Questions on SDA speaker #

bobt

I was told by a polk CS..that the woofers....at this point..do NOT have different speaker #'s.....or the speakers are all the same in a SDA1C.......
They next CS said.......yes we need the number and these speakers ARE different......

So whats the story????...back in 1988.....maybe they were different.....my SDA's have different numbers on the speakers.........
......are they really all the same.....and should i not worry about this?????

Ricardo

I'm having trouble understanding what you are saying, but:

-The SDA 1C's have two different types of woofers (MW6510 and MW6511 if IRC).
-Polk still carries these replacement woofers.
-The current replacement woofers do not have the number/model on them as the originals did.

bobt

Basically...yes.......or one guy says.....they don't make a 6510...or 6511.....they are both the same....which is fine with me.....kind of makes sence....but the other guy say ..yes we need the right number.......so it makes me feel...somebody dose not know what there talking about..........

jakelm

............................................................................


Just to add a few more^^^^^

Pull the damaged driver out and check the back for the correct model #, Polk sells them both.

bobt

To be honest....I have no clue why you woud make different speakers.....the difference should be in the cross-over..not the speakers...the cost factor would be stupid....It really makes no sence...

jakelm

bobt wrote: »

To be honest....I have no clue why you woud make different speakers.....the difference should be in the cross-over..not the speakers...the cost factor would be stupid....It really makes no sence...

When you require a driver to handle different frequencies, phase alignments and amplitude, you might require a different driver that is sutible for that aplication.

Size might be the same but Qts, inductor mH's and ohms might need to be different.


Just my 2 cents.

ND13

One does stereo and the other does SDA effect.:rolleyes:

jakelm

ND13 wrote: »

One does stereo and the other does SDA effect.:rolleyes:

Yeah, what he said^

heiney9

bobt wrote: »

I was told by a polk CS..that the woofers....at this point..do NOT have different speaker #'s.....or the speakers are all the same in a SDA1C.......
They next CS said.......yes we need the number and these speakers ARE different......

So whats the story????...back in 1988.....maybe they were different.....my SDA's have different numbers on the speakers.........
......are they really all the same.....and should i not worry about this?????

What do you mean by woofer. Polks of that generation use a Passive Radiator to create the bass and aren't really a woofer in the strictest sense.

If by woofer you are referring to the (4) 6 1/2" drivers; then for the 1C's they are different models as Ricardo has stated you have (2) MW6510's and (2) MW 6511's.

If by woofer you mean the Passive Radiator, those are no longer available from Polk.

Also FYI, you need the interconnect cable attached between the two speakers in order for all (8) drivers to work properly.

Hope this helped.

H9

heiney9

bobt wrote: »

Basically...yes.......or one guy says.....they don't make a 6510...or 6511.....they are both the same....which is fine with me.....kind of makes sence....but the other guy say ..yes we need the right number.......so it makes me feel...somebody dose not know what there talking about..........

The 6510 and 6511 are not the same driver. Perhaps one could work in place of the other in an absolute pinch but there is a reason they are different. As ND13 stated one model is for the dimensional array the other is for the stereo array.

H9

heiney9

Seems as though you don't have a clue what SDA's are (Stereo Dimensional Array) or what they were designed to do or how to properly set them up. The drivers are different because SDA's aren't a "traditional" speaker design. Nothing stupid about them in any way, shape or form.

H9

ND13

Once you get them set up properly, they'll blow your mind. Keep in mind, they are a tad picky, in that they NEED good clean power, not necessarily watts, but CURRENT. Your typical reciever will not cut it, though some of the HKs, Denons, Nads can do in a pinch until you can get seperate amplification. Make sure the amp is common ground. Never toe the speakers inward, they should be pointed straight forward with nothing sticking out between them. Also, as H9 mentioned, the interconnect is a must.

Good Luck and congrats on some really cool speakers.

Deadof_knight

OK a woofer is not a passive radiator ..... a PR is what non audio people think is a woofer ! and I think with polks they use the term driver if im correct !


yep what he said "stereo and sda effect " ^

with out the interconnect cable you ll never know the complete blissful sound of SDAs !

bobt

OK..you people blew by the whole question.....and just went to political correct statements.....First off a passive radiator is NOT a woofer....if the PC term is "driver"..so be it. Second..if Polk wanted to do the SDA "effect" they could have easliy done that with a cross-over...no need to make 2 different speakers....I'M NOT saying they did..but could be done no problem.
Third..I've have these speakers from NEW..about 20 years...I have replaced "drivers" and cross-overs in them..I know how to place them and know how to fix them.

