My "New" SDA's!

rromeo923
rromeo923 Posts: 1,513
edited August 2012 in Vintage Speakers
Well actually I have had my 1C's for over a year now. I have upgraded to RDO-194's (with great result), Spikes, Larry's Rings (also nice improvement), Armacell, and had my crossovers and sda cable upgraded by Trey (VR3). When I got my crossovers back from Trey I noticed better detail and clarity but I also noticed a loss of soundstage. I figured that the soundstage would improve once the caps burned in. Still I had a sneaking suspicion that something wasnt quite right. Jesse (F1nut) came over and gave them a listen and confirmed my feelings that the soundstage was not what it should be. Well it seems that somewhere along the line I had lost my "SDA" effect. Jesse gave them a quick once over and didnt see anything that jumped out at him. Well off to Jesse's shop they went. After spending hours completely dismantling the speakers checking every connection, solder joint, and tightening up the mids and passive screw holes by adding washers Jesse called me and declared, "You have SDA". Jesse did all of this for free and out of the kindness of his heart. He wasnt able to pinpoint what was the problem but I am sure that I messed up something when I reconnected all the drivers. Who knows?! Anyway with Jesse's selfless aid I am now able to enjoy all the upgrades including Treys crossover work. I sat down for an hour today and thoroughly enjoyed my "new" SDA 1C's!!!

Big thanks to Jesse and Club Polk!:biggrin::biggrin:
I got static in my head
The reflected sound of everything
Post edited by rromeo923 on
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Comments

  • Mystery
    Mystery Posts: 2,546
    edited July 2012
    Kudos to Jesse!

    Klipsch RB81, KG3.5, B&W DM602.5, Polk.
    Subwoofers: Klipsch RW10, Triad ProSub Bronze.
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited July 2012
    That Jesse is a top guy! Congrats on your 1C upgrades, you're going to love them...
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • drumminman
    drumminman Posts: 3,396
    edited July 2012
    That F1nut - salt of the earth!
    "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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  • codyc1ark
    codyc1ark Posts: 2,532
    edited July 2012
    Very nice!enjoy!
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  • brgman
    brgman Posts: 2,859
    edited July 2012
    He is the MAN!!
    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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  • helipilotdoug
    helipilotdoug Posts: 1,229
    edited July 2012
    Way to go Jesse! That was a great thing to do for a fellow Polkie :)
    Sunfire Theater Grand IV
    Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature
    SRS 2.1TL
    SDA 2BTL's
    CSiA6
    FXiA4
    FXiA6
    SDA 2A's
    Monitor 10A's
    http://www.douglasconnection.com
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  • Oldfatdogs
    Oldfatdogs Posts: 1,874
    edited July 2012
    Its very nice of you to help out a fellow member.I'm glad you got things fixed.Dan
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  • TNHNDYMAN
    TNHNDYMAN Posts: 2,145
    edited July 2012
    good to hear, hope you love them and nice of Jesse to help.
    2-ch System: Parasound P/LD 2000 pre, Parasound HCA-1000 amp, Parasound T/DQ Tuner, Phase Technology PC-100 Tower speakers, Technics SL-1600 Turntable, Denon 2910 SACD/CD player, Peachtree DAC iT and X1asynchorus USB converter, HSU VTF-3 subwoofer.

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  • Drenis
    Drenis Posts: 2,871
    edited July 2012
    Awesome stuff! I haven't heard my SDA's (properly) for about a month now and I just can't listen to them. They sound like my old Bose setup!...albeit they are being powered off a lousy AVR until I can rebuild my rig. It will be worth the wait for the end result though...
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,654
    edited July 2012
    These crossovers were interesting...

    The issue seemed to be in the fact someone tried to convert these crossovers somewhere in time to pin/blade (single cable SDA) versus the stock blade/blade (two wire SDA)...

    We still can not pin point exactly what was wrong with these... but they were the weirdest SDA crossovers I have seen come through here as far as having a mix of a little bit of everything
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,572
    edited July 2012
    Glad you're enjoying them.
    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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  • halo71
    halo71 Posts: 4,603
    edited August 2012
    He's the Batman of Club Polk! :cool:


    I think that makes Brock the Robin of Club Polk....:cheesygrin:
    --Gary--
    Onkyo Integra M504, Bottlehead Foreplay III, Denon SACD, Thiel CS2.3, NHT VT-2, VT-3 and Evolution T6, Infinity RSIIIa, SDA1C and a few dozen other speakers around the house I change in and out.
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  • Schurkey
    Schurkey Posts: 2,102
    edited August 2012
    VR3 wrote: »
    These crossovers were interesting...

    The issue seemed to be in the fact someone tried to convert these crossovers somewhere in time to pin/blade (single cable SDA) versus the stock blade/blade (two wire SDA)...
    Converting to single-cable can be done...but it doesn't sound "right".

