SDA 3.1tl Value?

twochannel

A pair of 3.1tl's have shown up on e-pay and they are within 25 miles of my home. How much are these worth in very good condition or what is the current value of these speakers? I know what the SDA-SRS's are bringing but have no idea what these are worth. I have contacted the seller to see if I can come to his location to see these and will probably purchase if i can get them. I currently have a pair of SDA-SRS's that I purchased new, but I would like to have another pair of SDA's for another system. Any info will be much appreciated. Thanks

heiney9

As with anything local pick up is worth more to the buyer.

I'd say very good condition with the cable included $700-800 seems to be the going rate. But hey you can always talk him down and try to get a better deal. Do you know what he's asking or is this an ebay transaction?

rskarvan

I sold a very nice pair that I had purchased new to Ricardo for $800 (I think). Very nice = Mint- condition. I would only suggest going as high as $800 if they are cosmetically perfect and the economy is really rolling.

Now, considering that the economy is now "recessed"... I'd drop that $800 to $700 for very-nice condition. Otherwise, I think $500 to $600 is appropriate for an "average" looking speaker in today's economy.

twochannel

They were listed today on E-bay. The seller is about a half hour drive from me. Can anybody comment on the bass response from the 3.1tl's. I have never heard this model because the local stereo shop never sold them. I know they will lack some effect because of only one dimensional driver. They also should be amplifier friendly because of the 8 ohm rating.

heiney9

rskarvan wrote: »

Otherwise, I think $500 to $600 is appropriate for an "average" looking speaker in today's economy.

Funny, I said that in another thread and I was promptly told I was too low.

see post #31-34.

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66643&page=2

To the OP this is a good reference thread.

H9

F1nut

I know they will lack some effect because of only one dimensional driver.

That's simply untrue.

The bass isn't too shabby either.

stubby

I will say they are more "seperation dependent" than most SDA's. On most stereo recordings they focus more image between the speakers, with a bit of ambient sound just outside the box. With my CRS's, the image would go from wall to wall and then some.
Play a surround encoded dvd in stereo (all I have) and it's a whole different story. They (3.1) will put sound EVERYWHERE in the room. Incredible imaging. In fact, if the dvd allows it, I select 2 channel soundtrack and it offers the best spatial imaging. Makes sense.
IMO, the 3.1 has the most natural imaging of the SDA's. But hey, what do I know.

Stubby

twochannel

The seller has sent his phone # and I might go to look at the condition this weekend. I first have to persuade the female of the household to the idea of another pair of SDA's in the spare room. I have an Adcom 555mkII amp and a second Nak OMS7 CD player in storage to use for these,so all that I need is another GFP-750 to complete the system.
I currently have my original SDA-SRS's set up in the living room fed by an Adcom 5802 amp ,GFP-750 pre, and Nak OMS7A.
The idea of another system is a difficult sell to her. I may just buy them and occasionally set them up to experiment with the sound.

heiney9

Your Nak's are still playing? I had a couple give up the ghost a few years ago; parts and proper repair are scarce to non-existent. Hopefully the one in storage still plays. They are nice and built like tanks but eventually the tracking part of the laser gives it up.

Good luck with your purchase.

H9

twochannel

The only thing wrong with the Nak OMS7a that is in storage is the display is starting to dim. I just pulled it out and it plays fine.This was an issue with both the 5's and 7's. I bought this one new in 1986 and it had worked flawlessly. The 7a that is in my current set up I bought on e-bay and was seldom used by the previous owner and works flawlessly. Most of the tracking issues can be solved by cleaning the laser so that the servos can track properly. I have done this several times myself and once by the Nak tech at a store that I had installed for. N. Nak was far ahead of the competition in the 80's in CD reproduction and their patented servo mechanism allowed for accurate tracking, which brought out all the details recorded on the disc. I really don't know what I will do if they fail because the sound is fantastic and can only be surpassed by transports costing many times their original price of $1800 when new. SoundSmith repair does rebuild them, but I don't know the cost.

heiney9

twochannel wrote: »

The only thing wrong with the Nak OMS7a that is in storage is the display is starting to dim. This was an issue with both the 5's and 7's. I bought this one new in 1986 and it had worked flawlessly. The 7a that is in my current set up I bought on e-bay and was seldom used by the previous owner and works flawlessly. Most of the tracking issues can be solved by cleaning the laser so that the servos can track properly. I have done this several times myself and once by the Nak tech at a store that I had installed for. N. Nak was far ahead of the competition in the 80's in CD reproduction and their patented servo mechanism allowed for accurate tracking, which brought out all the details recorded on the disc. I really don't know what I will do if they fail because the sound is fantastic and can only be surpassed by transports costing many times their original price of $1800 when new. SoundSmith repair does rebuild them, but I don't know the cost.

I hear ya, they use Sony laser assemblies, but they will fail, and parts are expensive and in most instances not even available. I have an OMS4 sitting in my closet right now that doesn't even acknowledge a disc.

I've been a Nak fan my whole life as well as selling the brand in the 80's-90's. Newer mid-fi units can be so much better as the actual D/A components are so much better. But, the unit has to be designed correctly, a well chosen current model will surprise you. But I understand the warmth the old Nak's achieve with the dual 16 bit ladder type dac. They give up some of the detail and accuracy in favor of warmth and a more analog sound (compared to many of today's units).

