Polk SDA 2B’s worth upgrading?

Raintown Baboon

I recently bought a pair of these in excellent condition for $300. I was in the market for bedroom system speakers (late night jazz) and remember liking the SDA's back in the day so thought I'd give them a try. I'm running these off a vintage Yamaha CA-600 integrated which is a respectable amp. While these speakers don't sound bad, the sound I'm hearing is best described as veiled. My main system is Manley tube mono blocs running Maggie 1.7's so maybe I'm expecting too much from the Polks but something has to change or the SDA's will be back on the market. I'm willing to throw a few hundred dollars at these if it will "lift the veil" and bring forth nicely detailed sound. My thoughts are swapping the stock tweeters for 4.1TL's and a standard crossover component package from VR3 Mods. This will put my total investment at around $600 and there's a lot of nice speakers, both modern and vintage that can be had for that kind of money. I'd appreciate some input from those of you that have done this kind of upgrade as to whether the return is worth the investment. Thanks!

F1nut

Upgrading the 2B's to the TL version is well worth it and will lift that veil.

TennMan

Welcome to Club Polk! Are you using the interconnect cable with your 2Bs? If not that could account for what you are hearing. As F1 said, the TL upgrade makes quite a difference in the 2Bs. You might also want to consider upgrading to low LCR dimensional inductors. Not only did it improve the bass, it seemed to open up the mid-range as well. I've not regretted the money I spent on my 2BTL's.

NJPOLKER

Hey Baboon

If you have not some forum searches do so now and get your read on. Do it you won't regret it and thank me later.

For the kind of money your talking about you can't go wrong plus you should have fun along the way. If your a real listener the Polk SDA especially the Polks you have are awesome.

Unless you have some other plans here.

PolkieMan

I would sell them to me since you don't like them, are you local? Excelllent? well how about $350?

Seriously though always good to read this if you haven't already should answer most questions.

Sda Handbook http://vr3mods.com/uploads/SDA_Handbook_2011_Rev2.pdf

nspindel

Well worth it.

chandler9a

worth it indeed. You will love them.

Raintown Baboon

Thanks for the input guys (and yes TennMan, I was using the cable). I'll take the plunge and see what happens. I'm going to do some more research to see just how far I want to take these and will report back and post some photos when all is said and done.

Mystery

Folks here are even upgrading monitor 5's and 7's and in my opinion, SDA-2B is much better option and far better speaker for spending on upgrades as long as SDA affect is your thing.

leftwinger57

If they are good enough for a bedroom set up then yes they are keepers. There's a ton of info on them in the handbook and are placement critical w/ no tow in or out only front facing no corners and no more than a spred of 8-9'.When I got mine they were bone stock and like I used to say in a coma for 20 odd years till I got them. I said why bother to upgrade, well it makes a difference in that few words. Any mod you do any there is a hefty list of inexpensive mods you will lift that veil you speak of. Maybe the x-overs are going or as god an amp you think you have just try another amp if possible w/ about 200wpc and then hear what it sounds like. They are great mid sized speakers. Also as refered before make sure you use the i/c cable. Show some pix...

deronb1

You will like the improvement in sound no doubt. However, if and when you decide to sell. You wont get near you money back. Just the way it goes

polklifer

SDA Polkies are just OK....I don't regret upgrading my SDA's, because I got most of my money out of them, but thinking they are the end all is foolish...

Mr. Bubbles

Like some others have said; if you are after the SDA effect these are well worth it. This model is one of the best sounding SDA's IMO. I would recommend sitting and listening to them and concentrating on the effect that these speakers can bring in the stageing and imagery. If you are not concerned with the effect then i would sell them. You already have a little on the high side in them. If however you like the effect you get in the sweet spot, i would definately upgrade and plan to keep. Not sure how your bedroom set up is but if you are not sitting in a sweet spot with these you are wasting your time. They are not a set up and listen while reading in bed or raoming the room type speaker. Good luck with your descision and congrats on the awesome speaks.

NJPOLKER

I hate the word EFFECT when describing the SDA sound stage. That's just me I guess. The only effect I get is a smile on my face from what I hear.

TennMan

NJPOLKER wrote: »

I hate the word EFFECT when describing the SDA sound stage. That's just me I guess. The only effect I get is a smile on my face from what I hear.

How would you prefer to hear it described. Sound, magic, illusion, gimmic?

westmassguy

Interaural Crosstalk Cancellation is the correct term

westmassguy

polklifer wrote: »

SDA Polkies are just OK....I don't regret upgrading my SDA's, because I got most of my money out of them, but thinking they are the end all is foolish...

What a ridiculous statement, especially in a Vintage Polk Forum. The OP didn't ask if they were the "end all", he asked if they were worth upgrading. The answer is a big fat YES. The 2Bs are great speakers even without expensive upgrades. Everything is cumulative, so the more he does, the better they become.

michaeljhsda2

westmassguy wrote: »

What a ridiculous statement, especially in a Vintage Polk Forum. The OP didn't ask if they were the "end all", he asked if they were worth upgrading. The answer is a big fat YES. The 2Bs are great speakers even without expensive upgrades. Everything is cumulative, so the more he does, the better they become.