    Tried it with my 1Bs. Listenable--but the original 2-conductor system is better.
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  • rromeo923
    rromeo923 Posts: 1,513
    edited August 2012
    I dont think anyone converted them to a single cable. I believe that they were just a transitional version. A case of Polk using leftover parts.

    Now I have a "new" problem. What kind of amp/preamp or integrated to get to drive these speakers. I am currently using a Carver HR772 that I bought off of craigslist for $40. I am finding the Carver amp to be too bright and somewhat thin in the sound (if you know what I mean). This time Jesse is part of the problem because he let me listen to his set up (which is awesome) and now I want to get closer to that sound.

    I would like an amp that is warmer and has better bass. If I can couple that with an airy sound I would be happy. Budget is around $500.

    Any suggestions?
    I got static in my head
    The reflected sound of everything
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,453
    edited August 2012
    Anything will be better than that Carver. well most anything (i.e. not another receiver) trust me I'M a BIG Carver fan just not so much of his receiver's. If it has pre-outs then get an amp if not then up your price for amp and pre-amp.
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  • drumminman
    drumminman Posts: 3,396
    edited August 2012
    For $500 you'll need to go used to get something of good quality. Parasound, Adcom come to mind. Maybe an NAD. Lots of folks here also like the Carver power amps, especially the TFM series.

    I'm partial to the build quality of the Parasounds, though I've never owned one. Lots of folks here seem to like some of the Adcoms. Do a search to see which ones.

    Good luck and keep us posted!
    "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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  • chandler9a
    chandler9a Posts: 878
    edited August 2012
    I use an Adcom FGA-555 with my 1C's and it sounds great to me. There are better amps out there for sure but that is a good place to start, and it will fit below your budget. I personally want to try out a Parasound in my system to see if prefer it.
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  • muncybob
    muncybob Posts: 3,042
    edited August 2012
    I'm using a Parasound HCA 1000 with my 2B's and find it to be a big improvement over the receiver. In time I expect to step up the game a bit but wanted to go fairly inexpensive at first to be sure we could hear the difference.
    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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  • rromeo923
    rromeo923 Posts: 1,513
    edited August 2012
    Ok, I swapped out the Carver and put in a NAD 3080. The NAD was a good improvement. Much more punch in the lows, mids and highs but I was having a little problem with listener fatigue on some recordings. So I swapped the NAD out for a Yaqin MC-10L tube integrated. The listener fatigue is gone but so is some of the punch. If I could combine what these two amps are doing that would be awesome. The NAD seems to have the necessary wattage and current but is a little bright. The Yaqin is sweet and smooth but a little under powered (50 watts).

    What do you think??
    I got static in my head
    The reflected sound of everything
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,171
    edited August 2012
    If the Yaqin is a true 50 watts, that should be plenty. What tubes are you running? It can make a HUGE difference. The stock Chinese tubes are junk. I will say, EL34's don't produce copious amounts of bass.

    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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  • rromeo923
    rromeo923 Posts: 1,513
    edited August 2012
    I rolled some EL 34's but didnt notice much difference. Had some Mullard Reissues (but one went bad ) and some Russian 6p3s-e in there but now back to the stock ones.

    The most difference by a mile has been swapping out the preamp tubes. I have some Bugle Boys and some Telefunken I have been switching out.

    Do you have a recommendation for the EL 34's that you think will make a difference?
    I got static in my head
    The reflected sound of everything
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  • GlennDog
    GlennDog Posts: 3,120
    edited August 2012
    Help'n a brother out . . . Coolness

    G
    AC Regenerator PS Audio PerfectWave Power Plant 10
    Source Lumin U1 Mini into Lampizator Baltic 4 DAC
    Pre Cary SLP-05
    Power Rogue M180 Dark monos
    Mains Salk HT2-TL
    Rythmik F12
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  • Vette C6.r
    Vette C6.r Posts: 1,560
    edited August 2012
    Good karma Jess.
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  • evhudsons
    evhudsons Posts: 1,175
    edited August 2012
    This is what the forum is all about!

    I'm about to have some crossover work done soon, as soon as I can get around to it with all my recent traveling.

    Nice of you to go the distance in helping, Jesse!
    Polk Audio SDA CRS+ crossover 4.1TL by Trey/VR3 (Rings and custom stand by Larry)-Polk Audio SDA SRS2 crossovers by Trey/VR3Parasound HCA1500aYamaha rxa-3070 with musicast-Celestion SL6S presence,- sl9 surround backNHTsuper1's surroundMagnepan SMGParasound 1500pre- Sofia "Baby" tube amp - Monitor Audio Silver RX2 Marantz 2230/B&Kst140Technics 1200mk2 Gamertag: IslandBerserker I am but a infinitesimally small point meeting the line of infinity in the SDA universe
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,171
    edited August 2012
    rromeo923 wrote: »

    Do you have a recommendation for the EL 34's that you think will make a difference?

    SED =C= are about the best going for new production tubes. Mullards, Telefunken and Tesla EL34's are probably a bit better, but $$$ are out of sight for those.

    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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