L800 SDA at Listen Up tomorrow evening..
Looking forward to seeing, and hearing these with my own eyes, and ears...
Polk Audio SDA 2.3tl Fully Hot Rodded. 😎
SVS SB16 X2
Cary SLP-05/Ultimate Upgrade.
Cary SA-500.1 ES Amps
Cary DMS 800PV Network
OPPO UDP 205/ModWright Modification
VPI Scout TT / Dynavector 20x2
Jolida JD9 Fully Modified
VPI MW-1 Cyclone RCM
MIT Shotgun 3 cables throughout / Except TT, and PC’s
SVS SB16 X2
Cary SLP-05/Ultimate Upgrade.
Cary SA-500.1 ES Amps
Cary DMS 800PV Network
OPPO UDP 205/ModWright Modification
VPI Scout TT / Dynavector 20x2
Jolida JD9 Fully Modified
VPI MW-1 Cyclone RCM
MIT Shotgun 3 cables throughout / Except TT, and PC’s
Comments
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Great! You will be the first to answer "how does the L800 compare to the hot rodded SDA SRS 1.2TL?"Proud and loyal citizen of the Digital Domain and Solid State Country!
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Looking forward to hearing about your experience with these speakers!Speakers
Energy RC-70 Mains, Energy RC-LRC Center, Energy RC-R (x4) Rear Channels, Energy RC-R (x2) Front Effects
Polk 5jr+
Polk SDA 2B
Polk SDS 3.1TL
Equipment
Panamax 5510 Re-generator Power Conditioner
Yamaha RX-V3800 Receiver
Digital Sources: Sony CDP-X339ES CD Player, HHB CDR830 BurnIt Professional CD Recorder, Sony PS3, Oppo DV-983H DVD Player
Analog Sources: Sony TC-K890ES Cassette, Nakamichi DR-1 Cassette, Technics SL-7 Turntable -
Me too.Pio Elete Pro 520
Panamax 5400-EX
Sunfire TGP 5
Micro Seiki DD-40 - Lyra-Dorian and Denon DL-160
PS Audio GCPH phono pre
Sunfire CG 200 X 5
Sunfire CG Sig 405 X 5
OPPO BDP-83 SE
SDA SRS 1.2TL Sonicaps and Mills
Ctr CS1000p
Sur - FX1000 x 4
SUB - SVS PB2-Plus
Workkout room:
Sony Bravia XBR- 32-Inch 1080p
Onkyo TX-DS898
GFA 555
Yamaha DVD-S1800BL/SACD
Ft - SDA 1C
Not being used:
RTi 38's -4
RT55i's - 2
RT25i's -2, using other 2 in shop
LSI 15's
CSi40
PSW 404 -
Maybe a batch of rings for the 800's are in the future.
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"I see you shiver with..."
➀Speakers: Polk1.2tl's (Uber Mods) ➁Pre/Amp/DAC: PS Audio BHK Signature & 250, DirectStream ➂Cables/IC's: MIT S1Bi-Wire/S1 Balanced +Avel Lindberg 1000VA "Dreadnought" ➃Power Conditioner: PS Audio P15 Power Plant ➄Power Cords: Core Power Technologies Gold, DH Labs Power Plus DIY w/Neotech NC-P301 & P311ends ➅Streaming: Roon ROCK on wifi'd NUC, TP-Link WAP, & Uptone EtherREGEN, AfterDark, Emperor Double Crown Clock, Black Modernize LPS, PS Audio AirLens⟿Ω☯☥☮⟿🔊♩♪♫♬♩♪♫♬♩♪♫♬ -
Stu did a great job demo'ing them in Boulder last night but the seating arrangements didn't do them any great favors.
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Stu did a great job demo'ing them in Boulder last night but the seating arrangements didn't do them any great favors.
What did you think of them? -
What did you think of them?
I thought, I would have liked to have more time in a better room to listen to them.
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They are nice speakers, they produce a large sound stage, and just like an SDA should the sound will wrap around you, immerse you. They don’t have me wanting to give up what I have despite the fact Stu said they are better than the vintage SDA’s, I didn’t feel that way, but would be nice to hear them in your own home, but for 6K, and considering I have about 5k invested in mine, I will keep what I have..