Hopefully yours will continue to play for a long, long time. You have a great "old school" system. My next pre-amp will be an GFP-750 and the 5802 is in my top 10 of amps to own. My next amp will be a Pass Labs Aleph 30. If that isn't a good fit in my system the 5802 is definitely among the next in the running

I currently own an original Nak CA-5 preamp; original Adcom GFA545; Nak MBS-2; Adcom GDA600; Polk SDA 1C's.

H9

twochannel

I had two 4A's and both failed under warranty, same issue, transport mistracking. Nak Rep. traded me up to the 7A. Yes,I'm "Old School", just can seem to give up the Polks that still amaze people. I recently purchased the 5802 which has now replaced my 565 monos. I'm off track to my original posting! I will be contacting the owner of the 3.1tl's. No bids yet, probably due to local pick up only.

heiney9

twochannel wrote: »

I had two 4A's and both failed under warranty, same issue, transport mistracking. Nak Rep. traded me up to the 7A. Yes,I'm "Old School", just can seem to give up the Polks that still amaze people. I recently purchased the 5802 which has now replaced my 565 monos. I'm off track to my original posting! I will be contacting the owner of the 3.1tl's. No bids yet, probably due to local pick up only.

A little off track, but in a good way. Good luck with the purchase and if you get them we need pics and a review

twochannel

I tossed the boxes for my SRS's after 15 years because I had no place to go with them when I turned the attic into a finished room. Yes indeed the 3.1tl's come with the boxes which tells me he may be perticular about the speakers. I have requested more photos of condition before any transaction or bid. I'm very fussy and will probably go to his home to see them after I view the photos. Just not today. I have the wife convinced that I can buy them at a resonable price. I just bought the 5802 which set me back almost a grand and I told the wife that I would part with all the Adcoms that are stored in the closet to recoup the $$$$.

heiney9

twochannel wrote: »

I tossed the boxes for my SRS's after 15 years because I had no place to go with them when I turned the attic into a finished room. Yes indeed the 3.1tl's come with the boxes which tells me he may be perticular about the speakers. I have requested more photos of condition before any transaction or bid. I'm very fussy and will probably go to his home to see them after I view the photos. Just not today. I have the wife convinced that I can buy them at a resonable price. I just bought the 5802 which set me back almost a grand and I told the wife that I would part with all the Adcoms that are stored in the closet to recoup the $$$$.

Remember that's not a common ground amp. Either make/find an AI-1 cable or I believe (99%) sure you can tie the negative speaker terminals together to create a common ground situation. Use very sturdy connectors as well as 10-12 gauge wire to make the connection.

H9

twochannel

I had the grounds tied together on GFA-565 monos and on the current GFA-5802 powering my original series SDA-SRS's. The GFA-555mkII is a common ground amp that I will be using if I buy the 3.1's. I did not tell her yet that I would only sell the monos and not the 555. I don't plan to use the monos on the 3.1tl's. I see a black finish pair in another auction and watching what this pair brings before making any offers. Were these available in black or where they refinished? The pair I'm looking at appears to be walnut. My SRS's are walnut and I have seen two different shades of oak(medium and light) during the years that they were produced.

heiney9

You are set then!

stubby

Yep, they were available in black. I've got an old Stereo Review with a pair on the cover dressed in black. And in the Polk brochure, the pair on page 2 appears to be something other than walnut or oak, almost a cherry look.
Good luck with the purchase!! (and the lady of the house)

Stubby

schwarcw

Twochannel, do you live in Wilkesbarre?

twochannel

schwarcw wrote: »

Twochannel, do you live in Wilkesbarre?

I live in Hummels Wharf ,just north of Selinsgrove.

twochannel

stubby wrote: »

Yep, they were available in black. I've got an old Stereo Review with a pair on the cover dressed in black. And in the Polk brochure, the pair on page 2 appears to be something other than walnut or oak, almost a cherry look.
Good luck with the purchase!! (and the lady of the house)

Stubby

Could be Rosewood. I may go to look at these today. The seller does not have the cable. A shame he was missing out on a greater soundstage. I never saw 3.1tl or the 2.3tl at the local Polk dealer, probably because he did not have the floor space to sell all the models. He mainly had the SDA-SRS's on display in one of the sound rooms.

stubby

Wow, he has the original boxes but doesn't have the IC. Definitely misplaced the wrong thing! 'Course, you can make a new/better IC, hard to make new Polk boxes.
Never know, a guy could sure use the lack of IC as a bargaining tool. Go gettum!

Stubby

twochannel

He posted more pics and they look pretty good. I asked him a few more questions before bidding or going to his home. Yes, he definitely lost the wrong item when he said he did not have the cable. I think the local stereo shop may have one. I'll keep you up to date what is happening.

twochannel

Still showing up as a relisted item.

heiney9

Lasareath wrote: »

I had him end the auction.

Why? Are you the self appointed ebay police?

heiney9

Lasareath wrote: »

No, he was selling it as a dutch auction. When you place a bid it asks you if you wanted to bid on 1 speaker or 2

I see, I didn't get to the link before it was pulled.

twochannel

Lasareath wrote: »

No, he was selling it as a dutch auction. When you place a bid it asks you if you wanted to bid on 1 speaker or 2

I asked him if the auction was for 2 speakers or 2 pairs this morning and they were relisted this afternoon. Now they only show up on My E-bay Watch List.

twochannel

Bidding has begun on these speakers even though they no longer show up in Polk Home Audio section in E-bay. I just placed a bid from My E-bay.