I'm back in the family...

zingo
zingo Posts: 11,258
edited October 2013 in Vintage Speakers
After a bit of a hunt, last night I brought home a very nice pair of 1986 SDA SRS 2 speakers. These are the SDA speakers I've always been the most interested in as they are a little smaller than the full SRSs, but still have the same driver layout unlike the 1Cs. They are completely stock, and in very good condition except for a small snag in the lower grill cloth on the left speaker. The wood on both is almost perfect without any water stains or scratches, and drivers all appear to be perfect. They came with the original blade-blade interconnect, and have the first, non-biwire binding post cup. I have yet to give them a listen in my system as I got home late from the pick-up, but I'm excited to hear what my 400wpc, class-D Gary Dodd amp will do with these speakers. My last pair of SDAs was CRS+ that I turned into 4.1TLs, so these should provide me with a nice listening experience. These are the tallest speakers I've had in my system, but they are not as deep as some others, so placement is actually easier as I don't have to bring them out into the room. I'll probably need to adjust placement a little based on listening and bass response, but I currently have them set-up in what seems to be the ideal placement for my room based on my SDA experience.

The gentleman who was selling them was downsizing, and had them on furniture carpet sliders, so all eight feet are even in good condition. I though I was getting a good deal, until he surprised me by handing me a file folder which included the original laminated brochures and paperwork from Polk! I know I'll be opening them up for a fair bit of upgrades to bring the sound quality a little more current, but I almost feel bad with a minty pair of speakers like these that include the original paperwork!

These pictures are from the sellers house, but I'll snap some more of them in my rig.

Left Bottom.jpg
Left Top.jpg
Right Top.jpg
Right Bottom.jpg
Jake
Post edited by zingo on
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Comments

  • xsmi
    xsmi Posts: 1,798
    edited August 2013
    Welcome Back! I'm sure you're going to enjoy them! Keep us updated!!
    2-channelBelles 22A Pre, Emotiva XPA-2 Gen 2, Marantz SA8005, Pro-Ject RPM-10 Turntable, Pro-Ject Phono Box DS3B, Polk Audio Legend L800's, AudioQuest Cable throughout.
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  • vmaxer
    vmaxer Posts: 5,117
    edited August 2013
    Welcome back, congrats!
    Pio Elete Pro 520
    Panamax 5400-EX
    Sunfire TGP 5
    Micro Seiki DD-40 - Lyra-Dorian and Denon DL-160
    PS Audio GCPH phono pre
    Sunfire CG 200 X 5
    Sunfire CG Sig 405 X 5
    OPPO BDP-83 SE
    SDA SRS 1.2TL Sonicaps and Mills
    Ctr CS1000p
    Sur - FX1000 x 4
    SUB - SVS PB2-Plus

    Workkout room:
    Sony Bravia XBR- 32-Inch 1080p
    Onkyo TX-DS898
    GFA 555
    Yamaha DVD-S1800BL/SACD
    Ft - SDA 1C

    Not being used:
    RTi 38's -4
    RT55i's - 2
    RT25i's -2, using other 2 in shop
    LSI 15's
    CSi40
    PSW 404
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  • TNHNDYMAN
    TNHNDYMAN Posts: 2,145
    edited August 2013
    Once you're in the family, you can't leave unless the family takes you out. Nice pick up, hope you have a great time with them.
    2-ch System: Parasound P/LD 2000 pre, Parasound HCA-1000 amp, Parasound T/DQ Tuner, Phase Technology PC-100 Tower speakers, Technics SL-1600 Turntable, Denon 2910 SACD/CD player, Peachtree DAC iT and X1asynchorus USB converter, HSU VTF-3 subwoofer.

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  • boston1450
    boston1450 Posts: 7,639
    edited August 2013
    Welcome Back also & those look beautiful-enjoy your new2u speakers & its alway nice to get paperwork with them too :)
    ..
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,557
    edited August 2013
    Welcome back to the family, Jake.
    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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  • Oldfatdogs
    Oldfatdogs Posts: 1,874
    edited August 2013
    Very nice Jake,enjoy.
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited August 2013
    Thanks all!
    About to head home and sit on the couch to stare at these sexy beasts; and maybe play some music... :)
    Jake
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  • gudnoyez
    gudnoyez Posts: 8,124
    edited August 2013
    Hey Jake congrats on your SDA's, thanks to people such as yourself they are back in the family. You can also stare and listen at the same time. I take it you did not get those CF-3's did you even give them a listen?
    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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  • geoff727
    geoff727 Posts: 546
    edited August 2013
    Were those the ones here in Des Moines? I saw some on CL very recently that looked quite decent.

