Question on used SDA-1s

polktiger

I have actually managed to find a person locally that has SDAs and is actually looking to part with them. Found them on craig's list http://charleston.craigslist.org/ele/378312303.html

Is the $400 reasonable? Can any one tell what is up with the bottom tweeter in the speaker on the right - it looks strange.

If I go forward with these - what should I look for? These need special cables if I am not mistaken. Anything else? I know I should get a separate amp to run these. Do you think I should consider this guy's other gear or look at something else.

Sorry for the rather amateur post. Never bought gear like this before, and quite frankly never expected to find local SDAs for sale either.

heiney9

Those are the studio version 1C's. The black dome tweeter appears to be the Polk issued RD0-194-1 silk replacement, or maybe an sl2500 (can't tell the photo is too far away). It does sound different so getting 3 more to replace the rest should be done down the road. A cable can be rigged if the original isn't included.

IMO, $400 is right in the middle for 1C's since these have an obvious tweeter issue and possibly no SDA cord I'd offer $325-350 and see if he takes it. How's the physical cond of the cabs and the grill cloth?

Another $150 in tweets and you'll be rockin and rollin.

H9

strider

Do you mean the tweeter on the speaker on the right? It looks like it's been replaced with an RDO, the current replacement part from Polk.

Far as the special cable, you'll need an interconnect cable for the speakers. It connects the left and right speaker together, allowing the SDA's to work their magic. This is independent of the speaker cables from the amplifier.

I'd check 'em out if I were you, what can it hurt? May want to ask if he's been using one of the NAD's to power the SDA's. I'm not certain, but I think that the 2200 is a non-common ground amp. If he's been using it to power the SDA's, he may have caused some damage. Like I said, I'm not 100%, but worth another opinion.

Edit: Nevermind regarding the NAD, from a quick search it appears the 2200 is common ground.

jtgranby

Those look like SDA-1B's to me.

JT

heiney9

jtgranby wrote: »

Those look like SDA-1B's to me.

JT

Not sure they could be 1b's or 1c's. If they are 1b's then $400 is toward the higher end of the scale.

How do you tell a 1b for a 1c when they are in the studio style cabs?

george daniel

I believe that those are 1B's

avguytx

I concur, George. They don't have the "tops" like a 1C and the Studio version is black IIRC.

heiney9

Ok guys how do you tell in that photo? I just took a look at pics of a studio version 1C at PolkSDA.com and pics of a 1B in the owners manual here on CP and they look identical in the photo's.

H9

heiney9

So all 1C studio's are black?

avguytx

The 1C's that I have seen (and the pair I own) have the grill cloth sides and the real wood is on the top and bottom.

But, as some have said...it could have been "mary jane day" the day some were made. :cool:

heiney9

avguytx wrote: »

The 1C's that I have seen (and the pair I own) have the grill cloth sides and the real wood is on the top and bottom.

That's what I own and those are the standard version. They made a "studio version" that was the same style cabinet as the 1B which was about $250 MSRP less. Vinyl wrapped MDF vs. real wood end caps on the std. version.

H9

heiney9

Here are the "studio" versions of the 1C's

http://www.polksda.com/sda1c-studio.shtml

heiney9

Bottom line is $400 is a pretty average price and since the tweets aren't all the same and *if* the SDA cord is missing I'd offer him less than his asking price.

They are either SDA 1B's or studio version 1C's. If he won't budge off the price and you really want them, then you're still in the ball park with the $400 asking price. Local is an important factor and is probably worth a bit of a premium and the fact you can inspect them before purchase is a big plus too.

jtgranby

heiney9 wrote: »

Bottom line is $400 is a pretty average price and since the tweets aren't all the same and *if* the SDA cord is missing I'd offer him less than his asking price.

They are either SDA 1B's or studio version 1C's. If he won't budge off the price and you really want them, then you're still in the ball park with the $400 asking price. Local is an important factor and is probably worth a bit of a premium and the fact you can inspect them before purchase is a big plus too.

H9

They are 1b's check out the pick on pg 8 http://www.polkaudio.com/downloads/manuals/home/sda1b_manual.pdf
1C studio were only made in black vinyl.

JT

candyliquor35m

Here's a pair of 1b's in austin for $350, no pic, no affil.

http://austin.craigslist.org/ele/369854434.html

avguytx

If it's the same guy, I remember him having 2 pairs of those at one point and time...maybe latter part of last year. I guess he decided to go ahead and sell the second pair finally.

polktiger

Thanks to all for your input. I got the SDAs and the NAD 2200 on Sunday. From looking at more pictures, these would certainly be 1b. However, it just says SDA-1 on the back at the speaker terminals. I guess this is common?

They are in good shape other than the replaced tweeter, but he would not budge off the $400, so I caved and paid it. Probably more than I should have paid, but I was just feeling anxious about when or if I would find another pair for sale within 20 minutes of the house and the NAD 2200 from what I could read is a pretty good amp. So, combine the two and I guess I was just willing to pay more than I should have for the gear.

From looking at the guys other stuff, I feel certain that they were well cared for. I think he said at least a dozen times that he hated to part with them.

heiney9

polktiger wrote: »

Thanks to all for your input. I got the SDAs and the NAD 2200 on Sunday. From looking at more pictures, these would certainly be 1b. However, it just says SDA-1 on the back at the speaker terminals. I guess this is common?

They are in good shape other than the replaced tweeter, but he would not budge off the $400, so I caved and paid it. Probably more than I should have paid, but I was just feeling anxious about when or if I would find another pair for sale within 20 minutes of the house and the NAD 2200 from what I could read is a pretty good amp. So, combine the two and I guess I was just willing to pay more than I should have for the gear.

From looking at the guys other stuff, I feel certain that they were well cared for. I think he said at least a dozen times that he hated to part with them.

You did fine you got both pieces for $400 and that's a good deal. Now just replace the other 3 tweets and you are ready to go!!

avguytx

That's what I was going to ask, too, H9. I went back and looked at the original CL ad and it said the speakers for $400 and the amp for $200. So now I'm curious....

Maybe he'll chime back in soon.

polktiger

I should have been more clear. The speakers stayed at $400. He did give a little on the amp - $175, which was closer to what I was finding on ebay for that amp, but there were not many listing for it.

I also bought that Carver amp he had. In hind sight that was probably a boneheaded move since its face plate is to wide to fit in my existing cabinet and I would have probably only used it to bridge 2 of the 4 channels for my center speaker. So unless I can find an inexpensive preamp to use it with my computer or in the bed room I will probably look to sell it. Really, I got about halfway home and thought to myself - Why on earth did you get that Carver amp. I paid $125 for it about in line with what I was seeing on Ebay.