My journey of SDA's

backinthelou
backinthelou Posts: 36
in Vintage Speakers
Hey fellas, I was just reading some of my original posts regarding Polk speakers. Four years ago, I picked up my first SDA's-2B(if I recall correctly). I started a post back then regarding building another set of SDA's with spare parts. Everyone was very helpful. Anyway, I've come a ways. I no longer have the 2's and have gone through several other pairs of Polks. Anyway, I am to the point of the journey where I don't see myself doing any better than what I have. I picked up a pair of SRS's earlier this summer. They are in very(VERY) nice condition. One of the tweeters was bad, but I repaired it. I am moving on to the upgrade part of the show and ordered 8 RDO-194's yesterday to replace the SL2000's. Next up will be the crossovers. The only problem is that when searching, most of the info and links were lost in the "upgrade" to the forum. I just dropped 4 bills yesterday. Can someone give me an estimate on upgrading the crossovers using Sonic caps and Mills resistors or one of the other recommended cap upgrades? Stay tuned. I will post pics and progress.
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  • backinthelou
    backinthelou Posts: 36
    BTW, that was 4 bills on the RDO's.
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  • tratliff
    tratliff Posts: 1,701
    I'm in the same situation. Got some original SRS's that haven't been touched. Just placed an order for new SC's from Doug. Will be doing tweeters and cross overs soon. I have talked with Trey at VR3 mods and will probably go that route on the cross overs. I just want to give my ears a little time to see each independent improvement. Looking forward to seeing what you decide on.
    2 Channel Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II, 2 REL Carbon Limited, Norma Revo IPA-140B, Lumin U2 Mini, VPI Prime w/SoundSmith Zephyr MIMC, Modwright PH 150, Denon DP-59l w/Denon DL-301MKII, WAY Silver 3 Ana+ Speaker Cables, WAY Silver 4+ Interconnect Cables, AudioQuest Niagara 7000 w/Dragon and Hurricane Power Cables
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  • gimpod
    gimpod Posts: 1,793
    backinthelou wrote: »
    Can someone give me an estimate on upgrading the crossovers using Sonic caps and Mills resistors or one of the other recommended cap upgrades?

    This is going to depend on whether there the original SDA SRS's or the SDA SRS 1.2's and how far you want to go. It would probably be a good idea to get hold of Tray at VR3 Mods for more info as he's done more than a few SDA crossovers.
    “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” ~ Mark Twain
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  • backinthelou
    backinthelou Posts: 36
    edited December 2014
    They are the original SRS's-blade-blade cable, 13 screws on the crossovers, SL2000 tweeters.
    Post edited by backinthelou on
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  • backinthelou
    backinthelou Posts: 36
    Serial numbers are 3176 for the left and 3642 for the right.
    Please excuse the mess. I do realize that I do not have optimal room for these, but I plan on moving by next summer. zl5cybeav3yr.jpg
    it3kxrqlv1vz.jpg
    g4uxm26nkgqs.jpg
    My profile pic would only post upside down, so I changed it to one of my old cars, and now my speaker pics are sideways.
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  • Mr. Bubbles
    Mr. Bubbles Posts: 736
    Congrats on the speakers. Pretty awsome speakers. I remember when I got mine. tremendous excitement. Though i still like my 2A's better for strict listening I do enjoy my SRS. They only get better with mods. Not knocking you in any way but you do indeed have a good bit of work to do on things other than the speakers themselves.

    Are those minimus 7's on the tv stand?
    If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of Progress?!


