Just picked up some SDA-2B's, blown away

parnold
parnold Posts: 23
edited July 2012 in Vintage Speakers
Hey guys, this is my first post here.

Picked up a pair of SDA-2B's off CL for way too cheap :smile: and they are rocking my socks off. Everything feels so sharp and perfect. What an incredible speaker.

It had a pin/blade type of interconnect, & I used the modified RCA cable to work around it.

My only trouble is now finding an Amp that can really push it, all I have is a Parasound 75wpc, & I keep hearing on how these guys eat up wattage. Trying to find something used, any particular recommendations?

Thanks
Post edited by parnold on
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Comments

  • Mr. Bubbles
    Mr. Bubbles Posts: 736
    edited June 2012
    There are lots of good amps out there. Keep your eye on CL for one of those as well. When I rotate my 2A's in I run them with an Adcom GFA-555II. When you get a lot of power you may want to consider getting a proper interconnect as that cable carries full amplifier power.
    If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of Progress?!


    Monitor 5Jr, Monitor 5, RTA12, RTA 15TL, SDA 2A, 1c, SRS 2, 1.2TL, CRS, Atrium.
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  • muncybob
    muncybob Posts: 3,042
    edited June 2012
    Congrats on the speakers! I still remember how my wife and I looked at each other with grins after we heard the 2B's for the first time years ago. Now, after the mods/upgrades recently we got that same grin again :)

    I'm currently running a Parasound HCA1000 and it suits my needs for now but I'll be aking Santa for something a little more substantial this year.
    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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  • fbm211
    fbm211 Posts: 1,488
    edited June 2012
    I love my 2Bs.
    Youll want to put some dynamat extreme on those driver baskets as well as the PR and be further blown away by how much cleaner the mids will sound.
    There are lots of upgrades for those.Like rebuilding the xovers with modern caps and resistors,spikes,rewire ,ETC the list goes on and on.
    SDA-2BTL with custom IC
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  • drumminman
    drumminman Posts: 3,396
    edited June 2012
    Congrats on your entry into the SDA club, and welcome to Club Polk.

    Great speakers that can be made greater! So many tried and true mods tested right here on CP!

    This link is from a sticky at the top of this forum: http://vr3mods.com/LCSDAUpgrade.html Has just about all the mods that can be done.

    Like someone above said dynamat the speaker baskets. Another cheap mod is to place 4 inch wide strips of Black Hole 5 on the inside back panel directly behind the mid woofer. The improvement in mid range clarity is substantial.
    "Science is suppose to explain observations not dismiss them as impossible" - Norm on AA; 2.3TL's w/sonicaps/mills/jantzen inductors, Gimpod's boards, Lg Solen SDA inductors, RD-0198's, MW's dynamatted, Armaflex speaker gaskets, H-nuts, brass spikes, Cardas CCGR BP's, upgraded IC Cable, Black Hole Damping Sheet strips, interior of cabinets sealed with Loctite Power Grab, AI-1 interface with 1000VA A-L transformer
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  • sda2mike
    sda2mike Posts: 3,131
    edited June 2012
    welcome to the club!
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  • sda2mike
    sda2mike Posts: 3,131
    edited June 2012
    drumminman wrote: »
    Another cheap mod is to place 4 inch wide strips of Black Hole 5 on the inside back panel directly behind the mid woofer. The improvement in mid range clarity is substantial.

    is this with the stuffing in place or out? i have extra dynamat, maybe i'll try it..need more info, tho
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  • polrbehr
    polrbehr Posts: 2,830
    edited June 2012
    FWIW, I currently run my 2Bs from an Adcom 535 ll, only 60wpc, and I can't sit in the room for more than 5 minutes with the volume turned up past 1 o'clock (about 0db)! So I have to believe that your Parasound would perform admirably enough at 75wpc, but hey, no harm in trying something else.

    Oh, welcome to Club Polk, too!!
    So, are you willing to put forth a little effort or are you happy sitting in your skeptical poo pile?


    http://audiomilitia.proboards.com/
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  • rromeo923
    rromeo923 Posts: 1,513
    edited June 2012
    Welcome to the fun!!
    I have run my SDA - 1C w/ a number of amps. One of the best sounding was a little JVC receiver that only had 35 watts. I have used an amp that was 300 watts. I thought the JVC sounded better. Currently using a NAD 3080 w/ 90 watts. I have also used a tube amp w/ 50 watts that sounded great!!

    One of the easiest and most improvements of sound for me was upgrading to RDO tweeters.

    There is a sticky thread that says what are some good recordings for SDA. That will keep you busy also.

    Anyway like I said have fun.
    I got static in my head
    The reflected sound of everything
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  • sda2mike
    sda2mike Posts: 3,131
    edited June 2012
    polrbehr wrote: »
    FWIW, I currently run my 2Bs from an Adcom 535 ll, only 60wpc, and I can't sit in the room for more than 5 minutes with the volume turned up past 1 o'clock (about 0db)! So I have to believe that your Parasound would perform admirably enough at 75wpc, but hey, no harm in trying something else.

    Oh, welcome to Club Polk, too!!

    +1....there should be plenty o' current there, to make the 2b's sing
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  • bmbguy
    bmbguy Posts: 416
    edited June 2012
    Congrats on the purchase -- I'd tell you to enjoy them, but I already know that you will!
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  • drumminman
    drumminman Posts: 3,396
    edited June 2012
    sda2mike wrote: »
    is this with the stuffing in place or out? i have extra dynamat, maybe i'll try it..need more info, tho

    No, not dynamat, Black Hole 5. It's made for attenuating the back wave inside speaker cabs of MW's and W's. I bought mine here: http://www.soniccraft.com/products/damping/blackhole5.htm

    You probably only need 1/2 sheet for these speakers. The important thing is not to use too much, and put the stuffing back into place once you've installed it. Took congestion out of the mid range and made system sound like my amp had more power.