My POINT was...I got 2 different answers from 2 different POLK customer service reps......one said the "drivers " are the same..the next said they were NOT.....so ....SOMEBODY dose NOT know what there talking about.........
THAT was the whole point!!!!!!!!!!!

danger boy

in the SDA's both the crossovers and the mid bass drivers make the difference in the sound you ultimately hear coming from them. some of the early SDA"s used the same mid bass drivers.. example.. say the SDA 1 may have used 4 MW6500 6.5" drivers..

Later as the SDA's evolved.. different drivers were added to the later models.. say a SDA 2B may use MW6510 and MW6511 side by side.. also again, the crossover was different in the SDA 2B then the model SDA 2A. similar in looks, but different crossovers.

the passive radiator is just that.. not a woofer, it's a passive radiator that moves and gives you bass without being powered.

Why two different Polk CS reps told you two different things is beyond me.. but maybe one of them didn't understand your ? completely. CS is great to work with. Just let it go my man.

bobt

Just a PS to this...first off i NEVER said the speakers where stupid....that would be pretty insipped.......I was talking about a cost factor to build.
Just for everybody here....pretty much...a "driver"..thats over 5 inch's...is called a woofer.
But I guess you people think that the SDA's.....don't have ..."WOOFERS"....must just be mid range's........and the Passive radator is the woofer......

You may have 7000 posts...but you really have no clue....I have fixed computers for 20 years, and repair tube amps....sorry..but you just don't have a clue...........I also run PA's for large bands and EQ recordings in the studio...........I KNOW what good sound is!!!!!

Face

bobt wrote: »

My POINT was...I got 2 different answers from 2 different POLK customer service reps......one said the "drivers " are the same..the next said they were NOT.....so ....SOMEBODY dose NOT know what there talking about.........
THAT was the whole point!!!!!!!!!!!

They're 20 years old, try finding another company who supports speakers made 20 years ago, they're few and far between. Get over it. Anyways, any info you need can easily be found here by using the search feature.

danger boy

sir,

you are arguing for no reason.

I'm not sure I agree with your statement that a speaker/driver over 5" in diameter is a woofer. Because the SDA's are in effect only two ways speakers..
tweeter, mid bass drivers.. passive unpowered radiator

a traditional three way speaker would be, tweeter, mid, and powered/wired woofer.

as for the cost factor.. well originally SDA"s were pretty expensive speakers 20 yrs ago.. not everyone could afford them... they were something a lot of people wish they could have afforded, but not everyone could. Today those same speakers can be had for a fraction of their new cost. Hence the great deal they are in the used market. Same build quality, a lot less expensive now 20+ yrs later.

F1nut

bobt wrote: »

Just a PS to this...first off i NEVER said the speakers where stupid....that would be pretty insipped.......I was talking about a cost factor to build.
Just for everybody here....pretty much...a "driver"..thats over 5 inch's...is called a woofer.
But I guess you people think that the SDA's.....don't have ..."WOOFERS"....must just be mid range's........and the Passive radator is the woofer......

You may have 7000 posts...but you really have no clue....I have fixed computers for 20 years, and repair tube amps....sorry..but you just don't have a clue...........I also run PA's for large bands and EQ recordings in the studio...........I KNOW what good sound is!!!!!

Unbelieveable!

Systems

bobt wrote: »

.if Polk wanted to do the SDA "effect" they could have easliy done that with a cross-over...no need to make 2 different speakers..

In the 1c the SA and DA driver pairs have different impedances.In this way Polk could use 4 drivers and by connecting one set in series and the other in parallel they could keep the load seen by the amp reasonable.

Systems

bobt wrote: »

Just for everybody here....pretty much...a "driver"..thats over 5 inch's...is called a woofer.

Nope, if a driver covers much of the bass and all of the midrange as in any 2 way speaker,it is called a mid/woofer.;)

bobt

Good lord..ok.....at this point..being PC.....OK..there ..MID/WOOFERS..

Once agian...i never said Polk did not support these speakers..nor much of anything else.
I think these are the best speakers Polk has ever made.......I've had them for 20 years.

Sorry..but any 2 way speaker....as I also have a set of Large Advents........gee the large speaker or any thing close (or 61/2 inch speaker)that puts out bass....pretty much by ANY audiophile....is pretty much called a WOOFER.
Or your saying any speaker that has just a tweeter...and a "DRIVER" ...should be called a MID/WOOFER....please ..get real.

bobt

Just another PS...when I bought these speakers...I paid $1600.....I don't buy junk...and they were the best speakers for the price bar none.......

