My first taste of the SDA experience

BaggedLancer

Wow, talk about an incredible experience. First, yesterday I managed to sell my color laser printer that I have been trying to sell for a while which in turn directly paid for these speakers.

I have been trying to get to this fellows house on craigslist for about 2 weeks now and finally was able to. He lived only 10 miles from me but it was a nightmare finding his house, not to mention when I got to his street they had just dug it up so I had to let my car drop down about 4 inches into the dirt and then drive up 4 inches into his driveway.

After going into his house all I have to say is WOW. There were atleast 4 complete stereo setups that I saw, from old tubes to newer adcoms. He had 3 nice pairs of vintage ADS speakers, the SDAs(not anymore ), and various other speakers. In terms of music, probably 1700-2000 original CDs and atleast 1000 vinyls. Each room that he had a setup in he had different kinds of music so depending what he wanted to listen to that is the room he went into.

After dragging the SDAs from the basement to the first floor he hooked them up to a vintage 1975ish Pioneer receiver, it looked like a tank. Threw in a CD and wow, these things sounded great. They were well taken care of with very few minor light scratches, and also came with the original SDA cable. Only downside he removed the grills and lost 1 of the Polk logos(anyone selling 1?)

I ended up walking away with them for a VERY good price(in my eyes) and now look foward to rehabbing them.

What do you guys recommend in terms of the upgrade path with these? First will be getting new speaker grill cloth and a logo, but after that? Tweeters? x-overs? SDA cable? New veneer?

cfrizz

Congrats Mark! Enjoy.

BaggedLancer

Thanks, I will soon as I get them fixed up a bit.

dudeinaroom

I haven't done it yet, but I would say x-overs, tweets, then dump that denon and get a pre, or a pre-pro. I have a denon that I was using for ht use running into a gfa-555, but for 2 ch I would use the gfa, with a gfp-555 and there is a definite difference. The sound stage is a lot more real. the center image(in 2 ch as well as ht) is a lot more defined, you can hear singer and instruments dead center, just off of center, and in between center and left or right instead of every thing coming from the center, or spread from speaker to speaker. good luck, happy to hear of your score. Lastly thank you for following the advice in my sig.


later,
dude

F1nut

Congrats and welcome to Club SDA.

BaggedLancer

dudeinaroom wrote: »

I haven't done it yet, but I would say x-overs, tweets, then dump that denon and get a pre, or a pre-pro. I have a denon that I was using for ht use running into a gfa-555, but for 2 ch I would use the gfa, with a gfp-555 and there is a definite difference. The sound stage is a lot more real. the center image(in 2 ch as well as ht) is a lot more defined, you can hear singer and instruments dead center, just off of center, and in between center and left or right instead of every thing coming from the center, or spread from speaker to speaker. good luck, happy to hear of your score. Lastly thank you for following the advice in my sig.


later,
dude

HT isnt getting touched for these. I'll run them 2 channel in a 2nd setup.

BaggedLancer

Lasareath wrote: »

Congrats Mark!, You need some windex and a microfiber cloth to get those 6.5" drivers nice and clean. Make sure you take photos after cleaning them and send the photos to the seller, he'll be sorry he sold them then!

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56954&highlight=windex



Before Windex: http://38.161.195.8/Polk-SRS-2's/html/IMG_0004.htm

After Windex: http://38.161.195.8/Polk-SRS-2's/html/IMG_0021.htm

haha yea I will probably get to that tonight. I got the speaker grill cloth ordered, getting 2 logos from gwh and getting 2 rolls of black ash laminate from beardog to redo the cabinets.

Some say it's a shame to get rid of that "wonderful" maple color but I don't own one thing that matches even remotely close, so away it goes. I am going to try and heat it up a bit and peel it off this weekend.

In the coming months depending how funding goes I hope to get some new tweeters for them(anyone know which those are? I've never seen the all silver ones) and eventually do an x-over upgrade.

I am in no rush to get these up and running as I want them done right and done well. I don't have a pre yet for them and haven't decided what I want to do for amps, but I am hoping if funding allows it will let me get 2 nice tubes. This is going to be the "Leave Me Alone" rig for me when it's done. meaning when it's on, leave me alone till it's off.

