My first SDA's...HELP

hallm08
hallm08 Posts: 5
edited July 2012 in Electronics
Hey everyone. I just lucked in to a FREE pair of Polk Audio SDA-1A speakers. I knew they had to be nice but I had no idea what I had until I started doing some research and now I realize I have nothing to sufficiently power them with.

Does anyone have some advice as to what kind of amplifier/receiver I need to power these speakers?
Are they best used by themselves in a two channel set up or integrated into a surround sound system?

Any advice will help..I just want to get these things sounding good so I can enjoy them!

Thanks!
Matt
Post edited by hallm08 on
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Comments

  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited July 2012
    Welcome to CP and congrats on the awesome score!:cheesygrin:

    I love how SDA's sound.

    They are meant for 2-channel music. They will reward you as you move up the chain in electronics, so the sky is really the limit there. Something like an Adcom GFA-545 would be a great starting point without breaking the bank. They can usually be had for 150 or less. Of course your preamp, DAC, and source will all be critical as well. There are guys here who power their SDA's with some serious, serious gear... but you don't have to spend a fortune for them to sound really good!

    Cheers
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited July 2012
    SDAs are fairly easy to drive, but like a decent amount of power to be driven well. What equipment do you have now, and we can help point you in the direction you could proceed? How much are you looking to spend?
    Jake
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  • hallm08
    hallm08 Posts: 5
    edited July 2012
    Well im 22 years old so when I started getting into music and audio equipment etc., surround sound systems were already in full swing so the two channel setup is new to me. So right now I have two receivers that are 5.1 and 7.1 channel so I'm looking to get a two channel amp which im pretty unfamaliar with. Also im not sure about what is meant by pre-amp or DAC, etc and what their purpose is in the mix. I'd like to keep the spending under $500 if possible. I'm a college student with no job so funds are pretty limited haha.
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited July 2012
    A receiver is a combination of preamp, amp, and usually DAC. What are you using for your source? CD player, computer?

    Preamp: Volume control and input switching
    Amp: Powers the speakers
    DAC: Digital to Analog converter
    Jake
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  • newrival
    newrival Posts: 2,017
    edited July 2012
    falconcry72 wrote: »
    They are meant for 2-channel music.

    They were only "meant" for 2-channel because surround HT basically was nonexistant ~25 years ago when the 1a came out.
    If SDA isn't meant for HT, someone better tell Polk, considering that is the only place they have utilized the technology for nearly the last 2 decades.

    congrats on your speakers hallm. They are very nice for the price they can be had for.
    design is where science and art break even.
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited July 2012
    newrival wrote: »
    They were only "meant" for 2-channel because surround HT basically was nonexistant ~25 years ago when the 1a came out.
    If SDA isn't meant for HT, someone better tell Polk, considering that is the only place they have utilized the technology for nearly the last 2 decades.

    congrats on your speakers hallm. They are very nice for the price they can be had for.

    Hey man, I've ran SDA's in surround systems several times... but 2-channel music is where they shine.:cool:
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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