I have no interest about what you want to call the "drivers"....you can call them whatever you want.

Systems

bobt wrote: »

..get real.

Thanks...I will ... get right to...work on ...that.

F1nut

Actually.........they are called mid-drivers..........and referred to as such........by Polk. Woofers are 8" and above.........got it??????????????

bobt

Well ..sorry..if there is a 2 speaker system...that put out bass.....well...the rest off the world calls them woofers...but hey you can call them anything you want.......
why would your care?...more to the point......what is the point?????????

F1nut

The point is you are using the wrong terminology.

Here, read this.

The Full Impact of Polk's Mid and Low Frequency Performance

Even the smallest SRS, the 3.1TL, delivers the kind of bass that will give you goosebumps. Each SRS model features an array of Polk's exclusive Trilaminate Polymer 6.5" midbass drivers that exemplify today's state-of-the-art loudspeaker technology. By combining three complementary materials, each with a specific beneficial property, a performance level is attained that is beyond the reach of conventional drivers that use simple paper of vacuum-formed plastic cones.

One of the laminates is very light, yet structurally strong. Another is extremely stiff with an unusually high speed of sonic wave transmission, and the other has a uniquely effective damping property that removes sonic coloration.

Contributing to the deep, tight bass response of these drivers are the costly butyl rubber surrounds that offer more accurate cone movement. Additionally, these surrounds will not deteriorate over time as do the foam surrounds found on many drivers. And, high temperature aluminum voice coils are used to assure long term reliability even with extended playing at maximum output.

These drivers are light and fast, providing superior transient response and detail. No other speaker system available today can boast the uncompromising technical superiority of these Polk designed and engineered drivers.

The 3.1TL features five active Trilaminate 6.5" drivers that are acoustically coupled to a 12" critically tuned bass radiator. In total, the low frequency driver system has a surface area of 178 square inches, more than enough to create an emotional, if not physical, reaction to the thunderous, yet clean, tight bass.

The SRS 2.3TL and 1.2TL, each with a bass radiating area exceeding that of a 40" woofer, have the ability to produce powerful, deep bass with virtually no distortion. Indeed their low frequency reproduction may be unsurpassed in the history of loudspeaker design. While bass distortion is typically a function of the loudspeaker in any music system, the SRS 2.3TL and 1.2TL actually yield less distortion at 25Hz than many audiophile quality tube amplifiers. To enhance the full impact and dimension of Polk's low frequency performance, both the 2.3TL and 1.2TL may be physically coupled to the listening room wall or floor with the appropriate hardware included. Indeed, listening to either of these loudspeakers with Polk's "Bass Brace" or "Spiked Feet" in place, will prove to be a new, exhilarating experience.

bobt

NO, I'm NOT using the Wrong crap.....it is what POLK is using for 'THEIR ' speakers..........
It's not that IT's completely wrong...but just what Polk wants to call their speakers...OK..big deal...don't need there sales crap...........
once again...what is the point?????????????

bobt

Good lord..just because Polk is calling them.."mid bass drivers".....dose not mean everybody else is...people use 6'/12 drivers as there woofer all the time...means nothing...once again....whats the point??????????

danger boy

bobt, I think the question should be what is YOUR point?

if 20+ years ago polk called their drivers.. midbass drivers... that's ok... today they may be known as something else by a different speaker manufacturer.

around here we call them midbass drivers and passive radiators. because that's the correct terminology used by Polk.

DarqueKnight

The excerpt that Jesse just posted is from a 7 page brochure on the SDA SRS series (1.2TL, 2.3TL, 3.1TL) entitled "Listen Carefully...".:)

In addition to being called "midbass drivers" in the Polk literature, the "MW" series drivers used in SDA's (MW6503, MW6510, MW6511, etc.) were also referred to as mid-woofers (hence the "MW" designation), "bass midrange drivers", and simply as "drivers".

The passive radiators have been referred to as "fluid-coupled subwoofers", "sub-bass radiators" and as "subwoofers".

A lot of misconceptions about SDA's come about because people try to apply conventional speaker design and theory to them. The important thing to remember is that the SDA's do not produce bass frequencies like a conventional speaker. When reproduction of a midrange frequency is required, only one 6-1/2" driver may be called into service. When the reproduction of a bass frequency is required, two or more 6-1/2" drivers, in unison with the passive radiator will be called into service.

Using lightweight doped paper drivers in conjunction with a lightweight acoustically coupled passive radiator makes it possible to achieve much lower bass distortion and higher response speeds at a much lower cost that what could be achieved with active woofers. It is an ingenious design that has stood the test of time.