SpeakOn "upgrade" Polk SDA IIb

VSAT88

Well if someone had told me I would not have believed them. It's not that I do not trust people I have just never really believed that cable makes a difference that I could hear. Keep in mind I said that I could hear..I am an old man so my hearing is not what one would call top notch.. So, in order to start with a few more upgrades that are recommended I decided to order SpeakOn connectors, female and male for both SDAs of course. I had some incredibly flexible no kink silicon (I would think) cable. I think it is the kind we used to use setting up electrical/sound when I did a few gigs as a stage hand in the past. I wanted to use it because a friend as close as a brother gave it to me before his Spirit passed..Well, his Spirit must have passed into the cable. This is an Incredible difference. I do not understand as it seems to have changed the tweeters/high end for the better. In fact the speakers sound better period. I was using a temporary cable, 8g not very well insulated, well insulated with some hard plastic or whatever. It was supposed to be used to hook up a car amplifier. I made two ends for it with an assortment of Levtron AC plugs and ground lugs. I think 1/2 of the power going from one speaker to the other was being sucked up by that crazy cable but hell, I had to do something. Well, that something now is a proper cable just as you guys said. Don't get me wrong, I can follow advice, its just that I have to take things a bit at a time, you know when I have a few spare bucks. So, lesson learned. I know now not to use a big huge cable that should be used for a battery cable when 14g is recommended !

[/URL
Back of the SDA
[/URL
Cup before upgrade
[/URL
SpeakOn Cable built

The smartphone is my friend..An image to remember where the cables went.
[/URL
Z.O. Cheapo brand Binding Posts
[/URL
A quick test fit
[/URL
The stuff going in

A small screwdriver to lift the factory glue
[/URL
Drill out rivets
[/URL
Now this is my idea of fun
[/URL
I used Armacel for "gaskets"
[/URL
Armacel was cut with a small razor knife
[/URL
All together with threadlock
[/URL
Only a drop on front and a drop in the back and it still made a bit of a mess.
[/URL
Done !
[/URL
A handy tool from my Jeweler days

Used a "rat tail file" to open up the connectors a bit.

Ready to go back in.

The round "rat tail" jewelers file was a friend throughout the whole job.

I do not like these "silver bolts" they were all I had on hand..If I just knew where to get "Black Paint" !

Yes Red "Sharpie Anodized" bolts for lack of "Black paint" and Yes, two sets of speaker wires..Kenwood M2 Sigma drive hook up.

F1nut

Thanks for sharing your work.

Just a word, the SpeakOn sockets are designed to be mounted on the outside. There's a different smaller version, the NL4MP-UC that works better for that mounting and is also (very important) air tight, which I do not believe your version is.

You should seal the binding post studs/nuts and SpeakOn stuff with hot glue.

westmassguy

VSAT88

That sounds right to me. The surface was not level. The only thing I used to seal the bolts was red lock tight. I started grinding the front surface in order to try and make it more level but decided to go for the back mount for no other reason but looks, however I have yet to turn the speakers around and listen backwards just to look at the binding post caps! I will look into the part number Speakon connectors you recommend. I started to use some Mortite around the SpeakOn connection however I knew it would squirt out everywhere and the grey color of it coming out around that SpeakOn connection would run me crazy. So, let's see what happens. I still have plenty of work to do in there and a camera ready. I appreciate your input more than you know F 1. Fact is when you post about anything that I am doing I feel much more confident that I can and will move in the right direction.

leftwinger57

I also was a non believer w/ this one mod, tried it myself getting it woefully wrong and then sending the 2 terminal cups and harnesses out to Dave. I get back 2 new cups I ditched my old ones and he did an excellent job both w/ the cups, binders,bases and harnesses and doing the air-tight thing w/ hot glue and the correct gasket. I'm using 12gu cable and the sound is much more defined and in conjunction of me changing my rack to an open air Stanus with the new cable I'm getting the SDA treatment as it be reproduced and all the speakers are pumping like they should. I have already passed on my original blade/blade cable to another forumite, I see no reason to have it and the positioning can't change in my house.

BlueBirdMusic

Great pictures showing sequence of work. What is that Handy Tool from your jewelry days?

A kind gesture to remember your friend:
I wanted to use it because a friend as close as a brother gave it to me before his Spirit passed..Well, his Spirit must have passed into the cable.