Right on

boston1450

Raintown Baboon wrote: »

Thanks for the input guys (and yes TennMan, I was using the cable). I'll take the plunge and see what happens. I'm going to do some more research to see just how far I want to take these and will report back and post some photos when all is said and done.

placement is a big part of any SDA speaker also. How do you have them set up in the room ? They should be 6-8 ft apart & 8-10 inches from wall--with around 3 ft on each side open. Do not toe them. Placement is Very important. SDA's need power also. You can use alot of amp's but if you want them to sing your gonna need at least 200+wpc or more. I myself havent upgraded but i would love to. If you can squeeze it in budget-i say go for it.. Welcome to CP also.
..
Edit:: my SDA's are just OK--BUT they bring a to my face when i listen to them

Mystery

NJPOLKER wrote: »

I hate the word EFFECT when describing the SDA sound stage. That's just me I guess. The only effect I get is a smile on my face from what I hear.

Me too. That's why I said affect.
BTW, I always mix affect with effect when writing but readers get the message.

F1nut

polklifer wrote: »

SDA Polkies are just OK....I don't regret upgrading my SDA's, because I got most of my money out of them, but thinking they are the end all is foolish...

I've heard a lot of speakers (a great many were very expensive speakers) over the years and have yet to hear a pair that could replace my SDA's. So I'm curious, what model did you have? What gear were you using with them? What speaker do you think is better?

Stew

To echo what others have said, the TL mod and proper placement bring these to a whole new level. They keep getting better with the other mods and better electronics. Without a doubt, they are worth upgrading.

The only effect in question is mentioned above - interaural crosstalk. SDA eliminates the interaural crosstalk effect. When you set SDA's up correctly, they completely disappear and you're left with instruments/vocals placed in a large 3-d sound stage.

It was a lot of fun learning about and modifying these and I enjoy them more than any other speakers I've ever heard. That's what this hobby's all about to me.

Raintown Baboon

Thanks for the additional input. I'd really like to hear what these sound like with the crossover/tweeter mods but once the money's spent it won't be coming back so I may need to rethink placement. They don't have to go in my bedroom as I have other speakers but just thought they'd be a fun late night listen. I have some vacation in a couple weeks and will take measurements and post a couple photos so you can see what I have to work with and perhaps let me know if I'm on a course to sonic righteousness or just spinning my wheels.

Leftwinger57 - The Yamaha amp is far from godlike, just a respectable sounding 70's vintage piece.

normac

Granted, I'm no authority on audio, but I bought a used pair of 2Bs last summer and just completed a series of mods over the last few weeks. I dynamated the passives and mids, added armacel gasketing to all drivers, secured all drivers with hurricane nuts (rings were not available), changed out the tweeter with RDO-198 frpm Polk, performed the TL mod and changed out the capacitors and resisters. First I did the mechanical mods and the sound was tighter, more clear had better base. It only improved with changing out the electrical items. I am told the break in takes at least 200 hours and I am now at 45. At 35 I was surprised to hear the entire soundstage enveloping me as if the sound was coming from both the front and the sides. The RDO-198s removed the harshness I originally heard in the high end. I am delighted. Your experience may differ, but I doubt it!

leftwinger57

Sorry that was clearly a big typo.I left out the o for maybe your ca-600 isn't good enough power wise. I believe it's rated at 30 wpc. Far be it from me to call any amp/receiver god like that's rediculous. But I stand behind going w/ a beefer amp for the 2Bs which I have both of.

http://www.hifiengine.com/library/yamaha/ca-600.shtml

polklifer

F1nut wrote: »

I've heard a lot of speakers (a great many were very expensive speakers) over the years and have yet to hear a pair that could replace my SDA's. So I'm curious, what model did you have? What gear were you using with them? What speaker do you think is better?

I completed the Statements, (DIY) supreme hi fidelity...put the polks on the for sale list. NO comparison on any level

I enjoyed the rebuild of the 3.1's, just not into the SDA trickery, the cheap drivers (construction), cabinets that are questionable in construction. Moreover the polk tweeters are really good....for polk tweeters...:(

Then there is amplifier compatibility, and the DN cable nonsense...too much

I use Levinson amplifiers, Conrad Johnson preamp

DIY is the ticket for me, is not for everyone

westmassguy

polklifer wrote: »

I enjoyed the rebuild of the 3.1's, just not into the SDA trickery, the cheap drivers (construction), cabinets that are questionable in construction. Moreover the polk tweeters are really good....for polk tweeters...:(

There's no trickery involved in Polk's Interaural Crosstalk Cancellation, anymore than there's trickery in Noise Cancelling Headphones. An inverted signal is applied to cancel an unwanted signal. It's pure science, not magic.

polklifer

I didn't say it was magic, I don't care for the science behind it..

drumminman

I second the recommendation above about using an amp with more power. All models of SDA's need lots of clean high current power to really open them up. The sound would improve greatly from using something stouter, though it'll need to be a common ground amp. I would say something on the order of 200 wpc would be a good starting point.