RD 0194-1 Tweeter!

dorokusai

Originally posted by BobMcG
With all respect, the quest by forum members to have Polk reintroduce the SDA line has been going on in earnest for the last eight years plus. The issue is far from new, not limited to and hardly brought to light or to life just since the forums had a face lift in mid 2001. I wouldn't doubt that most of the members who were around before the site work are still here today. I know a lot of them are. It's not as though a time gap and a membership change occured when the site got it's new look so there is no "THIS" forum. It's the only forum. It was given a new look with added features. Some of them very good too.
With the new look came a new post counter, for good or for bad as it seems to encourage senseless posting just to see the numbers and titles go up. No posts made in the years previous were added to the new counter which is just as well as it wasn't important and no one kept track anyways. Also everyone already a member of the forums was generically labeled as having joined the forums in July of 2001 (the revised site date) and not the actual date they joined. So be it.

Generally speaking, I used to be very active in the Polk forums and have felt I do so with an open mind without being prejudiced against new ideas and products. I have also looked into the forums from time to time over the last few years without getting into posting mode just to see what's going on within the Polk family. I've seen the Hall of Shame come and go and the membership numbers go up. The bickering grows right along with the population but I guess that's to be expected. You may have noticed too that the "new look" has gone through different looks since 2001. Perhaps you could call it site evolution.

Just because some of us have been around the audio scene for decades doesn't make all of us out of date or out of touch. It also doesn't make us ignorant. A bit of knowledge and experience has come my way with building and upgrading various systems for myself and others over the last 35+ years that I've been involved and you know what? I'm still learning and evolving.

Respectfully, I never said SDA was a new issue. As far as events, efforts and "struggle" that happened in the Polk forum prior to 2003, I have no idea and have almost zero interest. I comment only on what I have seen in my time here. If you were blowing the SDA trumpets in the old days, it looks as though it did as much good then....as it does now.

My specific SDA comment was in reference to alot of the current, regular forum members finally taking the plunge on SDA's....and the Monitor series.

It was current membership that organized a Polk HQ Tour...Texas Polk Gathering I & II, SC Polkfest and this years Polk HQ Tour/Polkfest(TBD ) All of these events created quite a stir, and alot of interest in ALL things Polk.

Another member who's also been around for some time, spent extraordinary time and effort to create an SDA Compendium, to catalog all this SDA craziness. It certainly made searching all those "vintage" threads unnecessary.

I really like being a part of the current crew, and consider this forum to be almost like a safe haven and home. I also get tired of the same questions, but that comes with the territory. This isn't the only place I roam around, but it is the place of which I am most active. Eventually I will fade away, just like you, and this place will move along just fine. These guys are Polk soldiers, and the army is always getting bigger

I've had dinosaurs and newbies teach me something at some point or another, and I'm sure that cycle will continue.

BobMcG

Perhaps I should have said that the popularity of and interest in the old SDAs is nothing new. They've always been a heavily sought after item. The number of forum members and thus the number people being exposed to the fact SDAs exsist has grown wildly. That's good. It's only you're loss that you have near zero interest in the forum history before your arrival a couple of years ago.

The organized Polk events and get togethers are excellent ideas and took years to come to fruition. Like most things they were ideas long before they were reality. The folks that made and make them happen are to be commended. Turning talk into action isn't a small or easy task. For me, I travel all the time both for a living and for a couple of different hobbies and have to pick and choose. It's my loss for not fitting Polk events into my schedule when I plan my year.

I applaud the time and effort you put into making your SDA Compendium. I know why you would take it on too. Over the years I've created or co-created three web sites devoted to SDAs. Places where people could go to get hard to find SDA facts, and articles; learn the SDA story; show case their systems (long before Polk provided the feature) and disscuss SDAs in paticular. These sites were very active during their days, a lot of fun and enjoyed by a lot of Polk members. Only the last one is around now and although it was left to collect dust by it's makers and is outdated by todays standards there is still information there. I used to spend hours in libraries pouring over microfiche and searching the web for anything Polk SDA and to a lesser degree Polk Monitor to get information to put on the sites. It came from a love of the speakers and the want to share with others. Sound familiar?

