Very modest 2 channel rig

Bigbang
Bigbang Posts: 233
edited January 2013 in Vintage Speakers
I Just got home from a 6 hour ride to pick up these CRS+'s and couldnt wait to tell the world. I swear I think they sound better than my SDA 1c's that I tried my best to sort out. Powered by a small but powerful Toshiba 335 MkII seperates and the audio coming from digital FLAC delivered by a Squeezebox Duet (Thanks Neil). Soon there will be a turntable on top of all this fun. Wow, these SDA CRS+'s sound great. Now I cant wait to tear them apart and making some modifications... With the right turntable and vinyl from George and a higher current amp and a better pre (tube) these will sing.

photo.jpg
I like to listen, tinker, listen and repeat.
Post edited by Bigbang on
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  • gudnoyez
    gudnoyez Posts: 8,124
    edited January 2013
    I posted on the thread Started at 7:08 this one was a minute after, anyways excited you should be. I bet the drive just thinking about them was exciting, what did you give for these? Congrats.
    Home Theater
    Parasound Halo A 31 OnkyoTX-NR838 Sony XBR55X850B 55" 4K RtiA9 Fronts CsiA6 Center RtiA3 Rears FxiA6 Side Surrounds Dual Psw 111's Oppo 105D Signal Ultra Speaker Cables & IC's Signal Magic Power Cable Technics SL Q300 Panamax MR4300 Audioquest Chocolate HDMI Cables Audioquest Forest USB Cable

    2 Channel
    Adcom 555II Vincent SA-T1 Marantz SA 15S2 Denon DR-M11 Clearaudio Bluemotion SDA 2.3tl's (Z) edition MIT Terminator II Speaker Cables & IC's Adcom 545II Adcom Gtp-450 Marantz CD5004 Technics M245X SDA 2B's, SDA CRS+

    Stuff for the Head
    JD LABS C5 Headphone Amplifier, Sennheiser HD 598, Polk Audio Buckle, Polk Audio Hinge, Velodyne vPulse, Bose IE2, Sennheiser CX 200 Street II, Sennheiser MX 365

    Shower & Off the beaten path Rigs
    Polk Audio Boom Swimmer, Polk Audio Urchin B)
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  • Oldfatdogs
    Oldfatdogs Posts: 1,874
    edited January 2013
    Congratulations glad your drive was worth it.
    Dan
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  • Bigbang
    Bigbang Posts: 233
    edited January 2013
    150. The guy knew what he had he just thought it was fair. I guess considering what I'm going to do to them with modifications, I had to agree. he was considering the SDA SRS 1.2's in detroit...

    I'm suprised at the width and depth of the soundstage and I really have not fine tuned anything yet. They just sound great and having owned 5jr's, Original SDA SRS's and the 1c's I didnt think I could be shocked but I am.
    I like to listen, tinker, listen and repeat.
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  • PolkieMan
    PolkieMan Posts: 2,446
    edited January 2013
    $150 wow a deal pocket change:biggrin:
    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
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    edited January 2013
    Thats a steal of a price as you know well.

    Glad it all worked out for ya. I would love to get my ears on them at some point for sure!
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • tx_polkhead
    tx_polkhead Posts: 248
    edited January 2013
    Great price! Mine are in the bedroom connected to a HK 330B that I think is rated at 15-20 watts and it sounds like heaven. Some day I would like to put some real wood veneer on them and upgrade the tweeters. I paid the same amount...for a pioneer HT AVR, the CRS+'s were thrown in for free with purchase! I still have the AVR as a back-up perhaps I will sell it someday but the CRS+'s get used daily!
    Polk Audio RTA 12c's, Monitor 7c, Monitor 5JR+, SDA CRS+
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  • astar13656
    astar13656 Posts: 164
    edited January 2013
    Bigbang, were those in Columbus, Ohio?
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  • Bigbang
    Bigbang Posts: 233
    edited January 2013
    They were. I'm sorry if you wanted them. I had to drive through Dayton to get them...
    I like to listen, tinker, listen and repeat.
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  • Tankman
    Tankman Posts: 419
    edited January 2013
    Modest?..Not by a long shot what you have is sweet set up in my book.Well done well done I say!
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  • gmjungbluth
    gmjungbluth Posts: 232
    edited January 2013
    Looks great! Congratulations!
    HT System:
    Marantz NR-1403
    Front: Klipsch CF-4
    Rear: Paradigm Atom V3
    Center: Boston Acoustic VR12
    Sub: Bowers & Wilkins ASW600

