WOW, now I'm hearing the SDA-1C like it should be!

billbillw
billbillw Posts: 6,895
edited June 2008 in Vintage Speakers
Picked up a pair of 1C last week. They Sounded ok, but I wasn't really that impressed, especially in the low bass dept. Didn't seem any better than the RTA11T that I had beside them. Imaging seemed a little funky too. I thought maybe not enough power and/or I'm not used to the SDA effect.

I got poking around in them today to make sure everything was wired properly. Inside, everything matched the schematic and wiring guides that are posted here. Hooked everything back up. Still not a lot of low bass. Something still just doesn't sound right. Maybe it really needs a re-cap?

At this point, I was using a Yamaha 2-ch receiver to run things (80wpc). Went to switch the bananas back to the my Onkyo 805 and noticed something funny. One side had the red speaker terminal on the left side (facing the rear) and the other channel had them reversed!. Wait a minute. When I was looking inside, I don't remember the black white wires being reversed on each side. WTF? Maybe Polk QC was asleep that day and they accidentally reversed the terminals?
So as an experiment, I switched the bananas around on the left side (thats the one that didn't match the diagram) and played some of my reference music again. Suddenly, I'm hearing the low bass that I expected, imaging is very clean and not "weird" anymore. I was really enjoying them and finding a very noticeable improvement over the RTAs.

I couldn't believe it. How could Polk screw up something so basic, especially knowing that the phasing is so important to the SDA operation.
On a whim, I took the bananas off and attempted to see if the plastic collars on the terminals would come all the way off or not. Most of the time I've tried this, they wouldn't, but to my surprise, the came all the way off easily. So, then I'm thinking, the original owner (or the dealer) must have taken these off and accidentally reversed them at some point. I swapped back and now red is + (on the left side as it should be) on both speakers.

Time to enjoy some music!
For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore...
Post edited by billbillw on

Comments

  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,820
    edited May 2008
    Yeah, that would cause some issues. I'm glad you're enjoying them as they were meant to be enjoyed.
    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

  • MillerLiteScott
    MillerLiteScott Posts: 2,561
    edited May 2008
    I am also listening to a pair of 1C's as meant to be enjoyed.
    I like speakers that are bigger than a small refrigerator but smaller than a big refrigerator:D
  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 6,895
    edited May 2008
    I love these damn things! I couldn't get myself to stop listening to music last night. Must have went through 25 CDs. What an awesome soundstage! Great bass too.

    My biggest regret at this point (in reference to my audio choices) is not going after a pair of SDAs sooner. I no longer miss my Mirage M3.

    Anyway, since I have to make a minor repair to the crossover (the mounting standoffs are broken), I decided to re-do the X-over while I'm at it. Ordered the parts today, should have it all by early next week.

    BTW, I decided to be different than everybody else and I decided to use the Jantzen CrossCaps in the high pass filters and plain old Dayton metalized polys for the low pass shunts. I probably would have used the Jantzens throughout, but they did not come in the right values to match the originals.

    Not trying to start any arguments here over which cap is best to use, just letting y'all know that I will be able to provide some feedback on the Jantzens before too long. Heck, if you ask me, its always nice to have options, especially lower priced ones.
    For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore...
  • candyliquor35m
    candyliquor35m Posts: 2,267
    edited May 2008
    Did you get the 1C's for a good price? Hopefully the seller thought something major was wrong with them.
  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 6,895
    edited May 2008
    Did you get the 1C's for a good price? Hopefully the seller thought something major was wrong with them.

    Good price? Yes, very good price, but not because the seller thought something was wrong. He just didn't have room for them in the main part of his condo, and hadn't used them much in a couple years. His wife was pressuring him to get rid of them (sounds familiar). They were collecting dust in a storage room.

    The seller probably didn't realize there was anything wrong. He didn't seem to concerned with proper phasing. These had one RDO replacement in them when I bought them. After I got them home and went to put in my pair of RDOs, I saw that he had the tweeter wiring backwards on the one that he replaced.
    For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore...
  • motorstereo
    motorstereo Posts: 2,153
    edited May 2008
    Same thing happened to me with my 2.3s. I'd been less than thrilled for a while with my 2.3s and even contemplated selling them. The magic and the sounds coming from everywhere just wasn't very prevalent in mine. I played a test record and it has a phase test on it. Hmmm left speaker is out of phase it seems. Swapped the 2 wires around on the left speaker only and oh my God. There's the magic. There's the big soundstage. There goes the hole in the imaging. Had a friend over to listen to them and he kept checking my rear speakers. They weren't on. Just the sda's putting the sound everywhere like they should. I figure mine were put together either at 4 o'clock on a Friday or first thing Monday morning. On a good note maybe it's why I ended up with them in the first place. Phase is very important on sda's and it makes you wonder how or why polk could screw it up.
  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 6,895
    edited May 2008
    Phase is very important on sda's and it makes you wonder how or why polk could screw it up.

