SDA1C vs. SRS2 Smackdown!

codycatalist

audioluvr wrote: »

The bass just seemed almost overpowering in the SRS line.

I can attest to this, the first vintage polk I ever heard was some SRS2s and I loved them. Now that I have my 2Bs I prefer their overall more balanced sound.

pkquat

My current listening room is a bit tight for SRS series I have found. IMO the SRS produce a wider sound stage, but also need a wider room and really adhere to the spacing between speakers, and spacing from side walls. The 1C's were better for SDA in the smaller room. I am fighting some artifacts right now with SRS series. In a larger room, SRS would be better IMO.

Tony M

I would imagine the size of the room plays a big part too.

Music is definitely personal. If you heard boominess, you heard it. I might call it more powerful bass. No disrespect meant. I posted a possibility to flabbiness also. But if they were new, the screws should've been tight, therefore just peoples personal judgement will be taken then.

Do you remember the size of the demonstration room you were in?

audioluvr

Room was probably 20 x 24 or larger. I don't know if " boomy" is the correct term it just seemed as if you went up the line the bass got more pronounced or louder or boomier than the mids and highs. To me this makes perfect sense as the driver volume increased the PR size stayed the same but its throw would increase essentially increasing its volume.

verb

Very interesting discussion gents! Keep it going!

@audioluvr I too had my 2Bs for many years. Ever since joining CP, I've enjoyed the journey. Will I eventually get a set of SRS1.2TL's or SRT's? Probably! In the meantime, the incremental steps for me are the most fun!

verb

Another thing, I love bass!

RandyCroissant

I can comment on my modded 2Bs verses my stock 1Cs. I gave them both many hours of listening time back and forth. The 2Bs were the stand out winners. However the 1Cs are bone stock so not really an even playing field. One thing I can say, It would be nice if RDO-198 tweeters could be used in them.

Tony M

Some member was supposed to use RDO-198's in an SDA or SRS model that really required the RDO-194's and give us some feedback.

Does anybody have the results of such a trial switch of replacement tweeter recommendations?

I'm getting closer to ordering 4 of them. I know what RDO-194's sound like in their respective speakers. But I've never heard a RDO-198 ever.

Are they that incompatible?

TNTsTunes

I will say I like my blade/blade SRS 2's better then SDA 1C's. Wider sound stage and better bass response, not boomy, still tight but they definitely dig deeper IMO. I would take a wild guess to say the pin/blade ones sound just as good if not better then the blade/blade ones.

I also think the 2B's are great sounding speakers, I liked the TL'ed ones I had better then hot-rodded 1C's also. I really like CRS+'s too they have a sweet sound stage but a sub does help them out some. I have a pair waiting to be gone over and TL'ed.

westmassguy

Tony M wrote: »

Some member was supposed to use RDO-198's in an SDA or SRS model that really required the RDO-194's and give us some feedback.

Does anybody have the results of such a trial switch of replacement tweeter recommendations?

I'm getting closer to ordering 4 of them. I know what RDO-194's sound like in their respective speakers. But I've never heard a RDO-198 ever.

Are they that incompatible?

They are not compatible, or interchangeable. The RD0194s have a relatively flat response, same as the SL1000/SL2000 they replace (minus the resonance peak @ 12-13KHz). The RD0198s require, in most cases, a contour circuit to compensate for their apparent downward sloping frequency response.

RandyCroissant

Thank you Dave, I knew there was an important difference. I was hoping a crossover mod had been designed and tested that would make them usable in a two tweeter progressive array

250GTLusso

It just so happens that I actually have both of these speakers right now, in stock condition (no mods).

I think I am going to have to perform a side by side comparison this weekend (what else is there to do on Easter!).

I'll use the ADCOM GFA-565s, as they can handle the 4 Ohm SDA-SRS 2 without breaking a sweat (might give an advantage to the SDA-SRS 2 though).

I'll report back this weekend.

250GTLusso

No wait, I cant use the GFA-565s with the SDA-SRS 2's. Darn!

I 'll use the GFA-585.

Toolfan66

My favorite SDA’s are:

SDA CRS+
SDA 2B’s
SDA SRS 2.3tl
SDA SRS 1.2tl

The only pair I can think of I haven’t had my ears on are the SDA SRS 2’s

The only pair I have owned that didn’t “WOW” me was the 3.1’s, they were bone stock needed a little TLC, and I wasn’t and still not a fan of the cabinet construction compared to the other SDA’s with the wood caps top and bottom...

I have never been a fan of the studio versions as well with the wooden bases..

FoxMan...

westmassguy

RandyCroissant wrote: »

Thank you Dave, I knew there was an important difference. I was hoping a crossover mod had been designed and tested that would make them usable in a two tweeter progressive array

I tried with the powers that be, but it never materialized.

Toolfan66

Smallies wrote: »

but the SRS 3 does have wooden end caps.

Yes, but you can’t just pop them off without having a big opening in the cabinet...

Schurkey

Tony M wrote: »

Some member was supposed to use RDO-198's in an SDA or SRS model that really required the RDO-194's and give us some feedback.

Does anybody have the results of such a trial switch of replacement tweeter recommendations?

I'm getting closer to ordering 4 of them. I know what RDO-194's sound like in their respective speakers. But I've never heard a RDO-198 ever.

Are they that incompatible?

RandyCroissant wrote: »

I was hoping a crossover mod had been designed and tested that would make them usable in a two tweeter progressive array

Been done with apparent success on the SDA 1B/SRS 2 blade/blade.
Multi-page thread, doesn't start to get good until you're half-way through.
http://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/74946/sda-srs-2-crossover-parts-list/p1
Short story: Swap one capacitor in each speaker, install 198s, listen for yourself.

Nobody's reported results with 1C/SRS 2 pin/blade.

Of course, the high-frequency crossover mods for the 198s in SRS 1.2 or 2.3 could be pulled from the newer TL version of those speakers.

250GTLusso wrote: »

It just so happens that I actually have both of these speakers right now, in stock condition (no mods).

I think I am going to have to perform a side by side comparison this weekend (what else is there to do on Easter!).

I'll use the ADCOM GFA-565s, as they can handle the 4 Ohm SDA-SRS 2 without breaking a sweat (might give an advantage to the SDA-SRS 2 though).

I'll report back this weekend.

250GTLusso wrote: »

No wait, I cant use the GFA-565s with the SDA-SRS 2's. Darn!

I 'll use the GFA-585.

I assume you have blade/blade (nominal 4-ohm) SRS 2s. Far as I know, the monoblock 565s can have the negative terminals strapped to make them common ground.

Not much point to comparing speakers that have ancient electrolytic caps. You're not testing the speakers, you're testing how much each pair has deteriorated.

250GTLusso

@Schurkey , Yes blade/blade SRS2s (4 Ohm as I stated above).

Yes, I have strapped negatives before, but it does affect the sound. And yes, the caps are in need of a refresh.

audioluvr

Schurkey wrote: »

Not much point to comparing speakers that have ancient electrolytic caps. You're not testing the speakers, you're testing how much each pair has deteriorated.

Totally agree with this. Two identical sets of speakers can sound totally different if one has 2000 hrs and the other has 20,000 hours of use.

Dawgfish

Had 1Cs, currrently have SRS-2s. Prefer the SRS-2s by a good margin.

Schurkey

Dawgfish wrote: »

Had 1Cs, currrently have SRS-2s. Prefer the SRS-2s by a good margin.

WHICH SRS 2?

Dawgfish

Pin-blade version.