    2Ch:
    Restored Fisher 500C
    Yamaha P-500 Turntable

    Living Room:
    Harman Kardon 3380
    Restored Polk Monitor 7B

    Bedroom:
    Harman Kardon VR-3750
    Cambridge Soundworks Ensemble
    Polk PSW10

    In and out of rotation:
    KLH Model 6,
    Polk LSI7
    NAD 7100
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  • Mike Reeter
    Mike Reeter Posts: 4,315
    edited January 2013
    Your new CRS's look to be in very good shape, well worth the time and effort of the trip! Congrats!
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  • tophatjohnny
    tophatjohnny Posts: 4,182
    edited January 2013
    Great score. I dug my CRS+'s when they were here too! Set up looks sweet!
    "if it's not fun, it's not worth it & remember folks, "It's All About The Music"!!
    *****************************
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  • ZLTFUL
    ZLTFUL Posts: 5,648
    edited January 2013
    Grats on the score. Trying to find a set of SDAs for myself...of any ilk really as long as it is a screamin' deal like these were for you hehe.
    And I agree...hardly modest. That is a great 2 channel setup you have there.
    "Some people find it easier to be conceited rather than correct."

    "Unwad those panties and have a good time man. We're all here to help each other, no matter how it might appear." DSkip
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  • Msabot1
    Msabot1 Posts: 2,098
    edited January 2013
    Simple gear matched to the right components can produce great sound! I think you started a chain reaction that will be hard to contain! You will keep adding and swapping till the cows come home! That's what this passion is all about bro!
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  • tophatjohnny
    tophatjohnny Posts: 4,182
    edited January 2013
    Bigbang wrote: »
    I Just got home from a 6 hour ride to pick up these CRS+'s and couldnt wait to tell the world. I swear I think they sound better than my SDA 1c's that I tried my best to sort out.


    photo.jpg


    Man if you think your CRS+'s sound better than your modified 1C's.. I'm stummped!!:confused::confused: I had the CRS+'s for a while and in no shape or form do they sound better than my 1B's! Not even close! My 1B's are way more musical, bigger stage, and oomph to boot. Only adding this as I see you had your 1C's modded and modded to me is the same as "changed" and that scares the hell outta me when considering doing the mods on my 1B's that already sound great to me! I may just sit tight and stick with what is making me smile for a while!! Not saying the CRS+'s weren't great, they were, but 1B's thet weren't. This probably has to do some with the room you are using them. I see open space to the right side behind your set up, so maybe the smaller speakers in that area work great??
    "if it's not fun, it's not worth it & remember folks, "It's All About The Music"!!
    *****************************
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  • Mystery
    Mystery Posts: 2,546
    edited January 2013
    Congrats!
    BTW, you guys are confusing me.
    Some come up and say SDA-1C, 1B's are much better than CRS+ while others think CRS+ is better and others 2B's.

    Looks like there is no other way than having them all. :rolleyes:

    Klipsch RB81, KG3.5, B&W DM602.5, Polk.
    Subwoofers: Klipsch RW10, Triad ProSub Bronze.
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  • drselect
    drselect Posts: 664
    edited January 2013
    Nice.
    Enjoy them and then have fun with the mods. They are well worth it.
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  • TennMan
    TennMan Posts: 1,266
    edited January 2013
    Mystery wrote: »
    ...Some come up and say SDA-1C, 1B's are much better than CRS+ while others think CRS+ is better and others 2B's...
    I think there are several reasons for that.

    Speaker evaluation is a lot like sex, 90% mental and 10% physical. Excitement, anticipation and expectation tend to sway the perceived sound we hear. If you think you are going to like it most of the time you do. (That statement doesn't always carry over to sex.) :lol:

    I think humans have a poor memory for sound details. If you don't A-B switch the speakers, by the time you have swapped out speakers and get them setup correctly you probably won't remember many details of what you heard in the last set of speakers. That's when the high tech guys get out their meters, charts and all that other stuff so they can see what they just heard. I usually just write down what I like about one pair of speakers and use it when comparing them to another set.

