Are the SDA 1Cs worth upgrading from the SDA 1Bs?

bb1105

I have the 1Bs (blade/blade) with mint walnut and wondering if it's worth flipping them for the 1Cs (pin/blade), either will have the RDO194 tweeter upgrade, then maybe take it from there.
Some thoughts:
Is the pin/blade that much better than blade/blade, can it use non-grounded monoblocks? Are the 1C crossovers and other electronics better? If I upgraded electrical components would it matter?

Schurkey

Nothing wrong with 1Bs IF (big IF) you are using a common-ground power source--amplifier/receiver; and IF that power source can be comfortable with a "4-ohm" nominal load. Never in the history of high-fidelity have there been more speaker models, and more speakers actually sold with "4-ohm" nominal rating, and yet there's so few amplifiers/receivers that can comfortably power them without cheapskate trickery like Yamaha's (and others) power-supply strangulation switches.

The primary reason to "upgrade" would be to use a non-common-ground power source, not necessarily to improve the sound quality.

Sound quality will be more dependent on the condition of the speakers, not the overall design differences. The 1C has a somewhat higher nominal impedance which could be helpful; but mostly it's going to be whichever speaker set has had the capacitors replaced, and doesn't have punctured surrounds on the drivers.

If you've got a suitable power source, put your money into repairing/upgrading the 1Bs. I did.

westmassguy

^^^This^^^
In addition, the 3rd generation 1B crossovers will be substantially more expensive to upgrade due to the large value sub-bass drive capacitors not present in 4th generation the 1Cs.