What is your favorite CD to play on SDA speakers?

pglbook
pglbook Posts: 2,226
edited April 2013 in Music & Movies
I am sure this may have been discussed here at some point but I have not seen so in my 3+ months on this great forum, so here goes...

What is your favorite CD to play with Polk SDA speakers?
In other words, what CD gives you the best SDA "wow factor?"

I am new to the world of SDA speakers, having bought a pair of Polk SDA 2B TL speakers from a fellow forum member about 2 months ago. I love the SDA sound. I find that some CDs just give you more of that SDA
all-encompassing sound than others (depending obviously on style of music, instruments, sound quality of CD, etc).

My favorite CD to listen to on my SDA 2Bs is Dave Matthews Band, Under the Table and Dreaming.
I like Dave Matthews a lot (although he is far from my favorite artist) and that CD sounds amazing on the SDA 2Bs. The sounds just seem to literally jump out and envelope you.

I am curious what other CDs peolple love to hear on SDA speakers.

Thanks.
Post edited by pglbook on
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Comments

  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    edited March 2013
    It's very difficult to say my "absolute favorite". But one of them is Jon Anderson's "Toltec" CD. Outstanding album with outstanding production and outstanding SDA sound.
    Relayer-Big-O-Poster.jpg
    Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
    "I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion." :\
    My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....

    "Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson

    "Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee
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  • drumminman
    drumminman Posts: 3,396
    edited March 2013
    Don't have 1 favorite, but some that sound good on my rig are:

    Susan Tedeschi's Greatest Hits - some tracks sound better than others, but the good ones are really good.

    Bonnie Raitt - Slipstream (her newest) + a couple of others by her I can't think of right now

    Blood Sweat and Tears' 2nd album (self titled I think), the one with You've Made Me So Very Happy, More and More, etc. A surprisingly good recording (sound stage, clarity of instruments and vocals) considering it was made in 1969.

    DMB Crash - probably my favorite Dave Matthews Band album. Great layered recording too.
    "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
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  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 10,020
    edited March 2013
    Headrott: I just ordered Jon Anderson's Toltec on your recommendation. Saw him about a year ago or so and although I have some of his solo stuff I don't have this one. Thanks for the heads up.
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  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    edited March 2013
    dromunds wrote: »
    Headrott: I just ordered Jon Anderson's Toltec on your recommendation. Saw him about a year ago or so and although I have some of his solo stuff I don't have this one. Thanks for the heads up.

    You will love it! My second favorite album by him (Olias Of Sunhillow being IMO, his best). Best SDA "effect" I've heard for an album.
    Relayer-Big-O-Poster.jpg
    Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
    "I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion." :\
    My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....

    "Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson

    "Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee
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  • nwohlford
    nwohlford Posts: 700
    edited March 2013
    Fiona Apple's most recent ("The Idler Wheel ...") is great on SDAs especially the last few tracks.
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  • zarrdoss
    zarrdoss Posts: 2,562
    edited March 2013
    you are right, it has been done before.

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?22736-SDA-Playlist&highlight=sda+playlist

    Maroon 5, songs about jane is excellent.
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  • Moose68Bash
    Moose68Bash Posts: 3,843
    edited March 2013
    Try Chesky Records's "The World's Greatest Audiophile Vocal Recordings"

    Trey of Vr3 Mods recommended this recording to me after i installed his modified crossovers in my SDA SRS1.2s, and my wife and I can't get enough of it.
    Family 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.

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  • factorz
    factorz Posts: 353
    edited March 2013
    headrott wrote: »
    You will love it! My second favorite album by him (Olias Of Sunhillow being IMO, his best). Best SDA "effect" I've heard for an album.

    Headrott: I had never heard of this before so I loaded it up on MOG tonight. Cool stuff.
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  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    edited March 2013
    factorz wrote: »
    Headrott: I had never heard of this before so I loaded it up on MOG tonight. Cool stuff.

    It's the kind of album you have to listen to the whole thing. It's excellent.
    Relayer-Big-O-Poster.jpg
    Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
    "I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion." :\
    My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....

    "Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson

    "Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,687
    edited March 2013
    What is your favorite CD to play on SDA speakers?

    All of them.
    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

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  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    edited March 2013
    F1nut wrote: »
    All of them.

    Ha! Taking the easy road, huh Jesse.:razz:
    Relayer-Big-O-Poster.jpg
    Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
    "I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion." :\
    My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....

    "Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson

    "Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,793
    edited March 2013
    The Dittybops first album. Wide open airy recording. Some tracks seem to float in the room. No point of origin, it's just there all around you. Still gives me the goosebumps. Some tracks make you want to dance all by yourself!!
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  • Mike Reeter
    Mike Reeter Posts: 4,315
    edited March 2013
    This will keep you busy for a while :biggrin: http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?22736-SDA-Playlist
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited March 2013
    lightman1 wrote: »
    The Dittybops first album. Wide open airy recording. Some tracks seem to float in the room. No point of origin, it's just there all around you. Still gives me the goosebumps. Some tracks make you want to dance all by yourself!!

    That was a memorable day I'll never forget-- 40 watt tube amp,,(modded Anthem 1) and a Dodd ELP,,and I think I kept your cd.
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,793
    edited March 2013
    george daniel wrote: »
    That was a memorable day I'll never forget-- 40 watt tube amp,,(modded Anthem 1) and a Dodd ELP,,and I think I kept your cd.
    Yep!! The song "Black Breeze...somthing?" The wind chimes at beginning come from everywhere. The first time I heard it, I would swear that the chimes were really in the room.
    Howzit goin' George? The CD is gift to you, friend.