    I'm like you, these interest me more than the full-size SRS's. My SRS2's will go to the grave with me....

    Geoff
    Polk SDA SRS 2
    Polk RTA 15tl
    Polk Monitor 7C
    Polk Lsi9
    Infinity RS-II (modded)
    Infinity RS-IIIa (modded)
    Infinity RS 2.5 x 2
    Magnepan 1.6QR (modded)

    System: http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?vevol&1290711373
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  • bobsauto49
    bobsauto49 Posts: 973
    edited August 2013
    Those are beautiful! Congrats,one of these days I'm gonna get me a pair of these! Very nice!
    "Everything I ever did in my life worthwhile I caught hell for"
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited August 2013
    Nice. Congrats!
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • miner
    miner Posts: 1,305
    edited August 2013
    Very nice grab you got Jake. Previous owners who care for the equpment are always a joy to buy from.
    [
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  • Schurkey
    Schurkey Posts: 2,101
    edited August 2013
    zingo wrote: »
    After a bit of a hunt, last night I brought home a very nice pair of 1986 SDA SRS 2 speakers. These are the SDA speakers I've always been the most interested in as they are a little smaller than the full SRSs, but still have the same driver layout unlike the 1Cs...
    ...They came with the original blade-blade interconnect, and have the first, non-biwire binding post cup.
    SDA 2 blade/blade is based on SDA 1B drivers/electronics, not 1C.

    Upgrade to RD0198s by removing the 4.4uF capacitor on each HF circuit board, replacing with a 5.8uF cap (5.6uF is easier to find, and within 5%) and buying the '198s. This mod pioneered by our member inspiredsports.
    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?74946-SDA-SRS-2-Crossover-Parts-list/page6&highlight=parts+list

    Of course, pretty much all the other typical mods and repairs are recommended.



    The only real drawback to these speakers is the common-ground amplifier requirement.
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited August 2013
    gudnoyez wrote: »
    I take it you did not get those CF-3's did you even give them a listen?

    The CF3s were some of the best Klipsch speakers I've heard, but I didn't have the right gear to make them shine, and didn't want to sell my Dodd combo. They also only went to 35Hz, and I wanted a speaker that was solid to 25Hz... :mrgreen: Anybody want a subwoofer?
    Jake
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited August 2013
    geoff727 wrote: »
    Were those the ones here in Des Moines? I saw some on CL very recently that looked quite decent.

    I'm like you, these interest me more than the full-size SRS's. My SRS2's will go to the grave with me....

    They were that pair, and I was chatting with the seller since he first posted them a month ago. I paid no where near his asking price of $750, but he admitted that he posted them that high to "test the market". Seller was great to work with, and a true music lover who was downsizing.

    Got the speakers set-up last light and they sound pretty good. I will be slowly doing upgrades, but I will also be fairly conservative as they are a very nice pair, and going crazy with the upgrades would hurt their value; i.e. will probably change out binding posts, but will leave the original cups and SDA plug/cable in place.
    photo.JPG
    Jake
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited August 2013
    Schurkey wrote: »
    SDA 2 blade/blade is based on SDA 1B drivers/electronics, not 1C.

    I was just making a comparison that many Polkies like the 1Cs if they can't/won't have the biggest boys, but I prefer these even though they are older.
    Schurkey wrote: »
    Upgrade to RD0198s by removing the 4.4uF capacitor on each HF circuit board, replacing with a 5.8uF cap (5.6uF is easier to find, and within 5%) and buying the '198s. This mod pioneered by our member inspiredsports.
    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?74946-SDA-SRS-2-Crossover-Parts-list/page6&highlight=parts+list

    Of course, pretty much all the other typical mods and repairs are recommended.

    A TL mod for these has never been approved so I won't be touching that one, and this coming from a guy who did the 4.1TL mod. These speakers are nice enough that I only want to do conservative and tasteful upgrades that will no decrease their value, but bring them back to their original glory.
    Schurkey wrote: »
    The only real drawback to these speakers is the common-ground amplifier requirement.

    I agree this is a drawback, but a known drawback for all SDA speakers, and luckily most stereo amplifiers are common ground. To me, it's really no different than equipment matching to any other pair of speakers.
    Jake
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  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    edited August 2013
    Excellent Jake! They look great! I'm glad you're back in the SDA family sir. Great speakers!
    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 August 2013
    Welcome back Z. Which SDA's did you have before, and why did you sell?
    "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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  • geoff727
    geoff727 Posts: 546
    edited August 2013
    zingo wrote: »
    They were that pair...

