SDA SRS 1.2TL Crossover Cap and Resistor Replacements and Observations
gdsk39a
Posts: 28
First of all my SDA SRS 1.2TL speakers sounded great. Wide Soundstage, great depth and height. The speakers though were 23 years old. Based on many recommendations from the forum I went ahead and replaced all capacitors and resistors with Sonicaps and MILLS Resistors. I checked all the old parts after I removed them and capacitors were still within 2% of the values eventhough they were 23 years old. Same with the resistors. Example old 27uf measured in at 27.05uf. The 12uf measured at 12.02uf and so on. This was surprising especially with all the commentary on the forum on how the caps degrade over time.
Installed all the new components and the speakers still sound great, however, I cannot say that I experienced this huge sonic change in the speakers as many have stated.
I am not dissapointed at all, but it was interesting that the values of the old components had not degraded and the sound still is great with the new components but not noticeably different from the old parts.
New parts will at least let me keep them for another 23 years or more.
Installed all the new components and the speakers still sound great, however, I cannot say that I experienced this huge sonic change in the speakers as many have stated.
I am not dissapointed at all, but it was interesting that the values of the old components had not degraded and the sound still is great with the new components but not noticeably different from the old parts.
New parts will at least let me keep them for another 23 years or more.
Post edited by gdsk39a on
Comments
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If I remember correctly guys here on the forum state that it takes a couple hundred hours for new caps. & resistors to break in.
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I too did this with my 2.3tls and my 1Cs. I have noticed more of a presence and detail but not the change I noticed with the tweeters which have also been upgraded in both. I mean it's subtle but they already sounded very good I thought. The 2.3tls were bought new and only moved twice always kept in the main room. I don't know about the 1c I have had them only a year. Maybe others have acquired speakers that were not as well cared for as our so the change was more noticeable and of course the burn in
may take more time at lower volumes.POLK SDA 2.3 TLS BOUGHT NEW IN 1990, Gimpod/Sonic Caps/Mills RDO-198
POLK CSI-A6 POLK MONITOR 70'S ONKYO TX NR-808 SONY CDP-333ES
PIONEER PL-510A SONY BDP S5100
POLK SDA 1C BOUGHT USED 2011,Gimpod/Sonic Caps/Mills RDO-194
ONKYO HT RC-360 SONY BDP S590 TECHNICS SL BD-1 -
gdsk39a, If you're interested have a look at my post about my recent experience with my SDA SRS1.2s. Trey at Vr3 Mods rebuilt the crossovers with new caps, resistors, and inductors, and he also rebuilt the binding post cups. He also provided a new SDA inductor and SDA interconnect cables to connect with my Dreadnought. I also did a number of other modifications at the same time; so, the immediate improvements in the sonic performance of my speakers could not be attributed solely to new caps, resistors and inductors.
However, the delayed improvements that I experienced earlier this week -- after at least 200 hours of listening -- can only be attributed to the upgrades in electrical components -- caps, resistors, inductors. At least, that is the explanation that makes sense to this rank amateur newbie par excellence!
My bet is that after a couple hundred hours of listening you will hear a big change. I hope you do, because it was a delightful experience, especially while listening with my daughter!
Here's the link to my post:
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?139926-Does-recapping-really-improve-sound-Or-is-it-just-quot-psycho-acoustics-quot&p=1851087#post1851087Family Room, Innuos Statement streamer (Roon Core) with Morrow Audio USB cable to McIntosh MC 2700 pre with DC2 Digital Audio Module; AQ Sky XLRs to CAT 600.2 dualmono amp, Morrow Elite Speaker Cables to NOLA Baby Grand Reference Gold 3 speakers. Power source for all components: Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One with dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel.
Exercise Room, Innuos Streamer via Cat 6 cable connection to PS Audio PerfectWave MkII DAC w/Bridge II, AQ King Cobra RCAs to Perreaux PMF3150 amp (fully restored and upgraded by Jeffrey Jackson, Precision Audio Labs), Supra Rondo 4x2.5 Speaker Cables to SDA 1Cs (Vr3 Mods Xovers and other mods.), Dreadnaught with Supra Rondo 4x2.5 interconnect cables by Vr3 Mods. Power for each component from dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel, except Innuos Statement powered from Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One. -
On my 2.3TL's I kept records of the sound at different points during burn in. I noticed easily discernible changes at 40 hours, again at 110 hours and then again right at 200 hours.
