SDA SRS 1.2 versus Legacy Audio Whisper XD

gdsk39a

I had the opportunity to go to Springfield IL and visit the Legacy Audio manufacturing facility a couple of weeks ago for the purpose of auditioning the Whisper XD. This is a massive speaker like the Polk SDA SRS 1.2 and cost is around $18k for a pair. The Speaker was impressive as the sound stage was solid and tight. The speakers weigh in at 210 pounds each. I really enjoyed listening to them.

My SDA SRS 1.2's (Marked as such in the back) as I have previously posted I have the 1.2TL crossover and I also screwed up by installing the RD-0194 tweeters (7 years ago) not knowing at the time that it was a 1.2 TL crossover (Still don't know why they were made with the 1.2TL crossover as I am the original owner). The crossover is still the original with the original capacitors and resistors.

After I listened to the Legacy Audio Whisper SD I went home and listened again to my Polk speakers and I must say that the soundstage was wider than the Legacy and the sound was just as good. I was thinking about buying the Legacy Audio Speakers, however now I have convinced myself that the return on investment is just not there by buying the Legacy and as such will keep my SDA SRS 1.2.

I did order new capacitors and resistors today from Sonicraft to replace the parts in the crossovers and hopefully will keep them for another 25 years.

GlennDog

gdsk39a wrote: »

After I listened to the Legacy Audio Whisper SD I went home and listened again to my Polk speakers and I must say that the soundstage was wider than the Legacy and the sound was just as good. I was thinking about buying the Legacy Audio Speakers, however now I have convinced myself that the return on investment is just not there by buying the Legacy and as such will keep my SDA SRS 1.2.

I have not had the pleasure of auditioning either the good 1.2 SRS or Whisper. . . but I am very familiar with the SDA SRRS IIs and the Legacy Empires . . . I'm boarderline in considering myself a convert to Legacy (with prejudice! ). I fell in love with my 2Bs ... 22yrs ago and a recent opportunity to buy Empires has me in a cunnundrum. . .. I wonder what the Whispers bring to the table???????????????


G

OldmanSRS

If any of you guys want to swap your pair of Legacy Audio Whisper XD's for my mint 1.2's, let me know

SSAudio1

I had a chance to audition both an older pair of Polk SDA SRS 1.2 and the newer Legacy Whisper XD, and I found the Whisper XD outperformed the Polk significantly, especially in several very key areas. First dynamic wise, the Polks couldn’t keep up with the Whisper XD- if you play a track with true to life transients, the Polk falls apart a bit, while the Whisper XD didn’t break a sweat- dynamics for days. I imagine that the 4 15” woofers help the Legacy here, allowing it to perform better than the Polk which has only one woofer.

I also found the Whisper’s midrange to be more revealing- this is likely due to the new rohacell/graphite midrange drivers that are a recent development and utilized in the Legacy design. The Polks by comparison, sounded muddy and lacking in definition in the low mids and bass.

Finally the dual AMT system on the Whispers was much more clear and provided a nice airy top end. This makes sense since the Legacy drivers, by design, can move air more efficiently than a conventional dome tweeter. Add to that, the DSP system that Legacy ships with Whisper, and this speaker is not only more technically advanced, but also sounds better out of the gate. The Whisper XD is in a league of speakers much higher than that Polk model. That's probably why OldmanSRS wants to trade his to get the Legacys I would too!

Glenn, I haven’t heard the Empires in person, but the Whispers should outperform it. The 4 15” woofer in the whisper work like a cardioid microphone- directing the sound to the listening position. This is a definite advantage, unique to this speaker, allowing it to react independent of the listening environment. You'd have to ask Legacy how these their older Empire compares to the Whisper XD.

tophatjohnny

Okay, spend the 18K!

motorstereo

It takes an 18K pair of speakers to best the 1.2s? I think that's really saying something for the big polks. But I wonder if those legacys can best the 1.2s for soundstage?

SSAudio1

The Whispers definitely have a way better soundstage than the Polks- no contest in this area. You just cannot beat the Whisper for room independence- check out the in room test on youtube, quite revealing when compared with other speaker technologies. And I wouldn?t say it takes an $18K speaker to beat the Polks, the less expensive Legacy speakers I?ve heard handily beat it as well (see the new Signature SE, Focus etc.) I?m just addressing the two speakers in the thread

F1nut

Other the other hand, I've found the Whispers to be one of the worst speakers I've heard in recent memory.

PolkieMan

My wife is very tolerant and likes the Big Polks and the lil 1C's but I don't think she would appreciate me buying a pair of speakers that cost more than our car. Besides they better be better at almost 3X the price adjusted for today's dollar.:razz:

F1nut wrote: »

Other the other hand, I've found the Whispers to be one of the worst speakers I've heard in recent memory.