    Monitor 5Jr, Monitor 5, RTA12, RTA 15TL, SDA 2A, 1c, SRS 2, 1.2TL, CRS, Atrium.
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  • halo71
    halo71 Posts: 4,603
    Congrats! I can not imagine getting a pair of those! I am beyond excited about getting a pair of 1B's later this month. Although they could be very early 1C's. Got some investigating to do on them.
    --Gary--
    Onkyo Integra M504, Bottlehead Foreplay III, Denon SACD, Thiel CS2.3, NHT VT-2, VT-3 and Evolution T6, Infinity RSIIIa, SDA1C and a few dozen other speakers around the house I change in and out.
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  • backinthelou
    backinthelou Posts: 36
    edited December 2014
    The Minimus 7's are hooked to the Yamaha surround. The SRS's are currently hooked to my Sansui G-8000. I collect vintage Sansui gear. I also have a 9090db and AU-717/TU-710 inside the tv stand. I do have other options for amps too-if that's what you mean. :)
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  • backinthelou
    backinthelou Posts: 36
    dexnwfgvos3o.jpg
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  • halo71
    halo71 Posts: 4,603
    Well now.....interested in a QRX-6500?
    --Gary--
    Onkyo Integra M504, Bottlehead Foreplay III, Denon SACD, Thiel CS2.3, NHT VT-2, VT-3 and Evolution T6, Infinity RSIIIa, SDA1C and a few dozen other speakers around the house I change in and out.
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  • backinthelou
    backinthelou Posts: 36
    I know the house is too small-cramped-we are moving by the summer.
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  • backinthelou
    backinthelou Posts: 36
    I'm trying to trim down-lol. I had 22 pairs of speakers at one point. I am down to about 10-12 receivers and something like 4 amps, 4 tt's down from 7......
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  • backinthelou
    backinthelou Posts: 36
    Halo-i have tried to respond to you via email twice, but keep getting an undeliverable message.
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  • halo71
    halo71 Posts: 4,603
    check your messages please
    --Gary--
    Onkyo Integra M504, Bottlehead Foreplay III, Denon SACD, Thiel CS2.3, NHT VT-2, VT-3 and Evolution T6, Infinity RSIIIa, SDA1C and a few dozen other speakers around the house I change in and out.
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  • halo71
    halo71 Posts: 4,603
    194 is...
    --Gary--
    Onkyo Integra M504, Bottlehead Foreplay III, Denon SACD, Thiel CS2.3, NHT VT-2, VT-3 and Evolution T6, Infinity RSIIIa, SDA1C and a few dozen other speakers around the house I change in and out.
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  • hochpt21
    hochpt21 Posts: 5,423
    Very nice looking speakers and gear!
    2 ChannelTurntable - VPI Classic 2/Ortofon 2M BlueAmplification - Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum II, Parks Audio Budgie PhonoSpeakers - GoldenEar Triton 17.2 Home TheaterDenon AVR-X3300W; Rotel RMB-1066; Klipsch RP-280F's, Klipsch RP-450C, Polk FXi3's, Polk RC60i; Dual SVS PB 2000's; BenQ HT2050; Elite Screens 120"Man CaveTurntable - Pro-Ject 2.9 Wood/Grado GoldAmplification - Dared SL2000a, McCormack DNA 0.5 DeluxeCD: Cambridge AudioSpeakers - Wharfedale Linton 85th Anniversary; LSiM 703; SDA 2A
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  • teekay0007
    teekay0007 Posts: 2,289
    DSkip wrote: »
    I thought the RD0198 was the drop-in for the SL2000?

    The RD-0198 is a drop-in for the SL2500 and SL3000.

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  • Mr. Bubbles
    Mr. Bubbles Posts: 736
    I was more so pointing out the area around the speakers but also the amp. I could not see you were using the Sansui reciever. A very capable reciever and a beauty. I love the aesthetics of much of the vintage gear. However you can still do better (amp wise) on those speakers. Enjoy.
    If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of Progress?!


    Monitor 5Jr, Monitor 5, RTA12, RTA 15TL, SDA 2A, 1c, SRS 2, 1.2TL, CRS, Atrium.
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  • backinthelou
    backinthelou Posts: 36
    I just replaced all of the SL 2000's for the RDO-194 tweeters. I am enjoying and immediate improvement. The tinniness is gone! Next up is either hurricane nuts or crossovers!2s1srytayt3r.jpg
    szgoo57r51k2.jpg
    11vbno3vcp6i.jpg
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  • halo71
    halo71 Posts: 4,603
    Turn on the flash bro! :D
    --Gary--
    Onkyo Integra M504, Bottlehead Foreplay III, Denon SACD, Thiel CS2.3, NHT VT-2, VT-3 and Evolution T6, Infinity RSIIIa, SDA1C and a few dozen other speakers around the house I change in and out.
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  • backinthelou
    backinthelou Posts: 36
    Crappy cell phone pics. I'll get better pics later. The imaging has improved for the short amount of listening I was able to get on.
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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,416
    Crossovers next. You can do the hurricanes when you pull the drivers to do the Armacell and spikes to get them off the carpet... the upgrades never end, do they guys? B)