I can say for a fact, The lower end on my 1.2tl’s is much better, definitely more detailed, and defined...Polk Audio SDA 2.3tl Fully Hot Rodded. 😎
SVS SB16 X2
Cary SLP-05/Ultimate Upgrade.
Cary SA-500.1 ES Amps
Cary DMS 800PV Network
OPPO UDP 205/ModWright Modification
VPI Scout TT / Dynavector 20x2
Jolida JD9 Fully Modified
VPI MW-1 Cyclone RCM
MIT Shotgun 3 cables throughout / Except TT, and PC’s -
Polk Audio SDA 2.3tl Fully Hot Rodded. 😎
SVS SB16 X2
Cary SLP-05/Ultimate Upgrade.
Cary SA-500.1 ES Amps
Cary DMS 800PV Network
OPPO UDP 205/ModWright Modification
VPI Scout TT / Dynavector 20x2
Jolida JD9 Fully Modified
VPI MW-1 Cyclone RCM
MIT Shotgun 3 cables throughout / Except TT, and PC’s -
I should also note, I was quite surprised by how many people showed up to see, and hear these speakers, also the book shelf L100’s are great sounding bookies, and the size of the L400 is a lot bigger than I expected it to be, (note I never looked at the specs of it beforehand)..Polk Audio SDA 2.3tl Fully Hot Rodded. 😎
SVS SB16 X2
Cary SLP-05/Ultimate Upgrade.
Cary SA-500.1 ES Amps
Cary DMS 800PV Network
OPPO UDP 205/ModWright Modification
VPI Scout TT / Dynavector 20x2
Jolida JD9 Fully Modified
VPI MW-1 Cyclone RCM
MIT Shotgun 3 cables throughout / Except TT, and PC’s -
Thanks TF66!
"The lower end on my 1.2tl’s is much better, definitely more detailed, and defined..."
Worth repeating. I did not expect this.. well I was hoping/expecting mid bass, mids,
and upper range to be better for sure
Speakers: Polk Lsim, ATC SCM19 v2, NHT SuperzeroSpeaker Cables: DH Labs, Transparent, Wireworld, Canare, Monster: Beer budget, Bose ears -
A flower.Speakers: Polk Lsim, ATC SCM19 v2, NHT SuperzeroSpeaker Cables: DH Labs, Transparent, Wireworld, Canare, Monster: Beer budget, Bose ears
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They don’t have me wanting to give up what I have despite the fact Stu said they are better than the vintage SDA’s,...
I don't doubt that the L800s outperform stock SDAs. Modded SDAs are a different species though. I wonder if Stu has heard any fully modded vintage SDAs.
@F1nut
The L800 manual does not mention a requirement for a common ground amplifier. Have you heard or read anything regarding whether the L800s are safe to use with isolated ground stereo amps and mono block amps?...but for 6K, and considering I have about 5k invested in mine, I will keep what I have...
I can say for a fact, The lower end on my 1.2tl’s is much better, definitely more detailed, and defined...
That's about what I expected. I'm still excited to hear them though.Proud and loyal citizen of the Digital Domain and Solid State Country! -
I wonder how VR3 mods on the L800 vs. VR3 mods 1.2TL would compareThe 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 -
Always hard to make an apples to apples comparison without using the same gear and cables, in the same room.HT SYSTEM-
Sony 850c 4k
Pioneer elite vhx 21
Sony 4k BRP
SVS SB-2000
Polk Sig. 20's
Polk FX500 surrounds
Cables-
Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable
Kitchen
Sonos zp90
Grant Fidelity tube dac
B&k 1420
lsi 9's -
They are nice speakers, they produce a large sound stage, and just like an SDA should the sound will wrap around you, immerse you. They don’t have me wanting to give up what I have despite the fact Stu said they are better than the vintage SDA’s, I didn’t feel that way, but would be nice to hear them in your own home, but for 6K, and considering I have about 5k invested in mine, I will keep what I have..
I can say for a fact, The lower end on my 1.2tl’s is much better, definitely more detailed, and defined...