    Another reason would be that the sound we like varies from one person to another.
    • SDA 2BTL · Sonicaps · Mills resistors · RDO-198s · New gaskets · H-nuts · Erse inductors · BH5 · Dynamat
    • Crossover upgrades by westmassguy
    • Marantz 1504 AVR (front speaker pre-outs to Adcom 555)
    • Adcom GFA-555 amp · Upgrades & speaker protection added by OldmanSRS
    • Pioneer DV-610AV DVD/CD player
    • SDA CRS+ · Hidden away in the closet
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    edited January 2013
    Mystery wrote: »
    Looks like there is no other way than having them all. :rolleyes:

    Ask Audio_Alan, I think he's the SDA master (gotta catch em all)... and he's got em all IIRC LOL
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • Mystery
    Mystery Posts: 2,546
    edited January 2013
    I think Larry also has or had almost all of them and his preference is Tl'ed CRS+, 3.1 and 2B from some old thread while many other threads mention 3.1 simply stump any of the lower series.
    Looks like it really depends upon who's doing the listening rather than a pair that's better preferred by all. :confused:

    Klipsch RB81, KG3.5, B&W DM602.5, Polk.
    Subwoofers: Klipsch RW10, Triad ProSub Bronze.
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited January 2013
    Great sounding speakers and enjoy the music!
    Jake
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  • audio_alan
    audio_alan Posts: 770
    edited January 2013
    EndersShadow wrote: »
    Ask Audio_Alan, I think he's the SDA master (gotta catch em all)... and he's got em all IIRC LOL

    Haha, I have a lot of them, but when you consider all the intra-model variants, studio, TL vs. non-TL, I'm nowhere close to having them all. I think I'd run out of room in my house before I even got close!

    It's tough to say which pair I like most though. The large SDA-SRS's are just plain sexy. Their sound stage is incredible. They fill up large rooms with ease and sound amazing. However, given a smaller room, they might sound almost overbearing. The 1C's (which I have in my bedroom rig) are just as satisfying, but I don't think they'd fill my livingroom near as convincingly as their larger brothers. The 2.3's (non-TL) sound a little "tubby" to me (perhaps they were too close to the back wall), but worked great for my mains in HT. I think they wouldn't sound near as good as my SDA-SRS's for a 2-channel system. The 2b's, I'm somewhat impartial to. They sound good, don't get me wrong, but they really don't have the same wow factor (looks or sound, to me anyway) as some of the other models. Finally, the CRS+'s I have, they sound amazingly good for their size. They could use a better setup location though, so I don't think I've given them the fairest of shakes when it comes to a head-to-head comparison against the other models. I have big plans for those little guys though!

    Any way you slice it, if you like the SDA sound, they are all great speakers!
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  • Bigbang
    Bigbang Posts: 233
    edited January 2013
    The truth is I don't think I ever did the 1c's sorted. I found them as a rescue project and had to replace two bad drivers and the tweeters always seemed to be a problem. Even after I upgraded them. I had them powered right with an Adcom 555 but they never seemed right. So I sold them cheap to a Bose guy in Kentucky. I took a bath because I had to tell him my suspicious. They were loud but had no presence or depth.

    Your right, I worked my **** off trying to make them right. It was disappointing. So the is a mental aspect as well. I had high expectations with the 1c's. I had none with these.

    The real steal was this little Toshiba separate setup for 60 bucks.

    Enders. You are welcome anytime. Just PM me for the address
    I like to listen, tinker, listen and repeat.
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  • ZLTFUL
    ZLTFUL Posts: 5,648
    edited January 2013
    Thanks to this thread, I am now looking at an Audio Research pre and amp and a set of CRSs. Thanks ya bastage! ;)
    "Some people find it easier to be conceited rather than correct."