    I think over the course of 20+ years, its more likely that the user(s) have messed them up. This is probably the first time I've seen colored 5-way terminals that you can totally remove the nut. There is probably a reason why most are designed with the nut captive.
    For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore...
  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited May 2008
    If you wire the woofer backwards on a 7C, the imaging is trippy.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,820
    edited May 2008
    Just the sda's putting the sound everywhere like they should.

    If you have sounds coming from everywhere, you don't have your SDA's set up properly.
    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

  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 6,895
    edited May 2008
    Thanks to George D., I got my last silk installed tonight. Now I can take some pics! Here's what thinks look like now. No surprise. They look like what you'd expect from a Studio version of the 1C. They are pretty much perfect expect for one back corner ding! Good enough for my living room.
    For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore...
  • motorstereo
    motorstereo Posts: 2,153
    edited May 2008
    F1nut wrote: »
    If you have sounds coming from everywhere, you don't have your SDA's set up properly.

    I probably should've said sounds coming from behind the listener. You'd swear the rear speakers are on when I'm playing them at a good clip. There was a pronounced hole in the imaging that I complained about a long while back. Thankfully that is now gone. As far as being set up I have them about 7' apart 18" away from the back wall and 18" away from a side walls. It's not perfect placement but it's as close as I'm able to get it. Gettting the phase right though made a bigger difference than re-doing placement and the tweeter upgrade. I'm a happy sda owner now.
  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited May 2008
    very nice Bill,, I'd like to hear that one someday--congrats--george
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
  • davidfmartin
    davidfmartin Posts: 106
    edited May 2008
    I have multiple sources connected to my SDA-1C's one of which is my Nintendo Wii. The audio on Nintendo games is generally very addicting and trippy anyway but now that I have been playing games through the SDA's, man! There are details I never heard when connected to my HT setup using B&W's.
    I found myself just sitting there listening to the Mii Channel. Freaky!

    Sidenote: Anyone seen the Wii Fit yet? I'm 43 and in pretty good shape, do a lot of mountain biking and road riding, but that thing put me to shame. Fun stuff!
  • Mike Reeter
    Mike Reeter Posts: 4,315
    edited May 2008
    I for one,like the looks of the Studio version as well or better than the Wood capped version.

    Congrats on your new jems,I'm sure the upgrades will make them even sweeter.
  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 6,895
    edited May 2008
    I for one,like the looks of the Studio version as well or better than the Wood capped version.

    Congrats on your new jems,I'm sure the upgrades will make them even sweeter.

    Well, I like the looks of the wood caps better, but in this case, the all black vinyl was easier to pass the WAF test. So far, she is ok with them although she throws out the occasional 'they are too big'
    For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore...
  • jmackenzie3
    jmackenzie3 Posts: 7
    edited June 2008
    billbillw wrote: »
    Well, I like the looks of the wood caps better, but in this case, the all black vinyl was easier to pass the WAF test. So far, she is ok with them although she throws out the occasional 'they are too big'

    Should do a poll of everyone here:
    HOW MANY GUYS HERE HAVE BOUGHT VINTAGE POLKS FROM NEWLYWED GUYS WHOSE WIFE MADE HIM "GET RID OF THOSE HUGE THINGS"?


    I was one of them 10 years ago when a co-worker had to get rid of his Monitor 7Cs and buy a Bose system to appease his wife...:D
    You can get a lot more done with a kind word and gun, than you can with a kind word alone.
    - Al Capone
  • jon s
    jon s Posts: 905
    edited June 2008
    I just picked my pair of 1Bs on Saturday and my wife has said they gotta go.... (sigh...)
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,820
    edited June 2008
    Eff that, tell her she has to go.
    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

  • jon s
    jon s Posts: 905
    edited June 2008
    sadly, she is the breadmaker in the family... I work full time as a IT analyst and she is semi-retired and she still makes more than me....
  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 6,895
    edited June 2008
    Should do a poll of everyone here:
    HOW MANY GUYS HERE HAVE BOUGHT VINTAGE POLKS FROM NEWLYWED GUYS WHOSE WIFE MADE HIM "GET RID OF THOSE HUGE THINGS"?


    None of the vintage speakers I've bought were from a seller like that.

    Lets see:
    Monitor 5A, bought from a vintage electronics shop.
    Monitor 7B, bought from a single guy who was foolish and wanted to downsize.
    RTA-11T, bought from a middle aged lady who was renovating/redecorating her condo and wanted to downsize. She was the original owner by the way.
    SDA-1C, bought from a retired married guy (original owner) who had moved to a smaller townhouse and didn't have room for them. They were wasting away in a storage room along with a beautiful grand piano.