    Here's my write up: http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?128159-Black-Hole&highlight=drumminman
    "Science is suppose to explain observations not dismiss them as impossible" - Norm on AA; 2.3TL's w/sonicaps/mills/jantzen inductors, Gimpod's boards, Lg Solen SDA inductors, RD-0198's, MW's dynamatted, Armaflex speaker gaskets, H-nuts, brass spikes, Cardas CCGR BP's, upgraded IC Cable, Black Hole Damping Sheet strips, interior of cabinets sealed with Loctite Power Grab, AI-1 interface with 1000VA A-L transformer
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited June 2012
    polrbehr wrote: »
    FWIW, I currently run my 2Bs from an Adcom 535 ll, only 60wpc, and I can't sit in the room for more than 5 minutes with the volume turned up past 1 o'clock (about 0db)!...

    I bet you could sit in the room longer at the same volume if a more powerful amp was driving them...


    Those 535's are sweet, though. I had a couple... 545's too.
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

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  • parnold
    parnold Posts: 23
    edited June 2012
    Thanks for the welcome guys, can't imagine upgrading such an already great sounding speaker. My first upgrade is fixing the grill cloth (loose around some edges) :smile:
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited June 2012
    Welcome to Club Polk!

    You've got a great set of speakers there! I know because I own a pair myself. And I agree, the parasound you now have can drive them. They are not that inefficient. But should you want to go more powerful, a 200 watt x 2 Parasound would do nicely. They're great amps!

    Another thing you might want to look at, eventually, is putting the SDAs on tube power. I run a "modest" tube amp of 50 watts x 2 and believe it or not, that is plenty to get some really smooth sounding music out of these SDAs. There are technical reasons for that that are better left to the tube veterans to explain.

    Either way, have fun. Also check out the Flea Market, etc. for a "proper" SDA cord! Lots of info on this site about mods and upgrades for SDAs is available!

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,561
    edited June 2012
    parnold, congrats on your new speakers. What is your budget for a new or used amp?

    Please ignore smallies and do not purchase his amp as he cannot follow the rules. To sell anything here, it must be posted in the Flea Market.
    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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  • parnold
    parnold Posts: 23
    edited June 2012
    Looking to spend probably around $100 + price of my parasound when sold F1nut
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited June 2012
    parnold wrote: »
    Looking to spend probably around $100 + price of my parasound when sold F1nut

    Keep what you have until you can raise your budget. You won't likely better yourself for around $200.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,561
    edited June 2012
    heiney9 wrote: »
    Keep what you have until you can raise your budget.

    I concur, but I'd raise it to $500.00.
    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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  • polrbehr
    polrbehr Posts: 2,830
    edited June 2012
    falconcry72 wrote: »
    I bet you could sit in the room longer at the same volume if a more powerful amp was driving them...


    Those 535's are sweet, though. I had a couple... 545's too.

    Perhaps, but listening at 0db+ for any length of time just isn't my idea of fun like it used to be, I guess. I suppose I could bring my GFA555 downstairs and listen for myself, though I would still opt for quality over quantity these days... lol

    I was really just trying to encourage the OP to give what he already had a little more time, since by his own words he seemed really happy with the way they made the 2Bs sound.
    So, are you willing to put forth a little effort or are you happy sitting in your skeptical poo pile?


    http://audiomilitia.proboards.com/
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  • Dawgfish
    Dawgfish Posts: 2,554
    edited June 2012
    Congrats on the score and welcome to the SDA Club.
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  • parnold
    parnold Posts: 23
    edited June 2012
    May be picking up a Carver M1.0t amp tomorrow, but the guy is acting like a total sketchball on craigslist, may take a friend just in case
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  • Oldfatdogs
    Oldfatdogs Posts: 1,874
    edited June 2012
    If you have a gut feeling go with it take backup or pass,there will be another amp.Dan
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,561
    edited June 2012
    Save up your money and keep looking.
    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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  • parnold
    parnold Posts: 23
    edited July 2012
    Oldfatdogs wrote: »
    If you have a gut feeling go with it take backup or pass,there will be another amp.Dan

    Dan you smart dog
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  • factorz
    factorz Posts: 353
    edited July 2012
    Parnold where are you located? I wondering if you beat to the punch on those 2B's.
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  • OldmanSRS
    OldmanSRS Posts: 419
    edited July 2012
    The M1.0t is a nice amp. I still have the one I bought with the 1.2s in '88. It drove them quite well.
    '65 427 Shelby Cobra
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  • parnold
    parnold Posts: 23
    edited July 2012
    factorz wrote: »
    Parnold where are you located? I wondering if you beat to the punch on those 2B's.

    Socal, there are so many good deals here.
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  • boston1450
    boston1450 Posts: 7,640
    edited July 2012
    parnold;;;;;hello and welcome.....i have the same speakers..i am using a denon avr to a power amp..it works fine..i also am saving for a tube amp..but i think you should find anything with 50 true watts or more should do ok..if you notice clipping than you may want to upgrade asap..do some research and get a unit that will produce more power n get the best performance from those speakers..you are at the right place to seek info also....enjoy them..its about quality more than quantity..thats how i see it....again welcome..good luck on your journey....randy
    ..
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  • parnold
    parnold Posts: 23
    edited July 2012
    Thanks for all the kind words randy, just picked up a Parasound HCA-1200 last night, what a monster this thing is. A lot of people talk about listening levels but I like it loud, and there is so much more depth (definitely more bass) and different highs with this amp. Going to be listening/programming all day. :)
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