Just purchased a pair of SDA SRS. Should I upgrade them or leave them alone?

DM2

Interconnect are two flat bars, one wider than the other

Tony M

At least you got them.
They were 3K new. I hope you got them cheaper .
Now move forward.......

You can upgrade slowly if your budget restricts you some.
Pictures help us to know how to help you.

Try to get some pics posted asap.
Welcome to the SDA-SRS LEVEL....

Also, post your thoughts about their sound.

MrBuhl

You're actually asking the enablers to enable you!

bikezappa

Most members will suggest many up-grades.
I suggest that you listen to them for six months before doing anything. This assumes all the speakers/crossovers are working properly.

Have fun.

TNTsTunes

First things first. Once you have listened to see they are working properly add some RDO194's tweeters. Some pictures would be great. The updated tweeters are available directly from Polk and they will sound sweet when compared to the stock SL2000's.

Here's a link you'll want to check out if you haven't already.

vr3mods.com/uploads/SDA_Handbook_2011_Rev2.pdf

Toolfan66

$1200 is not a bad price for a set in pristine condition.. I paid $1200 for my 1.2's and have a lot more $$$$ invested in them, I have no regrets..

Like F1 said they are 185lbs ea.

DM2

Wish I had read this forum before I purchased these. I think I overpaid. Ohh well

DM2

Have had these for a few months, replacing my rt-3000's with 2 blown sub drivers I believe. Those are now in the garage with my long time SDA 2's that need multiple driver replacements due to a demonic cat I had about 20 years ago. Lol.
Trying to figure out how to post pics from my iPhone, may have to pull out the laptop. They are in perfect condition, x-overs and all drivers work flawlessly.

monepolk

Congrats on the purchase and welcome to the forum.

DM2

I paid a pretty steep price looking at some of the other threads. $1200. But they are flawless. Was under the impression that the original SDA SRS weighed 135 lb each and a later model weighed 185 ea? Moving these with an appliance dolly, and having some experience with weight, these definately seem like the 185's. Short of trying to shimmy one on my bathroom scale..... Thoughts?

DM2

Thanks for the handbook link TNT, my answer may be there

DM2

Thanks for the warm welcome, everyone

F1nut

There was only one version of the SDA SRS and they weigh 185lbs. each.

Tony M

DM2 wrote: »

I paid a pretty steep price looking at some of the other threads. $1200. But they are flawless. Was under the impression that the original SDA SRS weighed 135 lb each and a later model weighed 185 ea? Moving these with an appliance dolly, and having some experience with weight, these definately seem like the 185's. Short of trying to shimmy one on my bathroom scale..... Thoughts?

You might have seen that the SDA-SRS 2's weigh 135.

You probably did fine on the price.

Well you have experience with SDA's already. Do you have the needed open space for such gigantic speakers to breath ?

westmassguy

For a pristine pair, excellent price. You'll need plenty of clean, high current power from a common ground amp, and upgrades will be somewhat costly.

sbb2112

Upgrades can be pricey. If done in steps, its not that bad. New Tweeters first along with cabinet sealing. Crossover rebuild second. If any interest, i have my original crossovers that I have offered for free plus the cost of shipping for a core to be rebuilt so as not to be without speakers in the meantime. VR3 or westmassguy can help with the crossovers. Welcome to the rabbit hole

DM2

I figure my next step is a high current amp, and.... Well everything else.... Have the support of my wife, she's all in, so that's good.

DM2

This is where I may come into some ridicule, but I am forced to use what I have. Using an old Yamaha rx-v2700 in 2 channel atm. I know it's bad, not pushing them too hard. And an even older velodyne va 1215XII to help with the bottom end.

