SDA-SRS2 vs SDA-1C -- comparison of sound and value

Mystery · March 2014

I'm looking at a pair of SDA-SRS2's and of course they are not hot rodded but do have RDO-194's and upgraded crossovers (not sure what brand caps).
I can do few other small upgrades like dynamat, epoxy etc... myself later on.
Would like to get an opinion on how different (better?) they are compared to 1C's.
I have read hundreds of threads but never heard neither in person.

Specs of 1C:

Years of Production: 1989
Original MSRP: $1,800/pair
Drivers: 2 - 1" tweeter, 4 - 6.5" midrange, 1 - 12" sub-bass radiator
Dimensions: 44"H x 16.563"W x 11.5"D
Weight: 100 pounds each
Specifications
Frequency Response: 15Hz - 26kHz
Impedence: 6 Ohms
Recommended Power: 50 - 500 watts per channel
Efficiency: 90dB

Specs of SRS2:

Years of Production: 1986-88
Original MSRP: $2,200/pair
Drivers: 2 - 1" SL2000 tweeters, 4 - 6.5" midranges, 1 - 15" fluid-coupled subwoofer
Dimensions: 50"H x 20.688"W x 12.344"D
Weight: 135 pounds each
Specifications
Frequency Response: 12Hz - 26kHz
Impedence: 4 Ohms
Recommended Power: 10-750 watts per channel
Efficiency: 92dB

From the specs, SRS2's are taller/wider, quite heavier and go 3dB lower with 2dB more efficiency.
I have amps that can deliver 330 wpc at 4 ohms so that'll be way more than ear bleeding level in my 14 x 14 (or 14 x 26) long formal living/dining room.
On the Polk ladder, SRS2's are above 1C's but how better are they?
From what I read, SRS2's will have wider soundstage but sound pretty much the same???
Also, what is a good price? Seller asking $600.

Comments from those who've heard at least one of them would be more meaningful than just 'I suppose they'll be better as they are high up in the model list' replies as I already ****-u-med that.
Thank you.

nooshinjohn · March 2014

If you have already modded out the 1c's I would just stick with them as IMHO, there will be a negligible improvement. The one area the SRS2's will be better at and that would be in the low frequencies due to the larger passive radiator.

Mystery · March 2014

I don't have 1C.
As I mentioned, I've never heard neither of them and I was planning on getting 1C's to see if they have better mid range than SDA-2 models but want to skip and move up the ladder if an opportunity comes.

PolkieMan · March 2014

That's a good price if they are already capped with Rdo-194 you know that costs a bit (300+) even if you do the work yourself.
You know what I have and given the choice both priced the same and in the same condition I would go with the SRS2. One thing about the 1C is they are 6 ohms so more friendly and the pin blade and crossover is newer gen. The big guys will dig a little deeper, like my 2.3tls.

nooshinjohn wrote: »

If you have already modded out the 1c's I would just stick with them as IMHO, there will be a negligible improvement. The one area the SRS2's will be better at and that would be in the low frequencies due to the larger passive radiator.

Dennis Gardner · March 2014

The SRS 2s will have a wider soundstage due to the wider placement of the mids. The lows are lower simply because cabinet volume and radiator/port size since the number of mids making bass is the same.

I don't know what you call hot-rodded, but new tweeters and crossovers is hot-rodded in my book.

The SRS 2s may not be able to be driven with mono blocks at all due to blade-blade IC. This could be a deal breaker for some for sure.

Schurkey · March 2014

WHICH SRS 2s? After years of following Craigslist and eBay advertisements, I've never seen an SRS 2 described as blade/blade or pin/blade; and most don't even show a decent photo of the binding post cup.

The blade/blade SRS 2 is a larger version of the SDA 1B. Cannot use with non-common-ground amps. Like the 1B, they can sound spectacular.
The pin/blade SRS 2 is a larger version of the SDA 1C. Can be used with common ground amps and an isolation transformer like the AI-1 or Dreadnaught. Binding post cup has two pair of posts, with jumper wires to connect hf and lf crossovers. (in other words, bi-ampable)

Located near Denver, with replaced tweeters and fresh caps? I called that guy months ago, as best I could tell (the owner didn't seem to know much about the speakers) they were modified first-style SRS 2s. I think the interconnect had been re-wired, and the current owner didn't know about blade/blade vs. pin/blade.

IF (big IF) you never want to use non-common-ground amplifiers, they'd probably be a good deal.

Mystery · March 2014

I thought hot rodded includes inductors as well as caps and resistors.

chandler9a · March 2014

I am debating these two models as we speak. I have had a my modded 1C's for a couple of years now and just recently fell into a nice pair of SRS 2's with RDO's only (blade/blade)

One thing I can't get over is the low end from the SRS 2's, its pretty impressive. But, my 1C's are very mint and all the mods are done already. I really don't think you can go wrong with either one so it would depend on your listening preference, and maybe room size.

Do you have a line on some 1C's? How much? SRS2's with RDO's and new caps for $600 isn't bad IMO, actually sounds like a good deal to me.

