Couldn't leave these behind - Polk SDA-2 (2B?) Studio

TennMan

PolkieMan wrote: »

So they are 2B with the older style cabs which are like the 2A, Polk did strange things.:question:

There were two versions of 2B pin/blade speakers. The ones with cloth on the sides, like I have, and a "studio" version that had simulated wood-grain vinyl covering the cabinets like the ones he shows in the photos.

PolkieMan

Thanks for the info. See I thought that they were like a transition speaker. Now there wasn't any 1C's like that , there was the ones with the endcaps (like your 2B's) and the studio version which were just black sides no caps or fabric side panels right?

TennMan wrote: »

There were two versions of 2B pin/blade speakers. The ones with cloth on the sides, like I have, and a "studio" version that had simulated wood-grain vinyl covering the cabinets like the ones he shows in the photos.

Mystery

TennMan wrote: »

There were two versions of 2B pin/blade speakers. The ones with cloth on the sides, like I have, and a "studio" version that had simulated wood-grain vinyl covering the cabinets like the ones he shows in the photos.

Yes.
Studio 2B are veneer wrapped all around, no side cloth, no top/bottom wood plate:

Standard 2B with top/bottom wood plates and side cloth that I sold few months ago:

cnh

cnh wrote: »

They certainly "look" like studios?

cnh

Ahm....I thought I mentioned they were Studio 2Bs above. lol

cnh

Mystery

cnh wrote: »

Ahm....I thought I mentioned they were Studio 2Bs above. lol

cnh

It's okay.
We can't read thoughts and that's a good thing. :redface:

I like the looks of Studio better than Standard.

TennMan

Is there a difference in height between the standard model and the studio models?

Mystery

TennMan wrote: »

Is there a difference in height between the standard model and the studio models?

I don't remember exact dimensions of the standard version but I have a picture of them with BA400 so I can put the studios next to BA400 and see if they are the same height.

Or, if you or who has standard post the dimensions here, I'll measure studio tonight and update.

TennMan

No need to go to any trouble. I was just curious. The standard look taller to me but it could just be because they are black.

Mystery

TennMan wrote: »

No need to go to any trouble. I was just curious. The standard look taller to me but it could just be because they are black.

No trouble.
I found this online @ gimpod site:

Cabinet Size:
2B Studio: 38-1/2 x 15-7/8 x 11-1/2
2B standard: 39-5/8 x 16-9/16 x 11-1/2

So the studio version is around 1 inch shorter, around quarter inch (.68) narrower and same depth as standard version.

****************************
Model: SDA 2B 1989 (Real Wood)
Tweeter: 1 x SL2000
Stereo Driver: 1 x MW6503 or MW6510
SDA Driver: 1 x MW6511
Bass Radiator: SW121
Crossover: BE1807-B
SDA I.C.: Pin/Blade
Dimensions: 11-1/2"D x 16-1/2"W x 39-1/2"H
Shipping Weight: 80 lbs. per Cabinet
Notes: Has wood end caps with cloth side panels

*****************************

Model: SDA 2B 1987(Studio)
Tweeter: 1 x SL2000
Stereo Driver: 1 x MW6503 or MW6510
SDA Driver: 1 x MW6511
Bass Radiator: SW121
Crossover: BE1807-B
SDA I.C.: Pin/Blade
Dimensions: 11-3/4"D x 15-7/8"W x 38-1/2"H
Shipping Weight: 65 lbs. per Cabinet
Notes: Has black SDA 2A Style Cabinets.
**************************************

That bolded line is not correct as the 2B studio I have are not black.

gimpod

Mystery wrote: »

No trouble.
I found this online @ gimpod site:

Cabinet Size:
2B Studio: 38-1/2 x 15-7/8 x 11-1/2
2B standard: 39-5/8 x 16-9/16 x 11-1/2

So the studio version is around 1 inch shorter, around quarter inch (.68) narrower and same depth as standard version.

