Happy Birthday! My SDA SRS 1.2TLs Are 30!

DarqueKnight
DarqueKnight Posts: 6,765
edited November 2019 in Vintage Speakers
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The Polk Audio Stereo Dimensional Array Signature Reference System (SDA SRS) 1.2TLs loudspeakers in my two channel stereo system passed the 30 year mark on 10/25/19. I picked that date because it is the latest date on any of the components. In this case, the test date shown on the original SL3000 tweeters.

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Figure 1. My 1.2TLs completed manufacturing toward the end of October 1989.

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Figure 2. The original owner purchased them on 12/12/89. He used them for five years, then they were put in storage for 5 years due to the owner's military obligations. The original owner passed away in 1999 and the 1.2TLs were inherited by the owner's sister, who kept them in storage for an additional two years before selling them to me in 2001. They came with the original purchase receipt.

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Figure 3. Over the past 18 years, I have gone through many iterations of electronics and cables. The 1.2TLs are the figurative "last man standing".

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Figure 4. The 1.2TLs underwent significant upgrades over the years. The only stock parts remaining are the 6.5" drivers, passive radiators, the MDF cabinets...and the metal feet.

During the18 years that the hotrodded 1.2TLs have been in my two channel stereo system, I have heard only two loudspeakers that caused me to think "yeah, I could live with those in place of the 1.2TLs". Both are large, tall, complex, multiple driver designs that create a huge, detailed, and dynamic sound stage (if you hold your head perfectly still):
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Figure 5. Sonus faber Aida II, 68" H x 19" W x 31" D, 364 lbs. each, $130,000 per pair.
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Figure 6. Legacy Valor, 72" H x 19" W x 19" D, 226 lbs. each, $80,000 per pair.


Summary Of SDA SRS 1.2TL Modifications
https://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/148092/improvements-to-the-sda-srs-1-2tl-summary-of-modifications/p1
Proud and loyal citizen of the Digital Domain and Solid State Country!
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Comments

  • vmaxer
    vmaxer Posts: 5,117
    Well, happy birthday to them.
    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
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  • Nightfall
    Nightfall Posts: 10,086
    30 years later and you're still not as dedicated to audio as you were the day you started. ;)
    afterburnt wrote: »
    They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.

    Village Idiot of Club Polk
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  • DarqueKnight
    DarqueKnight Posts: 6,765
    After all this time, I am beginning to realize that I may never be as dedicated to audio as I want to be. :'(
    Proud and loyal citizen of the Digital Domain and Solid State Country!
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  • JayCee
    JayCee Posts: 1,500
    Happy birthday DK's 1.2tl's.
    p5q7yso7t8qw.gif

    Curious....where were they originally purchased?
    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☯☥☮⟿🔊♩♪♫♬♩♪♫♬♩♪♫♬
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  • DarqueKnight
    DarqueKnight Posts: 6,765
    Sound Idea in Arlington, TX. They are no longer in business.
    Proud and loyal citizen of the Digital Domain and Solid State Country!
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  • JayCee
    JayCee Posts: 1,500
    edited November 2019
    DarqueKnight wrote: »
    Sound Idea in Arlington, TX. They are no longer in business.

    Since you mentioned the original owner was military I wondered if they came from Germany. I worked in the largest military audio club in the mid 80's (Mainz Kastel) and first experienced Polk; believe I saw Mathew Polk come through when they were introduced to the mil market. During Polkfest '12 spoke with one of the head honchos that remembered/was on the trip.

    As an aside, my 1.2tl's have about the same birth date, a bit older, and, the story goes, originated in TX, too. I purchased them from a CP member in Mustang, OK, and he'd purchased them from someone that lived in the DFW area. Perhaps, our speakers are long lost brothers.

    j9gdykhie2wd.jpg
    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☯☥☮⟿🔊♩♪♫♬♩♪♫♬♩♪♫♬
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  • DarqueKnight
    DarqueKnight Posts: 6,765
    I see I'm not the only one that hoards old SDA parts. :)
    Proud and loyal citizen of the Digital Domain and Solid State Country!
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  • JayCee
    JayCee Posts: 1,500
    edited November 2019
    DarqueKnight wrote: »
    I see I'm not the only one that hoards old SDA parts. :)

    LOL...just a sample of my "spares" hiding in the man cave closet. More in the basement, to include a pair of, dare I admit, SW-150'S. ;) You may recognize the jacket. Won it at Stu's house (kitchen) during the '12 Polkfest/George Grand (RIP) Ginthens fundraiser raffle.

    82qiemdknpwa.jpg
    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☯☥☮⟿🔊♩♪♫♬♩♪♫♬♩♪♫♬
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  • DarqueKnight
    DarqueKnight Posts: 6,765
    Now that's impressive. I don't have any passives in my stash though.
    Proud and loyal citizen of the Digital Domain and Solid State Country!
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,437
    Nor do I....
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  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    I would be (at least) a third.....
    Relayer-Big-O-Poster.jpg
    Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
    "I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion." :\
    My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....

    "Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson

    "Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee
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  • JayCee
    JayCee Posts: 1,500
    There are a few of us on CP. Larry's mentioned his in the past. Very thankful I have them but hope to never need to replace said PR. One of the spares has a ding on the face but is otherwise fully functional and the other is in good shape. It was a mandatory insurance policy considering 3 CONUS and one overseas military moves in the past 10 years. Would be awesome to see them, and DK's pair, celebrate a 60 year birthday!
    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☯☥☮⟿🔊♩♪♫♬♩♪♫♬♩♪♫♬
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  • gyosa
    gyosa Posts: 749

    Dude ,
    That’s sick !
    Lol !

    Bk

    JayCee wrote: »
    DarqueKnight wrote: »
    I see I'm not the only one that hoards old SDA parts. :)

    LOL...just a sample of my "spares" hiding in the man cave closet. More in the basement, to include a pair of, dare I admit, SW-150'S. ;) You may recognize the jacket. Won it at Stu's house (kitchen) during the '12 Polkfest/George Grand (RIP) Ginthens fundraiser raffle.

    82qiemdknpwa.jpg

    PS Audio S300 , WiiM Ultra , Yamaha wxc-50 , Salk SuperCharged Songtowers , Kimber Kable 4TC, Sony 42” - 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 , Sharp 65” TV - PATIO
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  • vmaxer
    vmaxer Posts: 5,117
    @DarqueKnight is banned??

    @F1nut can you help?
    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
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  • bbeacham
    bbeacham Posts: 141
    This site is FUBAR.
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,437
    And just like that he's back.
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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,410
    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    And just like that he's back.

    Who?
    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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  • DarqueKnight
    DarqueKnight Posts: 6,765
    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    And just like that he's back.

    You just have to know who to bribe and how much. ;)
    Proud and loyal citizen of the Digital Domain and Solid State Country!
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  • verb
    verb Posts: 10,176
    Happy 30th birthday to your speakers! May they endure yet another 30! :smile:
    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.
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  • ptrooper
    ptrooper Posts: 501
    Obviously didn't pay enough......banned :p
    DarqueKnight wrote: »
    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    And just like that he's back.

    You just have to know who to bribe and how much. ;)

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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,437
    good grief
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  • vmaxer
    vmaxer Posts: 5,117
    Ridiculous.
    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
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter