Need advice. Looking at RTA 15TL's or SDA SRS2
rxonmymind
Posts: 19
Yup. Finally might be a Polk owner. Listed for $200 and will be going for a listen Saturday. Anything I should look out for? I'll mainly have these for two channel HT duties.
OTOH....
There are a pair of SDA SRS 2's for $500.
I understand they are two different "beasts" lol.
Any opinions on which would be better for HT is appreciated.
Oh downstream I'll only have a Denon 3803 receiver to power them. Not looking at going deaf levels of sound. My wife and I actually listen to HT pretty low.
Thanks.
OTOH....
There are a pair of SDA SRS 2's for $500.
I understand they are two different "beasts" lol.
Any opinions on which would be better for HT is appreciated.
Oh downstream I'll only have a Denon 3803 receiver to power them. Not looking at going deaf levels of sound. My wife and I actually listen to HT pretty low.
Thanks.
Comments
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What center channel do you plan on using?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 wasn't planning on one....
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It's the most important speaker for HT.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 SRS 2 are very fussy in a smaller room. At least mine are. There is a minimal distance between them and to the side walls that needs to be considered. I think it was 4 ft between them and at least 3 ft to the outer walls. And since they are about 2 ft wide you are looking at about a 15 ft wall to place them up against.
Make sure you get the cable that goes between them.
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No center channel? Sounds like stereo movies not HT.
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After looking at the manual, yes the numbers i quoted you are the min recommended. If you cant beat that by a fair margine i would not do the SRS2.
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The SRS 2 are very fussy in a smaller room. At least mine are. There is a minimal distance between them and to the side walls that needs to be considered. I think it was 4 ft between them and at least 3 ft to the outer walls. And since they are about 2 ft wide you are looking at about a 15 ft wall to place them up against.
Make sure you get the cable that goes between them.
Excellent. I have the room. You mentioned the cables that go between them? Could you elaborate on this? Thanks. -
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rxonmymind wrote: »The SRS 2 are very fussy in a smaller room. At least mine are. There is a minimal distance between them and to the side walls that needs to be considered. I think it was 4 ft between them and at least 3 ft to the outer walls. And since they are about 2 ft wide you are looking at about a 15 ft wall to place them up against.
Make sure you get the cable that goes between them.
Excellent. I have the room. You mentioned the cables that go between them? Could you elaborate on this? Thanks.
The Polk SDA (*Stereo Dimensional Array*) loudspeakers have a crossfeed cable which connects them to each other. This cable has signals that pass back and forth between each speaker to give you the "Dimensional effect". That being the wider soundstange and depth and height compared to regular stereo loudspeakers. Some like it and some don't. It CAN be rather addictive once you get a taste of it (or not)
However there is a list of musts that comes with these loudspeakers:
You MUST have that crossfeed cable
You MUST set your room up to accommodate the speakers(and NOT the other way around. So if you have an intolerant wifey, then this ain't gonna work)
You MUST use an amplifier which has a common ground between the channels(most do, but there are enough exceptions out there that Polk Audio felt the need to put a warning on the back of the loudspeakers)or you could damage either the speakers or your amp or both.
The RTA-15TL's are EXCELLENT loudspeakers as well on their own. I used to own a pair and LOVED them, but had to sell them when my financial and housing situation went south.
They do not require as much "dedication" as the SDA's do. -
I've owned both and still own the SRS2's.
You can always use "Fantom mode" in your receiver for the missing center. I know a guy who loved his Center Fantom mode.
But I always felt it's needed for voices mainly. JMHO. I've always had one!
I think the SRS2's are AWESOME but they are HUGE. The 15TL's are BIG.
I think you should save your money from the SRS2's, get the 15TL's and then later, get the SRS2's when you want to hear music like you've never heard it before. The SRS2's put out some of the BEST sounds your ears will ever hear from a set of home speakers.
I've never used my SRS2's for HT so maybe somebody else on the forum has or is still using them for movies too.
Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them. -
IIRC the crossover in the RTA15TL's allows the tweeters to play frequencies a little lower than they probably should making it easier to kill them. Combine that with running them off an AVR and you really should keep the volume down like you said. There's a mod for it on the forum here, I can't remember what it's called though. Degato or decato something?afterburnt wrote: »They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.