****************************
Model: SDA 2B 1989 (Real Wood)
Tweeter: 1 x SL2000
Stereo Driver: 1 x MW6503 or MW6510
SDA Driver: 1 x MW6511
Bass Radiator: SW121
Crossover: BE1807-B
SDA I.C.: Pin/Blade
Dimensions: 11-1/2"D x 16-1/2"W x 39-1/2"H
Shipping Weight: 80 lbs. per Cabinet
Notes: Has wood end caps with cloth side panels

*****************************

Model: SDA 2B 1987(Studio)
Tweeter: 1 x SL2000
Stereo Driver: 1 x MW6503 or MW6510
SDA Driver: 1 x MW6511
Bass Radiator: SW121
Crossover: BE1807-B
SDA I.C.: Pin/Blade
Dimensions: 11-3/4"D x 15-7/8"W x 38-1/2"H
Shipping Weight: 65 lbs. per Cabinet
Notes: Has black SDA 2A Style Cabinets.
**************************************

That bolded line is not correct as the 2B studio I have are not black.

Actually the SDA 2B Studio's came in both Black and the Vinyl wood grain, I believe the black ones where the early 1987 Blade/blade ones. Polk had a whole bunch of transitional versions that they made to use up parts across the whole line of SDA's. So unless you pull them apart (especially the SDA1's & 2's) and check the driver numbers and crossovers you'll never know for sure.

boston1450

Mystery wrote: »

No trouble.
I found this online @ gimpod site:

Cabinet Size:
2B Studio: 38-1/2 x 15-7/8 x 11-1/2
2B standard: 39-5/8 x 16-9/16 x 11-1/2

So the studio version is around 1 inch shorter, around quarter inch (.68) narrower and same depth as standard version.

****************************
Model: SDA 2B 1989 (Real Wood)
Tweeter: 1 x SL2000
Stereo Driver: 1 x MW6503 or MW6510
SDA Driver: 1 x MW6511
Bass Radiator: SW121
Crossover: BE1807-B
SDA I.C.: Pin/Blade
Dimensions: 11-1/2"D x 16-1/2"W x 39-1/2"H
Shipping Weight: 80 lbs. per Cabinet
Notes: Has wood end caps with cloth side panels

*****************************

Model: SDA 2B 1987(Studio)
Tweeter: 1 x SL2000
Stereo Driver: 1 x MW6503 or MW6510
SDA Driver: 1 x MW6511
Bass Radiator: SW121
Crossover: BE1807-B
SDA I.C.: Pin/Blade
Dimensions: 11-3/4"D x 15-7/8"W x 38-1/2"H
Shipping Weight: 65 lbs. per Cabinet
Notes: Has black SDA 2A Style Cabinets.
**************************************

That bolded line is not correct as the 2B studio I have are not black.

INTERESTING. I ALWAYS THOUGHT THE STUDIOS WERE TALLER. IVE SEEN THEM BUT NEVER SIDE BY SIDE. Must be cause there a bit narrower & i should use my glasses ....getting old i guess

TennMan

Mystery, Thanks for the information. I appreciate it.

Mystery

gimpod wrote: »

Actually the SDA 2B Studio's came in both Black and the Vinyl wood grain, I believe the black ones where the early 1987 Blade/blade ones. Polk had a whole bunch of transitional versions that they made to use up parts across the whole line of SDA's. So unless you pull them apart (especially the SDA1's & 2's) and check the driver numbers and crossovers you'll never know for sure.

That sentence can be interpreted in different ways so I thought that meant 2B studios only have black cabinets.
Notes: Has black SDA 2A Style Cabinets.

But if you read the same sentence like this,
Notes: Has "black SDA 2A Style" Cabinets.
Meaning 2B Studio cabinets are similar to cabinets of black SDA 2A and that makes sense :redface:

There are 'B' stickers on the back so these should be 2B.

halo71

Damn those BA's are sexy! Their on my speaker bucket list. How to they fare against the SDA's?

Mystery

halo71 wrote: »

Damn those BA's are sexy! Their on my speaker bucket list. How to they fare against the SDA's?

Here is a comparison thread of CRS+ against BA400.
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?137016-Comparison-of-Polk-SDA-CRS-with-Boston-Acoustics-A400-Bass-SDA-Mids-highs-A400.

The last pair of 2B standard didn't sound as good as CRS+.
I haven't compared the studio 2B's yet.

None of my Polks (CRS+, 2B standard, 3.1TL's) (original, not upgraded) can compete on highs/mids of BA400 (original, not upgraded) but I like softer/long throw bass of Polks than tight/quick bass of BA400.
Monitor 12 comes pretty close in high/mids.
May be Polks need upgrade sooner than other brands.
When I replace caps and resistors on CRS+, it'll be interesting to compare again.

gimpod

Mystery wrote: »

That sentence can be interpreted in different ways so I thought that meant 2B studios only have black cabinets.
Notes: Has black SDA 2A Style Cabinets.