    "Unwad those panties and have a good time man. We're all here to help each other, no matter how it might appear." DSkip
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    edited January 2013
    Bigbang wrote: »
    Enders. You are welcome anytime. Just PM me for the address

    I may take you up on that, but it will be a bit as the countdown to kid #1 is 3 weeks and counting.
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • michael1947
    michael1947 Posts: 775
    edited January 2013
    This is a very interesting thread especially where we compare speakers with sex, a couple of my favorite pastimes. I'm now up to 3 sets of SDA's: my first, SDA-1A, SDA-SRS, and as of a couple weeks ago SDA-SRS 1.2. As far as what sounds best to me: SDA-SRS, SDA-A1 and then the SDA-SRS 1.2's and I absolutely agree with the ability to A/B speakers or you forget...now that's a lot like sex also as I can't remember any bad ones and to A/B them would be way too much fun...and troublesome. :cool:
    Main Family Room: Sony 46 LCD, Sony Blue Ray, Sony DVD/VCR combo,Onkyo TXNR 708, Parasound 5250,
    Polk SDS-SRS with mods, CSI 5 center + Klipsch SC2, Polk RT2000P rears, Klipsch KG 1.5's sides, Polk Micro Pro 1000, Polk Micro Pro 2000, Polk SW505, Belkin PF60, Signal Cable Classics,Monster IC's, 2 15 amp circuits & 1 20 amp circuit.

    Living Room: Belkin PF60, Parasound HCA2200, MIT ProlineEXP balanced IC's,Emotiva XDA-1 DAC/Pre,Emotiva ERC2 transport,MIT AVT2, Polk LSI 9's.
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  • Drenis
    Drenis Posts: 2,871
    edited January 2013
    I'm a little biased in saying the 3.1TL, 2.3TL, 1.2TL & CRS+ are the shizzle. However only the 3.1's are the best. :razz:


    EndersShadow wrote: »
    I may take you up on that, but it will be a bit as the countdown to kid #1 is 3 weeks and counting.

    Wow. Feels like not too long ago you made the announcement. Atta boy papa! Get ready for no sleep. I know someday it will be my turn for kids.
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    edited January 2013
    Drenis wrote: »
    Wow. Feels like not too long ago you made the announcement. Atta boy papa! Get ready for no sleep. I know someday it will be my turn for kids.

    Yeah, its creeping up on me. I was hoping to have my M1.0t back beforehand but it doesnt look like thats gonna happen. Might have to sneak out the week of and get some "Daddy alone time" :biggrin:
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited January 2013
    tophatjohnny wrote: »
    Man if you think your CRS+'s sound better than your modified 1C's.. I'm stummped!!:confused::confused: I had the CRS+'s for a while and in no shape or form do they sound better than my 1B's! Not even close! My 1B's are way more musical, bigger stage, and oomph to boot. Only adding this as I see you had your 1C's modded and modded to me is the same as "changed" and that scares the hell outta me when considering doing the mods on my 1B's that already sound great to me! I may just sit tight and stick with what is making me smile for a while!! Not saying the CRS+'s weren't great, they were, but 1B's thet weren't. This probably has to do some with the room you are using them. I see open space to the right side behind your set up, so maybe the smaller speakers in that area work great??

    Something was wrong with your CRS+ setup. Not sure what, but I remember thinking that something was just not right for you.

    CRS+'s, in my opinion, are just the darling of the SDA line. Don't let their small size fool you, they pack quite a whallop. I've owned 1C's that I upgraded with Sonicaps, rings, and RD-0198's. Outstanding speakers, I wouldn't suggest otherwise. But something magical happens with the TL mod, which isn't doable on the 1C's. Pound for pound and dollar for dollar, the CRS+'s just can't be beat. I did a total restoration of a pair of them very recently, and they are my speakers for life.

    Congrats, you've got a great system right there that can take you a long way.
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • tophatjohnny
    tophatjohnny Posts: 4,182
    edited January 2013
    ^^^
    npindel---correct, I was (against the suggestions of the pros here) thinking I could run the CRS+'s with my 2B's and it didn't work. I chose the CRS+'s over the 2B's as they were better..to me. I switched back and fourth plenty to make a solid decision on the CRS+'s. Then I bought the 1B's and had to let the CRS+'s go. There was no comparison, except the effect the SDA line provides. The 1B's a re bigger and have more speakers, tweeters, an in the right room (my big attic bedroom) these 1B's are perfect for me. To date...I love all SDA's!!
    "if it's not fun, it's not worth it & remember folks, "It's All About The Music"!!
    *****************************
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