Sonicaps Purchased for SDA-2 Upgrade

schwarcw

After about a month of research, calls to Polk, emails and calls to tech reps and some interesting discussion on the Forum, I ordered Sonicaps for my SDA-2 crossover upgrade. I purchased 0.1 uF (Gen II), 0.47 uF (Gen II), 12 uF and 27 uF (Gen I) capacitors, 2.7 and 3.5 ohm 5 watt Mills resistors. I decided to go with the Sonicaps after discussion on the Forum and several articles on Sonicaps and two long conversations with Jeff Glowacki at SonciCraft. A great guy that will spend time talking with novices like me about this subject. He was very good about explaining the function of capacitors, how they were built, what differences that I would hear with various capacitors. Stand up guy! I can't say enough good things about him. Based on Jeff's advice, I decided not to use a 750 pF by-pass capacitor around the 0.47 uF. I was going to buy 4 750 pF Relcaps and use alligator clips to perform a sound test with and without, but Jeff talked me out of it. For one thing it would take several hundred hours to break in the caps and Jeff was adamant that I just wouldn't hear it. Especially at my age (52), I just wouldn't notice any subtle changes in the very high frequencies. Not only that , I've probably fried my ears with loud music ever since I was about 12 years old listening to the Stones.

The big step here is to use a 0.1 uF bypass on the 12 uF :eek: . The 0.1 uF is more than 100 times (if I did the math right ) the 750 pF. I know Jesse has ordered one to try it out. I'll be very interested in his findings. Jeff felt strongly that 1) definitely need a by-pass for the 12 uF 2) 0.1 uF was a good value to use.

Don't expect a report on this upgrade any time soon as I want to utilize my brother's soldering skills over mine. This is his busy season so I don't expect to capture him for several weeks. I know several Forum members are very interested in this topic since most of the crossover upgrades have been done with Solen caps and the Sonicaps cost significantly more.

The total cost for the caps and resistors was $260. Binding posts and solder another $40. Total cost of upgrade $300 :eek: plus dinner for my brother and he's a big eater.

I will report on this project after I complete it and spend some time doing some critical listening. If your interested in an article about Sonicaps, check out this link: [url] http://www.10audio.com/sonicraft_vh-oimp.htm [/url] The article evaluates the performance of a 12 Uf Sonicap. I have two of these in my crossover. Sone other SDAs probably have them as well.

beardog03

did you get the cardas binding posts..?

Long ones , or short ones..?

I`m doing this also, Jesse is guiding me through the project...

I will probably have to get him to fix it after I`m done though..!!!!

F1nut

Bear, if you're going with Cardas, get the CCGR S (short)

beardog03

Riiiigghhht..!!
Thanks Jesse..

Cardas is a good thing , right..?!

Dennis Gardner

Wow, those Sonicaps boost the $$$ up there substantially, eh?

Imagine the $$$ for an SRS-1.2 upgrade!!

schwarcw

I got the Vampire posts, long. Maybe I should have bought the short! :mad: DarqueKnight told me that he could hear no difference between the Vampires and two models of Cardas. So, I decided to save a couple of bucks. I needed it to help ofset the price of the Sonicaps

SCompRacer

plus dinner for my brother and he's a big eater.

I got a brother like that. I'd rather clothe him than feed him. Just take him to an all he can eat place. Could be anywhere. After they bring the soup and salad, just tell him that's all he can eat.

Other than Jesse, has anyone ever went from Solens to Sonicaps?

schwarcw

The Sonicaps arrived. The 27 uF capacitor is as big as a small juice can! I'm waiting for the binding posts. And the big eater!

rocketman

Who out there can point me in the right direction to get the parts and the knowlage to upgrade my sda-srs2's?These speakers have been stored in my house for 13 years and are mint except a scratch from a falling curtain rod back in 1990(please don't ask)They are oak an I plan to have refinished if the scratch can't be taken out and look right.Had moved to a smaller house and untill my daughter moved out had now room big enough but uor living room but it was full.Should I get hold of polk customer service first?I was useing a sae p-500 amp but got a deal on a mint MacIntosh mc2500.Much better than the sae.I have read so much about the upgrades and really would likr to find out how.One good way to check for a bad driver is to take the tube out of a roll of paper towels put on end to the speaker as it is playing and one to you ear.My dealer told me about this when I thought I had a bad tweetwer in 1989,Thanks chris

WilliamM2

Here you go, Scompracer has a thread listing all parts needed:

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31506&highlight=srs+crossover

If you want the same values Polk used, you will also need to parallel a .1uf cap to add to the 4.3uf, and a 1uf to the 39uf. I chose to do this because changing the 4.4 to a 4.3 changes the crossover point by 180hz, although changing the 40uf to a 39uf moves the crossover point by only 7hz, and probably doesn't matter.

And you should call Polk Customer service to get the SL2000 replacements, $48 each, and free shipping for club members.

rocketman

Thaks to all of you who told me how to get the updated tweeters for my sda-srs2,s.MAN what a difference!Noticed the change as soon as the music started,no warm up nothing.Much better bass.Those who can afford $48.00x4 better do it befor it is too late.They took five days too get here and the schematics two days latter.They sound so good I don,t know if I need the cross-over upgrade.

F1nut

They sound so good I don,t know if I need the cross-over upgrade.

As your crossover components are approaching 20 years old, 10 years past their life expectancy, you really should change them.