SDA 2.3 for best friends 40th Birthday...update
avguytx
Posts: 1,628
It turned out to be great weather for transporting those SDA 2.3's I bought for my buddies 40th B'day so that went off without a hitch. I got the grills and side panels recovered, redid the crossovers with Solen caps/Mills resistors, "fixed" the slight tears that 4 of the surrounds had, and installed new tweeters in them. I was going to try and redo/rebuild the tops and bottoms of the 2.3's but I just ran out of time. That can be a future project.
Needless to say, he was ecstatic to get them unloaded and into the living room. His wife was already forewarned as to their size but she had no problem with them at all being in the living room. She likes music almost as much as he does. She also finds him LP's and equipment when she's on her yard sale adventures on the weekends. (gotta love that) I also brought him a new Onkyo TX-SR703 receiver that replaced his 11 years old Pioneer Dolby Pro Logic receiver for the living room. He hadn't even been able to enjoy true 5.1 sound with their DVD's so far! I didn't "give" him that receiver...he bought that (I'm a rep...buddy deal). The old receiver ended up in one of his sons rooms. Yep, they like music, too.
I knew in advance, and warned him, that these speakers need and want a lot more than most any AV receiver is going to dish out to them. But, in 2-channel mode, they didn't sound half bad...just limited on their output being that it's "receiver" power plus all the new components that still need a little break in time. I told him if he wanted to pay the repair charge, he could have one of my Carver M-1.5t's to run them. The SDA's will play to a certain point in 2-channel mode but before it gets to the "0" reference level (usually around -12db on the Onkyo screen), the receiver will shut off. We set the receiver for 4-ohm but I guess it's still dipping a little below what it wants to see. Now, when it's running in 5.1 or 5-channel stereo, all is well. Of course, the high pass crossover is limiting the amount of excursion of the MW's which helps in them not dipping to a lower impedance. (I'm assuming)
We listened to some various music from Heart (his wife's fave), Allison Krauss, Dream Theater, Amos Lee, and a few others and they just sounded great in his living room. Amazingly better than they did in my office. The low end was there. Literally. When they get more power, they will be good to go. Also, after rewiring his HT system, we watched a movie and they got to hear, for the first time, 5.1 surround. He had heard mine when he came to visit but his wouldn't do it the same since it's not a 5.1 receiver. We watched the (animated) movie "Cars" which looked and sounded great. Their boys had seen it but they hadn't yet and neither had I. Man, what a good movie. They were blown away by what they had been missing in movies.
All in all, a great weekend. His surprise 40th birthday party Friday night was truly a surprise and we had a blast. Lots of people, beer, food and Karaoke. How can you go wrong with a bunch of drunk redneck Arkansans singing Karaoke?
My 41st birthday (this past Sunday) wasn't nearly as exciting but I figure that was part of Friday night's fun. I had my "interesting" 40th blowout last year.
Ok, I'm done with the rambling. Back to your regularly scheduled programming...
Needless to say, he was ecstatic to get them unloaded and into the living room. His wife was already forewarned as to their size but she had no problem with them at all being in the living room. She likes music almost as much as he does. She also finds him LP's and equipment when she's on her yard sale adventures on the weekends. (gotta love that) I also brought him a new Onkyo TX-SR703 receiver that replaced his 11 years old Pioneer Dolby Pro Logic receiver for the living room. He hadn't even been able to enjoy true 5.1 sound with their DVD's so far! I didn't "give" him that receiver...he bought that (I'm a rep...buddy deal). The old receiver ended up in one of his sons rooms. Yep, they like music, too.
