SDA SRS 2.3tl

shoester5

Hi everyone, I'm new to this forum, so bare with me since I don't know all the protocols. I just purchased a mint pair of SDA SRS 2.3tl's last week and I haven't hooked them up yet. I have two Carver TFM-15's and I want to hook them up bi-amped to the Polk's but the previous owner said something about common ground and not working with the Polk's. Previous to obtaining the SRS's, I had one Carver hooked up to a pair of SDA 2B's and the other connected to a pair of RTA 8tl's without any problems. I don't want anything to happen to these SRS's (it took most of my adult life to afford these) so, after much searching and finding nothing, i decided to turn here. I know someone from this site knows the answer. Is it safe to use the Carver's in a bi-amp configuration with these SRS's.

Thanks,
shoester5

Dennis Gardner

You can bi-amp with the Carvers as long as you do it horizontal (one amp for bass L&R and one for highs L&R). The Carver's wouldn't work vertically biamped using one stereo amp for each speaker since they wouldn't have grounds in common used this way.

shoester5

Has anyone done this before? Will it effect the SDA affect and can these speakers handle the power? I know these speakers are rated to handle 750 watts but I worry about the tweeters. These speakers don't have the polyswitches in them anymore. They were removed by the previous owner (completely rebuilt crossovers).

Dennis Gardner

It won't effect SDA and generally the 2.3s should handle the 250 watts or so that the Carvers push, you will just want to avoid running them into clipping without those polyswitches. Unless you have a huge room and listen from afar, the 2.3s should reach 105 dbs or so with around 150 wpc. Anything above that is gravy, and very loud.

shoester5

Thanks Dennis, you have relieved my worries. I'll definitely be hooking them up tomorrow. I'm very excited. I feel like a kid the night before Christmas.

schwarcw

Welcome to the Club Polk Forums Shoester5! Enjoy the 2.3TL's, they are a great speaker. Tell us how they sound bi-amped with the Carver's. Good luck and thanks for posting!

Polkersince85

Welcome and congrats on one of the finest affordable speakers ever made. I have my 2.3TLs biamped using a Carver TFM-25 on top with a TFM-35 on the bottom, fed with a C-11 pre. You are in for a treat, Stick with the placement rules and place your seat in an upright position with belt buckled. Let us hear from you when you can speak again.

Mike Reeter

Excellent choice in SDA's...please report back when you find time...I'm also considering a bi-amp set-up.

shoester5

While stationed in California as a Marine in the late 80's, I auditioned a pair of SDA SRS's and fell in love with them. But the low salaries of a military didn't lend me the opportunities to own a pair (plus the constant travel). Later, after getting out of the service, other more important things came along (house, wife, kids, etc...) and I still could not afford a pair. Now, years later and a divorce, I'm able to pursue my dream but first, three things had to accrue. First, I had to come up with the money. Second, to find a pair for sale in great shape. And third, the speakers had to be close enough for me to be able to pick them up. All three accrued last Tuesday and I'm a proud owner of a pristine pair.

I haven't hooked them up yet (I'm suppose to be getting some work done) but that is scheduled later this evening. I will report back to this forum letting you all know how great the sound is. Thanks for all the advice and support.

shoester5

Mike Reeter

Just curious,did you buy the pair that did'nt fetch any bids recently on e-bay?

url:[http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=009&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=190050253096&rd=1&rd=1]

amulford

Excellent. Follow the setup guides, and be careful about clipping the amps. It will fry your tweeters quicker 'n ****.

Enjoy 'em brotha. And welcome to the Club.

shoester5

Yes, those are the ones I got. Travisman was the seller. I got the bass braces, spikes, and a copy of the manual. I also got the original crossovers, internal wiring, original hardware. Travisman built new crossovers for them, upgraded all the internal wiring and added better quality binding posts. Man, these speakers sound fantastic. I'm hearing sounds I've never heard before. It's like I'm hearing my music collection for the first time.

shoester5

schwarcw

Congrats again shoester5 and welcome to the Club Polk Forums!