I wold hope Stu's comparisons were side by side at same time I would have to imagine.
Wonder how much the room detracted from the sound and so on.
But still interesting your observations about them! -
That would be a mighty expensive pair of speakers !
Bknooshinjohn wrote: »I wonder how VR3 mods on the L800 vs. VR3 mods 1.2TL would compare
PS Audio S300 , WiiM Ultra , Yamaha wxc-50 , Salk SuperCharged Songtowers , Kimber Kable 4TC, Sony 48” - BEDROOM
B&K EX-442 ( it will go in my casket when I die ... ) , PS Audio 4.6 preamp ( old school , but it still jams on ... ) , Eversolo DMP-A6 , Boston Acoustic voyager 7’s - POOL
Parasound A21, Eversolo DMP-A8 , Kimber Kable 4vs , Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Towers , Sony XBR-A8F 65” OLED - DEN , MAIN system
Onkyo TX-nr609 , Polk atrium 7 , Boston acoustic sound ware (4) , Boston acoustic sub , B&W center , Sony 65” TV - PATIO -
Yes, bund would undoubtedly be able to punch at those prices 2-3 times the investment.
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Love the acoustic treatment too!
Larry thanks for sharing your thoughts. Agree with @DarqueKnight too on the L800 vs. stock SDA's.
Mine are pretty much stock, except the tweeters. I would expect to see a huge gain in performance.Basement: Polk SDA SRS 1.2tl's, Cary SLP-05 Pre with ultimate upgrade,McIntosh MCD301 CD/SACD player, Northstar Designs Excelsio DAC, Cambridge 851N streamer, McIntosh MC300 Amp, Silnote Morpheus Ref2, Series2 Digital Cables, Silnote Morpheus Ref2 Series2 XLR's, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Pangea Power Cables, MIT Shotgun S3 IC's, MIT Shotgun S1 Bi-Wire speaker cables
Office: PC, EAR Acute CD Player, EAR 834L Pre, Northstar Designs Intenso DAC, Antique Sound Labs AV8 Monoblocks, Denon UDR-F10 Cassette, Acoustic Technologies Classic FR Speakers, SVS SB12 Plus sub, MIT AVt2 speaker cables, IFI Purifier2, AQ Cinnamon USB cable, Groneberg Quatro Reference IC's
Spare Room: Dayens Ampino Integrated Amp, Tjoeb 99 tube CD player (modified Marantz CD-38), Analysis Plus Oval 9's, Zu Jumpers, AudioEngine B1 Streamer, Klipsch RB-61 v2, SVS PB1000 sub, Blue Jeans RCA IC's, Shunyata Hydra 8 Power Conditioner
Living Room: Peachtree Nova Integrated, Cambridge CXN v2 Streamer, Rotel RCD-1072 CD player, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Polk RT265 In Wall Speakers, Polk DSW Pro 660wi sub
Garage #1: Cambridge Audio 640A Integrated Amp, Project Box-E BT Streamer, Polk Tsi200 Bookies, Douglas Speaker Cables, Shunyata Power Conditioner
Garage #2: Cambridge Audio EVO150 Integrated Amplifier, Polk L200's, Analysis Plus Silver Oval 2 Speaker Cables, IC's TBD. -
DarqueKnight wrote: »They don’t have me wanting to give up what I have despite the fact Stu said they are better than the vintage SDA’s,...
I don't doubt that the L800s outperform stock SDAs. Modded SDAs are a different species though. I wonder if Stu has heard any fully modded vintage SDAs.
@F1nut
The L800 manual does not mention a requirement for a common ground amplifier. Have you heard or read anything regarding whether the L800s are safe to use with isolated ground stereo amps and mono block amps?...but for 6K, and considering I have about 5k invested in mine, I will keep what I have...
I can say for a fact, The lower end on my 1.2tl’s is much better, definitely more detailed, and defined...
That's about what I expected. I'm still excited to hear them though.