Keep us posted, I would like to hear your impressions on whichever you choose.

boston1450 · March 2014

600.00 is a good price. Ive never seen/heard those before, but if there better than the 1c's id go for it at that price-if there in good condition.. I love my 1c's very much & can only compare them to the 2b's (stock) & thats a toss up-as their both great speakers. Good Luck

Mystery · March 2014

boston1450 wrote: »

...I love my 1c's very much & can only compare them to the 2b's (stock) & thats a toss up-as their both great speakers. Good Luck

A lot of threads have 1C's as much better than 2B's while some mention they are pretty close.
That's one of the reasons I wanted to skip 1C's.
Not in a hurry but just thinking over it.
As soon as speakers of that size come in, I made a promise myself to sell two pairs so I get some space in that wall.

Dennis Gardner · March 2014

Studying the designs Polk used in the SDA lineup indicates that 2 mid woofers used in the CRS successfully with a 10 inch radiator can be stretched to be used with a 12 inch radiator in a large cabinet in the SDA 2 lineup to go lower. The same premise can be noticed as the SDA 1C uses 4 mids with the 12 inch radiator, but can be stretched to go lower in a larger cabinet and 15 inch radiator in the SRS 2. This makes you wonder if the mid woofer in the CRS and SDA1C are just loafing or are they being stretched to the end of their limits by pushing large cab/radiator capabilities in the SDA 2 and SRS 2 models.

If you take this further, since the 1.2 models have 8 mid woofers with a 15 inch radiator are they loafing or would they go even lower than their 27 hz if they had a larger cab with an 18 inch radiator?

Does anyone know where this ends?

OldmanSRS · March 2014

Since the MW's don't produce much of any sound below about 30 hz, the PR is doing that job. Seems reasonable the 1.2 could effectively drive an 18" PR if the cabinet size was adjusted for a lower resonance and the PR tuned with the proper cone weight to take advantage of it. Interesting to note that with the PR removed from the cabinet (big open hole) the speakers still produce very low bass from the back pressure and the cabinet resonance. Of course one would not apply much power since they aren't loaded and could easily over extend.

Mike Reeter · March 2014

I've owned both models, preferred the SRS 2's simply for the Bass output, and they just have an overall "bigger" sound. The midrange on the 1C's can be a little congested (no offense to 1C owners), I still have mine and sold the SRS 2's. The 1C's are easier to drive.

Dawgfish · March 2014

Actually the pin-blade model SRS 2s are 6 ohms also. I currently have a modded set of SRS 2s (pin-blade) and have owned modded SDA 1Cs in the past. I prefer the SRS 2s by a good margin due to the better bass and wider soundstage. Also the pin\blade SRS 2s are biamp/biwireable while the 1Cs are not.

Toolfan66 · March 2014

Just got Back from Sunny's house, didn't realize he only lives two blocks away from me LOL!!!

Thanks for having me over, the Boston speakers you have sound amazing!! I love em..

I will have you over when I get my garage in order, and we will sit and listen to some tunes, maybe grill some burgers or something..

Schurkey · March 2014

So...Who has compared SDA 1Bs to SDA 1C?

Has anyone compared SRS 2 blade/blade to SRS 2 pin/blade?

Of course, similar levels of maintenance/modification would be required; along with an amp that won't knock it's knees when driving the earlier-generation speaker.

geppy1 · March 2014

I guess I would have thought the bass on the SRS 2 would not be as tight as other models. Maybe more, but not as tight.

Dawgfish · March 2014

^^Actually I find not only is the bass deeper and greater with the SRS 2s, I find it to be better defined as well, especially when biamped. The only advantage the 1Cs have over the SRS 2s are being slightly easier to pick up! :-)

PolkieMan · March 2014

I am sure they have more wife appeal LOL

Dawgfish wrote: »

^^Actually I find not only is the bass deeper and greater with the SRS 2s, I find it to be better defined as well, especially when biamped. The only advantage the 1Cs have over the SRS 2s are being slightly easier to pick up! :-)

chandler9a · March 2014

I too, would also like to know if anyone has compared the SRS blade/blade with the pin/blade model. I know the pin/blade model is more desirable due to options with amplification but is there a big difference in sound once they are both modded all up?

Dawgfish · March 2014

PolkieMan wrote: »

I am sure they have more wife appeal LOL

Lol! Yeah your probably right on that one!

Dawgfish · March 2014

chpinler9a wrote: »

I too, would also like to know if anyone has compared the SRS blade/blade with the pin/blade model. I know the pin/blade model is more desirable due to options with amplification but is there a big difference in sound once they are both modded all up?

If I remember correctly the blade/blade versions do not have dual binding posts, while I know for a fact the pin/blades do. Its fun to biamp those beasts so I would consider that an advantage for the pin/blade versions also.

Schurkey · March 2014

Dawgfish wrote: »

If I remember correctly the blade/blade versions do not have dual binding posts, while I know for a fact the pin/blades do. Its fun to biamp those beasts so I would consider that an advantage for the pin/blade versions also.

Yes, true. It is also true that it would be supremely easy to add two binding posts, re-route some wire, and have the same biamp capability in the SDA 1B and the SRS 2 blade/blade.

The only reason I haven't done this is that I have no need to biamp/biwire.

chandler9a · April 2014

I am Okay with not biamping so I guess I am good there. I would like to upgrade the binding posts and interconnect sockets so that should be good enough for me.

I think if I had to choose between the SRS 2's and the 1C's, I would take the SRS's at this point. Just a bigger overall sound that I like.

zingo · April 2014

My choice would be the SRS 2s due to the deeper bass response, the fact that they are literally half an SRS, and their rarity. B-B 1986 SRS 2s are single amplification, and have a 4 ohm impedance unlike most SDAs.