Polk SDA-1A

ericks0ns
ericks0ns Posts: 53
edited January 2013 in Vintage Speakers
Question to the forum:
After much soul-searching, I Have decided to go the surround route with my system. My main front speakers are the original SDA-SRS, and I have some SDA-CRS's en route for the front center channel. My question is for the rear surrounds. Someone has pitched me a pair of SDA-1A's in good condition. Having heard the many conversations about the spatial issue on the 1A's tweeter, (and that later generations are better) and given the reverse orientation of a rear surround,(and it being contrary to the SDA effect) what is you opinion on:
  • The Viability of the 1A's as rear surrounds
  • Whether the differences between the 1A and later generations should preclude it from consideration
  • What would you recommend for a rear surround in this application?
I'm going to swap my existing Parasound 2250 amp from the front to the rears, and use a Parasound A31 up front.
Thanks to any who chose to chime in!

Current system
Polk SDA-SRS
Polk SDA-2
NAD 375BEE
Parasound 2250
Rega RP6/Exact
Nakamichi CR-7A
Revox H1
Akai GX-F71
Akai GXR-82D
Philps CD-921
Oppo BDP-95
Dual CS-5000
Post edited by ericks0ns on
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Comments

  • tophatjohnny
    tophatjohnny Posts: 4,182
    edited January 2013


    What????
    "if it's not fun, it's not worth it & remember folks, "It's All About The Music"!!
    *****************************
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  • PolkMaster1
    PolkMaster1 Posts: 847
    edited January 2013
    tophatjohnny wrote: »


    what????

    He Said:
    ericks0ns wrote:
    after much soul-searching, i have decided to go the surround route with my system. My main front speakers are the original sda-srs, and i have some sda-crs's en route for the front center channel. My question is for the rear surrounds. Someone has pitched me a pair of sda-1a's in good condition. Having heard the many conversations about the spatial issue on the 1a's tweeter, (and that later generations are better) and given the reverse orientation of a rear surround,(and it being contrary to the sda effect) what is you opinion on:
    ?the viability of the 1a's as rear surrounds
    ?whether the differences between the 1a and later generations should preclude it from consideration
    ?what would you recommend for a rear surround in this application?
    Statistics show that 98% of us will die at some point in our lifetime.

    The other 2% will work for WalMart.
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  • Schurkey
    Schurkey Posts: 2,101
    edited January 2013
    You might as well try it and see how you like it.

    Be sure to set the rear-channel speakers up so the SDA drivers are to the outside.

    SDAs on the SIDE of the listening room would not go over well; at least not with the SDA cable connected.
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  • ericks0ns
    ericks0ns Posts: 53
    edited January 2013
    Thanks. Perhaps it is sacrilege to even ask to use the SDA in such a way, didn't mean to offend any with my question. I have always just had a 2 channel system, But i've encountered so many 5.1 mixes and quad mixes on recent SACD releases I'd really like to explore them if its viable.
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  • PolkieMan
    PolkieMan Posts: 2,446
    edited January 2013
    I use monitor 70 for the rear which is really probably overkill, but I thought the 2.3tls might drown out something small. But the center and the fronts do most the work. Monitor 4's on stands would work ok I think as the rear is mainly just ambiance.
    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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  • Schurkey
    Schurkey Posts: 2,101
    edited January 2013
    PolkieMan wrote: »
    I use monitor 70 for the rear which is really probably overkill, but I thought the 2.3tls might drown out something small. But the center and the fronts do most the work. Monitor 4's on stands would work ok I think as the rear is mainly just ambiance.
    Movies...yes.

    Multichannel audio is a different matter. There may be 5+ channels of full-range information.
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  • Mystery
    Mystery Posts: 2,546
    edited January 2013
    SDA effect may not be best used as surrounds.
    Any monitor series or newer fx/dipole surrounds may be better option.
    O have sda-2b as fronts and monitor 7's as side and rear surrounds.

    Klipsch RB81, KG3.5, B&W DM602.5, Polk.
    Subwoofers: Klipsch RW10, Triad ProSub Bronze.
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  • ericks0ns
    ericks0ns Posts: 53
    edited January 2013
    My Thanks to those who offered their thoughts thus far.
    Yes, I am seeking to explore only Multi-channel audio for this effort, not part of an A/V setup.
    So if the consensus is that SDA should not be considered for a rear surround, perhaps a better question is (as some have already answered)
    What Polk speaker would you recommend as rear channel surround when the original SDA-SRS are used as the front channel L/R?


    Current system
    Polk SDA-SRS
    Polk SDA-2
    NAD 375BEE
    Parasound 2250
    Rega RP6/Exact
    Nakamichi CR-7A
    Revox H1
    Akai GX-F71
    Akai GXR-82D
    Philps CD-921
    Oppo BDP-95
    Dual CS-5000
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  • PolkieMan
    PolkieMan Posts: 2,446
    edited January 2013
    When I listen to music it is in two channel mode but yes video concerts do benefit from large rear surrounds
    Schurkey wrote: »
    Movies...yes.

    Multichannel audio is a different matter. There may be 5+ channels of full-range information.
    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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  • ericks0ns
    ericks0ns Posts: 53
    edited January 2013
    Smallies-Hats off to the souped up Hafler DH-110. That was my pre-amp for 25 years with a DH220 amp. And My SDA-2's (which sadly were damaged in Hurricane Sandy.)
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  • michael1947
    michael1947 Posts: 775
    edited January 2013
    I have had similar thoughts with my SDA-1A's sitting idle. My current main HT is similar to yours with SDA-SRS for fronts, CS6 center and Polk RT2000P's as rears. The rears sound quite good when listening to 5 channel audio and when combined with a powered sub in each nothing is lacking. Try the SDA-1A's as rears, mix them up back and forth a little and let us know how they sound. I'm quite curious.
    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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  • ericks0ns
    ericks0ns Posts: 53
    edited January 2013
    michael1947-Thanks very much for the input.Good to know someone has had a successful multi-channel Polk experience using the SDA-SRS. One of the things I was hoping for when I asked the question was to receive a range of different perspectives. And after all, where better to ask such a question then the place that Polk enthusiasts call home.

    Polk SDA-SRS
    Polk SDA-2
    NAD 375BEE
    Parasound 2250
    Rega RP6/Exact
    Nakamichi CR-7A
    Revox H1
    Akai GX-F71
    Akai GXR-82D
    Philps CD-921
    Oppo BDP-95
    Dual CS-5000
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