DM2

Any thoughts on an adcom gfa-555 or better? They come up often where I live. Any suggestions on a good amp are well appreciated

DM2

have no idea what those tweeters run, sbb2112. I need to look into that

DM2

Have an old NAD 7100x that I was using for the SDA 2's... Not sure if that would be an improvement

Faustin

"Any thoughts on an adcom gfa-555 or better? They come up often where I live. Any suggestions on a good amp are well appreciated"

The adcom gfa-555 is a decent budget amp. I have one and have been happy with it. If you can get one locally in good shape and a decent price, I would give it a try.

sbb2112

They are like $49 ea. or so new from polk. club polk member price. the sl2000's are awful in comparison.bolt in replacements. The parasound amp I run on my SDA2's did a pretty good job when I had it hooked up to the SDA's. I picked up that on ebay for $400. 315wpc at 4 ohm.

TNTsTunes

DM2 wrote: »

Any thoughts on an adcom gfa-555 or better? They come up often where I live. Any suggestions on a good amp are well appreciated

Where are you at? I have a GFA 5802 I'd part with. I also have a GFA 5500.

pitdogg2

TNTsTunes wrote: »

DM2 wrote: »

Any thoughts on an adcom gfa-555 or better? They come up often where I live. Any suggestions on a good amp are well appreciated

Where are you at? I have a GFA 5802 I'd part with. I also have a GFA 5500.

Those common ground? Some later series are not.

TNTsTunes

pitdogg2 wrote: »

TNTsTunes wrote: »

DM2 wrote: »

Any thoughts on an adcom gfa-555 or better? They come up often where I live. Any suggestions on a good amp are well appreciated

Where are you at? I have a GFA 5802 I'd part with. I also have a GFA 5500.

Those common ground? Some later series are not.

DarqueKnight provide me the answer a few years ago.

"When using Adcom 5000 series amps with early blade/blade SDA's or SDA SRS's, the negative speaker terminals at the amp must be connected.

When using Adcom 5000 series amps with later pin/blade SDA's or SRS's, the negative speaker terminals do not have to be connected."

I did run a jumper from neg to neg with my pin/blade 2.3's and pin/ blade SDA's. They run fine without the neg being connected too, but I used mine connected. I tried it both ways and found no difference. I tend to swap speakers around, that way I don't have to worry which speakers I use.

I have a 1k Dreadnought that I use with my 2.3's now. That was a nice sound improvement.

TNTsTunes

Here's a good post about it.

stogie wrote: »

My Adcom 5802 has the neg terminals strapped and plays my SDA SRS's without a problem. Before strapping the resistance was 200ohms, after strapping .3 ohms. Below is some information I saved from a post by DK- in quotes.

"My email to Adcom on 11/12/2000:
Subject: Adcom GFA-5802 with Polk Audio SDA-1B speakers
"Is the GFA-5802 a "common ground" amplifier? My speaker specifications state that only common ground amplifiers must be used. I just purchased a GFA-5802. The sound from the speakers seemed "echoey" and out of phase. When I removed the interconnecting phase array cable from between the speakers, the sound was normal. I was previously using an Adcom GFA-555 amp and never experienced this problem. Any ideas on what is causing this?"

Adcom's response on 11/14/2000:
"There are 2 options for you to do. You can get a cable from Polk for those speakers, the AI-1 cable. This connects the 2 speakers and deals with the common ground problem. The other option is to take a piece of speaker wire and run it between the 2 negative terminals of the amplifier that you are using. This will not hurt the amp at all so dont worry about that. This a problem that has been common with the 5800, 5802, and 5500, all our newer amps and those model speakers.
Thanks and good listening Adcom" "

In my case the AI-1 cable was not an option but strapping worked fine. According to Adcom's reply, it is ok to strap the 5800 too.

pitdogg2

Perfect that is what i thought.

[Deleted User]

While you're moving them around with or without a dolley, make sure to set them back down softly. Virgin vintage Polks are a little fragile.

sansuibutch

Slapaho wrote: »

While you're moving them around with or without a dolley, make sure to set them back down softly. Virgin vintage Polks are a little fragile.

Specially the magnets. I ordered two replacements off the big site and one came with a shifted magnet. I told the seller about it and he sent another one free of charge. Definetly need to glue those up

sansuibutch

I listened to mine for a little bit before upgrading/updating them. It didn't take long to start the project. Well worth the update.