But if you read the same sentence like this,
Notes: Has "black SDA 2A Style" Cabinets.
Meaning 2B Studio cabinets are similar to cabinets of black SDA 2A and that makes sense :redface:

There are 'B' stickers on the back so these should be 2B.

Thanks for pointing that out, I should have been more clear.

I changed it to read "Note: Came in black and wood grain vinyl SDA 2A Style Cabinets. Also the early 1987 models had a Blade/blade SDA I.C."

Mystery

P/B IC cable arrived today and hooked them up.
From what I remember, these 2B Studio's sound much better than the 2B standards I had.
May be crossover in the standard ones were in worse shape than these.
Standard ones were very veiled but these studio's are very open similar to monitor 12's I have.
Highs and lows are great but mids is not as much as I like to hear but still very good.

gimpod wrote: »

Thanks for pointing that out, I should have been more clear.

I changed it to read "Note: Came in black and wood grain vinyl SDA 2A Style Cabinets. Also the early 1987 models had a Blade/blade SDA I.C."

Thanks for update.

gudnoyez

gimpod wrote: »

Actually the SDA 2B Studio's came in both Black and the Vinyl wood grain, I believe the black ones where the early 1987 Blade/blade ones. Polk had a whole bunch of transitional versions that they made to use up parts across the whole line of SDA's. So unless you pull them apart (especially the SDA1's & 2's) and check the driver numbers and crossovers you'll never know for sure.

So does this mean us 2b studio version owners have the last 2b's that were produced? All I know is I love all my SDA's and can't wait to 4.1 them but owning 3 Pair could be quite expensive, so for those of you in that same situation which version would you guys TL first 2B's or CRS+'s?

zane77

I'm glad USPS was up to the task of etiing that cable to you that quick

TennMan

gudnoyez wrote: »

So does this mean us 2b studio version owners have the last 2b's that were produced? All I know is I love all my SDA's and can't wait to 4.1 them but owning 3 Pair could be quite expensive, so for those of you in that same situation which version would you guys TL first 2B's or CRS+'s?

I don't think it would matter which one you do first if you have both 2Bs and CRS+ speakers. The parts needed to TL them are the same. Upgrade a pair of the crossovers to TL specs, buy a pair of RDO-198s. and try them out in both sets of speakers to see which you like best.

Some people like the CRS+ best and some people like the 2Bs best. I prefer the sound of my 2B-TLs. My wife prefers the size of the CRS+ in our living room. We are in the middle of a power struggle right now to determine which pair of speakers will stay and which pair will have to go. I have to be careful when dealing with her to make sure the pair that has to go isn't me and my 2Bs.

Mystery

BTW, does anyone know actual low frequency range of SDA-2B?
Polkaudio site has 15 Hz - 26kHz for 2A.
Is it same for 2B as well?
Also, does it really go that low +-3dB?

cnh

I believe the -3db figures are 38hz-20,000hz. Which makes more sense than 15hz which would require one HECK of a cab volume!

I'm really not sure what the 15-26,000hz tolerances are? -10db, perhaps? Old timers should feel free to chime in here because you must "know"?

cnh

PolkieMan

It's funny but I think she likes the CRS+ cause they are smaller.
My wife likes the 1C better than my 2.3TLS.
I make the money so I get to stay and say! :cheesygrin:

TennMan wrote: »

I don't think it would matter which one you do first if you have both 2Bs and CRS+ speakers. The parts needed to TL them are the same. Upgrade a pair of the crossovers to TL specs, buy a pair of RDO-198s. and try them out in both sets of speakers to see which you like best.

Some people like the CRS+ best and some people like the 2Bs best. I prefer the sound of my 2B-TLs. My wife prefers the size of the CRS+ in our living room. We are in the middle of a power struggle right now to determine which pair of speakers will stay and which pair will have to go. I have to be careful when dealing with her to make sure the pair that has to go isn't me and my 2Bs.

philr168

how could you go wrong

Mystery

cnh wrote: »

I believe the -3db figures are 38hz-20,000hz. Which makes more sense than 15hz which would require one HECK of a cab volume!

I'm really not sure what the 15-26,000hz tolerances are? -10db, perhaps? Old timers should feel free to chime in here because you must "know"?

cnh

That's a huge jump from stated 15Hz to actual 38Hz.
Was there a measurement done on this somewhere?