We are lucky if we only have one of these type friends.
Harry

machone

I did not know that the 4 bolt version was not air tight.
How did I miss that? Where is that info?

westmassguy

Use the two hole mount, with the rubber gasket.

VSAT88

westmassguy wrote: »

Use the two hole mount, with the rubber gasket.

Wow, that is the reason I did not order it. Only two bolt holes, just did not seem right..The lessons I learn..

VSAT88

BlueBirdMusic wrote: »

Great pictures showing sequence of work. What is that Handy Tool from your jewelry days?

A kind gesture to remember your friend:
I wanted to use it because a friend as close as a brother gave it to me before his Spirit passed..Well, his Spirit must have passed into the cable.

We are lucky if we only have one of these type friends.
Harry

Its a Flex shaft tool like the one shown here,
http://www.foredom.net/jewelersprepackedkits.aspx
however much much older. A motor on top connected to a flexible shaft with a chuck on the end that looks like a Dremel tool but much smaller. The speed is adjusted with a foot pedal. Hope a link to see one is ok. ( 0.000 % -0= No affiliation )

Thank you for you kind comment about my Brother Ronnie. His ashes are on the mantle above the fireplace. His Spirit is in that cable, I know it ! I am more than just lucky, as I am a friend of Bill W. and I have many close friends due to that as well as friends like here that have helped me so often that I cannot even count.

VSAT88

F1nut wrote: »

Thanks for sharing your work.

Just a word, the SpeakOn sockets are designed to be mounted on the outside. There's a different smaller version, the NL4MP-UC that works better for that mounting and is also (very important) air tight, which I do not believe your version is.

You should seal the binding post studs/nuts and SpeakOn stuff with hot glue.

F I, as it is now I have a five second return to position on my Midwoofers when pushing in the Passive and releasing it (exactly the same on both speakers). Is that what I should have or should it be completely airtight and not return at all ? As far as the new SpeakOns for the speaker side I have four holes drilled should I seal what I have up or go ahead and get the other ones and seal the holes ?

machone

vsat88,
I used the four bolt receptacle that you used on my 1A's along with a home made gasket (see photos). If you have a five second push test you should be fine.

VSAT88

Thanks for the response. I did exactly the same as you did with the gasket. I am still going to do the hot glue thing as well.

westmassguy

VSAT88 wrote: »

westmassguy wrote: »

Use the two hole mount, with the rubber gasket.

Wow, that is the reason I did not order it. Only two bolt holes, just did not seem right..The lessons I learn..

I use the two hole mount 95% of the time, including some local bands I do work for. If it can handle 3-4 gigs a week, setup and breakdown, it can handle an occasional plug and unplug on the SDAs.

soundfreak1

I used the speak on conector in my rta12c's between the lower and upper xover, works very well, and easy to work with.

VSAT88

Just an update here. I did as recommended above by @F1nut and @westmassguy on the new to me SDA-SRS 2 speakers with great results. Used the two hole Speakon connectors instead of the larger four hole. Jotted down these part numbers in my notes but do not count on these being exact. Be sure and look for yourself as I cannot remember if these are accurate.

NL4MP-UC (Male Connector x2)
NLT4FX-BAG (Female connector x2)

F1nut

Those are the part numbers to the 4 pole versions, which are the ones you want to use because they are better than the 2 pole versions.

VSAT88

F1nut wrote: »

Those are the part numbers to the 4 pole versions, which are the ones you want to use because they are better than the 2 pole versions.

Yes Sir, those are the ones I used.

F1nut

Good man.

stones89

Impressive work VSAT88 especially the photography! I am trying to get motivated to upgrade my 2.3tl's. I am going to start with the crossover and possibly a dreadnought since I use mono blocks. The support everyone gets on this site is incredible. Though I wish I was as handy as you!

VSAT88

stones89 wrote: »

Impressive work VSAT88 especially the photography! I am trying to get motivated to upgrade my 2.3tl's. I am going to start with the crossover and possibly a dreadnought since I use mono blocks. The support everyone gets on this site is incredible. Though I wish I was as handy as you!

Awe Shucks, you making me blush..LOl, You are as handy as I am, believe me you are. I just jump in and try it. I am always on the look out at flea markets and Pawn shops for old tools I can rebuild/use or parts of any kind. I just try and do what I can and these folk here at Club Polk as well as the fine folks at Polk Audio help me every step of the way. Just jump on in the water is fine !