    Great! I'm glad they were picked up by someone who will care for them and preserve them. Mine are the same as yours, 1986 blade/blade models.

    G~
    Polk SDA SRS 2
    Polk RTA 15tl
    Polk Monitor 7C
    Polk Lsi9
    Infinity RS-II (modded)
    Infinity RS-IIIa (modded)
    Infinity RS 2.5 x 2
    Magnepan 1.6QR (modded)

    System: http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?vevol&1290711373
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited August 2013
    drumminman wrote: »
    Welcome back Z. Which SDA's did you have before, and why did you sell?

    I owned the 2A first, followed by a pair of CRS+ that I gave the 4.1TL treatment. I wanted bigger speakers, and the 4.1TLs sounded muddy on my 10wpc DIY tube amp, which I realized later wasn't the speakers problem. :)
    Jake
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited August 2013
    Did some quality listening last night, and these speakers are amazing. Fed with 400wpc of high current power, the bass response is strong but balanced and the sound stage is deep. It's funny listening to these speakers after owning many different designs, the SRS 2s simply are fun and enjoyable to listen to, and very agreeable. Horns still have a special place in my heart and corner horns are still in contention for my favorite speakers, but these put you in the music and allow you to experience it. I've owned some speakers that had enjoyable characteristics, but those seem to actually draw your attention away from the music. I'm still playing with placement a little as the soundstage seems to be a little recessed, but I don't know if that is the placement...

    The first mod for these might be spikes, so I'm scoping out my options...
    Jake
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  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    edited August 2013
    Yeah Jake, spikes will make a huge difference simply with that mod. Also, see if Larry has some rings and tweeter brackets for your SRS 2's. That will make a huge positive difference. And also dynamat Xtreme all the drivers and PR's. Even doing these mods (without doing the crossovers) will make a substantial difference. After doing the crossovers and getting the RDO-194's, you will be loving your audio experience!
    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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  • Polkie2009
    Polkie2009 Posts: 3,834
    edited August 2013
    I have this model except mine are pin/blade (1987) . They really shine when they're in a large room and fed with lots of watts as you have Jake.:cheesygrin: It's amazing how much of a difference they can fill a room when cranked up.
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited August 2013
    Just ordered a bunch of parts to start the refresh/update/upgrade of these great speakers. On my desk by the beginning of next week will be steel spikes, Mundorf MOX resistors, and Erse Pulse-X poly caps. They are a budget cap that I haven't tried yet, and even these caps will make an immediate difference. I already have some better binding posts in my stash, will be ordering some Dynamat shortly, and have been chatting with Larry about driver rings...

    It's a start and I'll probably swap in some more premium parts in the future, but wanted to get my initial bases covered and have a solid foundation on an already solid pair of vintage speakers.
    Jake
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited September 2013
    Last night I installed a set of Meniscus Audio standard spikes and they are a huge improvement over the slider feet. Not only do the speakers now sit on the concrete floor of my basement (through the carpet), but I was able to adjust them level, and very stable; much more than the slider feet on carpet. I haven't listened yet if they make an audible difference, but I won't care it they do based on the physical improvements.

    Spweb.jpg


    I also have a full set of rings and hardware on the way from Larry, and I Dynamat'ed the first passive radiator last night. As soon as I pulled the PR, I was very impressed to see bracing spanning the inside of the cabinet and connecting all four walls; three of them from top to bottom I believe, but I'll see if I can grab a few pictures tonight.
    Jake
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  • Eocuph
    Eocuph Posts: 75
    edited September 2013
    Very nice! Glad you were able to find some I'm such a nice shape.
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  • chandler9a
    chandler9a Posts: 878
    edited September 2013
    the spikes make a very nice improvement IMO... Just wait till you get Larry's rings in them, you will love the sound.
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,243
    edited September 2013
    Jake,

    I will have these shipped tomorrow, and have a tracking # coming your way. Sorry bout the delay, have been very busy at the shop, and it slipped my mind a couple days ago..
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited September 2013
    Toolfan66 wrote: »
    Jake,

    I will have these shipped tomorrow, and have a tracking # coming your way. Sorry bout the delay, have been very busy at the shop, and it slipped my mind a couple days ago..

    Woo hoo! I feel blessed to get a set of these, and bring these speakers into the modern ages with no screws and chipping wood.
    Jake
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited September 2013
    FYI: I just ordered some Axon film caps from partsconnexion as they are currently 1/2 off. A great opportunity to get larger film caps for the woofer section of the crossover and not break the bank if they have the value you need.

    axon.jpg
    Jake
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