Polk Audio SDA 1.2 TL's vs Polk Audio LSiM707's

nikolas812

Which would you buy and why?

I haven't really had any audio equipment for about 5 years now. I lost interest..

But I've been thinking about getting another 2 channel setup. Something permanent, that I can enjoy for years to come...

I really miss my 1.2 TL's, more than most speakers. I really liked the sound they were capable of. But I really like the look of the new LSiM's, the 707's in particular. I haven't heard them, but I'm sure they sound nice. I would like to hear some opinions from users that have and what your thoughts would be? They will be paired with Audio Research gear.. Tube Pre and SS amp, the best I can afford..


Nik

Nightfall

I'd go for the SDAs myself, if my room was appropriate size for the models you're looking at.

nooshinjohn

1.2TL all day long. The 707 is a nice speaker but they lack soul.

Moose68Bash

At a Polk Fest in 2012 we hd a chance to get a good audition of the 707s, and I personally thought they were extremely good speakers for the money.

However, 12TLs ore special, and they don't make the any more. I'd get the TLs and mod them to the hilt. You won't be disappointed.

PS: I'm extremely partial to my 1.2TLs, and I'm not sure what it would take to get me to give them up. The SDA effect is irreplaceable IMHO.

nikolas812

I had feeling people were going to favor the SDA's. I miss them.


Nik

F1nut

Heard both many times, the LSiM's are the best Polk has made for a long time, but the SDA's cannot be beat.

nikolas812

Well that solves that. Lol

Looks like a pair of TL's are in my future. And some upgrades if that haven't been upgraded yet.


Nik

Conradicles

I would choose any of the larger SDA models. Classic. Timeless. Perfection.

heiney9

SDA's are unique and no other speaker can sound like them. The LSiM's are excellent, but SDA's are SDA's...........nuff said.

I'd say get both....lol

H9

Emlyn

Although both carry the Polk name, I see them as completely different sounding and in different classes. If the big SDA speakers were produced again my guess is they could cost double to triple what the 707s cost at retail. My short description is the big SDA speakers sound more like live music while the big LSiMs sound more like accurate studio monitors. I prefer the LSiM sound as they seem more cohesive to me in a medium sized room with what I listen to.

The big SDAs certainly make a bigger statement though, but they do not sound better with all kinds of music to me even if they are really fun to listen to. They can also overpower a room. I no longer own SDA speakers, and would go in a different direction for my next pair of speakers. It seems like the used market for excellent condition SDA speakers is drying up since they were last sold more than 20 years ago. The market was pretty active a few years ago, but the prices seem to have fallen a lot.

nooshinjohn

Emlyn wrote: »

It seems like the used market for excellent condition SDA speakers is drying up since they were last sold more than 20 years ago. The market was pretty active a few years ago, but the prices seem to have fallen a lot.

i could not disagree more with this part of your statement. Prices seem to have actually gone up quite a bit, but this could also be a regional thing.

nikolas812

Prices have definitely gone up since I was looking 6 years ago. Everything has. The Jolida tube amps I were buying 7 years ago have doubled in price, as has many other audio related gear. Maybe it was because of the recession we had back then. I don't know. But stuff has definitely gone up.

I do agree that the older sought after SDA's are getting harder to find though..

Nik

mantis

I think letting go of the past and moving into the now isn't a bad idea. Getting a pair of LSIM707's isn't a bad idea at all.
I just wish I could listen to a pair. Just as always I can't go anywhere to hear them.

tonyb

If you were to judge on pure sound quality alone, an updated pair of 1.2tl's is going to be hard to topple. It's not necessarily which is better, but which sound you prefer as both sound very different. Other than that, aesthetically speaking, the LSIM's have it all day long as most homes these days, and wives, aren't going to be too keen on those big SDA boxes in the living room.

Other than that, I'd say look outside the Polk brand if you want better. The SDA's, when fully brought back to spec or better, are hard to beat for the price.

Emlyn

nooshinjohn wrote: »

i could not disagree more with this part of your statement. Prices seem to have actually gone up quite a bit, but this could also be a regional thing.

I am referring to market indicators like sales on EBay. There have only been four sets of SDA speakers sold there (searched on the words Polk sda) since the end of October and none sold for more than $500. Before the recession, there were far more listings, the speakers were in high demand and sold quickly, and the prices sold were about 50 percent higher from what I remember. Of course that was almost ten years ago now when the speakers were not as old. Some of the third generation SDAs are going on 30 years old. Craigslist seems to be about the same in my area and they sit for a long time. For the quality of the speakers, the prices commanded are basically give away prices now. However, I would not recommend putting a lot of money into modifications unless someone loves the basic sound quality and intends to keep the speakers for a long time. Mods don't add much value in the used market. I had ten different pairs over the years and got tired of them when there are so many other options out there.

nikolas812

I think the downfall of ebay listings is the fact that ebay quadrupled their final selling fees, to try and combat all of the business they lost to Craigslist.