BrettT1

Congrats on the SDAs.

heiney9

Congrats, you will enjoy them a lot. I might suggest since they are older models perhaps getting a copy of the compendium might be a good idea. It seems we know a lot more about the later model SDA's (SRS, 1C's, 2B's, etc) but perhaps not as much about the earlier models. The older models aren't discussed that much. Your particular model has the 2nd tweeter as part of the SDA circuit so it's different than the later model SDA's. This is where the compendium might be helpful. If you have any specific questions I'm sure Darqueknight could help and I'd be glad to look in the compendium for you myself

The tweeter looks like an sl1000 which may have been Polks version of the Peerless. The RD0's can be used with slight cabinet modification, I think. Best to check with Ken about a tweeter replacement, if it's even needed. The x-over may need mods to properly use the RD0 silk replacement.

H9

engtaz

Congrats, just sit back and enjoy.

BaggedLancer

heiney9 wrote: »

Congrats, you will enjoy them a lot. I might suggest since they are older models perhaps getting a copy of the compendium might be a good idea. It seems we know a lot more about the later model SDA's (SRS, 1C's, 2B's, etc) but perhaps not as much about the earlier models. The older models aren't discussed that much. Your particular model has the 2nd tweeter as part of the SDA circuit so it's different than the later model SDA's. This is where the compendium might be helpful. If you have any specific questions I'm sure Darqueknight could help and I'd be glad to look in the compendium for you myself

The tweeter looks like an sl1000 which may have been Polks version of the Peerless. The RD0's can be used with slight cabinet modification, I think. Best to check with Ken about a tweeter replacement, if it's even needed. The x-over may need mods to properly use the RD0 silk replacement.

H9

So the book has the earlier models covered? I would like to put the RD0's in if possible and don't mind upgrading/redoing the crossovers if needed.

In your opinion do you think the older models arent discussed much because they arent any good or because they are rarer? I know the version I had was only made a few years.

madmax

I would enjoy them for what they are rather than trying to change tweeters and such, at least until you get a good idea what they sound like.
madmax

heiney9

BaggedLancer wrote: »

So the book has the earlier models covered? I would like to put the RD0's in if possible and don't mind upgrading/redoing the crossovers if needed.

In your opinion do you think the older models arent discussed much because they arent any good or because they are rarer? I know the version I had was only made a few years.

The newer SDA's certainly benefitted from more R & D and the improvements were incremental as they had time to work with the idea over the product life span.

Older models aren't discussed because there are relatively few of them still in operation. The single biggest difference with your model and the next successive model is the use of the 2nd tweeter as part of the dimensional array. It gives a much different sound than the later SDA's. It's a matter of opinion which is prefered.

Even in 1982, 1983, 1984 the SDA's were excellent so I'd enjoy them as they are and really do some research on what will work and think about how long you will keep them. RD0's and x-over parts will put those well out of the range of recouping that money if you decide to sell them, especially if it's within a short time frame.

The most typical mods talked about with later model SDA's may not work as expected on the original SDA's as they are quite different. That's not to say improvements can't be made, they just take a little more thought and probably more help from Ken and so on.

For now, if everything is functioning just get comfortable with them as they are, get a copy of the compendium, and then decide how you want to proceed.

RD0's, caps, resistors, binding posts, SDA cable upgrade is going to run well more than the speakers will ever be worth.

Get your SDA on with these and if you want more it *might* be better to look for a newer pair rather than spend $500-600 upgrading original SDA's.

Just food for thought

H9

BaggedLancer

I guess for what I paid for these I will just fix the grill cloth, replace the logos, and put on the new veneer laminate.

Then I'll get some new equipment and get my listen on.

danger boy

congrats on your SDA's. Do you have one of your Adcom amps hooked up to your mains on your Denon? if not.. hook one up to power those SDA's.

enjoy them.

heiney9

BaggedLancer wrote: »

I guess for what I paid for these I will just fix the grill cloth, replace the logos, and put on the new veneer laminate.

