Crossover "rebuild" and ClarityCap-RDO 194-SDA IIb-New interconnect
VSAT88
Posts: 1,257
Ok, first off thanks to all here that contributed to these upgrades. I must say Vr3, F 1 and westmassguys information, generosity and instruction were indispensable. First off what was done. Install RDO-194 tweeters from Polk. Make up a new interconnect cable using SpeakOn connectors. Install new ClarityCap ESAs in the tweeter section of the crossover and new Aerovox metalized polypropylene capacitors in the woofer sections. Mills resistors were used in place of the poly switch. Silly me I forgot all about ordering new 2.7 (best I remember) Ohm resistors however it is all coming back out when I renew the cabinets. At that time I will dampen the woofers as well as the passive, put locking nuts and new bolts in as well as spike em. So the result ? Worth every second I spent and every penny. These speakers woke up as I was told. I do not know how to explain the difference. All I can say is that they are totally listenable now as opposed to being hard on my ears as before, especially at higher volume levels. Great music recordings now have a life that they did not before. I can literally hear sounds that I could not hear before. The speakers now have a separation that they did not have before. The speakers sound more precise. Like a totally higher order. The bass is deeper and seems to punch harder than ever. So my take is that the speakers are more refined than ever. As I said above worth every minute and every dollar spent. Cant wait for it all to "settle" or "break in. Thanks again to all contributors !
Comments
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Cool!SDA SRS 2.3TL's
Silk Audio MS-90-BT integrated tube amp
Yaqin MS-20L integrated tube amp
SDA 2B TL's -
Great! Enjoy those puppies.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/ -
The speakers continue to impress. I have been switching between a few here.
The rebuilt Klipsch 3.2's (Don't discount these, they are animals now especially with the Parasound bridged mono to them at 360 watts per channel )
The Polk Monitor 5's with Peerless tweeters. (not rebuilt, all stock from the day they were made and they sound awesome. I intend on rebuilding them next I like them that much)
The SDA IIb's
Of course none of these compares to the SDA's. The fullness and range of these speakers are now almost indescribable. It does seem as if they are "settling in" as time passes however if they stay as they are I will be perfectly happy. They seem to have softened a bit. For the lack of a better word they are not a sterile sounding. At first they seemed almost on the mechanical side. A little to tight I guess. They seem to be loosing that. I don't know maybe I am just getting used to them.. -
Same here, most know I got my '87 SDA II Bs very cheap and didn't think a thing had to be done w/ them. Did I have to, no, but if you wanted a better speaker than what I was starting out with then the mods needed to be done. Most of the physical mods like the Dynamatting, Larry's Rings, gaskets where needed,and dropping in the RDO-194 tweeters making a huge difference and then making the cabinets air tight I did all this on my own. I sent out for the x-overs and eventually the Neutrik-Speakon i/c cable connectors. They sound and (it's hard to quantify) how much better they are now.2chl- Adcom GFA- 555-Onkyo P-3150v pre/amp- JVC-QL-A200 tt- Denon 1940 ci cdp- Adcom GFS-6 -Modded '87 SDA 2Bs - Dynamat Ext.- BH-5- X-Overs VR-3, RDO-194 tweeters, Larry's Rings, Speakon/Neutrik I/C- Cherry stain tops Advent Maestros,Ohm model E
H/T- Toshiba au40" flat- Yamaha RX- V665 avr- YSD-11 Dock- I-Pod- Klipsch #400HD Speaker set-
Bdrm- Nikko 6065 receiver- JBL -G-200s--Pioneer 305 headphones--Sony CE375-5 disc -
Ok, these are not the same speakers that I dragged in here on a dolly sometime last year. They look basically the same however they are not the same ! The speaker fairy came and went, or Santa ?? Who knows . I can say this I no longer think there is any possibility that one gets used to new crossover caps. I no longer believe that capacitors do not "break in" after a while. These speakers sound better every time I listen period ! This has been an awesome adventure with still more to come. When I can listen to Black Sabbath recordings that I have listened to for 30 plus years and hear distinctly sounds that I never heard on any other system that is proof beyond any shadow of a doubt that the upgrades recommended by the kind folk (here at Polk) are right on the money. Hands down I love these speakers more than any others I have ever owned and more than any others I have ever listened to for that matter...So how may I help someone ? Mention some needs below, I want to help someone here at Club Polk with gear, with something to try and pass on what has been freely given me....