I wouldn't mind stepping away from the Polk brand, Emerald Physics and Magnepan come to mind. But I'm a little nervous trying something I haven't heard before. And I don't want to get caught up in a speaker battle. I want to buy something once and be done.

Nik

tonyb

one and done ??

I think that's pretty much a Unicorn in the audio world as our tastes change and gear changes every year. Always better around the corner, and as the years progress, the higher end stuff becomes within reach on the used markets further prompting those thoughts you had when they were new.

nooshinjohn

nikolas812 wrote: »

I think the downfall of ebay listings is the fact that ebay quadrupled their final selling fees, to try and combat all of the business they lost to Craigslist.

I wouldn't mind stepping away from the Polk brand, Emerald Physics and Magnepan come to mind. But I'm a little nervous trying something I haven't heard before. And I don't want to get caught up in a speaker battle. I want to buy something once and be done.

Nik

For your space Nik, Maggie 1.6 and a nice sub would be an amazing combo. the Maggies tuck against the walls when not in use or for movies. They are easily positioned where you want them for two channel use. I would not hesitate.

nikolas812

I don't live there anymore, we live in a smaller house now. And we will be building our new home in a couple years. The living room will be a little larger in our new house. And this is what I am basing the new system around. I'm think the living room should be around 18 feet wide by 20 feet deep. With three full walls and a half wall. Trying to keep the living room closed in for the most part for acoustics.


Nik

nooshinjohn

Take a look at the 3.6 then, again with a sub. You might not think SDA again.

Emlyn

I'm surprised I still haven't got around to owning a pair of Magnepans.

RandyCroissant

For a room that size 2.3TL enough said.

lightman1

New owner of the Emerald Physics CS2p here.
Smallish footprint and can be placed close to the back wall. Open baffle design also. Was expecting them to be a little .... broad sounding...
But once the room correction got right the pleasant noise emanating from them relieved me of those thoughts. My 2 cents.
And love my 1C's also.

nikolas812

RandyCroissant wrote: »

For a room that size 2.3TL enough said.

That has crossed my mind as well.. I think I'd be happy with any of the tl's. But I kind of want the 1.2's just for the statement they make and to own one of the most sought after set of speakers, that Polk Audio has ever produced.


Nik

nikolas812

I'm thinking the 1.2 Tl's paired with an Audio Research DS450, Audio Research tube Pre Amp and a nice source would be an end game type of deal for me...

The DS450 will be the next amp I buy and the last.

Nik

F1nut

nikolas812 wrote: »

But I kind of want the 1.2's just for the statement they make and to own one of the most sought after set of speakers, that Polk Audio has ever produced.

That way of thinking is a common mistake, IMO. I've heard a lot of 1.2TL's over the years, I'll take my 2.3TL's and I could have had either. Much like the LSiM series, the best sounding one is not the 707, it's the 705.

nikolas812

I came to that conclusion on the 705 after some reading.. But you may have missed my point on the 1.2 Tl's. I've read many threads referring to the 2.3 or even the 3.1's for that matter. For sounding better than the 1.2's. I wasn't just comparing sonic attributes, but more so the "WoW' factor that the 1.2's have. I want both. I'll trade a little sound quality( if there is any difference) for a conversation piece. So for me, as far as SDA's are concerned, it's the 1.2's or nothing, . And that is what I had in mind when I started the thread. I just wasn't up to date on the current "flagship" models and wanted to hear what others had to say about the matter.


Nik

F1nut

At 55" tall, only 8" shorter than the 1.2TL's, the 2.3TL's have plenty of the "wow' factor. However, my previous comment had as much to do with buying speakers because of the "wow" factor as it did with the sound quality.

nikolas812

I've never seen them in person, so I guess I just assumed they were much smaller. The only ones I have experience with were the 1.2's. And they were massive. Damn near casket sized!

I'll keep them in mind when it's time to start looking.

Nik

F1nut

I really miss my 1.2 TL's, more than most speakers. I really liked the sound they were capable of.

You know Nik, I competely missed that you once owned and liked the 1.2TL's. That being the case, get another pair.

mantis

F1nut wrote: »

nikolas812 wrote: »

But I kind of want the 1.2's just for the statement they make and to own one of the most sought after set of speakers, that Polk Audio has ever produced.

That way of thinking is a common mistake, IMO. I've heard a lot of 1.2TL's over the years, I'll take my 2.3TL's and I could have had either. Much like the LSiM series, the best sounding one is not the 707, it's the 705.

Since I never got the chance to hear them both can you explain the differences? I'm assuming it has something to do with the crossover points since the 707's dig a bit deeper. Do they get sloppy? Do they lose mid range detail and the 705's have a more even response in room?