opinions please

soundfreak1

I know this is subjective!!!! However how much of a step up in sound is a pair of stock sda1 (c's i believe) over a pair of rta 12c's??????

soundfreak1

Have i slipped into the twilite zone???? An hour and a half amd 22 views without one opinion on polk speakers differences. Waiting for Rod Sterling to come into my front door any second LOL

chumlie

And counting. Sorry no help.

Oldfatdogs

I haven't heard the rta 12c's but I think you need both sets.
I have the 1Cs and love them.Great speakers.
Dan

soundfreak1

Ive only had my ears on the sda2b's and was none to impressed (compaired toe rta but have heard talk that the 1's are better than the 2b's . So shooting blind

geppy1

Been down this road many times.
Somewhat wider stage on the SDA 2Bs and more bass weight
The RTA 12B,C have more depth and a more out in front of you presentation while the 2Bs the depth is more behind the speakers.
The RTAs also have a more alive presentation. Thngs are crisp and more defined. You can even hear this from another room
HOWEVER the SDAs give you a feeling that everything is alittle more "there". THE RTA sounds a little thinner in comparision.
it is a tough call as they are different

rsxman

i have had rta-15tl, ls-90s and now sda 3.1tl

i enjoy the sda effect and the expansive soundstage that the sda offers over the other two to be very honest.

you cannot beat that, unless you upgrade the SDAs

cincycat13

I've never heard the 12c's so I will shoot blind with you and I have heard they are really good. I have owned the 2Bs and have heard the 1Cs in stock configuration. I did enjoy the 2Bs. I did not hear a significant difference in the 1Cs I heard to make me want to change. I really found room configuration to be a factor. So when I ran out of a long wall set up I traded the 2Bs straight up for the RTA15TL's which sound better than the 2Bs where I needed to place them. I still have some SDA 2.3 which I will keep as long as possible as the bass really set them a step above the 2Bs. Audition if you can, but if you don't have the right room geometry and didnt like the 2Bs then I am not sure the 1Cs will be your idea of an upgrade either. The RTA15s certainly are more up front than any of the SDA I have had. Was it RUSH...it's not the kill...it's the thrill of the chase...

tophatjohnny

Have not had my ears on the RT line (will own a pair someday) I do own the RT2000i's and those are great. I have owned the 2B's and a definite upgrade it was when I got my 1B's. (night and day better) I guess it does depend on the room you are placing them and whether or not you are into the SDA effect?? I love it, and with all the great power you have to drive those 1C's, I'll bet you will be very happy with them. Keep us posted.

decal

You really need to determine that for yourself.

tophatjohnny

decal wrote: »

You really need to determine that for yourself.

Is that your final opinion??

decal

tophatjohnny wrote: »

Is that your final opinion??

Yes, it is.

DaveHo

I have both. I'm not real good at describing this sort of thing, but I'll give it a shot. First let me throw out there that both my 12C's & SDA 1C's are bone stock. I have plans to mod the 1C's not sure about the 12C's at this point.

Other than sharing the Polk family sound, they really are different animals. It's hard to compare the RTA "effect" to the SDA sound. Where as the 12C's just seem smooth and right they don't envelope you like the SDA's will. The 1C's of course play "bigger" but also can sound a bit heavy at times. That's not to say the 12C's are slouches, but they are a more intimate speaker. I really enjoy both, but if I had to choose one to get rid of, it would be the 12C's.

-Dave

drumminman

I have fully modded RTA 12C's (except with stock SL1000 tweeters) and fully modded 2.3TL's. My thoughts are:

The RTA 12C's are less sensitive to room placement, have a wonderful center image, have very nice reproduction of transients from very low to the high treble range, and sound open and without boxiness.

The 2.3TL's are in another league in terms of sound stage, both front to back and side to side. Not really a fair comparison especially since the front end on these is higher quality than what I'm using on the 12C's.

I haven't had my ears on a set of 1C's so I can't offer any info there.

Something to consider is that doing the Xovers on the 12C's, which needs to be done to hear what they can do, is expensive as they have both upper and lower Xovers with several large value (expensive!) caps. However, I did it and the results are outstanding.

soundfreak1

There was a pair of 1c in my area selling for about what it would cost to do a mod on the 12c's so was trying to deside which way to go. I just really like the RTA's so much not willing to replace them and cant have both (dollars) sooooooo i will do the 12 c's i guess.

Dawgfish

I've had 12Bs and SDA 1Cs. I liked both very much, but if I had to pick one I would go with the 1Cs. I also believe the 1Cs will respond better to mods down the road.

soundfreak1

I had the 12b's as well and sold them in favor of the c's just cant bring myself to sell the c's. Ive had a lot of speakers many much more expencive and supposedly better (and have heard even more) but like a favorate pair of jeans im just comfortable with the way these sound in my current system.i guess im in a rut with them. It will ( i guess) take a side by side face to face speaker "knife fight" to displace the c's. hell thats how they made it to my main rig! I imagine its like ice cream everybody likes it, just some like vanilla and some like strawberry.

PolkieMan

I Would choose an SDA speaker over any regular speaker. Unless of course the regular speaker was something outrageous, huge, powerful and expensive, even then I might still sell it. I order to understand that you need to be properly subjected to SDA speakers setup properly.

tophatjohnny

If you ate happy, that's all ya need. I got lucky to find the 1B's I now own. Maybe you will find a minty SDA set you can't pass on. You will be thrilled when you or if you do, and I think all SDA's a great!

drumminman

soundfreak1 wrote: »

I had the 12b's as well and sold them in favor of the c's just cant bring myself to sell the c's. Ive had a lot of speakers many much more expencive and supposedly better (and have heard even more) but like a favorate pair of jeans im just comfortable with the way these sound in my current system.i guess im in a rut with them. It will ( i guess) take a side by side face to face speaker "knife fight" to displace the c's. hell thats how they made it to my main rig! I imagine its like ice cream everybody likes it, just some like vanilla and some like strawberry.

Wait for another of Sonicraft's 20% off sales and then MOD THE CRAP OUT OF 'em! :cool:

You'll love 'em even more as replacing the old electrolytic caps and sand cast resistors with film caps and non-inductive mills resistors takes them to a much higher level.

soundfreak1

Just struggling with the investment of 5/6 hundo in the c's (which i already love) or a "if-come-maybe" in a diff speaker at the same inveatment.cant do both and the sda's 1's or better never come around when i have the money! LOL.will have the money soon (tax refund) so trying to deside where to spend it best.ive finished the amp (very pleased with it.) finished the DAC, happy with the pre, so the speakers are the last thing in the main rig to do before cd transport and cables, ic's that is LOL.