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Congratulations vsat88!
I joined this forum a little over a year ago, followed directions and have been experiencing the same revelations as well.
Mojo Audio Illuminati v3>>Quantum Byte w/LMS>>Rpi/PiCoreplayer>> Starlight 7 USB >> Mojo Audio Mystique v2 SE>>ModWright SWL 9.0 SE Signature>>Hafler DH-500 Amp+ (Musical Concepts Fully Modded)>>
SRS 2.3TL (Fully Modded)...Velodyne Optimum 8 subwoofer
1KVA Dreadnought
Marantz SA 8005
Pioneer PLX-1000 Turntable - Shure SC35C/N35X - V15III/VN35HE
Yamaha TX-540 Tuner...Sony BDP-S570
Sony PS4
Separate subpanel with four dedicated 20 amp circuits.
1. Amplification 2. Analog 3. Digital 4. Video
"All THAT IS LOST FROM THE SOURCE IS LOST FOREVER" -
Awesome, congrats on your upgrade! In process of upgrading and cant wait to hear the difference. Looking forward to it.
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Congratulations vsat88!
I joined this forum a little over a year ago, followed directions and have been experiencing the same revelations as well.
Thanks and Welcome ! -
Awesome, congrats on your upgrade! In process of upgrading and cant wait to hear the difference. Looking forward to it.
What else can be said, your image is "Evil" and you will Love it when you are done ! -
That's great to hear, as I'm waiting to send my crossovers in to David. So far, rings, dynamat, 194s and foam. Big improvement !
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I want rings and spikes and the two resistors next, then to the outside of the cabinets.
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Congrats. I used those ESA caps as well and love them. Be patient mine didn't fully settle in for about 300 hours.Main Rig:
Krell KAV 250a biamped to mid/highs
Parasound HCA1500A biamped to lows
Nakamichi EC100 Active xover
MIT exp 1 ic's
Perreaux SA33 class A preamp
AQ kingcobra ic's
OPPO 83 CDP
Lehmann audio black cube SE phono pre, Audioquest phono wire (ITA1/1)
Denon DP-1200 TT. AToc9ML MC cart.
Monster HTS 3600 power conditioner
ADS L1590/2 Biamped
MIT exps2 speaker cable -
@VSAT88,
Well done!
Your experience of the generosity of others on this Forum is shared by many, including me.
Again, well done!Family Room, Innuos Statement streamer (Roon Core) with Morrow Audio USB cable to McIntosh MC 2700 pre with DC2 Digital Audio Module; AQ Sky XLRs to CAT 600.2 dualmono amp, Morrow Elite Speaker Cables to NOLA Baby Grand Reference Gold 3 speakers. Power source for all components: Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One with dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel.
Exercise Room, Innuos Streamer via Cat 6 cable connection to PS Audio PerfectWave MkII DAC w/Bridge II, AQ King Cobra RCAs to Perreaux PMF3150 amp (fully restored and upgraded by Jeffrey Jackson, Precision Audio Labs), Supra Rondo 4x2.5 Speaker Cables to SDA 1Cs (Vr3 Mods Xovers and other mods.), Dreadnaught with Supra Rondo 4x2.5 interconnect cables by Vr3 Mods. Power for each component from dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel, except Innuos Statement powered from Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One. -
Moose68Bash wrote: »@VSAT88,
Well done!
Your experience of the generosity of others on this Forum is shared by many, including me.
Again, well done!
No doubt, thank you! -
That's great to hear, as I'm waiting to send my crossovers in to David. So far, rings, dynamat, 194s and foam. Big improvement !
Where did you buy your rings? -
That's EVEL sir! LOL
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Like Gunther said it's "Evel" Knievel
2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC
erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a -
Oh well, autocorrect works anyway..
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Directly from Larry.
![[Deleted User]](https://wc.vanillicon.com/c42e30d069c0d43c9bdf07a3e4e17a6d_100.png)
