That mystery cable

Polk65
Polk65 Posts: 1,405
edited April 2008 in Vintage Speakers
Something about the cable mentioned in two FM threads (photo 1) bugged me until I looked at the RTA 12 connector (photo 2). It is quite similar, and also appears similar to the outside of gkouvaras's SDA 1's (photos 3 and 4).

Any thoughts ?
Post edited by Polk65 on
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,820
    edited February 2006
    Hmmmmmmmm???
    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

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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,986
    edited February 2006
    Come on Guru, lets have it, whats the deal?
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • Dennis Gardner
    Dennis Gardner Posts: 4,861
    edited February 2006
    Headline News...................


    Fossil discovery indicates experts don't know all they thought. Missing link?
    HT Optoma HD25 LV on 80" DIY Screen, Anthem MRX 300 Receiver, Pioneer Elite BDP 51FD Polk CS350LS, Polk SDA1C, Polk FX300, Polk RT55, Dual EBS Adire Shiva 320watt tuned to 17hz, ICs-DIY Twisted Prs, Speaker-Raymond Cable

    2 Channel Thorens TD 318 Grado ZF1, SACD/CD Marantz 8260, Soundstream/Krell DAC1, Audio Mirror PP1, Odyssey Stratos, ADS L-1290, ICs-DIY Twisted , Speaker-Raymond Cable
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  • Polk65
    Polk65 Posts: 1,405
    edited February 2006
    Found another...

    Remember our buddy in Colorado that parted out the SDA 1's last year?
    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30454
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited February 2006
    Do you see a pattern here? It's still 99% unuseable.

    It's the same termination used on RTA12's for the crossover assembly.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • Dennis Gardner
    Dennis Gardner Posts: 4,861
    edited February 2006
    The pattern is that Polk has always used whatever parts they had available on the market for their models until they needed a larger run than the existing inventory could support, or issues with design required change. Its called evolution.

    This is found on all levels of industry, when inventory over/underruns require change in the model run.

    We just shouldn't be trying to discredit sellers on auction sites for what we don't have full knowledge of ourselves.
    HT Optoma HD25 LV on 80" DIY Screen, Anthem MRX 300 Receiver, Pioneer Elite BDP 51FD Polk CS350LS, Polk SDA1C, Polk FX300, Polk RT55, Dual EBS Adire Shiva 320watt tuned to 17hz, ICs-DIY Twisted Prs, Speaker-Raymond Cable

    2 Channel Thorens TD 318 Grado ZF1, SACD/CD Marantz 8260, Soundstream/Krell DAC1, Audio Mirror PP1, Odyssey Stratos, ADS L-1290, ICs-DIY Twisted , Speaker-Raymond Cable
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited February 2006
    The pattern is the model number, early SDA1. The tweeter is a notorious, common variation amongst Polk's, as the documentation for the early stuff is all over the place(e.g. RTA12). This interconnect is just a red herring.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • hoosier21
    hoosier21 Posts: 4,413
    edited February 2006
    I gotta say, I just learned something.

    Interconnect cable types:
    1. Blade-Blade
    2. Pin-Blade
    3. AI-1 (pin-blade)
    4. Ken S's homebrew AI-1 (blade-blade)
    5. Now this RTA12crossover connector, SDA cable.

    Anymore?
    Dodd - Battery Preamp
    Monarchy Audio SE100 Delux - mono power amps
    Sony DVP-NS999ES - SACD player
    ADS 1230 - Polk SDA 2B
    DIY Stereo Subwoofer towers w/(4) 12 drivers each
    Crown K1 - Subwoofer amp
    Outlaw ICBM - crossover
    Beringher BFD - sub eq

    Where is the remote? Where is the $%#$% remote!

    "I've always been mad, I know I've been mad, like the most of us have...very hard to explain why you're mad, even if you're not mad..."
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  • Dennis Gardner
    Dennis Gardner Posts: 4,861
    edited February 2006
    Don't forget Raife's Vampire 5way and XLR editions. :D

    SDA Upgrade Thread.
    HT Optoma HD25 LV on 80" DIY Screen, Anthem MRX 300 Receiver, Pioneer Elite BDP 51FD Polk CS350LS, Polk SDA1C, Polk FX300, Polk RT55, Dual EBS Adire Shiva 320watt tuned to 17hz, ICs-DIY Twisted Prs, Speaker-Raymond Cable

    2 Channel Thorens TD 318 Grado ZF1, SACD/CD Marantz 8260, Soundstream/Krell DAC1, Audio Mirror PP1, Odyssey Stratos, ADS L-1290, ICs-DIY Twisted , Speaker-Raymond Cable
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,820
    edited February 2006
    Russ, I'd have to agree with what Mark said, "It's still 99% unuseable."
    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

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  • hoosier21
    hoosier21 Posts: 4,413
    edited February 2006
    F1nut wrote:
    Russ, I'd have to agree with what Mark said, "It's still 99% unuseable."