    Congrats
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
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  • strokin
    strokin Posts: 63
    edited January 2015
    backinthelou wrote: »
    Hey fellas, I was just reading some of my original posts regarding Polk speakers. Four years ago, I picked up my first SDA's-2B(if I recall correctly). I started a post back then regarding building another set of SDA's with spare parts. Everyone was very helpful. Anyway, I've come a ways. I no longer have the 2's and have gone through several other pairs of Polks. Anyway, I am to the point of the journey where I don't see myself doing any better than what I have. I picked up a pair of SRS's earlier this summer. They are in very(VERY) nice condition. One of the tweeters was bad, but I repaired it. I am moving on to the upgrade part of the show and ordered 8 RDO-194's yesterday to replace the SL2000's. Next up will be the crossovers. The only problem is that when searching, most of the info and links were lost in the "upgrade" to the forum. I just dropped 4 bills yesterday. Can someone give me an estimate on upgrading the crossovers using Sonic caps and Mills resistors or one of the other recommended cap upgrades? Stay tuned. I will post pics and progress.

    Hi backinthelou,
    By the way, nice ride. Do you mean Louisville by chance?
    Anyway just picked up some SDA1c's on CL, in the middle of refurbishing mine myself. So far I have dynomatted all the driver and passive baskets, sealed all seams and brace inside inside, recovered and applied missing grill cloth an left side, sanded and refinished with Minwax. started with 2 coats of "gunstock, 2 coats of "red sanoma," and 2 coats of "fruit punch". I will let it dry for about 3 days and then polyurethane,
    eventually around 7 coats.
    Waiting on 4 new RDO 194s', gold spikes. I have my H-nuts but will install them when the tweeters come in. Posted a couple of progress photos, forgot to dust the grills off after sanding. Wished I would have remembered that before I took the photo.
    Let me know How your SRS's are coming along, and what kind of differences you heard from the tweet change. By the way, Wmg, here on the forum is another one to check with on having your crossovers done, I'm having him do mine. Give DHS a call and ask for Dave.
    Be merry
    y43zcag1mq2q.jpg
    trlokhuq3jcq.jpg

    Cheers
    Post edited by strokin on
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  • boston1450
    boston1450 Posts: 7,639
    Dang those look sweet. Nice job
    ..
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  • msg
    msg Posts: 10,020
    backinthelou wrote: »
    The SRS's are currently hooked to my Sansui G-8000. I collect vintage Sansui gear. I also have a 9090db and AU-717/TU-710 inside the tv stand. I do have other options for amps too-if that's what you mean. :)
    have you tried the SRS's on your 9090?
    how are they with the G-8000?

    I disabled signatures.
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  • strokin
    strokin Posts: 63
    edited January 2015
    Thanks Boston1450, I forgot to mention that I also glued all the magnets while I was inside. Mine were all fine but figured while I was dynomating...
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  • pongshi
    pongshi Posts: 376
    I have a similar situation with my Polk SDA SRS speakers. I have been a 1C owner since the 80s, but finally got a (dream) pair of SRS speakers. I am doing the tweeters first. Good luck and post your progress... :)
    Living Room
    Parasound Model 2250v2 amplifier
    Parasound P5 preamp
    Turntable 1 - Technics SL-1210Mk2 turntable with Shure V-15 Type III cartridge
    Turntable 2 - Dual 1229 turntable, Dual AS-12 45 RPM stacker, Shure V-15 Type III cartridge
    Schiit Mani Phono Preamp for Turntable 2
    Oppo UDP-205 CD/SACD USB and FLAC duties
    Technics RS-1500US reel to reel
    Polk SDA SRS (2nd Gen) fully modded
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  • strokin
    strokin Posts: 63
    Still not exactly satisfied with the color, I Ended up putting 2 coats of " San
    gria " by Minwax on today and BAM!!! That's what I was after. Luckily I had not clear coated them yet. That's next. Still waiting on tweets, should be here any day.
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  • msg
    msg Posts: 10,020
    Wow! Beautiful!
    I disabled signatures.
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  • strokin
    strokin Posts: 63
    Thanks for the kind words.ec7d6h32ahh6.jpg
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