em in your truck. I highly recommend a hand truck for getting them in the house - unmodded they weigh something like 140 lbs each!

I transported mine in a Ford Escape lying on their backs with pillows underneath the cabinets, between them and on the sides.

Re: dynamat, don't know exactly how much as it has been a while since I did mine, but a 12" x 24" sheet should be enough. Remember, you only want to put it on the spokes of the MW's and PR, and on the back "hub" of the PR.

Good luck and post pics when you can!