I'm confused on SDA 2b upgrade -

dromunds
dromunds Posts: 10,009
edited June 2012 in Vintage Speakers
I just saw a thread from a couple days ago concerning a fella who just purchased SDA 2b studios. It was suggested that he upgrade the crossovers and also the SL2000 tweeters with RD0-198-1 tweeters but only after the TL mod. Yesterday, I had talked to Polk and ordered a set of RD0-194-1 tweeters to replace my SL2000. The guy I talked to wasn't even sure they were silk dome, and he said they were the only tweeters indicated for the 2bs. What is a TL mod? I haven't received the 194's yet. Should I do the TL mod, and return the 194s to Polk and get the 198s? What's the diff b/t the two? Thanks much. I'm a newbie and I must admit I've had trouble navigating around the archives.
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  • cincycat13
    cincycat13 Posts: 882
    edited June 2012
    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?89521-please-help-me-find-tl-rdo-mod-thread-for-my-SDA-2B

    If I recall to use the rdo198 you need to add a 5.8 ish value cap to the board. The 194 is the stock replacement for the sl2000. Look at the link or just google sda 2btl and 41tl. I will look for other links when I get home
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,244
    edited June 2012
    First and foremost we need to make sure your 2B's are "TL"able.

    Is the SDA cable a pin/blade or blade/blade.

    Pull the passive radiator and look inside to see if it's a single (square) crossover board or a double (two round) crossover boards.

    Those two things will answer what you/we need to know..
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  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 10,009
    edited June 2012
    Ok, I pulled the passive radiator and its two round boards. Thanks much fellas. I appreciate your help.
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  • Joe08867
    Joe08867 Posts: 3,919
    edited June 2012
    Those are original SDA2's and not 2b's then.

    Do your speakers look like this: SDA 2 Original
    images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSxEoIQmZZN6WLANMxwjF91lbxr8zXqLiYmeV3k8qAN6MnrwQ6ucg

    Or this: SDA 2a
    images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRAauDCTC3GmM72h1749oSN1mjCIEJlYhNCRNtip5O63AcVV-6L

    Or This: SDA 2b
    images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQPpCLwH27zEiKOcIVdfrpaCrSai8z7sK0gyhH5XguEwBakXVViuQ
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  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 10,009
    edited June 2012
    Mine look like the ones you have indicated as 2a. They have vinyl covering not wood. Did all the 2a's have vinyl? I was under the impression that only the 2b's had vinyl in the studio version..... What is the difference in sound quality between the 2a and 2b, and what is the best way to proceed with upgrades if indeed mine are 2a's? I just ordered the RD0-194-1 tweeters but have not received them yet. I take it the TL upgrade and RD0-198-1 tweeters are out of the question for me? What about gimpod's custom board? Thanks in advance for any help you can provide....
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,446
    edited June 2012
    You need to pull the drivers 2A's have 2 x 6510 drivers ....2B will have 1-6503stereo and 1-6511diminisional drivers. 2B's also came in a studio version that look just like the 2a model but with the drivers i listed

    my SDA2a has vinyl as i think all of them had.
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  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 10,009
    edited June 2012
    Thanks much, will check the drivers later today. What is the sound quality difference between the 2a and 2b?
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,446
    edited June 2012
    dromunds wrote: »
    Thanks much, will check the drivers later today. What is the sound quality difference between the 2a and 2b?
    All i can tell you is that the 2B is the better speaker by how much? Well I never had both side by side to compare, but what i can tell you is i have recapped my 2A's XO and they sure sound MUCH better than they did with old caps. It's been said that you can TL the 2A's also but it's not sanctioned by Polk like the 4.1tl for the CRS 2B.

    you could be splitting hairs here.
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  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 10,009
    edited June 2012
    Thanks. Will check my drivers later tonight and re-post.
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  • gdb
    gdb Posts: 6,012
    edited June 2012
    Sanctioned ???:confused:
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  • Joe08867
    Joe08867 Posts: 3,919
    edited June 2012
    Sanctioned might be the wrong word. I believe it is what Polk had in mind for the SDA2B if they continued the line.

    They also planned the same upgrade to the CRS+ line which they call the 4.1TL mod. It is the same mod but not named the same on the SDA2b's.

