Companies using newer versions of SDA

OldSchoolPolk

So I still have not had the luck to hear Polk SDA speakers in action but I'm wondering if any companies have incorporated the process into newer speakers.

Golden Ear founded by Sandy Gross (formerly of Polk) has the SuperCinema 3D Array which, on paper, seems to have similarities to SDA. Yes, it a sound bar (I'm sure I just lost most of you) but it does seem to do the same thing.

I can imagine a powered speaker having a set up to create the SDA experience w/o the concern of common ground amps. Has anyone seen that option.

Companies are doing this w/ headphones now too so its got to be on an engineer's to do list at a reputable speaker company.

Thanks

F1nut

SDA is patented technology.

westmassguy

The Polk Soundbars also use SDA technology

Sea

Wouldn't the patent be expired by now? Design patents usually run for 14 years and utility for 20 years. Of course I guess the patents could have been updated as subtle changes were made.

westmassguy

They may have made subtle changes with the Soundbar.

PolkieMan

Your in NC maybe someone here will let you come and visit theirs, cheers.

nhhiep

I think the SDA tech is dead with the CRT TVs, just because of the size. Average people now want small/thin stuffs in their living room. Especially $/sq is getting more expensive. Houses are getting smaller. Walk into BB and you will see what the average people are buying these days.

Nobody will put $ into making CRT TVs anymore, even it has the best PQ. Heck, even Plasma will be gone really soon. sorry, but SDA is gone.

F1nut

SDA's were not consumer grade speakers to begin with.

westmassguy

nhhiep wrote: »

I think the SDA tech is dead with the CRT TVs, just because of the size. Average people now want small/thin stuffs in their living room. Especially $/sq is getting more expensive. Houses are getting smaller. Walk into BB and you will see what the average people are buying these days.

Nobody will put $ into making CRT TVs anymore, even it has the best PQ. Heck, even Plasma will be gone really soon. sorry, but SDA is gone.

I think your analogy is way off base. CRTs demise is due to manufacturing costs, and the ease of using newer technologies like Plasma, LCD, LED, DLP etc. You'd need a crane to move a 60" CRT into someone's house, and who would even manufacture it.
SDA Technology is as relevant today as it was when it was first introduced. Human hearing hasn't changed, and interaural crosstalk hasn't magically disappeared. When fully upgraded, SDAs sound better today than when they were first manufactured. They can keep up with the latest sources, and the better your equipment, the better they sound. The little cube systems and bookshelf speakers, are mostly due to the WAF. Don't underestimate the growing retro market. More and more are returning to vinyl, and big honking speakers. I'd call it an anti iPod movement.

TennMan

westmassguy wrote: »

The little cube systems and bookshelf speakers, are mostly due to the WAF. Don't underestimate the growing retro market. More and more are returning to vinyl, and big honking speakers. I'd call it an anti iPod movement.

Amen to that. I went the cube route for a couple of years. I ended up hating them. I have a good collection of vinyl that I bought in the late '60s thru early '80s that I had kept in storage for a long time. I have been listening to them lately and the more I listen to them the better I like them. I can't put my finger on what it is but there is something that I like about vinyl that CDs don't have. I thought the vinyl records sounded bad with the cubes. The SDAs seems to bring them to life again. If I could just figure out how to get rid of the pops and clicks I might invest in a better turntable and pack away my CDs.

I don't like iPhones, iPads or iPods. I guess I'm getting too old to keep up with current technology. Fortunately I don't have to.

westmassguy

TennMan wrote: »

Amen to that. I went the cube route for a couple of years. I ended up hating them. I have a good collection of vinyl that I bought in the late '60s thru early '80s that I had kept in storage for a long time. I have been listening to them lately and the more I listen to them the better I like them. I can't put my finger on what it is but there is something that I like about vinyl that CDs don't have. I thought the vinyl records sounded bad with the cubes. The SDAs seems to bring them to life again. If I could just figure out how to get rid of the pops and clicks I might invest in a better turntable and pack away my CDs.

I don't like iPhones, iPads or iPods. I guess I'm getting too old to keep up with current technology. Fortunately I don't have to.

A good record cleaning machine would most likely get rid of a majority of that Ronnie. I got rid of my vinyl years ago, but our ears are analog, and so is vinyl.

heiney9

westmassguy wrote: »

The Polk Soundbars also use SDA technology

They do, but in a different way. It's an active form of SDA whereas original SDA tech was completely passive (except of course, SRT's).

westmassguy

heiney9 wrote: »

They do, but in a different way. It's an active form of SDA whereas original SDA tech was completely passive (except of course, SRT's).

Which would explain why they can keep the patent.

OldSchoolPolk

I believe the Golden Ear Super Cinema 3D Array is active so it is diff. than the passive design of the SDA. But either passive or active, the results of the respective systems are supposed to sound clearly better. It seems issues other than SQ limits their use.