    Not sure what either of you two mean by that, the photos look like the connector was factory installed, the cable matches, what is unuseable about that? Am I missing something here?
    Dodd - Battery Preamp
    Monarchy Audio SE100 Delux - mono power amps
    Sony DVP-NS999ES - SACD player
    ADS 1230 - Polk SDA 2B
    DIY Stereo Subwoofer towers w/(4) 12 drivers each
    Crown K1 - Subwoofer amp
    Outlaw ICBM - crossover
    Beringher BFD - sub eq

    Where is the remote? Where is the $%#$% remote!

    "I've always been mad, I know I've been mad, like the most of us have...very hard to explain why you're mad, even if you're not mad..."
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  • Dennis Gardner
    Dennis Gardner Posts: 4,861
    edited February 2006
    It just won't fit anything but those few models. 99% of the SDA line uses other types.
    HT Optoma HD25 LV on 80" DIY Screen, Anthem MRX 300 Receiver, Pioneer Elite BDP 51FD Polk CS350LS, Polk SDA1C, Polk FX300, Polk RT55, Dual EBS Adire Shiva 320watt tuned to 17hz, ICs-DIY Twisted Prs, Speaker-Raymond Cable

    2 Channel Thorens TD 318 Grado ZF1, SACD/CD Marantz 8260, Soundstream/Krell DAC1, Audio Mirror PP1, Odyssey Stratos, ADS L-1290, ICs-DIY Twisted , Speaker-Raymond Cable
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  • hoosier21
    hoosier21 Posts: 4,413
    edited February 2006
    Dennis Gardner wrote:
    It just won't fit anything but those few models. 99% of the SDA line uses other types.

    Well maybe that's what they meant, but big effing deal it won't fit 99% of the SDAs out there, it looks like there was SDA speakers made that this cable will fit.

    Jesse posted a big warning on the FM that "This is NOT a Polk Audio SDA cable." http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37926

    Not blaming Jesse for posting the thread, as we all thought when we saw a connector that was not "blade-blade" or "pin-blade" , that it was a hack job, something "some idiot" did to the speaker.

    Well it looks like to me there are photos showing this type of connector and this type of cable WAS used by Polk.

    This thread was started to kind of clear the air, that there seems to be an early version of the SDA cable, to me it has done that.
    Dodd - Battery Preamp
    Monarchy Audio SE100 Delux - mono power amps
    Sony DVP-NS999ES - SACD player
    ADS 1230 - Polk SDA 2B
    DIY Stereo Subwoofer towers w/(4) 12 drivers each
    Crown K1 - Subwoofer amp
    Outlaw ICBM - crossover
    Beringher BFD - sub eq

    Where is the remote? Where is the $%#$% remote!

    "I've always been mad, I know I've been mad, like the most of us have...very hard to explain why you're mad, even if you're not mad..."
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Dennis Gardner
    Dennis Gardner Posts: 4,861
    edited February 2006
    Is this what happens when we assume?
    HT Optoma HD25 LV on 80" DIY Screen, Anthem MRX 300 Receiver, Pioneer Elite BDP 51FD Polk CS350LS, Polk SDA1C, Polk FX300, Polk RT55, Dual EBS Adire Shiva 320watt tuned to 17hz, ICs-DIY Twisted Prs, Speaker-Raymond Cable

    2 Channel Thorens TD 318 Grado ZF1, SACD/CD Marantz 8260, Soundstream/Krell DAC1, Audio Mirror PP1, Odyssey Stratos, ADS L-1290, ICs-DIY Twisted , Speaker-Raymond Cable
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,820
    edited February 2006
    This thread was started to kind of clear the air, that there seems to be an early version of the SDA cable, to me it has done that.

    Agreed. Another part of Polk history has been unearthed.
    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

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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,820
    edited February 2006
    Thanks to Steve for uncovering this mystery.
    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

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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,986
    edited February 2006
    Hilarious.
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • Polk65
    Polk65 Posts: 1,405
    edited February 2006
    I started this thread hoping to learn if this was a genuine cable and it appears that it was used prior to the blade/blade cable.

    The one thing these speakers share in common is that they are all SDA 1's. These came out around what, 1981/1982 ? That places these right around the production time of the RTA 12's.

