Looking at my SDA 2Bs from Craigslist Found Something Different
slbenz
Posts: 97
Now that I have been using these speakers for several weeks, they are starting to grow on me. Looked at the speakers more closely and noticed that the tweeters are different. One speaker looks like it has the original SL2000 silver dome tweeter and the other I believe is the drop-in RDO-194 tweeter which has an all-black dome that fills the enclosure. I am thinking of replacing the remaining SL2000 tweeter with a the RDO-194. That way they will sonically match and would be an easy upgrade. I was wondering why the two speakers didn't seem to quite match tonally and after closer inspection, now I know why.
Comments
-
IMHO that would be a good 1st move, then think about the other mods(well documented here) you can do for not too much $$...it is well worth it.Yep, my name really is Bob.
Parasound HCA1500A(indoor sound) and HCA1000(outdoor sound), Dynaco PAS4, Denon DP1200 w/Shure V15 Type V and Jico SAS stylus, Marantz UD7007, Polk L600, Rythmik L12 sub. -
Thanks. Before I saw that the speakers had two different tweeters, I was thinking of doing the RDO-198 with crossover mods. But now that I realize that one of the speakers has a RDO-194 tweeter already installed, I might as well replace the other one to match. Then, as you suggest, do the other mods.
-
Or you could do the upgrades, and buy two RDO-198-1s, and sell the 194. The 198s are better.Home Theater/2 Channel:
Front: SDA-2ATL forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/143984/my-2as-finally-finished-almost/p1
Center: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/150760/my-center-channel-project/p1
Surrounds & Rears: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/151647/my-surround-project/p1
Sonicaps, Mills, RDO-194s-198s, Dynamat, Hurricane Nuts, Blackhole5
Pioneer Elite VSX-72TXV, Carver PM-600, SVS PB2-Plus Subwoofer
dhsspeakerservice.com/ -
Doesn't the SL2500 have a black dome and look like an RDO? Just want to make sure you have what you think you do.afterburnt wrote: »They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.
Village Idiot of Club Polk -
I just spoke with the Polk technician and he said I do have a RDO-194 on one of my speakers. So I just ordered a RDO-194 to replace the original SL2000 tweeter still remaining on one of the speakers I have. Should be arriving by this weekend since their distribution center is located in the same State as I am.Doesn't the SL2500 have a black dome and look like an RDO? Just want to make sure you have what you think you do.
-
Spoke with the Polk Technician again to verify that I do have a RDO-194 tweeter in one of the speakers. Also found out that the original owner who installed the replacement tweeter, installed in it out of phase. I now have the black wire attached to the red tab and the white wire attached to the silver tab. Now it is time to play with the speakers again.
-
Doesn't the SL2500 have a black dome and look like an RDO? Just want to make sure you have what you think you do.
Yes, but the quick connect tabs are different sizes for + & -, like the SL3000 and 198sHome Theater/2 Channel:
Front: SDA-2ATL forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/143984/my-2as-finally-finished-almost/p1
Center: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/150760/my-center-channel-project/p1
Surrounds & Rears: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/151647/my-surround-project/p1
Sonicaps, Mills, RDO-194s-198s, Dynamat, Hurricane Nuts, Blackhole5
Pioneer Elite VSX-72TXV, Carver PM-600, SVS PB2-Plus Subwoofer
dhsspeakerservice.com/ -
Now that I had a chance to reconnect the wires properly in the RDO-194 tweeter, imaging and clarity is much improved. I can easily hear the difference between the RDO-194 tweeter in the left speaker vs. the SL2000 tweeter in my right speaker. The SL2000 tweeter is much harsher and piercing than the RDO-194. I now understand that 5dB bump that the SL2000 produces to create that harshness in the highs. Now that the RDO-194 in my left speaker is correctly in phase, I can hear that imaging depth the SDA technology can deliver. I like it better than my Carver C-1 or C-9 Sonic Hologram generator. Both added a veiled layer between my preamp and amp that I currently use that I didn't like. The SDA 2Bs give that same sense of depth, placement and imaging like the C-1 and C-9 but without adding a veiled layer between my preamp and amp. Now I can't wait for the replacement tweeter to arrive and replace the SL2000 tweeter in my right speaker to smooth things out.
-
I did the same thing when i replaced the tweets in my 1c's & 15tl's. Did one side first just to hear the difference. It didnt take long to shut r down & do other side. I still have sl2000's in small monitor series & they are tough & do the job. But for dedicated listening the 194 & 198's are worth the coin. Enjoy..
