What amp should I use to run the SDA SRS 2.3's? Any Recommendations Please???
Rcpeake
Posts: 11
Just purchased these speakers this weekend, Looking for a amp(S) to run these. Any suggestions?? Please and thank you. Just found this forum and looking forward to your advice!
Best Answers
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What's your budget? What preamp, source, and cables are you using? What tweeters are in the SDA's? Do you like a bright, warm, or dark sound?afterburnt wrote: »They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.
Village Idiot of Club Polk -
Looks like that Carver is a set of monoblocks, that won't work unless you build a Dreadnaught isolation transformer or get a AI-1 cable. I'm not positive if the non TL 2.3's are eligible for this, @F1nut ? Do your 2.3's have two doughnut drivers per cabinet with tweeters that look like fish eyes?afterburnt wrote: »They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.
Village Idiot of Club Polk -
I was looking at the Carver silver seven Vacuum tube Amps?
Sunfire signature 5/400 or the Sunfire TGA-7401 would be on budget and make them sing.The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD
“When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson -
honestaquarian wrote: »The SDA SRS-2.3's are not compatible with non common ground amplification and cannot be used with the AI-1 interface cable or the dreadnaught upgrade (*unless some REALLY expensive/extensive mods are made to the crossover*) The later 2.3TL's would work with the AI-1 interface. @F1nut can further drill down on this I'm sure.
Although those Carvers would make them SING if you could use them.
The 2.3's use the pin/blade cable, so they can use the AI-1 or Dreadnought, no modification required.
Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
I think he has the Silver 7t confused with the tube Silver Sevens.
The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD
“When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson -
Mono block amps are not common grounded and hooking a wire between the negative terminals doesn't solve the problem.
You need the AI-1 interface cable. It's the non common ground crossfeed cable that Polk used to sell which has an isolation transformer on it. The dreadnaught that was spoken of above is an upgraded version of that which is a do it yourself project. -
I am confused about the carver amps, sorry. They are the carver silver 7t. Just need to kmow if they will work. The guy selling them says they will. I would just have to hook up a wire on the back of the amps to each negative terminal. Does that sound correct? Thanks for all the help. I'm new to this type of amps and speakers!!
Keep looking. For $2k you can buy a nice used amp. Take a look on Audiogon. Don't look for the most wpc as that is no guarantee of good sound.
To address the strapping. Yes, with some mono block amps you can strap the negative outputs, but it doesn't sound as good and therefore should be avoided.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
The Sunfires will give you the ability to combine channels to run more power to them. Using a TGA 7401 as a stereo amp will get you north of 1000 wpc. And more than enough current to make them sing. Before I built my tube amps, I used this same amp. The combination was so good that I miss it sometimes.The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD
“When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson -
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These are the five channel versions of the Cinema Grand signature.The first one is the original 405 watts per channel that I have. The second one is the later version with the slightly larger meter window and 425 watts per channel.
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This is also the later 425 watts per channel version ,but in 17" width.
Then there are the even later seven channel versions............................... -
Make sure you use the voltage outputs for the low end and the current outputs for the high end. I also encourage you to try each one running full range first to see if you can hear the difference.
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I have Polk 2.3's stock, Carver C-2 pre amp. and their powered by a M1.0 Carver amp. I'm happy!!!
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Not true, depends on the amplifier. I have heard of folks using the Adcom GFA-565 monoblocks with the negative terminals strapped to create "common grounding".honestaquarian wrote: »Mono block amps are not common grounded and hooking a wire between the negative terminals doesn't solve the problem.
Your answer is correct for any "bridged" or "balanced" monoblock amps, like the Aragon Palladiums.
That works with any amp, but not the earlier generations of Polk SDA speakers. They'd work with the 2.3s, though.honestaquarian wrote: »You need the AI-1 interface cable. It's the non common ground crossfeed cable that Polk used to sell which has an isolation transformer on it. The dreadnaught that was spoken of above is an upgraded version of that which is a do it yourself project.
Answers
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Budget, around 2000.00. I was going to hook, it up to my pioneer elite SC-85? (is that a bad idea?) Original tweeters there are no modifications on these yet. I am running Audio quest sidewinder cables. As far as sound? More of a Bright sound I suppose?
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I was looking at the Carver silver seven Vacuum tube Amps?
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Ok, thanks for the info. Just trying to figure this out
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The SDA SRS-2.3's are not compatible with non common ground amplification and cannot be used with the AI-1 interface cable or the dreadnaught upgrade (*unless some REALLY expensive/extensive mods are made to the crossover*) The later 2.3TL's would work with the AI-1 interface. @F1nut can further drill down on this I'm sure.
Although those Carvers would make them SING if you could use them. -
I was looking at the Carver silver seven Vacuum tube Amps?
A pair of those for $2000.00!?! Run, don't walk.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
This stupid answer system jacks up the entire thread.afterburnt wrote: »They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.
Village Idiot of Club Polk -
I am confused about the carver amps, sorry. They are the carver silver 7t. Just need to kmow if they will work. The guy selling them says they will. I would just have to hook up a wire on the back of the amps to each negative terminal. Does that sound correct? Thanks for all the help. I'm new to this type of amps and speakers!!
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Do you already own a pair of Silver 7t's? Or are you looking to buy a pair?
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Was looking to buy, i was wanting something that would make these SING! Lol. Like i said new to this mono block/bi amping thing. Appreciate all your help. Thanks
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This guy selling them says that what he does is connect the 2 negative terminals. He is or was running sda-1. Just wanted to make sure first, and not regret later!
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Well I'm gonna agree with @nooshinjohn above and say go with a Sunfire Cinema Grand. I own one and it is making my SDA-SRS 3.1TL's sing!
I always wanted to have a listen to the Silver 7t's and the Silver 9t's.Just never had the opportunity. I've always enjoyed the Carver/Polk synergy. Which is why I still have my M-400a after more than 20 years and it is still working and in service in my home theater. I've had three different versions of that amp over the years and I've also owned a few different versions of the TFM series. I still have a TFM-45 that is also in my home theater (*see system description below my comments*) I just finally decided to upgrade to one of Bob Carver's Sunfire amps and am VERY happy I did! -
Thanks so much. I will definetly look those up! So i guess thses are common ground amps and I shouldn't have a problem? The sunfires that is?
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Yes as far as I know.The honest truth is I am using my AI-1 interface cable just because I already had it when I changed over from my SDA-1C's to the SDA-SRS 3.1tl's.
There are a few different versions of the Cinema Grand amp. I have the original Signature five channel version. -
Thank you! I will look them up.
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Wow! Ok. I really appreciate all of your input. It has helped me out big time. I'm glad i joined this group to find out the CORRECT answers. Much appreciated. Will definetly keep you all posted, and may ask a few more questions along the way. Lol. THANKS
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Well just made my purchase, Sunfire TGA 7401. Thanks guys!
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CongratsThe Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD
“When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