What are you listening to? Check out the SDA Playlist Sticky on the "Vintage Speakers" section of this Forum. A list of tunes that really shine on your SDA's:D

Carl

Mike Reeter

shoester5 wrote:

Yes, those are the ones I got. Travisman was the seller. I got the bass braces, spikes, and a copy of the manual. I also got the original crossovers, internal wiring, original hardware. Travisman built new crossovers for them, upgraded all the internal wiring and added better quality binding posts. Man, these speakers sound fantastic. I'm hearing sounds I've never heard before. It's like I'm hearing my music collection for the first time

shoester5

Excellent...you might consider upgrading the SL 3000 tweeters with a replacement RDO tweeter offered by Polk.

This will make your "new" 2.3TL's satisfy even more

shoester5

Well, the first selection I listened to was Pink Floyd-Dark side of the Moon. Dire Straights-Brother in Arms was next. Madonna-Ray of Light sounds phenomenal on these speakers. As does Cars-Moving in Stereo. I prefer classic rock on vinyl so most of my collection is orientated towards that. I do own a few CD’s along with a MP3 player but for the best sound, I will always go back to my LP’s.

shoester5

Mike Reeter wrote:

Excellent...you might consider upgrading the SL 3000 tweeters with a replacement RDO tweeter offered by Polk.

This will make your "new" 2.3TL's satisfy even more

What are the RDO tweeters you speak of? How do I go about getting them and how much do they cost (remember, I have six to replace)? Do I have to do any other modifications?

bigyank

How about some pics!

Welcome aboard!

Yank

read-alot

Yank click the ebay link above.

shoester, where in SC? I am from Spartanburg.

bigyank

So much for my attention to detail:)

Yank

shoester5

I'm in Gaffney, SC about 30 miles north of Spartanburg. Right off I 85.

read-alot

I hear y'all have a pretty good football team this year.

My dad lives right up Hwy 11 a few miles from I-85.

shoester5

They're undefeated and I believe headed to the state championship. I live about two miles from Hwy 11.

schwarcw

shoester5 wrote:

What are the RDO tweeters you speak of? How do I go about getting them and how much do they cost (remember, I have six to replace)? Do I have to do any other modifications?

Tweeters first! Call Ken at Polk Customer Service, tell him you are a Club Polk member. Tweeters are $48 each. Yes, you will have to replace all six of them. But it's worth it! You will hear a very noticeable and pleasing difference. Your SL2500's have a 5 dB spike at about 13K Hz.

Carl

schwarcw

shoester5 wrote:

. . . but for the best sound, I will always go back to my LP’s.

Atta boy!

BobMcG

Welcome to CP and congrats on the SDA snag.

If you have a pair of the bridgeable TFM-15CBs you can bi-amp horizontally if you either build or get your hands on an original AI-1 non-common ground interconnect cable.

Here's how to DIY, page 1 of 3.

BobMcG

And pages 2 & 3 of DIY AI-1.

shoester5

I was under the assumption that my speakers have the SL3000 tweeters in them. I believe the number is RDO198-1. Is there a better tweeter then this or is this the best tweeter for the 2.3TL’s? I’ve added some pictures so you can see for yourself. Sorry about the quality of the pics but the lighting is poor in the room and the flash keep causing a reflection. I can get better pics during the daylight.

BobMcG

Yes, the 2.3tls come with the 3000s in them. The RDO198-1 is the best (silk) replacement for them.

schwarcw

shoester5 wrote:

I was under the assumption that my speakers have the SL3000 tweeters in them

Yes, my error! They are SL3000's

Carl

amulford

If you do decide to replace them, you will notice a smoother top end w/o the inherent brightness the 3000's give you. Some like that bright, detailed sound.

FWIW I do, but having heard 2.3's both with the original and with the replacement RDO198-1's, I have to say I like the RDO's more.

shoester5

So the SL3000’s, which is in my SRS’s, is not the RDO198-1’s? If not then what’s the number for the SL3000? I’m confused.