Picked up a mint pair of SDA CRS +'s...I'd like to bring them back to their former glory, or better.
91rtstealth
Posts: 66
This will be my 5th pair of SDA's that i've owned over the years. I've had two sets of SDA1's and two sets of SDA2's. I sold them a few years ago to make space for new stuff. I've always wanted to try a pair of these smaller ones, and they are awesome. They even came with the stands, original boxes, SDA cable, owners manual, etc...everything...excellent shape too...
Anyways, I've already decided that the tweeter has to go. I did that in all of my previous SDA's. I replaced them with rdo194's in the past. After RE-reading all of the posts about upgrades, I wanted to seek out more information. I've learned a lot since my last set of SDA's 5-6 years ago and i've had a lot of other speakers since then.
That being said, I can't find any DETAILS on what each upgrade really accomplishes. I know that everyone says the rdo194 is a massive upgrade, and the rdo198 is even better..but in what way? detail? less sibilance? clearer imagine? etc..
I def want to upgrade the tweeter, and I'm considering doing the rdo198 with the necessary crossover upgrade, but I can't find any information on the real differences between the rdo194 and rdo198.
Lastly, I would like to restore the crossover...but i'm not sure which direction to go. There seems to be so many options...
In summary, I like the way they sound, with the exception of the stock tweeter. The sound stage is massive and the imaging is great, but next to my Mofi Sourcepoint 10's, I am craving better midrange and more resolution...the center image is great, but it's thin and lacks weight...and the imaging is great, but it doesn't have super clear resolution. And i've always disliked what the SDA effect does around 500 hz. It's ringy and honky on some tracks...I usually EQ that out....
So....will upgrading the caps and all of that make a huge improvement in these areas? Can someone steer me in the right direction so that I can do these speakers justice? I don't want to spend a fortune because realistically, these speakers are worth 200-300 dollars on the used market. But if I can really improve them for 300-500 dollars, I am down. Since they don't take up a huge amount of space, I will probably keep them forever, so I my as well try to make them even more awesome.
Thanks in advance.
Anyways, I've already decided that the tweeter has to go. I did that in all of my previous SDA's. I replaced them with rdo194's in the past. After RE-reading all of the posts about upgrades, I wanted to seek out more information. I've learned a lot since my last set of SDA's 5-6 years ago and i've had a lot of other speakers since then.
That being said, I can't find any DETAILS on what each upgrade really accomplishes. I know that everyone says the rdo194 is a massive upgrade, and the rdo198 is even better..but in what way? detail? less sibilance? clearer imagine? etc..
I def want to upgrade the tweeter, and I'm considering doing the rdo198 with the necessary crossover upgrade, but I can't find any information on the real differences between the rdo194 and rdo198.
Lastly, I would like to restore the crossover...but i'm not sure which direction to go. There seems to be so many options...
In summary, I like the way they sound, with the exception of the stock tweeter. The sound stage is massive and the imaging is great, but next to my Mofi Sourcepoint 10's, I am craving better midrange and more resolution...the center image is great, but it's thin and lacks weight...and the imaging is great, but it doesn't have super clear resolution. And i've always disliked what the SDA effect does around 500 hz. It's ringy and honky on some tracks...I usually EQ that out....
So....will upgrading the caps and all of that make a huge improvement in these areas? Can someone steer me in the right direction so that I can do these speakers justice? I don't want to spend a fortune because realistically, these speakers are worth 200-300 dollars on the used market. But if I can really improve them for 300-500 dollars, I am down. Since they don't take up a huge amount of space, I will probably keep them forever, so I my as well try to make them even more awesome.
Thanks in advance.
Comments
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Search SDA SRS 4.1TL
To get you started...
https://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/40577/sda-srs-4-1tl-upgrade
BTW, you have the stands backwards.
Add spikes to the stands that will pierce the carpet. It makes a noticeable improvement.Post edited by F1nut atPolitical 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 -
excellent..thanks..That write up is super helpful. Also, good to know about the stands. haha. I thought it looked a little odd.
I do agree that the vocals (especially when compared to my Mofi Sourcepoint 10's) are WAY back. It would be nice to bring them forward and give them more clarity.
What can you say the big differences are in the rdo194 and 198? I'm currently debating between those two, and which caps to get.
lastly, do you know roughly how much all those parts would be (minus the tweeters, they are 60ish bucks each from what i've found). I just have no idea what the caps and resistors would cost.
I might simply just replace the caps (clarity or sonicaps depending on the cost and sonic differences), replace the bypass stuff, and the tweeters...oh and dynamat the baskets since I have a ton of that laying around anyways. Between that and messing around with the stands, I think i'll be pretty happy. I don't like the SL2000 and never have..they are too bright for me. They gotta go. I prefer neutrality. If I want sizzle, i'll EQ it.Search SDA SRS 4.1TL
To get you started...
https://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/40577/sda-srs-4-1tl-upgrade
BTW, you have the stands backwards.
Add spikes to the stands that will pierce the carpet. It makes a noticeable improvement.
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I believe did in that link. Get the RD0198-1 and do the TL mod. You won't regret it.What can you say the big differences are in the rdo194 and 198?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 -
What gear are you running ?
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Your plan is to upgade up the crossovers anyway, order the RD098-1 you will be glad you did..
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Search SDA SRS 4.1TL
To get you started...
https://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/40577/sda-srs-4-1tl-upgrade
BTW, you have the stands backwards.
Add spikes to the stands that will pierce the carpet. It makes a noticeable improvement.
WOW!!! 20yrs ago,
