Major Score - 1990 Polk SDA CRS+

Gretsch6136

Hi all,

I just picked up a very nice set of SDA CRS+ out of the local classifieds. Paid $100.00 AUD and they came with 2 pairs of Monitor 4.5's for free.

The CRS+ are finished in black and fearture the SL2000 tweeter.

I've given them a good clean and checked the drivers over and all is good.

Unfortunately they don't have the interconnecting cord so they're just wired up like a normal set of speakers. I've never seen or heard SDA's before.

These sound quite big for their size, and the bass is tight and punchy. However the tweeters do seem quite strident. I've had to back off the treble control on the amp, but they still seem a bit peaky.

How important is the interconnecting cord to have? Does it change the tonality much? Is it possible to make one?

So far I am really liking them, but those tweeters are overpowering the woofers. I hope the interconnecting cable might help balance things out.

Cheers,

Mark

lightman1

The interconnect is important to get the SDA effect. But for 100 clams, you got a heck of deal, plus the other speakers!
And the SL2000 has a history of being a tad shiny on the top Hz. There are many levels of mods and tweaks to be found here, so get your search on and stick around.
You are off to a good start with how much you paid. A little more $ and effort and a fine set of speakers will be revealed.
The goons around here bark a lot, but all in good fun.
Congrats

gudnoyez

That's a major score perhaps someone here has a pin blade interconnect to sell put out a WTB thread you never know.

Gretsch6136

Thanks guys! I'll be chasing one of those cables and looking at how people have addressed the strident treble. Will keep you all posted.

pitdogg2

I'd go ahead and make my own cable. Finding a pin/blade cable could be awhile out as they do not come up often for sale. Many have used a RCA connectors with the ground petals trimed off. Others have used nutrik connections and completely removed the pin/blade socket.

westmassguy

First, make sure your amp is common ground. Like pitdogg2 said, you can make a simple cable out of #12 or #14 gauge speaker wire, single conductor, and a couple RCA Plugs with the ground collar removed. Only the pin carries signal between the two speakers. The cable and everything else can be upgraded later.
The SL2000 tweeters are awful. Not sure if Polk ships down under, but the drop-in replacements are the RDO-194-1 Silk Domes. If you plan to upgrade the crossovers, consider the SL3000/TL Mod, and you can use the RDO-198-1 Silk Domes. Both are light years ahead of the SL2000s, but the 198s have a tad more detail.

Legender

That is a major score... and your polk'd score will be going up also with that many at one time. Congrats.

pumpkinman

I have a pin/blade I no longer need if interested please send me a PM.


P-man

lightman1

pumpkinman wrote: »

I have a pin/blade I no longer need if interested please send me a PM.


P-man

And make sure to sprinkle magic pumpkin dust on it for better depth of soundstage.

pumpkinman

lightman1 wrote: »

pumpkinman wrote: »

I have a pin/blade I no longer need if interested please send me a PM.


P-man

And make sure to sprinkle magic pumpkin dust on it for better depth of soundstage.

You are certainly a hoot. :-)

pitdogg2

Looks like today is a very lucky day for you mate

Gretsch6136

Thanks guys. I am a real Polk junkie, dating back to 1989 when I bought my very first pair, a set of Monitor 4.5.

Over the years I have upgraded my speakers, always with more Polks, and also kept my old ones.

My Polk score must be pretty high now with this purchase last night. Here's what I've got now:

RT16
RT12 (2 pairs)
RTf/x
RT25i
CS350 centre
CS250 centre
Monitor 4.5 (3 pairs)
SDA CRS+

BlueBirdMusic

Please listen to westmassguy.

Per his advice, I dropped the RDO-194-1 Silk Domes in my SDA 2B's and instantly the "fatigue" caused by the SL2000 tweeters was gone. I have "old ears" and about one hour was all the listening time I could take from the SL2000's.

I noticed the fatigue seemed worse on one of my favorite 70's rock groups ironically from AU - Little River Band. Enjoy them!
Harry - Marietta GA

Gretsch6136

Well I am really enjoying these CRS+ speakers. I have taken Pumkinman up on his offer of the interconnect cable - can't wait to get it.

