SDA-2B Capacitor Upgrades

TBTCarl
TBTCarl Posts: 3
edited September 2006 in Vintage Speakers
Last night I upgraded my crossover capacitors with SOLEN capacitors and MILLS resisitors as outlined on the "SDA-2B Studio Crossover Upgrade" thread from about a year ago. I must say there is a noticeable difference! Imaging is better, there is greater depth; you can hear front to rear distance between musicians, vocalists and percussion. Bass response is tighter.

Just for the record, I measured the value of the capacitors I removed from the speakers with my capacitor value checker. I also measured the installed cap values:

REMOVED:

CAP LEFT RIGHT
12uF 12.1 uF 12.0 uF
20uF 22.3uF 22.1uF
40uF 43.5uF 43.3uF

REPLACEMENTS:

CAP LEFT RIGHT
12uF 12.0uF 12.0uF
20uF 20.0uF 20.0uF
39uF 38.9uF 39.0uF


I know measurements are not the end-all in terms of listening, but the data was interesting nevertheless.

In the next day or so, I hope to receive my silk dome tweeters and replace the originals. I wanted to give my two cents worth regarding the upgrades. It was worth the effort IMHO.
Post edited by TBTCarl on
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  • schwarcw
    schwarcw Posts: 7,341
    edited September 2006
    Welcome to Club Polk forums TBTCarl! Congrats on the successful crossover upgrades. You will experience an even greater impact when you put in the new silk dome tweeters.

    Post some pictures of your SDA's and tell us about the electronics you're using to make them sing! Welcome!

    Carl
    Carl

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  • TBTCarl
    TBTCarl Posts: 3
    edited September 2006
    Thanks Carl for the welcome. I hope to take some photos this weekend.
    Here is a list of my components:

    PRIMARY
    Thorens TD 126 MK III Turntable
    SME Type III Tonearm
    Shure V15MR cartridge
    Nakamichi BX-300 Cassette Tape Deck
    Sony TC-K700ES Cassette Tape Deck
    Teac X-2000R Reel to Reel Tape Deck
    Pioneer PD-M6 Compact Disc Player
    Yamaha C-70 Preamplifier
    McIntosh MQ-104 Custom Environmental Equalizer
    McIntosh MC-2205 Power Amplifier

    SECONDARY - SOUND PROCESSING (recording purposes only)

    SAE 5000 Impulse Noise Reduction System
    DBX 400x Program Route Selector
    DBX 3BX-DS 3 Band Dynamic Range Controller
    DBX Model 224 Type II Noise Reduction System

    _____________________________________

    I use the components on the secondary list to make recordings on tape (now on computer) from 33RPM to 78 RPM records. I hope to find a McIntosh C-33 Preamplifier for my system soon.


    Carl
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited September 2006
    Welcome to the club,did you notice any dicernable difference in bass following the upgrade of your crossovers?
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • BlueMDPicker
    BlueMDPicker Posts: 7,569
    edited September 2006
    Welcome! After you've had a few hours on them, you'll hear some even more marked improvement in bass dynamics and HF clarity.

    The silk domes are excellent. But, again, allow some break-in time to open up the high/mid transition boundary.

    Your upgrades will make the 2Bs speakers that are hard to ever consider parting with. Congrats!
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,636
    edited September 2006
    Welcome; yes, bass will continue improving; I guess the new components go through a brake in process; when I did the upgrade in my 1.2 TL's bass kept getting better and better for weeks.....
    _________________________________________________
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  • schwarcw
    schwarcw Posts: 7,341
    edited September 2006
    You've got the electronics to really make these speakers sing. Many think the 2B's are among the most "musical" of the SDA's. Don't think twice, buy the RDO-194 silk replacements. You'll do an "end zone dance" once you hear the differece. After all, it's only a $100 investment for the 2B's. Go for it Carl!

    Carl
    Carl

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  • TBTCarl
    TBTCarl Posts: 3
    edited September 2006
    Well folks, I have installed the RDO194 silk dome tweeters. Wow, what an eye opening experience! Immediately I noticed more detail and clarity. I no longer hear the harshness of the previous tweeters. The overall sound is pleasing at low and high volumes.

    Thanks for the feedback and the encouragement to replace the tweeters. I'm doing the end zone dance now Carl :)

    George, the bass response is tighter and smoother. Before the mods, the bass was slightly "boomy". The neat thing is the low end response remains; kettle drums, and kick drums have impact; punch is delivered when expected. Cello and stand-up bass violins are full bodied.

    As I listen to the speakers, I notice subtle things in recordings I did not hear before or things I did not hear as clearly before. Extra instuments have "popped out of the woodwork", so to speak.

    I must say installing the mods was well worth it. It is like having a brand new pair of speakers!
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited September 2006
    Good on ya :) Enjoy
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • schwarcw
    schwarcw Posts: 7,341
    edited September 2006
    Congrats on your upgrades! Don't spike your drink on the carpet:D

    You tweeters and crossover components will continue to improve as they burn in. Figure about 200 hours before they come into their own. Subtle differences, but I found the overall sound will smooth out and the mid and low bass will continue to tighten slightly. Enjoy!

    Carl
    Carl

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