a few SDA SRS 2 questions - sound? ohms? compatible with my receiver? etc

pglbook

I have a few questions on the Polk SDA SRS 2 speakers.
I know that there are many versions of SDA speakers and that some of them need a big space or a high watt receiver to sound the best.

How many OHMs is the SDA SRS 2?
Would my Yamaha CR 2020 receiver be compatible and a good match for them?
Do the SDA SRS 2 require a large space for them to thrive?
What is an average price one would expect to pay for them?
How is the sound of the SDA SRS 2?

I have never heard the SDA series as I have always had the older Monitor series (Monitor 5A, 7A, 10A) and I am curious how the SDA SRS 2 speakers would compare to, for example, my Polk Monitor 10A speakers.

Thank you.

Mystery

pglbook wrote: »

...
Would my Yamaha CR 2020 receiver be compatible and a good match for them?
Do the SDA SRS 2 require a large space for them to thrive?
What is an average price one would expect to pay for them?
How is the sound of the SDA SRS 2?

I have never heard the SDA series as I have always had the older Monitor series (Monitor 5A, 7A, 10A) and I am curious how the SDA SRS 2 speakers would compare to, for example, my Polk Monitor 10A speakers.
Thank you.

I don't have SRS 2 but have read 10000000 of threads on them.
Okay little bit less than that.
From my understanding...
CR2020 will be okay but not if you truly want to wake them up.
You need large space as they need enough clearance on both sides.
Price not sure but around $450.

This I'm sure of... you can't compare any monitor series to SRS 2.
SRS will beat the cr#p out of any monitor. :cheesygrin:

SRS are considered better than SDA which are better than monitors. :rolleyes:

squeeb

I can't help with many of your questions but I will try. According to the link below, they are 4 ohm. I thought I read somewhere they are 6.

Don't know about your Yammy - you need to find out if it can push speakers less than 8 ohms. It won't do them justice but might get you by until you can upgrade.

Larger space does help but we all get by with what we have to work with.

Prices vary a lot - especially on condition. I paid $400 for mine in very good condition earlier this year but he started out asking $600.

Good luck - they are nice sounding speakers.

http://www.polksda.com/sdasrs2.shtml

PolkieMan

Read the SDA Handbook, it's right here.

http://www.vr3mods.com/LCSDAUpgrade.php

You need at least 3 feet from the walls on each side of the speaker and about 6-8 feet between them typical without anything between them over 3 feet tall on extending past the front of them (simply don't create a wall) they need to be 6-12 inches from the back wall.

The sound, if setup properly is well, SDA, anything else is just a speaker :cheesygrin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVkYNUbuSLY


Your receiver should be ok

http://select45rpm.com/pages/hifi/powerratings.html

pglbook

Thanks for the comments. They seem like great speakers. I hope I gert the chance to some day hear some of the SDA or SRS speakers for myself.

Besides the SDA SRS 2, what would be some other highly recommended SDA or SRS speakers, in the $500-$650 price range?

Thanks.

Polkie2009

Yes, these speakers need some breathing room and really shine when you can push them with an amp (SS) that's rated around 200 watts rms/per channel or higher. I've read of a number of polkies running the huge Carver amps pushing like 475 watts rms per channel and flat take the big speakers to a higher level, but once again ,they need the big room to run. Also, many here have had blissful results running tube amps of various watts. You got a nice deal if you only paid $400.00 and they were in great shape.:).

pglbook

Thanks again. Would my Yamaha CR 2020 receiver (105 watts) not be good for them?

michael1947

I have an old yammy, a 1010 with just a little less power and either would "run" them, neither would be very happy. I personally think the big sda/srs need minimum 250wpc and 500 would be better, they can handle 1,000.

Polkie2009

The CR 2020 is rated at 105 watts rms/channel at 8 ohms? I used to run my SDA/SRS 2's with a H/K Citation 19 power amp that was rated modestly at about 100 watts rms/channel at 8 ohms. It will work,but I think you'll be very happy finding a nice deal on a used power amp pushing around 200 watts per channel or more:cheesygrin: in the CP flea market

pglbook

Thanks. Pardon the ignorant question, but what is the advantage of a a power amp? Does it connect to the receiver or is it a separate component? I apologize but I have always had vintage receivers and have never used power amps and am not familiar with them. Of course, I have heard the name but I never understood the purpose of a power amp, how it works, etc. I guess I need a little (maybe a lot of) education on power amps. I'd appreciate any info you can share to get me up to speed. Thanks again. I appreciate it.

Schurkey

squeeb wrote: »

I can't help with many of your questions but I will try. According to the link below, they are 4 ohm. I thought I read somewhere they are 6.

