Question on SDA1C

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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,735
    edited August 2008
    LOL...I already thought about that, but decided that he wouldn't believe it. After all, he knows everything there is to know about SDA's.
    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

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  • DarqueKnight
    DarqueKnight Posts: 6,765
    edited August 2008
    Well, guess what? There is no need to post scanned pages from SDA manuals because another member already has a few manuals posted on his website: www.polksda.com

    The interested reader can go to the polksda.com website, click on the "Publications" link at the top then click on the "User Manuals" link on the drop down menu.

    For examples:

    1. Page 7 of the SDA 1 manual advises against placement in or near corners.

    2. Page 4 of the SDA 1C manual specifies, in words and diagram, a placement of 3 or more feet from the side walls.

    3. Page 3 of the SRS manual specifies, in words and diagram, a placement of 3 or more feet from the side walls.

    Well would all be eager to read an official Polk user manual that specifies an SDA placement of 1 foot from the side walls. Bobt, can you help us out with that?
    Proud and loyal citizen of the Digital Domain and Solid State Country!
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  • BrettT1
    BrettT1 Posts: 560
    edited August 2008
    Pages 3 and 4 are regarding placement.



    http://www.polkaudio.com/downloads/manuals/home/sda1b_manual.pdf


    *from the SDA1C manual - page 4 for room placement

    http://www.polksda.com/pdfs/SDA1C.pdf
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited August 2008
    Cool! Does this mean Santa is going to hook us up???:D
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • bobt
    bobt Posts: 280
    edited August 2008
    you people are soooo..far beyond screwed.....,,If you have a Polk 1988 manual that says you MUST put these speakers 3 feet off the sidewall.......instead of......the "recomended" placement is 1 foot off the sidewall....please...send me a copy...I would love to see it.
    Somehow...the term MUST..and RECOMENDED...........seems to be different.
    Must implies that these speakers will not work...........so ...try again........
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,196
    edited August 2008
    I have fresh popcorn! Anybody want some? How 'bout a beer?
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,196
    edited August 2008
    bobt wrote: »
    you people are soooo..far beyond screwed
    Thank you. I'll take that as a compliment. In the meantime, please do carry on........
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • DarqueKnight
    DarqueKnight Posts: 6,765
    edited August 2008
    bobt wrote: »
    you people are soooo..far beyond screwed.....,,If you have a Polk 1988 manual that says you MUST put these speakers 3 feet off the sidewall.......instead of......the "recomended" placement is 1 foot off the sidewall....please...send me a copy...I would love to see it.
    Somehow...the term MUST..and RECOMENDED...........seems to be different.
    Must implies that these speakers will not work...........so ...try again........

    Wow...that is really beyond reaching.

    Polk would never say that you MUST place SDA's 3 feet from side walls. Of course you can place SDA's 1 foot off the side wall. You can also place them jammed into a corner and upside down facing backwards. The recommendation of 3 feet from side walls is for best performance in an appropriately sized room, which in your 8 foot wide room, is a moot point.

    There are very few absolutes pertaining to placement and use of audio gear. One that comes to mind pertaining to speakers is you MUST NOT short the speaker terminals together.

    To my knowledge, there are no 1988 manuals. There are gen 4 manuals that came out in 1987 and gen 5 manuals that came out in 1989.

    I'm sure the dealer did tell you back in 1988 that it was "ok" to place SDA's in an 8 foot wide room. $ome dealers will $ay anything to make a $ale.
    Proud and loyal citizen of the Digital Domain and Solid State Country!
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  • bobt
    bobt Posts: 280
    edited August 2008
    What they are saying in old stuff...is NOT what they were saying to sell them back in 1988........and like i was saying....what is..."recommended"..VS...what Polk is now saying...is about 2 feet.....LOL
    I really don't care what you have...or what you think.....I delt with Polk back in 1988 on the phone......and they said.......1 foot off the side walls.......if that dosen't float you boat...well..too bad...i got this from Polk ..at the time..........like i said "recommended"
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  • MillerLiteScott
    MillerLiteScott Posts: 2,561
    edited August 2008
    I am without words.

    One more for the ignore list. This time in under 3 minutes.