    Here are a couple more. I might add, that if it was not for the fact that some recent photos appeared with close-ups I would never have made the connection.

    edit: I moved the three rear photos below.
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  • Dennis Gardner
    Dennis Gardner Posts: 4,861
    edited February 2006
    The carpet in the middle photo screams bell bottoms and disco balls. :eek:
    HT Optoma HD25 LV on 80" DIY Screen, Anthem MRX 300 Receiver, Pioneer Elite BDP 51FD Polk CS350LS, Polk SDA1C, Polk FX300, Polk RT55, Dual EBS Adire Shiva 320watt tuned to 17hz, ICs-DIY Twisted Prs, Speaker-Raymond Cable

    2 Channel Thorens TD 318 Grado ZF1, SACD/CD Marantz 8260, Soundstream/Krell DAC1, Audio Mirror PP1, Odyssey Stratos, ADS L-1290, ICs-DIY Twisted , Speaker-Raymond Cable
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  • Loud & Clear
    Loud & Clear Posts: 1,538
    edited February 2006
    It was assumed that the guy selling was guilty of passing off a hack job to an unsuspcting public. It seemed a fair assumption at the time. Ultimately, it appears as though that has been disproven, and that the gentleman in question was simply offering up for sale a genuine Polk SDA interconnect; albeit for a limited potential clientele.

    Two Channel Setup:

    Speakers: Wharfedale Opus 2-3
    Integrated Amp: Krell S-300i
    DAC: Arcam irDac
    Source: iMac
    Remote Control: iPad Mini

    3.2 Home Theater Setup:

    Fronts: Klipsch RP-160M
    Center: Klipsch RP-160M
    Subwoofer: SVS PB12NSD (X 2)
    AVR: Yamaha Aventage RX-A2030
    Blu Ray: Sony BDP-S790
    TV Source: DirecTV Genie
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,820
    edited February 2006
    RuSsMaN wrote:
    Come on Guru, lets have it, whats the deal?

    Here's the deal, you didn't know, I didn't know. Steve did some digging and thanks to him, now we all know. I would rather be wrong about something like this than see a fellow Polkie get ripped off. You didn't seem to care about anything except for not having something you didn't like being posted in the FM. So, let's have it, what's the deal?
    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

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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,986
    edited February 2006
    blah blah blah.

    You'll argue about anything Jesse. Do whatever you have to, post whatever you have to, for your ego to stay intact - that's all I am concerned with anymore.
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • Polk65
    Polk65 Posts: 1,405
    edited February 2006
    Here are three more, front.
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  • Polk65
    Polk65 Posts: 1,405
    edited February 2006
    The above three, rear.
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  • Polk65
    Polk65 Posts: 1,405
    edited February 2006
    This is a later model with the inter connect in the same location, but with a blade/blade cable.
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  • Polk65
    Polk65 Posts: 1,405
    edited February 2006
    Who can spot what else is different with the later version?


    edit: No more nagging please! There is nothing new about Polk doing things differently during product runs.

    Jesse did the right thing warning members (new and old) with the knowledge that was known at the time.

    There have been several hack jobs using xlr cables...
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited February 2006
    hoosier21 wrote:
    Well maybe that's what they meant, but big effing deal it won't fit 99% of the SDAs out there, it looks like there was SDA speakers made that this cable will fit.

    Well it looks like to me there are photos showing this type of connector and this type of cable WAS used by Polk.

    This thread was started to kind of clear the air, that there seems to be an early version of the SDA cable, to me it has done that.

    Big deal it won't fit? It might be a big deal if it doesn't fit what you own, and you bought it under the assumption that it would eh? The Ebay advertisement doesn't specify a model and is at the very least, misleading. The associated model(s) are ancient and if they haven't made it to the graveyard or dump, it's borderline amazing.

    The linked historical thread and pictures were all but forgotten until now.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited February 2006
    Oops... :o
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,820
    edited February 2006
    RuSsMaN wrote:
    blah blah blah.

    You'll argue about anything Jesse. Do whatever you have to, post whatever you have to, for your ego to stay intact - that's all I am concerned with anymore.

    I'm not the one attacking or agruing about this topic. I'm glad that the correct info has come to light, too bad you don't feel the same way.

    Oh and Russ don't kid yourself, when it comes to egos, no one's is bigger than yours, period.

    Now bugger off.
    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

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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,986
    edited February 2006
    Thanks for validating my point, I knew you couldn't resist.

    Cool, we found out what it is, great, I'll sleep better tonight knowing that.
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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