I'm not the familar person today around here that I once was for sure and doubt I will be. It's not that important but fade away, hummm... not anymore. OK, maybe just fade in and out. You're not stuck with me though, all too soon I'll be straight out seven days a week with life a blur until fall.

You say tomato, I say tomahto. Whether it's a Polk Army or a Polk Family, it is indeed always growing and we're all a part of it.

dorokusai

It was Raife who created the SDA Compendium, not me, just to clear that up.

Bob - We simply don't see the forum in the same way, and that's just how it goes...nothing at all wrong with that. I'm sure we could wax on about all kinds of things both great and small.

We still love our Polk's and that's all this is about in the end. Thanks for taking the time to respond and convey your thoughts, as it has been a very nice experience.

There was only one thing missing from our discussion...a new member asking us WTH we are talking about

BobMcG

And I should have known better that it was Raife who was the author and not you. I've done considerable reading in the forum on and off over the last few years just to keep up on things in general but had a brain slip. My hat is off to him.

Yup, for the love of Polks is why the forum exsits and hopefully it is appreciated by all.

Thank you for the intelligent crossfire. It's always a pleasure to discuss differences in opinion with someone who knows how to.

Hummm, you're right. It was quiet in the stands.

madmax

Every now and then we get a new group of posters. The older ones fade off somewhat for awhile and the newer ones take over until they learn what the hell they are doing. Luckily the older ones tend to still stay in contact and continue the polk tradition! I'm sure from Bob's perspective I was part of the newer generation back in the late 80's just as Doro is part of the newer generation to me. Now to Doro probably there is a newer generation starting to take over for awhile. We are all Polk lovers and that is what counts.
madmax

BobMcG

Max, maybe you're not so mad after all.....

madmax

Originally posted by BobMcG
Max, maybe you're not so mad after all.....

Uh, maybe not...


I was gone for fourteen days
I coulda been gone for more
Held up in the intensive care ward
lyin on the floor

I was gone for all those days
but I, was not all alone
I made friends with a lot of people
in the danger zone

See my lonely life unfold
I see it every day
See my only mind explode
Since I've gone away

I think I lost some weight there
and I---I'm sure I need some rest
Sleepin don't come very easy
in a straight white vest

Should like to see that little children
She's only four years old---old
I'd give her back all of her play things
even, even the ones I stole

See my lonely life unfold
I see it everyday
See my lonely mind explode
when I've gone insane

I wanna get out of here
I wanna, I wanna get out of here
I gotta get out of here
I gotta get out of here
IgottagetoutahereIgottagetoutahereIgottagetoutahere
Ya gotta let me out of here
Let me outta here
I gotta get outta here
Let me outta here
I gotta get outta here
Let me outta here
I gotta get outta here

See my lonely life unfold
I see it everyday
See my only mind explode
Blow up in my face

I grabbed my hat and I got my coat
and I, I ran into the street
I saw a man that was choking there
I guess he couldn't breathe
Said to myself this is very strange
I'm glad it wasn't me
But now I hear those sirens callin'
and so I am not free

I DIDN'T WANNA BE
I DIDN'T WANNA BE
I DIDN'T WANNA BE
(See my lonely life unfold)
I DIDN'T WANNA BE
(I see it every day)
LEAVE ME ALONE I DIDN'T WANNA BE
DON'T TOUCH ME!!!!
See my lonely mind explode
when I've gone INSAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNE!

AC

BobMcG

It looks like I just got welcomed to your nightmere......

gammajo

I am ready to replace my SL2000's in my 2.3's Tech @Polk recommends the SL2500 but my audio friend recommend the RD0194-1 as the replacement. Anyone know why the discrepency?

dorokusai

Do you have SDA 2.3 or 2.3TL? I read your post, just wanted to make sure before we answer definitively.