Then I'll get some new equipment and get my listen on.

This is a great starting point. I am not that familiar with the sl1000 tweeter and I don't know if it has the same issues as the sl2000. After listening to them for awhile take a look at the schematic and price out the x-over upgrade.

You should really enjoy these and the more power the better.

H9

Joe08867

Congrats on the SDA 2's.

I have the exact same model. SL1000's and all.

From hearing all the different tweeters for the SDA's I think the 1000's are the worst with the 2000's in a close second.

I need to upgrade my tweeters as well. I don't plan on selling them ever.

I hear people say they like the 2A'and 2b's more but I have heard both and prefer the original 2's. IMHO, I think they have more defined bass response and a bigger soundstage. They can be a bit bright but that is what the tweeter upgrade is for.

I hope you have as much fun as the rest of us have with SDA.

I would listen to them for a while before going to crazy changing stuff. Especially if you plan on selling them at some point. They just don't bring big money. If they are keepers I say go crazy baby,:D

BaggedLancer

These are going to be pretty permanent keepers I think.


Only other speaker I eventually want is SRS 1.2s and for those to come up for sale is very rare. For me to have the money for them if they come up at all is even rarer.

The SL1000's are VERY bright and definately will need to be replaced.

BaggedLancer

danger boy wrote: »

congrats on your SDA's. Do you have one of your Adcom amps hooked up to your mains on your Denon? if not.. hook one up to power those SDA's.

enjoy them.

The adcoms will not be used on the SDA's. I am going to save up for a tube amp of some sort I hope.

BaggedLancer

what's the going rate on the RD0-198's now-a-days? I know i can call CS but im in class and curious.

madmax

BaggedLancer wrote: »

but im in class and curious.

Then you should be studying or listening...

BaggedLancer

madmax wrote: »

Then you should be studying or listening...

Im multitasking

heiney9

BaggedLancer wrote: »

what's the going rate on the RD0-198's now-a-days? I know i can call CS but im in class and curious.

Same as the RD0194-1 $102 pr/shipped to your door 2 day air. Why RD0198-1? I would think the closest replacement to the sl1000 would be the RD0194-1.

If you do replace them you may have to do some x-over mods. Check with Ken, and I'll look in the compendium this weekend and see if there is any info for you.

H9

geppy1

Putting RDO194s in where the SL1000s are requires slight modification . The mounting holes on the RDOs do not line up top to bottom with the SL1000s. Side to side is fine. The RDOs have a slightly taller faceplate. The only direct slap it in no modification needed to anything is when swapping out for the SL2000 and up. Bottom line when installing RDO194 where a Peerlees (not sure why anyone would do that) or an SL1000 was you need new holes and in older Monitor speakers the cutout needs to be enlarged slightly.

hearingimpared

Hey buddy, I don't know how many times Darqueknights Compendium 2nd Edition was mentioned but now that you own SDAs the Compendium is required reading.

danger boy

BaggedLancer wrote: »

The adcoms will not be used on the SDA's. I am going to save up for a tube amp of some sort I hope.

well till you get the tube amp.. hook up one of them Adcoms.

dudeinaroom

danger boy wrote: »

well till you get the tube amp.. hook up one of them Adcoms.

+1 on that. My Denon does not do the low end as well as the Denon Adcom combo.

BaggedLancer

hearingimpared wrote: »

Hey buddy, I don't know how many times Darqueknights Compendium 2nd Edition was mentioned but now that you own SDAs the Compendium is required reading.

Yea yea im gonna PM him now about it.

BaggedLancer

EEP, just got off the phone with Ken. End of october for the 194's

Joe08867

BaggedLancer wrote: »

EEP, just got off the phone with Ken. End of october for the 194's

That is why I haven't ordered. Sucks don't it.

read-alot

Congrats on your entrance to SDA mania, my 2s will still be here when everything else is gone, I bought them brand new off the showroom floor back in 85, 22 years later they are recieving their just amplification with the Parasound JCs as the SRS are down for the cap upgrade. You will like the RDO tweets and you may want to replace the terminals with some heavier duty ones, they were a little weak from the factory.