    Not Polks, but my massive Mirage M-3 were bought from an older married guy, who again, had moved to a townhouse and didn't really have room. He was keeping his B&W Nautilus 802.

    I'm holding onto these 1C until I can get back into a dedicated 2ch system. I don't care what my wife says, they are staying.
    For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore...
  • avguytx
    avguytx Posts: 1,628
    edited June 2008
    I guess the single life does have its advantages once in awhile. :D No one can **** about my SRS II's in the living room or my Klipschorns in my office. hehe. Most of the female friends/FWB's that come over don't mind the big speakers....they actually like the BIG sound. I guess it's very few women that do like the large speakers, huh?

    Bose cubes or the likes? Someone would be having to kiss my a$$ before I'd get rid of the big ones for that crap.
    Richard? Who's your favorite Little Rascal? Alfalfa? Or is it........................Spanky?.................................Sinner.
  • ShinAce
    ShinAce Posts: 1,194
    edited June 2008
    My sister always enjoyed my systems.

    One day I told her I was building a pair of speaks for her, and she asked for something small.

    Don't be fooled, women do not want big speakers in 'their' space. There are a few exceptions.
  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited June 2008
    This is why I love my little listening room in the basement. It's not much, but it's MINE. Yes, I'm going to hang acoustic dampeners wherever I want. Don't like it??? GTFO!!!!
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
  • dcmeigs
    dcmeigs Posts: 708
    edited June 2008
    HOW MANY GUYS HERE HAVE BOUGHT VINTAGE POLKS FROM NEWLYWED GUYS WHOSE WIFE MADE HIM "GET RID OF THOSE HUGE THINGS"?
    I bought a pair of 1Cs from a guy who bought... drum roll please... a Bose Lifestyle(TM) system. Swear to God, I'm not making this up. I now refer to myself as The Polk Rescue Guy.
    The world is full of answers, some are right and some are wrong. - Neil Young
  • Marty913
    Marty913 Posts: 760
    edited June 2008
    dcmeigs wrote: »
    I bought a pair of 1Cs from a guy who bought... drum roll please... a Bose Lifestyle(TM) system. Swear to God, I'm not making this up. I now refer to myself as The Polk Rescue Guy.

    My 1C's were from the original owner and his wife was redecorating the family room and wanted all in-walls. At least he was staying with Polk's but he did seem kinda sad when I picked them up.

    My first pair of Polk's (2.3TL) bought new in 1990 was a victim of downsizing in 1997 (new wife then, ex-wife now). God what a dumb **** I was.:o
    Sony 60'' SXRD 1080p
    Amp = Carver AV-705THX 5-Channel
    Processor = NAD T747
    Panasonic BD35 Blu-Ray
    Main = SDA-1C Studio with RD0s, spikes, XO rebuild, rings, I/C upgrade
    Center=Polk CS10, Surround = Athena Dipoles, Sub= Boston 12HO
    Music/Video Streaming = Netgear NEO550
    TT = Audio Technica
  • jmackenzie3
    jmackenzie3 Posts: 7
    edited June 2008
    avguytx wrote: »
    Bose cubes or the likes? Someone would be having to kiss my a$$ before I'd get rid of the big ones for that crap.

    Yup.. Bose cubes and a teeny tiny "subwoofer"

    I swear he wanted to cry as I carried them out of his living room. For the next 6 months he kept e-mailing me to suggest CDs to listen to...lol
    You can get a lot more done with a kind word and gun, than you can with a kind word alone.
    - Al Capone
  • dcmeigs
    dcmeigs Posts: 708
    edited June 2008
    jon s wrote: »
    I just picked my pair of 1Bs on Saturday and my wife has said they gotta go.... (sigh...)

    In my experience, when the wife says the finely restored vintage car, the "finally-got-it-just-the-way-I-want-it" airplane, the nice boat, etc. must go, the wife is gone within a year and the guy morns the loss of his gear more than the wife. His buddies all tell him, you should have kept the ________, and got rid of the wife.

    Of course this observation doesn't apply to polkies.:D
    The world is full of answers, some are right and some are wrong. - Neil Young
  • rayslifecycle
    rayslifecycle Posts: 511
    edited June 2008
    I'm marrying my girl next June because she likes my big speakers.

    I have standards......
  • Ivorytooth
    Ivorytooth Posts: 14
    edited June 2008
    My SDA 1C Studios have been through 2 wives. :D They are safe now, they have the house to themselves. :D
  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited June 2008
    I'm marrying my girl next June because she likes my big speakers.

    I have standards......

    I can think of several great one-liners to reply to this post with, but I'll refrain... :D
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.