Use of SDA SRS in an all SDA home theater

cobramatteo

Hello all, I have 2 pairs SRS SDA's, 1 pair SDS 1s, 1 pair CRS+, 1 pair SDA 2.3s. Looking for advice on how to setup these best. Would I be able to retain the SDA effect only on the fronts ? When say - the 2.3s are not hooked up via the interconnect, do you get full audio through all drivers or is there a loss when not being used in SDA mode ?

Would like to use these speakers to put together 2 separate 5.1 or 5.2 SDA home theater setups. Not sure if it matters, but both setups would play music 40% of the time and perform home theater tasks the other 60%.

Read this from the Polk site regarding SDA SRS :

The SDA-SRS Loudspeaker is the main component in a Polk Audio Signature Reference System. Build a towering, multi-channel loudspeaker system by combining a timbre-matched set of SDA Series speakers with your SDA-SRS front mains: use SDA1 or SDA2 as your rear surround floorstanding loudspeakers, and an SDA-CRS as your center channel speaker. The result is a lifesize sound system capable of producing incredible audio power, at truly lifelike volume levels, with superior accuracy and realistic imaging of even the most complex audio information.

Power will be supplied to one setup via 3 Nakamichi PA7 power amps and a new Marantz AV 7705 and the other setup would use Adcom GFA 555's and GFA 5500s for power and another AV 7705.

I have 10ea GFA 555s, and 4ea GFA 5500s and could use as many as needed to bi-amp and get the most power to each setup.

Also am open to suggestions as to what subwoofers would be good for home theater use in these two setups.

All opinions and help are appreciated !

Mystery

I have SDA CRS+ as my fronts in HT and works fine.
I switch to stereo mode for music and surround for movies.
I'm using Polk Monitor 5 and 7 was rear and side surrounds.

My guess would be SDA IC for fronts only may give good setup.
If all SDA's are used with IC, surround sound may sound really crowded but I haven't tried that so wait for comments.

westmassguy

I have SDA 2As for my Fronts, and CRS+ for the Rears. A custom Center made from Monitor 10 components, and a Monitor 5 for the Certer rear. It's 360 degrees of bliss

PolkieMan

2 SDA 2.3 tls for fronts, CS20 II center, 2 monitor 70 for rear.
MY SDA1c are on another system/room.
They would not be good for the rears the SDA would not work and the interconnect cable would not work or be connected so it would be a waste. Regular type speakers are for center sides and rear.

Like Mystery I only use the 2 L/R fronts for music run in 2ch mode.

Mystery wrote: »

I have SDA CRS+ as my fronts in HT and works fine.
I switch to stereo mode for music and surround for movies.
I'm using Polk Monitor 5 and 7 was rear and side surrounds.

My guess would be SDA IC for fronts only may give good setup.
If all SDA's are used with IC, surround sound may sound really crowded but I haven't tried that so wait for comments.

cobramatteo

Hello All, My biggest questions still are :

When a set of SDA speakers are not hooked up using the interconnect, do all drivers revert back to full functioning,[like a regular 2 way speaker] or do you loose the use of say 3 out of 6 mid-bass drivers. I know at one time POLK made an entire SDA SRS home theater system, did that system use a control box, was the SDA effect present on all speakers or just the fronts ? I would like to utilize the SDA effect in as many speakers as possible without creating a sonic mess.

pitdogg2

"When a set of SDA speakers are not hooked up using the interconnect, do all drivers revert back to full functioning,[like a regular 2 way speaker]"

no not really all the Dimensional will have some content coming through.

"I would like to utilize the SDA effect in as many speakers as possible without creating a sonic mess. "

well then make your fronts and rears and leave out any side surrounds from any SDA effect, but I would think it may still be a mess to some extent. All you can do is experiment for yourself to see if you like if not try something else. We can't tell you how it will sound in YOUR environment.

tophatjohnny

pitdogg2 wrote: »

"When a set of SDA speakers are not hooked up using the interconnect, do all drivers revert back to full functioning,[like a regular 2 way speaker]"

no not really all the Dimensional will have some content coming through.

"I would like to utilize the SDA effect in as many speakers as possible without creating a sonic mess. "

well then make your fronts and rears and leave out any side surrounds from any SDA effect, but I would think it may still be a mess to some extent. All you can do is experiment for yourself to see if you like if not try something else. We can't tell you how it will sound in YOUR environment.

Great answer!!

cobramatteo

Thanks for all of your replies ! I am out of country for work for the next few months, was wondering how do SDA SRSs sound with no cable connected. Just being used as regular speakers, do they still sound pretty good, or is the interconnect a requirment for them to sound decent. I do appreciate the SDA effect, and will utilize it whenever possible.

chandler9a

If you aren't going to use the interconnect I would just sell them and get a speaker that would better fit your needs. IMO, yes, you do need the IC to make them sound decent, or at least that's the way they were designed.

There are plenty of good speakers out there for HT, I would not want to use SDA's as surrounds in my HT, I think its kind of a waste of a great 2 channel speaker but experiment a little, it may be good for your needs.

Will it work? Probably. Will it sound right? I would think not, and there are plenty of 2 channel guys around here who would be glad to have those SDA's once you get your post count past 100.

cobramatteo

No matter what, I will be keeping both pairs of my SDA SRS's. Those will be a sweet foundation to my 2 home theaters I will set up. It just seems a little misleading based on what the Polk website said about using SDA SRS, CRS+, and SDA 1 OR 2s to build a reference system for home theater.