    Oh! Another song. Mississippi Queen By Mountain. Simply for the raw power and cowbell. We need more cowbell!!!
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited March 2013
    Doin well Russ-- you? Remember,, those were stock 1C's too,,, words cannot describe that day!
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • gudnoyez
    gudnoyez Posts: 8,132
    edited March 2013
    Now you guys got me interseted in the Ditty Bops first album listened to the samples on amazon that song is called Breeze Black Night. I like thier sound of course amazon lists it at $171.00 with used ones available at $2.07, put it on my wish list. I like Billy Thorpe- Children Of The Sun, Heart-Dog & Butterfly, Steve Miller-Fly Like An Eagle on SDA's for the effect but like F1 says they all sound good!
    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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  • gudnoyez
    gudnoyez Posts: 8,132
    edited March 2013
    DSCF0517 (800x600).jpg
    DSCF0520 (800x600).jpg

    factorz and headrott you are both right just put this Jon Anderson-Olias Of Sunhillow on, my first listen on the 2B'S the SDA effect is all over the place thanks for the recomending it. I must now get Toltec.
    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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  • muncybob
    muncybob Posts: 3,059
    edited March 2013
    For me, best live album is Allman Brothers Fillmore East.
    Yep, my name really is Bob.
    Parasound HCA1500A(indoor sound) and HCA1000(outdoor sound), Dynaco PAS4, Denon DP1200 w/Shure V15 Type V and Jico SAS stylus, Marantz UD7007, Polk L600, Rythmik L12 sub.
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  • sda2mike
    sda2mike Posts: 3,131
    edited March 2013
    lightman1 wrote: »
    The Dittybops first album. Wide open airy recording. Some tracks seem to float in the room. No point of origin, it's just there all around you. Still gives me the goosebumps. Some tracks make you want to dance all by yourself!!

    wailing jenny's are fun, too:)
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  • sda2mike
    sda2mike Posts: 3,131
    edited March 2013
    F1nut wrote: »
    All of them.

    +1...if i burn the sumbitch to my hard drive, it has already passed a multitude of tests
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,321
    edited March 2013
    zarrdoss wrote: »
    you are right, it has been done before.

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?22736-SDA-Playlist&highlight=sda+playlist

    Maroon 5, songs about jane is excellent.

    So after reading this I went and picked up Songs About Jane. Knowing I have heard most of the songs on the radio, never hated it but never gave it any thought on picking it up.. Very good CD and mastered very well..

    I enjoyed it!!!

    Thanks Kevin..
    Polk Audio SDA 2.3tl Fully Hot Rodded. 😎

    SVS SB16 X2

    Cary SLP-05/Ultimate Upgrade.
    Cary SA-500.1 ES Amps
    Cary DMS 800PV Network
    OPPO UDP 205/ModWright Modification
    VPI Scout TT / Dynavector 20x2
    Jolida JD9 Fully Modified

    VPI MW-1 Cyclone RCM

    MIT Shotgun 3 cables throughout / Except TT, and PC’s
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  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    edited March 2013
    gudnoyez wrote: »
    DSCF0517 (800x600).jpg
    DSCF0520 (800x600).jpg

    factorz and headrott you are both right just put this Jon Anderson-Olias Of Sunhillow on, my first listen on the 2B'S the SDA effect is all over the place thanks for the recomending it. I must now get Toltec.

    If you liked Olias, wait until you hear Toltec. You will love it.:cool:
    Relayer-Big-O-Poster.jpg
    Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
    "I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion." :\
    My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....

    "Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson

    "Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee
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  • pglbook
    pglbook Posts: 2,226
    edited March 2013
    Speaking of Jon Anderson....I was just listening to Close to the Edge by YES and that is also a great CD to listen to on SDAs. The sound comes from everywhere. I will have to pick up Jon Andeson's solo albums, Olias of Sunhillow and Toltec. I have not heard them but they got great reviews on here. Thanks for the recommendation, headrott, and the others who commented (factorz, gudonyez) on them.
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  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    edited March 2013
    You should order the Audio Fidelity hybrid SACD of Close To The Edge as I've read the soundstage, fidelity, clarity, detail, and imaging is the best out of any version. I was hoping to receive mine, but a "glitch" is delaying that....
    Just order CTTE along with the Jon Anderson CD's and have a Yesfest!:cheesygrin:
    Relayer-Big-O-Poster.jpg
    Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
    "I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion." :\
    My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....

    "Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson

    "Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee
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  • deronb1
    deronb1 Posts: 5,021
    edited March 2013
    Tom Petty from the soundtrack "She's The One". Frickin awsome!
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,615
    edited March 2013
    Too Live Crew...:twisted:
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  • quadzilla
    quadzilla Posts: 1,543
    edited March 2013
    If we're limiting this to just CDs, then for pure SDA wow-factor, it's easily No Doubt's Rock Steady. Pure SDA wowness on every track. Now, go look at the spreadsheet in my sig. GO LOOK AT IT! :cheesygrin:
    Turntable: Empire 208
    Arm: Rega 300
    Cart: Shelter 501 III
    Phono Pre: dsachs consulting
    Digital: Marantz SACD 30n
    Pre: Conrad Johnson ET3 SE
    Amp: Conrad Johnson Premier 350
    Cables: Cardas Neutral Reference
    Speakers: SDA 2.3TL, heavily modified
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  • erniejade
    erniejade Posts: 6,321
    edited March 2013
    Floyd Welcome to the machine.
    Klipsch The Nines, Audioquest Thunderbird Interconnect, Innuos Zen MK3 W4S recovery, Revolution Audio Labs USB & Ethernet, Border Patrol SE-I, Audioquest Niagara 5000 & Thunder, Cullen Crossover II PC's.
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  • Goldenboy72206
    Goldenboy72206 Posts: 126
    edited April 2013
    queen another one bites the dust or we will rock you
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