F1nut

The replacement for the SL1000 and SL2000 would be the RD0194-1. The replacement for the SL2500 and SL3000 would be the RD0198-1.

gammajo

I have the 2.3's not the TL's
Joe

dorokusai

Then your buddy is right, and obviously confirmed by ole F1Nut above. RD-0194...period.

gammajo

Thanks to all for the help- I ordered the 194's this morning
Joe

ohskigod

i orderred 2 as well, with so many people endorsing it, i figure i cant go wrong. orderred it today, was told i should get it by the end of next week.

ohskigod

got the new tweets today, and installed them in my SDA 2B's
WOW!

i figured on a difference, but right out of the box they sounded much better than the SL2000's no harsh bright shrill sound anymore. smooth, more laid back, what i would expect from a silk tweeter. thanx for pointing me in this direction guys!

dorokusai

Lou - See, we might actually know what we are talking about sometimes huh?

gammajo

Just replaced my old 2.3 tweeters with the RD's and like the new ones alot. Voices seem at little less forward and in your face, and I can understand some singers words that were previously hard to understand. This is likely to be true becuase many words only differ by the high frequency aspirants such as the difference between cat hat fat and sat is "ka" "fa" ha" "sa" sounds. I expect that the new ones will be a good deal less fatiguing. They seem more civilized, natural and accurate. Thanks for the tip
Joe

dkg999

I just rec'd my RD 0194-1 replacement tweeters today. It will be interesting to see if this smooths out the top end of my SDA 2A's! When I switched to the Parasound pre/amp combination the high end got a lot more forward and a little harsher.

gammajo

Let us know what you think when you do the replacement

canadianicon25

I couldn't find prices for the RD 0194-1. Can you tell me where I can get that info and any other related performance information?

gammajo

They are regularly $60 per, $48 per for Polk club members from Polk, I think. I did not look at specs, rather relied on the reports here of thier musicality

dkg999

Wow, these new tweeters are a huge improvement! My old SL2000's worked well with my Yamaha integrated amp, but didn't sound as great when I switched to the Parasound pre/amp set up. Now the high end is very smooth, and I haven't even had them running an hour, so not broke in yet. I'll be ordering a pair for my Monitor 10b's!

dorokusai

I would imagine all of those that recommend them, be called heretics, since there is still some strange fascination with that horrible SL2000(IMO) tweeter from many owners.

We all hear different things, and that's just the way it goes.

I'm glad that you found an improvement in your system.

ohskigod

then call me a heretic :cool:

these things only get better with break in time

Roy Munson

I replaced my SL2000's back in Feb. with the silks and I couldn't be happier! This is easily one of the best upgrades I have ever made!

boltaction

Hmm.. If they sound that good per recommendation maybe I should buy them for my 5jr+s...?

SCompRacer

After two months I got tired of listening to my SRS 2's with the SL2000's. The replacement tweeters arrived Friday afternooon and I swapped out the two in the left speaker to compare them. Didn't take long before I swapped out the ones in the right speaker and took the night off to listen to them. I prefer the silks.

candyliquor35m

gammajo wrote:

Just replaced my old 2.3 tweeters with the RD's and like the new ones alot. Voices seem at little less forward and in your face, and I can understand some singers words that were previously hard to understand. This is likely to be true becuase many words only differ by the high frequency aspirants such as the difference between cat hat fat and sat is "ka" "fa" ha" "sa" sounds. I expect that the new ones will be a good deal less fatiguing. They seem more civilized, natural and accurate. Thanks for the tip
Joe

Did you mean to say "fat cat sat on a hat"? OK I've watched to much sesame street with my godson.

burdette

boltaction wrote:

Hmm.. If they sound that good per recommendation maybe I should buy them for my 5jr+s...?

I have a pair of 5jr+, using them for surrounds. They came with the SL2500, which isn't the same as the SL2000 being discussed.

I don't know if the same silk dome is recommended to replace the SL2500 or not... but I *do* think the SL2500 is the same SIZE as the SL2000.

I think I'm remembering having heard something about the SL2500 not being that GREAT of a tweeter... but I don't know. I think the 5jr+ are very listenable as they are.

QUESTION: has the RD1094-1 *always* been the replacement for the SL2000? Is it black? I have a couple of tweeters at home that I bought a few years ago. At that time they were "THE" replacement for the SL2000 (and of course I can check when I get home)... but I was just curious if what I already have is the tweeter everyone is raving about.