I knew in advance, and warned him, that these speakers need and want a lot more than most any AV receiver is going to dish out to them. But, in 2-channel mode, they didn't sound half bad...just limited on their output being that it's "receiver" power plus all the new components that still need a little break in time. I told him if he wanted to pay the repair charge, he could have one of my Carver M-1.5t's to run them. The SDA's will play to a certain point in 2-channel mode but before it gets to the "0" reference level (usually around -12db on the Onkyo screen), the receiver will shut off. We set the receiver for 4-ohm but I guess it's still dipping a little below what it wants to see. Now, when it's running in 5.1 or 5-channel stereo, all is well. Of course, the high pass crossover is limiting the amount of excursion of the MW's which helps in them not dipping to a lower impedance. (I'm assuming)
We listened to some various music from Heart (his wife's fave), Allison Krauss, Dream Theater, Amos Lee, and a few others and they just sounded great in his living room. Amazingly better than they did in my office. The low end was there. Literally. When they get more power, they will be good to go. Also, after rewiring his HT system, we watched a movie and they got to hear, for the first time, 5.1 surround. He had heard mine when he came to visit but his wouldn't do it the same since it's not a 5.1 receiver. We watched the (animated) movie "Cars" which looked and sounded great. Their boys had seen it but they hadn't yet and neither had I. Man, what a good movie. They were blown away by what they had been missing in movies.
All in all, a great weekend. His surprise 40th birthday party Friday night was truly a surprise and we had a blast. Lots of people, beer, food and Karaoke. How can you go wrong with a bunch of drunk redneck Arkansans singing Karaoke?
My 41st birthday (this past Sunday) wasn't nearly as exciting but I figure that was part of Friday night's fun. I had my "interesting" 40th blowout last year.Ok, I'm done with the rambling. Back to your regularly scheduled programming...
Richard? Who's your favorite Little Rascal? Alfalfa? Or is it........................Spanky?.................................Sinner.
Post edited by avguytx on
Comments
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Great job you did for your friend. He should jump at that Carver offer.
engtazengtaz
I love how music can brighten up a bad day. -
Wow! Great birthday gift.Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
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Your friend is fortunate to have a friend like you.
It is gonna get even better as caps break in too. -
What an awesome gift.
I am looking for a friend, You interested avguytx????:D
I didn't hear menton of a Pink Noise CD. What gives? Sorry ka7niq I couldn't resist.:p Welcome back. -
Thanks JoeWhat an awesome gift.
I am looking for a friend, You interested avguytx????:D
I didn't hear menton of a Pink Noise CD. What gives? Sorry ka7niq I couldn't resist.:p Welcome back.
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Nice job..........but since that brand new receiver is shutting down at -12dB, I bet it has an issue with the SDA circuitry, not a low impedance issue.HT Optoma HD25 LV on 80" DIY Screen, Anthem MRX 300 Receiver, Pioneer Elite BDP 51FD Polk CS350LS, Polk SDA1C, Polk FX300, Polk RT55, Dual EBS Adire Shiva 320watt tuned to 17hz, ICs-DIY Twisted Prs, Speaker-Raymond Cable
2 Channel Thorens TD 318 Grado ZF1, SACD/CD Marantz 8260, Soundstream/Krell DAC1, Audio Mirror PP1, Odyssey Stratos, ADS L-1290, ICs-DIY Twisted , Speaker-Raymond Cable -
What a friend. I sure hope your friend realizes how luck he is. Good job.Michael
In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
NORTH of 60° -
Dennis Gardner wrote: »Nice job..........but since that brand new receiver is shutting down at -12dB, I bet it has an issue with the SDA circuitry, not a low impedance issue.
Yeah, I was kind of thinking that, too. Although, I did unplug the IC cable between the two speakers and it still did it...but IIRC, it was at a higher volume. A REAL amp will fix that!What a friend. I sure hope your friend realizes how luck he is. Good job.
You just can't put a price on an almost 32 year friendship. Him, his parents, his wife, etc, are great people and have always been there in times of need. We had a lot of great times growing up. I know he (and his wife and 2 boys) will enjoy them.Richard? Who's your favorite Little Rascal? Alfalfa? Or is it........................Spanky?.................................Sinner. -
good work on giving your friend a whole new system and his wife and kids will be enjoying music and movies that much more now.PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin: -
32 years of friendship is a statement in itself. That is rare and you are both lucky.Michael
In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
NORTH of 60°