The SDA-SRS Loudspeaker is the main component in a Polk Audio Signature Reference System. Build a towering, multi-channel loudspeaker system by combining a timbre-matched set of SDA Series speakers with your SDA-SRS front mains: use SDA1 or SDA2 as your rear surround floorstanding loudspeakers, and an SDA-CRS as your center channel speaker. The result is a lifesize sound system capable of producing incredible audio power, at truly lifelike volume levels, with superior accuracy and realistic imaging of even the most complex audio information.

That said, if I used the SDA SRS for fronts in both setups and SDA CRS+ 1ea for a center, what would be timber matched and a good pick for my surrounds and side speakers ? Would it be better to get another set of CRS and use a pair per setup as center speakers ?

cobramatteo

No matter what, I will be keeping both pairs of my SDA SRS's. Those will be a sweet foundation to my 2 home theaters I will set up. It just seems a little misleading based on what the Polk website said about using SDA SRS, CRS+, and SDA 1 OR 2s to build a reference system for home theater.

The SDA-SRS Loudspeaker is the main component in a Polk Audio Signature Reference System. Build a towering, multi-channel loudspeaker system by combining a timbre-matched set of SDA Series speakers with your SDA-SRS front mains: use SDA1 or SDA2 as your rear surround floorstanding loudspeakers, and an SDA-CRS as your center channel speaker. The result is a lifesize sound system capable of producing incredible audio power, at truly lifelike volume levels, with superior accuracy and realistic imaging of even the most complex audio information.

That said, if I used the SDA SRS for fronts in both setups and SDA CRS+ 1ea for a center, what would be timber matched and a good pick for my surrounds and side speakers ? Would it be better to get another set of CRS and use a pair per setup as center speakers ?

newrival

SDA effect is every bit as effective in the rears as it is in the front. As has been stated, if you run side channels, as in a 7.1 setup, the SDA effect is not attainable, so the interconnect should not be used for those.

In fact, I enjoy it far more for surround sound than I do in stereo. You need to remember that all the conventions hold true for SDA surrounds, ie. 3' from side walls, ensuring the distance between the two speakers is equal to or greater than the distance from the listening position to the front plane of the speakers, etc.

While I like the SRS, I prefer the sound of the 2b in all but the largest of rooms. I feel the imaging is superior and there is better coherence at all volumes. If the SDA1 that you have is tthe 1c, I would set it up this way:

6.1 system
front center: Polk Monitor 10b or CRS without the interconnect.
front L/R: Polk SDA1c with interconnect
rear L/R: Polk SDA2b with interconnect
rear center: Polk Monitor 10b or CRS without the interconnect.
sub: 2 or more of the best you can afford.

leroyjr1

I'd just sell them to get rid of all the confusion. Get a nice set of HT speakers and be done with it.

cobramatteo

Thanks a lot for your reply Newrival, I may even try 1 set of SDA SRS as fronts, and 1 set for my rears, with a CRS each as front and rear centers.

Subs, are looking like JL Fathoms or the Gotham.

In about 6 months, once I am home stateside - I will get all my equipment together and see how everything sounds. I am located in Westland, Mich 48186 if you ever are in the area 6 months from now.

Would be great to know some Polk audio enthusiasts that live within driving distances. All of my friends think high end home audio is a waste, but a few are into car audio.

newrival

cobramatteo,

that all sounds great. One suggestion I will make is that you look into subwoofers like the Seaton SubMerssive or the JTR Captivator or Orbit Shifter If you're spending the money. While the Fathoms are nearly as good as the best I've heard in sound quality, the JLs run out of output rather quickly. I am sure there will quickly be people here that will try and posit the contrary, but they are wrong. I've witnessed it. I've seen dual Gotham 213 hit its limiter on War of the Worlds' emergence scene, while a level/time matched JTR S2 played it with more impact, and insane headroom (also witnessed the degree of headroom - dangerous!:eek:) JTR and Seaton offerings are without question the best commercial subs on the market. Do a little digging and you will find there are many who have traded in their Fathoms and Gothams for these beasts. I will also add, they are the most beautifully musical subs I have heard, inluding the fathom/gotham. With a 600sf room you should be able to find some space for these bad boys.

newrival

if you have questions about these, let me know. I've been driving acrosss the midwest demoing and have been able to hear the best of the best. The only way to get better performance than Seaton or JTR is to go DIY. For the money, the only way I would go JL is if I had a very small, sealed, dedicated theater room where I could guarantee enough room gain to compensate for the lower performace.

cobramatteo

Are you familiar with the Tuba HT design by Bill Fitzmorrice ? 2 of those should provide all the base one could want.

Schurkey

cobramatteo wrote: »

When a set of SDA speakers are not hooked up using the interconnect, do all drivers revert back to full functioning,[like a regular 2 way speaker] or do you loose the use of say 3 out of 6 mid-bass drivers.

Older generations of SDA speakers had dimensional drivers that ONLY produced dimensional sound.

Newer generations of SDA speakers use all the drivers for stereo sound, (although the frequency response may be tailored/limited) and the dimensional signal is added on top of the stereo signal for one or more driver.

I'd expect that all the SRS speakers are new enough to use all the drivers.

newrival

cobramatteo wrote: »

Are you familiar with the Tuba HT design by Bill Fitzmorrice ? 2 of those should provide all the base one could want.

I am familiar with it on paper. Unfortunately I haven't heard it in person. I have talked to people who have had it or demoed it against the Danley DTS-10 and most have preferred the Danley (which I have heard). I love tapped horns, but they require heavy EQ and fuss. The tactile response is awesome, to say the least.

If you're looking to go DIY, the Tuba would be a pretty awesome choice. If you want something that will be less fussy, come complete, and have super tight gut-wrenching bass (single digit in-room response in tripple digit db) yet maintaining the best musicality, you owe it to yourself to hear, or just put in an order for a pair of the JTR Orbit Shifters.