They do not require a common ground amp. However, a little birdie told me they and the Marantz PM10 do not get along, which may explain why the PM10 was driving the L100 instead of the L800.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 -
ummm do you really expect Stu say the vintage SDAs are better than the brand new product his is standing in fromt of trying help sell?Dodd - Battery Preamp
Monarchy Audio SE100 Delux - mono power amps
Sony DVP-NS999ES - SACD player
ADS 1230 - Polk SDA 2B
DIY Stereo Subwoofer towers w/(4) 12 drivers each
Crown K1 - Subwoofer amp
Outlaw ICBM - crossover
Beringher BFD - sub eq
Where is the remote? Where is the $%#$% remote!
"I've always been mad, I know I've been mad, like the most of us have...very hard to explain why you're mad, even if you're not mad..." -
Look at Russ throwing out some logic.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 -
ummm do you really expect Stu say the vintage SDAs are better than the brand new product his is standing in fromt of trying help sell?
Ha, when he said that I told him good answer... LOL!! Like he was going to answer it any other way..
Polk Audio SDA 2.3tl Fully Hot Rodded. 😎
SVS SB16 X2
Cary SLP-05/Ultimate Upgrade.
Cary SA-500.1 ES Amps
Cary DMS 800PV Network
OPPO UDP 205/ModWright Modification
VPI Scout TT / Dynavector 20x2
Jolida JD9 Fully Modified
VPI MW-1 Cyclone RCM
MIT Shotgun 3 cables throughout / Except TT, and PC’s -
ummm do you really expect Stu say the vintage SDAs are better than the brand new product his is standing in fromt of trying help sell?
No, I would not expect that, just as I wouldn't expect the CEO of Porsche to say vintage Porsches are "better" than the brand new product he is standing in front of trying to help sell.
However, some skillful mechanics have worked miracles on those old cars, and sometimes the old cars offer some features and performance attributes that the newer cars lack.
Proud and loyal citizen of the Digital Domain and Solid State Country! -
At the end of the day, good sound is good sound. But good sound can come in different flavors.
In my mind, the vintage sda to the L800 is what my mezzo Utopias are to the Scala.
The hifi of 20 to 30 years ago was geared towards being musical. Hifi today is more about ruler flat response and "true reproduction"
Can't remember who said it... But it went something like this... "we made a perfectly flat response speaker, no additions or subtractions... After we accomplished such a feat, we started to work on a pair that actually sounded good."
By no means am I saying that is what's been done with the L800. I will own a set of L800 though eventuality, have to admit it's the speakers I've always wanted Polk to make... Nerd alert!- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
ummm do you really expect Stu say the vintage SDAs are better than the brand new product his is standing in fromt of trying help sell?
No, because it is very doubtful the vintage ones are better.
It would be admitting nothing can be improved, no matter how much time and money and were spent on the new Models.
That seems very unrealistic, and not representative of what I see in speaker design over the last few decades.
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ummm do you really expect Stu say the vintage SDAs are better than the brand new product his is standing in fromt of trying help sell?
No, because it is very doubtful the vintage ones are better.
It would be admitting nothing can be improved, no matter how much time and money and were spent on the new Models.
That seems very unrealistic, and not representative of what I see in speaker design over the last few decades.
Newer ≠ Betterafterburnt wrote: »They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.
Village Idiot of Club Polk -
ummm do you really expect Stu say the vintage SDAs are better than the brand new product his is standing in fromt of trying help sell?
No, because it is very doubtful the vintage ones are better.
It would be admitting nothing can be improved, no matter how much time and money and were spent on the new Models.
That seems very unrealistic, and not representative of what I see in speaker design over the last few decades.
Newer ≠ Better
Spoken like a true SDA Fanboy....
I forgot speaker design and driver technology were at their apex in 1990 and went downhill afterwards....Shhhhh!
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I own more speakers that aren't SDA's than SDA's. Fanboy? No. I've been listening to Infinity Kappa's for a while now and they aren't leaving my setup any time soon.
Just because they're built with better technology doesn't mean they're voiced in a way I find pleasant. In a way someone else will find pleasing? Probably. Too subjective.
Look at all the super expensive speakers (better tech, better built, etc.) Jesse listened to the other day and didn't like. Not that you care what he thinks, I'm just saying.afterburnt wrote: »They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.
Village Idiot of Club Polk