    I do not believe you can do the TL mod with SDA2A's. It is for Pin Blade interconnect speakers only. I may be wrong.
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  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 10,009
    edited June 2012
    Well, I pulled the drivers and they are both MW6501. Are these SDA 1a drivers that somebody switched out? If so, is the difference quite discernable between the 6501 and 6510?
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,244
    edited June 2012
    Are all drivers MW6501's in both speakers? If so sounds like someone pulled a fast one..
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  • gdb
    gdb Posts: 6,012
    edited June 2012
    Dread the "Frankenpolk" !!!
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  • gimpod
    gimpod Posts: 1,793
    edited June 2012
    dromunds wrote: »
    Well, I pulled the drivers and they are both MW6501. Are these SDA 1a drivers that somebody switched out? If so, is the difference quite discernable between the 6501 and 6510?
    The MW6501's were used in the SDA 1, SDA 1A and the SDA 2 (dual tweeters & 3 drivers), This is weird as I've never of any other SDA's using the MW6501's. Did you check the crossover is it a dual board or is it a single rectangle board about 5" x 4". Some pics of your SDA's, drivers and crossover may shed some light on this riddle.

    Here's the spec's for the drivers in question.

    Driver Type Q BL Compliance DC Resistance Fs

    MW 6501 1.47 5.96 N 3.25 E - 3N/M 7.75 Ohms 31 Hertz
    MW 6510 1.39 6.32 N 3.41 E - 3N/M 6.57 Ohms 31 Hertz

    Even though the spec's are close they are still far enough apart that I would think they would sound different. Just my $0.02 worth and I could be wrong.
    “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” ~ Mark Twain
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  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 10,009
    edited June 2012
    The other speaker has one 6510 and one 6501. Frankenpolk, indeed. What's the sound difference between the two?
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  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 10,009
    edited June 2012
    Gimpod, I have two round boards
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  • gimpod
    gimpod Posts: 1,793
    edited June 2012
    dromunds Unfortunately my boards won't work for you. Sounds like you've got SDA 2A's and someone popped some drivers and couldn't get MW6510's and got MW6501's instead. If I were you I'd start looking for some MW6510's, Start a WTB thread in the flea market and keep an eye out on ebay. Polk still sells them new but some say the new ones don't sound the same as the originals. JMO
    “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” ~ Mark Twain
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  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 10,009
    edited June 2012
    Gimpod, also if you look earlier in this thread, my speakers look identical to the SDA 2a's that are depicted.
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  • gdb
    gdb Posts: 6,012
    edited June 2012
    Yeah but..... my 2Bs look like that middle pic also.:eek:
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,244
    edited June 2012
    Smallies wrote: »
    The dirivers aren't plutonium, Plug em in and rock and maybe kill a few sl2000's. Scratch that BEWARE don't clip amp ever. Order 2 12uf Sonicaps immediately from sonicraft and you're off to the races. I ordered a mess of Dayton film caps from Parts express for the rest. I bundled 3 90uf for the SDA board which did nothing until I yanked the stock sda port and applied the bare steel wires to some 12 speaker wire and after plenty of juice i did get a little sda effect.


    Yeah that's some good advice.:rolleyes:



    For the record that's sarcasm..
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  • PreCd
    PreCd Posts: 786
    edited June 2012
    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    my SDA2a has vinyl as i think all of them had.

    My SDA2As were covered in Walnut from the factory.
    SDA2BTL
    Marantz CD5004
    Adcom GFA-545
    Bottlehead Quickie Tube Preamp
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  • PreCd
    PreCd Posts: 786
    edited June 2012
    Toolfan66 wrote: »
    Yeah that's some good advice.:rolleyes:



    For the record that's sarcasm..

    No ****. What planet are you on smallies?
    SDA2BTL
    Marantz CD5004
    Adcom GFA-545
    Bottlehead Quickie Tube Preamp
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,561
    edited June 2012
    PreCd wrote: »
    No ****. What planet are you on smallies?

    Massachusetts
    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

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  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 10,009
    edited June 2012
    Its not like the speakers sound bad, in fact they sound good, and I hadn't really noticed any great difference between the drivers as far as the sound to my naked ear. However, I am going to give it some more time and see what I notice.
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  • PreCd
    PreCd Posts: 786
    edited June 2012
    :biggrin:
    F1nut wrote: »
    Massachusetts
    SDA2BTL
    Marantz CD5004
    Adcom GFA-545
    Bottlehead Quickie Tube Preamp
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  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 10,009
    edited June 2012
    If I decide to switch out the 6501(s) and put 6510(s) back in, does anyone have any 6510(s) that they would be willing to part with?
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  • gdb
    gdb Posts: 6,012
    edited June 2012
    You'd be better off asking for some in the Wanted To Buy section of the Flea Market.:wink:
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  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 10,009
    edited June 2012
    Thanks.
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  • mc.ubba
    mc.ubba Posts: 3
    edited June 2012
    So to semi-hijack this, and MUCH appreciative of the post showing the three models, I have finally determined that my "new to me" speakers are the top pictured model the "original".

    I am enjoying them immensely, driven by a Yamaha CR 620.

    Can anyone recommend the "perfect" amp for these. What about a modest tube amp? Also, what would be the first thing I should do as a replacement/upgrade in the future.

    thanks!
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