    Click.
    I like speakers that are bigger than a small refrigerator but smaller than a big refrigerator:D
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  • DarqueKnight
    DarqueKnight Posts: 6,765
    edited August 2008
    bobt wrote: »
    I delt with Polk back in 1988 on the phone......and they said.......1 foot off the side walls.......if that dosen't float you boat...well..too bad...i got this from Polk ..at the time..........like i said "recommended"

    Ok, assuming that someone at Polk really did give you placement advice that contradicts every SDA manual ever published, and you want to go with that...well, whatever floats your boat. Happy listening.
    Proud and loyal citizen of the Digital Domain and Solid State Country!
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  • bobt
    bobt Posts: 280
    edited August 2008
    OK...if you really think..some speaker maker..would tell the buying public that they had to place there speakers...3 feet off each wall..to make them sound good....not going to happen......what cloud do you people live on????

    Bottom line was they need to to be 1 foot off the back wall and 1 foot from the side wall.......THAT is the "recomended" footage......what don't you people get???
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,204
    edited August 2008
    bobt wrote: »
    OK you people are far beyound what i could deal with anyway....if you really think that some instruction manual tells people they need to put these speakers 3 feet off there side wall is true....well I guess santa is going to leave you another set of speakers......

    the MIN..is 1 foot.......and the rest is up to you.....plus a foot off the backwall........
    This is a Min..recomended footage...at least in 1988...that is what the specs were in 1988....and they are what's "recommended"...the more impotant part is they want them 1 foot off the back wall...hey knock yourself out if you think it should be 3 feet...have fun

    Mr clueless.................get a grip!
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • jtgranby
    jtgranby Posts: 887
    edited August 2008
    what don't you people get??? You:p
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  • BrettT1
    BrettT1 Posts: 560
    edited August 2008
    bobt wrote: »
    OK...if you really think..some speaker maker..would tell the buying public that they had to place there speakers...3 feet off each wall..to make them sound good....not going to happen......what cloud do you people live on????

    Bottom line was they need to to be 1 foot off the back wall and 1 foot from the side wall.......THAT is the "recomended" footage......what don't you people get???


    Go smoke some more crack, bob. You're hopelessly thick.
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,204
    edited August 2008
    bobt wrote: »
    what Polk is now saying..

    Mr clueless,

    Just so you know the last pair of SDA's was produced in 1993; 15 years ago so I'm not sure what you mean about what Polk is saying now!!
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited August 2008
    people that don't know, don't know.. that they don't know ;)

    I am so over this thread..

    bobt, there is no changing your mind at all. Some people here have had their SDA's just as long as you have... and know more about them then you ever will. Period.

    As for the placement issue.. I think the word "optimal" comes into play. and the optimal placement for SDA's is 6" to 1' from the rear wall.. and a minimum of 3' from side walls. Is this the law? no because very few of us have the optimal room for SDA's.

    I have found the SDA's to be pretty forgiving even in my small room. Bigger room usually equals more space and hopefully better placement for soundstage. I have also found that moving the SDA's farther apart has given me a better sense of the SDA effect in music.
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • candyliquor35m
    candyliquor35m Posts: 2,267
    edited August 2008
    Once again Matt and KAB must be turning over in their respective hot tubs.

    This forum should come with a warning that none of the comments here come from official polk employees (see link below) because official polk employees have been trained in customer service so that they don't attack, abuse, ridicule, or antagonize past, present, and future customers.

    View Forum Leaders (official polk employees and representatives: http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showgroups.php (link also found at bottom of main forum page).

    I put my 4 pair of sda's anywhere I want to and have not found them to be sensitive to placement in any way. I have not and don't plan to toe them in but I'll put them as close to a side wall or back wall as I need to without any degradation in sound quality.
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  • bobt
    bobt Posts: 280
    edited August 2008
    If you have a 1988 manual..that says...place these speakers 3 feet off the side walls...please send it to me...I would love to see it.
    If you had a manual in 1988..that said you "had" to place these speakers. at a min of that far off the wall......nobody would have bought them.......ok they may sound better "iF" you have them...that far off the walls...and IF you have that much room...BUT...NOBODY WOULD HAVE BOUGHT THEM
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  • bobt
    bobt Posts: 280
    edited August 2008
    ok..CANDY... is right.....dose not make any difference were these speakers are placed...be it 1 foot or 3 feet off the sidewalls......they work, and work well.....if you really think the sidewall placement...is the end all .....not true......
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  • avguytx
    avguytx Posts: 1,628
    edited August 2008
    Just shut the f**k up and listen to them, then. If they sound fine, why are you panties getting in a wad? This thread looks more and more like a trolling.
    Richard? Who's your favorite Little Rascal? Alfalfa? Or is it........................Spanky?.................................Sinner.
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  • Dennis Gardner
    Dennis Gardner Posts: 4,861
    edited August 2008
    Here is the manual from the SDA1B model that would have the same basic suggestions. See figure 4. It shows to place 3 ft from side walls.

