Misc SDA-2 Questions
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snowplowfloater
Posts: 1
Hello:
I am the proud owner of a pair of SDA-2 speakers that I inherited from a relative ... this is part of my re-acquainting myself with a good sounding system as I have been living off boom-box sound for the last 15 years ... I am a novice when it comes to knowledge of stereo systems ... here are a few questions and I would greatly welcome any feedback:
- The interconnect cable: I have read in other threads that this is crucial for the true SDA sound ... right now I am using them without it because the old owner couldn't find it ... I read that a speaker wire can be substututed ... I have the "blade-blade" configuration and wonder if I can just wedge the speaker wire to connect the two top blades and the two bottom blades ... any thoughts? Is this not as good as the true cable with respect to sound quality? By the way I am powering them with a Nikko NA-550 integrated amp.
- Mold: the speakers were left in the basement for many years of non-use before I got them and there is mold throughout the side panels ... these are a fabric material and I would like to simply pry these panels off leaving the underlying wood because the fabric is difficult to clean ... will this affect sound at all?
- Also, the previous owner gave me his old Carver HR-772 receiver that I was initially using ... this receiver had not been used in some time and was still in the shrink wrap from the repair shop ... it turns out it had been in the shop a few times for "no sound" ... then when I got it, I hooked it up and it sounded fine, but after only a few days the one channel lost signifiant power ... is it more likely this is just a lemon of a receiver, or is it possible there is some defect in the speakers that is damaging the amp?
Thanks for reading and any responses!!
I am the proud owner of a pair of SDA-2 speakers that I inherited from a relative ... this is part of my re-acquainting myself with a good sounding system as I have been living off boom-box sound for the last 15 years ... I am a novice when it comes to knowledge of stereo systems ... here are a few questions and I would greatly welcome any feedback:
- The interconnect cable: I have read in other threads that this is crucial for the true SDA sound ... right now I am using them without it because the old owner couldn't find it ... I read that a speaker wire can be substututed ... I have the "blade-blade" configuration and wonder if I can just wedge the speaker wire to connect the two top blades and the two bottom blades ... any thoughts? Is this not as good as the true cable with respect to sound quality? By the way I am powering them with a Nikko NA-550 integrated amp.
- Mold: the speakers were left in the basement for many years of non-use before I got them and there is mold throughout the side panels ... these are a fabric material and I would like to simply pry these panels off leaving the underlying wood because the fabric is difficult to clean ... will this affect sound at all?
- Also, the previous owner gave me his old Carver HR-772 receiver that I was initially using ... this receiver had not been used in some time and was still in the shrink wrap from the repair shop ... it turns out it had been in the shop a few times for "no sound" ... then when I got it, I hooked it up and it sounded fine, but after only a few days the one channel lost signifiant power ... is it more likely this is just a lemon of a receiver, or is it possible there is some defect in the speakers that is damaging the amp?
Thanks for reading and any responses!!
Post edited by snowplowfloater on
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snowplowfloater wrote: »Hello:
I am the proud owner of a pair of SDA-2 speakers that I inherited from a relative ... this is part of my re-acquainting myself with a good sounding system as I have been living off boom-box sound for the last 15 years ... I am a novice when it comes to knowledge of stereo systems ... here are a few questions and I would greatly welcome any feedback:
- Mold: the speakers were left in the basement for many years of non-use before I got them and there is mold throughout the side panels ... these are a fabric material and I would like to simply pry these panels off leaving the underlying wood because the fabric is difficult to clean ... will this affect sound at all?
Welcome to CP,
Those side panels might prove difficult to get off after all these years. My best guess is the wood panels the fabric is mounted on has probably become quite brittle and may come off in chunks and might look very unsightly. I'm not sure of a way to get them off in one piece. My 1C's side panels are coming apart slightly in the upper corners and my thought was to peel the panels off and re-glue the entire panel, but I'm afraid it will come off in little chunks :eek: if I start messing with them.
So I'll be watching this for idea's as well.
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | Roon Nucleus 1 w/LPS - Tubes add soul! -
Welcome. Good sound is what sounds good to your ears. I spent 10 years listening to Fisher so I feel your pain.
Without the SDA interconnect cable the outer speakers do not function (only the inner ones) and as a result you are not hearing what your SDA's are capable of. Contact Polk Audio and they will ship you a blade/blade cable for around $35. You can make your own but MAKE SURE the wires connect top to top, bottom to bottom AND WILL NEVER TOUCH. Local electronics shops or hardware stores sell spade connectors which you can crimp onto the bare wires for a stable connection. Wrap these with electrical tape or heat shrink tube. By using thicker or different wire you may hear a difference.
The panels are a type of pressboard with fabric glued and/or stapled. You can make your own which is preferable with a mold situation. Removing them won't affect the sound much.
After a visit to the repair shop, one channel lost power... sounds like a poor solder repair was done.
Browse www.polksda.com for SDA reading material. -
1. Buy the cable from Polk Audio as Polk65 stated.
2. Clean the cloth with Resolve fabric cleaner. The underlying panels are not wood.
3. Throw the receiver in the trash.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 -
welcome to the forums
You could see if this interconnect cable is still available.
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=53364&highlight=karma -
dudeinaroom wrote: »welcome to the forums
You could see if this interconnect cable is still available.
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=53364&highlight=karma
What he saidPlease. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
Thanks
Ben