Village Idiot of Club Polk -
I wouldn't run either model off an AVR because you'll be disappointed with the results, not to mention there really isn't a matching center channel. It's important to have the front 3 timbre matched.
Consider the new Signature series from Polk instead.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 -
You guys are awesome. Will a vintage receiver with 250 watts per channel work?
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^ Gelato ?¿
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Decato mod. Named after the member.
See this
http://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/48075/modifications-to-the-rta-15tl/p1 -
I'm running SRS2's in my 5.1.4 HT setup and I’m quite happy with them. Running L/R pre out from the AVR to a 185wpc B&K - I do need (want) a little more juice for those special times...
someday... I’ve tried them watching movies with and without the interconnect and the SDA effect is not distracting to me (others have said they didn’t like it for HT). Great for putting the AVR in stereo mode for 2ch listening too. Apple TV streaming Pandora, Tidal, and Apple Music is plenty decent for my non-audiophile ears. I’m running a sealed RBH center channel with two 6.5” woofers and a 1” Vifa silk dome tweeter which sounds IMO very “Polk-like”. I even loaded it with a couple of Polk MW's when I was refoaming the OEM drivers and it didn’t sound too bad that way either.
I’ve been tempted by RTA15's because the RTA12C's I have are probably my favorites. But I have no more room. I’ve talked with a fellow that has RTA15's with the Decato mod and he swears they’re the best speaks he's ever had. Good luck choosing!!Current Collection: Monitor 4a (Peerless), Monitor 5B (Peerless), Modified Monitor 7b (Peerless), RTA15TL (SL3000), SDA CRS+ (194’s), SDA SRS 2.3TL, R100's, R200’s, R300 🤩 -
I listen to cable TV using stereo and it is awesome. No center needed.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" -
The Polk LSiM 706 blends very well with vintage Polks. To my ear it has a very natural vocal reproduction and doesn't stand out as being out of place regardless of volume level.
Go with SDA's if you plan to listen to any music.____________________________________________________________
polkaudio Fully Modded SDA SRS 1.2TLs + Dreadnaught, LSiM706c, 4 X Polk Surrounds + 4 X ATMOS, SVS PB13 Ultra X 2, Pass Labs X1, Marantz 7704, Bob Carver Crimson Beauty 350 Tube Mono Blocks, Carver Sunfire Signature Cinema Grande 400x5, ADCOM GFA 7807, Panasonic UB420, Moon 380D DAC, EPSON Pro Cinema 6050 -
Well folks with regret I have to inform Polk country I won't be able to join you yet. Sadly in the midst of my research BOTH speakers were sold.
Yes my Vintage Marantz 2500 has a common ground and with 250 watts would be able to push the SDA SRS2 Polk's. Now I know.
An opportunity missed for sure. Twice.
Thank you all for your help and quick responses. Great forum.
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Where are you located. I might be able to help you with your delima!
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Me too..
Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them. -
You guys are vultures. Reverse vultures? I've got a pair of Dynaudio bookies if you're looking.afterburnt wrote: »They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.
Village Idiot of Club Polk -
I was just trying to be funny. Kind-of.
I was thinking about regurgitation after reading that" Reverse Vultures" statement. Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them. -
You guys have jokes.
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Both of those are local pickup only and in two different parts of the country. The second pair is not in the best shape.
The first pair are the one you would definitely want! -
OR you could have a look at these puppys. Not as big as the SRS 2's.
Also local pickup only (which is typical for speakers this big)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Pair-of-Audiophile-Polk-Audio-SRS-3-1TL-Speakers/142811029414?hash=item2140335fa6:g:s8MAAOSwrjZbCttO -
My opinion, neither set up would have been ideal.
Honestly, if you are mostly doing Home theatre, a center and smallish Left and right speakers with a decent mid sized sub will perform better and be far more flexible and able to be adjusted to suit the room better.
The Lsic as a center combined with Lsi9's as left and rights, with a sub is hard to beat. -
My opinion, neither set up would have been ideal.
Honestly, if you are mostly doing Home theatre, a center and smallish Left and right speakers with a decent mid sized sub will perform better and be far more flexible and able to be adjusted to suit the room better.
The Lsic as a center combined with Lsi9's as left and rights, with a sub is hard to beat.
Damn, another thing we can agree on.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