    It also says 1.5 inches is the closest minimum to the wall, so you are wrong twice..........;)

    http://www.polkaudio.com/downloads/manuals/home/sda1b_manual.pdf
    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
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  • Dennis Gardner
    Dennis Gardner Posts: 4,861
    edited August 2008
    The SDA1C manual has the 3ft suggestion as distance "S" on page 6 of the manual. This is the manual for the 1C, 2B, and CRS+.
    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
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  • phxrider
    phxrider Posts: 58
    edited August 2008
    Bobt, where are you getting your info. Quoted from the manual:
    "Distance 'S' should be AT LEAST 3 feet. Placement closer to sidewalls will interfere with 3-dimensional imaging". (capitalization of "AT LEAST" is as it appears in the 1C manual).

    Pertaining to back wall distance, it says NOTHING about "a foot off the backwall", it only says "By decreasing distance 'Y' you will increase bass response; by increasing that distance you will experience less bass. Your speakers will generally sound best when placed close to the back wall."

    'S' is defined clearly as distance from side walls and 'Y' as distance from rear wall. Any doubts about the validity of anything, you can download the 1C manual HERE and see for yourself.

    I personally find that somewhere around 4" off the back wall is best with the 1C, there is a narrow range between where best bass response is and when it becomes boomy sounding, which varies VERY SLIGHTLY with different rooms. With a little trial and error you'll find the sweet spot. I finish the tweaking session off with measurements at the top and bottom of the speaker from the wall to get them absolutely equal and straight up and down, as this is somewhat critical for getting the ideal SDA effect.

    Tell Santa I want 1.2TL's ;)
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  • phxrider
    phxrider Posts: 58
    edited August 2008
    That said, I find them to be pretty forgiving of less-than-ideal conditions. I've had 1C's and 2B's in narrow rooms and positioned with the front plane of the speakers behind obstructions like TV cabinets (also a no-no according to the manual) and it doesn't seem to hurt much. IMO having them correctly and equally spaced from the back wall is the biggest factor in their sound.
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  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,085
    edited August 2008
    Oy vey.

    Bob, put the damn speakers where you like.

    That said, all of the SDA manuals that I've had (and I've had a few) have all said 3ft. recommended. Now, I've had them closer than three feet and they sounded pretty good. However, they sound MUCH better with at least three feet. In the end though, they are your speakers, does it really matter what we think or what Polk says? As far as what someone said in 1988....well, it was 3ft in 1987 and 3ft in 1990....what do you suppose, there was something in the air in 1988? Oy.

    As to the spike issue. I've tried my 2.3tl's both ways. The bass is better defined using the spikes. That's my opinion. Now, if you are convinced, because a magazine says so, that it doesn't matter...then why the hell are you asking the question? If it's a case of just trying to stir the **** pot, then feel free to do that some place else.

    Carl,

    Hmmmm...one, I would think that Polk would be (and from my conversations, are) grateful when mis-information is countered with fact. Now, I know in your world, facts are a relative concept (ie, you couldn't tell the truth if you had to). However, this thread, I would imagine is no more offensive then your blatantly sexist thread about what women want (or whatever the hell that **** was)......

    So, in other words, Carl, get bent. We have been staying out of your version of reality, please, extend others the same courtesy.

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited August 2008
    All I know is, last night I had a nice listening session with my new 1C's, which are still burning in the new Sonicaps. I made sure to listen to Patricia Barber's rendition of "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" off Nightclub. Normally I wouldn't have much of a yearning to hear that song in August, but boy did I enjoy that song!

    By the way, bobt, is something wrong with the '.' key on your keyboard, it..... seems.......... like................. it...................... keeps..................... getting........................... stuck....................................................
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited August 2008
    I should also mention, my 1C's are 1 foot off the back wall, 3 feet off the side walls. ;)
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,196
    edited August 2008
    Mine are up in Maryland. I'm having a hard time getting that pinpoint imaging from down here.....:rolleyes:
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • MillerLiteScott
    MillerLiteScott Posts: 2,561
    edited August 2008
    Tom,

    They are about 1" off my side wall with more than three feet on each side.

    The problem is they are only @ 1/2" apart and not connected to anything.

    Less than ideal.......... but that is what someone told me................. back in the late 80's.

    They are safe and sound just not to Jesse's yet. He was sick and I have been busy as all get out.

    Scott
    I like speakers that are bigger than a small refrigerator but smaller than a big refrigerator:D
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