Once I get that I will then order the RD0194 tweeters and I should be totally set!

codycatalist

Gretsch6136 wrote: »

RT16
RT12 (2 pairs)
RTf/x
RT25i
CS350 centre
CS250 centre
Monitor 4.5 (3 pairs)
SDA CRS+

That's a great collection! I only have RT10s, TSI200s, Monitor 5s and RTA11TL. However you troll on here for a little and see some people with a REAL Polk score ha! 1.2TLs, 2.3 and 3.2 in the same collection (breaks out in sweats).

Gretsch6136

Hi all,

Taking a look around inside my speakers I've found that the circuit board on one of the big crossovers has come loose from the inductor coil its attached to. The white stand-offs seem to have pulled through or are broken.

What do you guys use to re-attach? Hopefully its an easy fix.

Also I found inside one speaker a flat doughnut shaped disc that appears to have come away from the basket of the passive radiator. it was loose inside the cabinet. It has adhesive on one side, but is no longer sticky. Is this an original part? I ask because the radiator in the other speaker does not have this disc attached, and there was no loose disc inside.

Finally whats the proper location for the white wadding inside? Both speakers had it placed right infront of the passive radiator. That seems odd to me, like it would reduce the effect of the radiator.

Thanks,

Mark

westmassguy

Pictures are worth a thousand as they say.
You can purchase replacement standoffs, or I can send you enough for spares, PM me.
Not sure what the flat doughnut disc is, perhaps the counter weight fell off. Compare it to the other PR, and re-glue if needed.
They Dacron should be in front of the crossover, not the PR.

Gretsch6136

Hi all,

Just thought I'd post an update, late, but here it is.

I got the pin/blade cable from Pumpkinman (thanks mate!). Using this has definitely picked up the bass response somewhat.

The SDA effect is definitely audible, but in the room I have these in, it isn't earth shattering. Unfortunately I have the speakers quite close to the side walls - I believe more free space to the sides would enhance the SDA effect.

The tweeters are still sounding a bit too forward and bright, but in all honesty they do seem to have tamed themselves down a bit with use. I know that seems strange, but could it be possible? Can tweeters change there characteristics if left dormant for a long time and then start being used again?

I haven't got around to doing any mods with these but I do plan to do the TL mod. I have other projects to finish first like the restoration of my '82 Honda Magna V45 and my old 12 speed bicycle I bought new in 1989.

Cheers,

Mark

[Deleted User]

I would finish the Honda first if you plan on putting the CRS+ in it.

westmassguy

Gretsch6136 wrote: »

Hi all,

Just thought I'd post an update, late, but here it is.

I got the pin/blade cable from Pumpkinman (thanks mate!). Using this has definitely picked up the bass response somewhat.

The SDA effect is definitely audible, but in the room I have these in, it isn't earth shattering. Unfortunately I have the speakers quite close to the side walls - I believe more free space to the sides would enhance the SDA effect.

The tweeters are still sounding a bit too forward and bright, but in all honesty they do seem to have tamed themselves down a bit with use. I know that seems strange, but could it be possible? Can tweeters change there characteristics if left dormant for a long time and then start being used again?

I haven't got around to doing any mods with these but I do plan to do the TL mod. I have other projects to finish first like the restoration of my '82 Honda Magna V45 and my old 12 speed bicycle I bought new in 1989.

Cheers,

Mark

The SL2000 Silver Coils have a resonance peak around 12-13 KHz. They're inherently bright. Your ears are most likely adjusting somewhat. The RDO Silk domes are very smooth in comparison.

VSAT88

Gretsch6136 wrote: »

Hi all,

Just thought I'd post an update, late, but here it is.

I got the pin/blade cable from Pumpkinman (thanks mate!). Using this has definitely picked up the bass response somewhat.

The SDA effect is definitely audible, but in the room I have these in, it isn't earth shattering. Unfortunately I have the speakers quite close to the side walls - I believe more free space to the sides would enhance the SDA effect.

The tweeters are still sounding a bit too forward and bright, but in all honesty they do seem to have tamed themselves down a bit with use. I know that seems strange, but could it be possible? Can tweeters change there characteristics if left dormant for a long time and then start being used again?

I haven't got around to doing any mods with these but I do plan to do the TL mod. I have other projects to finish first like the restoration of my '82 Honda Magna V45 and my old 12 speed bicycle I bought new in 1989.

Cheers,

Mark

For the record I do not intend to disagree with westmassguy however I do think that if a speaker sits a long while without being used that turning on the juice and playing it for a while will make it sound better at least some of the time. I think it lies in the crossover capacitors not the tweeter though. Just from what I have seen/heard anyway.