SDA effect???

Maurice

Ok you audio gurus. Now i'm curious to know what the hell is so great about these SDA's you maniacs keep raving about. Obviously I've never heard them, so can someone explain this "effect" to me and why everyones d*cks are so hard for em.

danger boy

you have to experiece it in person to get that nice warm, and fuzzy SDA effect feeling. find a Polkie in your hood who has a pair of SDA's and get your listen on.

worth your time to seek someone out for sure.

Maurice

Thanks Danger. Are you saying these speakers are so good I should go into stalker mode. :eek:

jdhdiggs

Each speak sends out two channels of info (four total) versus two in traditional speakers. The outside sound waves cancel out sound from the inside channel of the opposite speaker widening the soundstage. It is similar to putting a giant wall between the speakers and having each ear only hear one speaker in a tradional setup.

This just expands the soundstage both in depth and width. Imagine a great headphone rig with depth and you'll have a basic idea.

BlueMDPicker

As Doro once explained it: (paraphrase) they're like headphones without the wires and cans. When properly setup and powered, the dimensionality and imaging of the soundstage is completely live in nature.

steveinaz

As stated above, it's a headphone effect---more perceived seperation in channels by using crosstalk cancellation.

Make sure you try before you buy. I personally didn't care for the SDA effect; it seemed a little too contrived for me. To me, it was very similar to Carver's sonic Holography in its effect. It's a personal preference thing, you, like many others may like it.

Maurice

Thanks guys, sounds very interesting. I dont think I want to hear them yet cause I gotta buy a new tv and svs next month and I dont wanna get a SDA woody like the rest of ya.

madmax

It is not an effect. It presents the stereo seperation as it is in a live performance rather than squeezing everything together in between a set of stereo speakers.
madmax

ND13

madmax wrote:

It is not an effect. It presents the stereo seperation as it is in a live performance rather than squeezing everything together in between a set of stereo speakers.
madmax

THANK YOU, Max!!

2+2

madmax wrote:

It is not an effect. It presents the stereo seperation as it is in a live performance rather than squeezing everything together in between a set of stereo speakers.
madmax

I dont get it....doesnt cross talk occur in live performance?

There is a website with good explanation of SDA.... sdafan something....

danger boy

true not everyone who listens to SDA's likes the soundfield they put out... they are so good.. that you could even run them without the SDA cable. and still be very happy with them. Although purists would scoff at not using the SDA cable.. they still do sound quite impressive without it too.

Maurice

Zero wrote:

Well Maurice, you don’t even come close to the above description so I wont even pull over my car to help you.

danger boy

Maurice wrote:

Thanks guys, sounds very interesting. I dont think I want to hear them yet cause I gotta buy a new tv and svs next month and I dont wanna get a SDA woody like the rest of ya.

ha ha ha. he said new TV, SVS and SDA woody all in one sentence.. all my favorite things!!

Maurice, all of those items will enhance and improve your HT experience. Although, i prefer to use my SDA's in a 2 ch only set up.

You look to be on the right track.. for building a killer system.

steveinaz

2+2 wrote:

I dont get it....doesnt cross talk occur in live performance?

Sure it does. Think of headphones; the left and right ear ONLY hear the L/R channel. None of the left side is heard by the right ear, thats what SDA attempts to immulate, giving you a wide, sitting in the front row feel.

F1nut

Damn Sean, well said! You're still a putz though.

MacLeod

I heard SDA's for the first time at Polkfest when they demoed the SRT's. My initial reaction, and I even said this to Stu, "that is the coolest thing Ive ever heard!"

Here is why:

-Even tho the speakers were about 6' apart in the middle of the room the soundstage was as wide as the room! The first demo CD had a backbeat going and youre sitting there looking at the speakers. Then a guitar comes in slightly left of center. Then another guitar comes in......6 feet to the left of the left speaker!!! Then when the entire band joined in the stage was just huge with tons of depth.

-Everything imaged nearly 10' high!

-The clarity was breathtaking!

-When cranked up the impact was stunning. A snare drum slap would make you blink. Drum rolls were felt in your gut. You could literally feel the plucks of the guitar strings.

Now granted these were the SRT's which use the SDA technology but it was still the coolest thing Ive ever heard.

Polkersince85

SDA's make me happy, Standing here like a three-legged stool. :cool:

Pines

If the impact and feel of these speakers is so breathtaking and miraculous I find it weird that they are only found as vintage. Am I missing something?

madmax

Pines wrote:

If the impact and feel of these speakers is so breathtaking and miraculous I find it weird that they are only found as vintage. Am I missing something?

Yea, they would cost over 10K to produce today and that is not within polks target audience. They are going after the average person and bringing them up to audiophile teritory without them knowing it.

madmax

danger boy

Pines wrote:

If the impact and feel of these speakers is so breathtaking and miraculous I find it weird that they are only found as vintage. Am I missing something?

But Polk Audio is just about ready to introduce the Surround Bar with SDA technology. it's for your home theater.. so the SDA name is still in use today. Check local listings in your area. It's quite impressive sounding.

WilliamM2

I really doubt that cost is the issue, especially with Polk's Chinese manufacturing facility.

If they can produce the RTi12 for $1679 retail, I don't see why a modern SDA1C couldn't be produced for under $2K. Most things these days are cheaper to manufacture than they were in 1989 when I bought mine.

I believe the real reason was marketing. Consumers seem to demand new product lines each year for any product. Polk had been marketing SDA's for at least ten years when they were finally discontinued. Sales dictated new technologies, whether they were better or not.

danger boy

WilliamM2 wrote:

I really doubt that cost is the issue, especially with Polk's Chinese manufacturing facility.

If they can produce the RTi12 for $1679 retail, I don't see why a modern SDA1C couldn't be produced for under $2K. Most things these days are cheaper to manufacture than they were in 1989 when I bought mine.

I believe the real reason was marketing. Consumers seem to demand new product lines each year for any product. Polk had been marketing SDA's for at least ten years when they were finally discontinued. Sales dictated new technologies, whether they were better or not.

YOu also have to remember not many people have the room for in their houses for huge 6ft tall speakers. Just ask your wife or gf if she would ever let you put those in your house. Now you still want some?

Seriously. Very few people would actually buy SDA's today... cost, size, placement all come into play. Look at a lot of other speaker manufacturers... the trend is small, simple to set up and with the least visiable look for your home. I think that's also another reason Polk Audio is getting so into in wall speaker systems.

Within this small circle of audio enthusists (sp), we'd buy the SDA's if they were to be made available again.. but the general public would scoff at the size, price and they would never sell. just my .02

Here is a pic of me with my SDA's. They are big, heavy and take up a lot of space.

WilliamM2

I agree, the size aspect would also fall into marketing.

My SDA1C's are only 44" tall, the only thing the wife complained about was helping carry them into the house 12 years ago.

Dennis Gardner

If size, $$$, placement, and room decor are the issues....................SDA Inwalls.

Build them and I will buy them.

madmax

Size and weight is probably a big reason for not wanting to make them anymore. You know those polk guys are not as young as they used to be. They probably can't manhandle the speakers around like they used to.

madmax