I was coming from a set of Def Tech BP 30's (modded Xovers with sonicap/mills/alphacore air core inductors, new internal wiring) that sounded quite good. Before the Xover mods (and other tweaks listed in my signature) I was a little disappointed in the clarity, though the soundstage was better. After the mods my big SDA's are simply stunning."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 -
+1 for 200 hours of burn in. I've done recapping with Sonicaps several times, and burn in is a head scratching process. They sound good, then they regress and you swear they sound worse than the original electronics, then they open up again, then they regress again, and finally they stabilize. You really need to get to 200 hours on them before you can make any critical judgement. Also, have you done the tweeter upgrade?Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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When the original owner of my 1.2tl's (hearingimpaired) re-did the crossovers he actually thought he did something wrong. Joe even started a thread about how they didn't sound as good as they did with the old electronics. Turned out nothing was wrong except for them needing lots and lots of playing time. When I did my 2.3s (non tl) they also needed playing time to come around. Hang in there and report back when you have a month or so of playing time on them.
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motorstereo wrote: »When the original owner of my 1.2tl's (hearingimpaired) re-did the crossovers he actually thought he did something wrong. Joe even started a thread about how they didn't sound as good as they did with the old electronics. Turned out nothing was wrong except for them needing lots and lots of playing time. When I did my 2.3s (non tl) they also needed playing time to come around. Hang in there and report back when you have a month or so of playing time on them.
Same here in some respects. The old caps on my 2.3TL's were leaking badly and bass was boomy and undefined. While it took awhile for many of the sonic improvements to show up, there was an immediate improvement in the bass. Keep playing them and over time, I'm confident you'll begin to hear the results that make the upgrades worth the time and $$.____________________________________________________________
polkaudio Fully Modded SDA SRS 1.2TLs + Dreadnaught, LSiM706c, 4 X Polk Surrounds + 4 X ATMOS, SVS PB13 Ultra X 2, Pass Labs X1, Marantz 7704, Bob Carver Crimson Beauty 350 Tube Mono Blocks, Carver Sunfire Signature Cinema Grande 400x5, ADCOM GFA 7807, Panasonic UB420, Moon 380D DAC, EPSON Pro Cinema 6050 -
+1 for 200 hours of burn in. I've done recapping with Sonicaps several times, and burn in is a head scratching process. They sound good, then they regress and you swear they sound worse than the original electronics, then they open up again, then they regress again, and finally they stabilize. You really need to get to 200 hours on them before you can make any critical judgement. Also, have you done the tweeter upgrade?
Yep. Just did sonicaps and mills in my Monitor 5's, and the bass wasn't there for weeks. All of a sudden one day it came back with more slam, definition, & control. Very strange indeed. -
First of all my SDA SRS 1.2TL speakers sounded great. Wide Soundstage, great depth and height. The speakers though were 23 years old. Based on many recommendations from the forum I went ahead and replaced all capacitors and resistors with Sonicaps and MILLS Resistors. I checked all the old parts after I removed them and capacitors were still within 2% of the values eventhough they were 23 years old. Same with the resistors. Example old 27uf measured in at 27.05uf. The 12uf measured at 12.02uf and so on. This was surprising especially with all the commentary on the forum on how the caps degrade over time.
Installed all the new components and the speakers still sound great, however, I cannot say that I experienced this huge sonic change in the speakers as many have stated.
I am not dissapointed at all, but it was interesting that the values of the old components had not degraded and the sound still is great with the new components but not noticeably different from the old parts.
New parts will at least let me keep them for another 23 years or more.
Just a suggestion - check your soldering connections - make sure all caps inductors, and resistor connections are solid. Then check the 14 mH inductor connections are solid. If necessary, check the solder connections for the inductors. Make sure the brace that holds your crossover board is solid and tight to the speaker. If it does not feel the brace is not solid to the speaker even after tightening the screws, you may want to use mortite to seal up any air gaps that may exist.
Also perform an air tight test. Push your pr in, release, and see if the other drivers slowly return back to place. If the drivers do not displace, then fall back into place, an air leak exists.
I personally did not experience any bass dropout when I redid the crossover section of my speakers. Either something is wrong with me or I am damn lucky.Statistics show that 98% of us will die at some point in our lifetime.
The other 2% will work for WalMart. -
I am not dissapointed at all, but it was interesting that the values of the old components had not degraded and the sound still is great with the new components but not noticeably different from the old parts.
Something is wrong, you should have noticed an immediate improvement in the bass response with the rest to follow. As suggested, you should recheck your work.New parts will at least let me keep them for another 23 years or more.
The new parts will not degrade, so it's definitely, "or more".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