SDA SRS 2 Blade/blade (early) are similar to SDA 1B. 4-ohm nominal impedance, cannot use an AI-1 isolation transformer. Single positive and negative binding posts. Easy upgrade to RD0-198 tweeters.

SDA SRS 2 Pin/Blade (later) are similar to SDA 1C. 6-ohm nominal impedance, can be used with AI-1 isolation transformer. SRS 2 Pin/Blade has two pair of binding posts, can be bi-wired or passively bi-amped. Not known to be upgradable to RD0-198s.

SRS 2 Craigslist and eBay sellers don't ever mention what SDA interconnect style they have. Sometimes you can tell by the photos, and sometimes you just have to contact them and ask.

PolkieMan

Yea a nice receiver will let you bypass the built in amp and use an external amp. It will have Preamp Outs. If you like it quite loud you need 200 watts per channel. But if you can use (cr2020) that for a while.

pglbook

Thanks. I think I get the idea of an amp. But I am still learning and thus will still have to ask some more ignorant questions until I get up to speed about power amps. Her's the first query:

By bypassing the receiver's built in amp, do you change the sound of the receiver? For example if I added a power amp to my Yamaha CR 2020 receiver and bypassed the internal amp so that now it went to the power amp, would I lose the Yamaha sound?

I hope my question makes sense. I am still trying to figure this out as I am new to the world of amps.

Thanks.

PolkieMan

Well if you were in Houston you could come over and listen.
Yea you will be using the new amp so the Yamaha amp will be out of the loop.
You will still be using the Yamaha preamp circuits and tone controls.
But you have enough to get started. Have you found a set to buy?

Phasewolf

Yea what state are you in? There are a lot of us who would not mind letting you hear what they sound like. Plus maybe someone if they see a set local to you can toss you a line and let you know some are for sale.

Good luck.

helipilotdoug

pglbook wrote: »

Besides the SDA SRS 2, what would be some other highly recommended SDA or SRS speakers, in the $500-$650 price range?

Thanks.

The SRS's are great speakers, and as others have said need plenty of power and a good size room to perform their best.. I have the blade/blade earlier version, and they have been up-graded to use the superior RDO 198 tweeters. On your question about other SDA speakers, the SDA 2B is one of the most highly regarded speakers here on CP. I also have a set of the 2B's which were my main speakers before the SRS 2's. They were rebuilt, and had all the mods and tweaks found here done to them. They are fantastic speakers, and I'm sure you would love them too. The difference between the SRS 2's and the SDA 2B's, is of course size, and in my system anyway, is the outstanding bass, and larger sound stage from the SRS2's. Don't get me wrong here, the SDA 2B's are fantastic speakers, and I'd recommend them highly. Both speakers do need good power to perform their best. You could get along with the receiver ok for awhile, but to get the most from either set of speakers, a good power amp would be best.

BTW, I also have a set of Monitor 10A's which are used in my shop system. I do love my 10A's and they are hard to beat, but IMHO the SRS and SDA series speakers are far superior. The soundstage is so much better with the SDA and SRS, plus large improvements in all other areas.

pglbook

Thanks for all of the great information. I live in upstate NY (Albany, NY) so perhaps there are some local Polkies nearby with some SRS or SDA speakers and I'll get a chance to hear them some day. They do seem like fantastic speakers. Thanks again. Happy Holidays to all!

Oldmanind

I run mine off a 120 watt home built class d amp and its more then loud enough for me

PolkieMan

Exactly! and I want to continue to be able to hear as long as I am around.
And most of the time I listen at about 5-10 watts per channel.
Don't get me wrong it's nice to have the headroom.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decibel


http://www.gcaudio.com/resources/howtos/loudness.html

Oldmanind wrote: »

I run mine off a 120 watt home built class d amp and its more then loud enough for me

pglbook

Very true. Good advice!

xsmi

I have SRS 2's B/B and an old Yamaha RX-V2090. It's a little bright but I think it's more because of the sl-2000's more than the Yammie because they are still a little bright with my Integra. The Yamaha plays plenty loud for me as well and the headroom is just fine. I have used an old homemade tube amp on them that I doubt was more than 12watts per channel which toned my speakers down A LOT! Although I would like to have more power, my Yamaha drives these just fine in my room 20' X 17'.

stubby

Due to circumstances beyond my control, I downgraded my seperates (Nak PA7 and Aragon pre) to an inferior Denon AVR 5800. I was completely surprised by the result. The Denon has MORE than held it's own, and I am not the least bit itching to move back to seperates any time soon. Of course, I am not a true audiophile, but I know what sounds good to my ears.