SDA SRS 2 Bass Tone Down Help

HB27

I picked up my first pair of SDA SRS 2 sunday and I love them.
Problem: There's so much bass in these I can't turn them up without the bass drowning out the majority of the music.
I've pulled them out from the wall an inch at a time to where I'm over 13" from the wall with little if any help.
I'm sure it's the small room. 17' wide but only 12' deep. Speakers are 6' apart. Blade/Blade.
I've tried 3 tube amps and 2 SS amps and 2 SS receivers. The bass is overpowering and destroying the SQ.
Mods, suggestions, etc will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Harry

heiney9

Lasareath wrote: »

Yes, time to downgrade to a pair of SDA 1C's

This is why SRS's owners state that they do not need a subwoofer.

As a 1C owner I'll state they don't need a sub either. I moved up to some MIT speaker cables and the bass is now even better than before.

I just purchased a new Ani DiFranco- Live at Babeville (DVD). Recorded in her new studio/venue which is a renovated 150 year old church. Her bass player plays an upright acoustic bass and the thunder and extension from this recording in 2ch is outstanding. It spreads across the room and you feel it tickle your insides; not just thump, thump, thump.

If I was thinking at all I should have brought it to PF to listen to on the SRT's. .

To the OP; you'll just have to play around with placement. See what you were missing with your old speakers .

If you are using tone controls make sure they are set flat, that might help.

H9

PolkClyde

Would a audio source EQ help with the bass problem?

PolkClyde

This may be one of those times a Equalizer could be a good thing.

heiney9

Typically no, because an EQ has a very broad effect and rarely fixes these problems.

In my experience a typical "slider" type EQ just doesn't get the job done.

YMMV

H9

P.s. Polkclyde, it was very nice to meet you and Johnnie. Didn't spend a lot of time talking with you guys (have no idea why) but hopefully you can make it to the next one as well. Wasn't that Crystal Method demo AWESOME :cool: ? I use that song a lot when people want to hear/feel the bass.

Face

Are you sure all your tweeters are working?

zingo

How about using spikes or something that decouples the speaker from the floor?

HB27

Face wrote: »

Are you sure all your tweeters are working?

Yes, All the tweeters are working. I had to replace one on the left speaker. I used a paper towel holder to be sure.
Thanks,
Harry

HB27

zingo wrote: »

How about using spikes or something that decouples the speaker from the floor?

I raised them up using 2x8's under the speakers. The speakers have the adjustable pads on them and it helped a little. Not as "boomy" but still dominant.
I even put 2" of styrofoam around the rear and sides of the cabinet trying to absorb a bit of the side resonance from the cabinets.
They're a little better but still need some more tweaking and hopefully I can tone them down.
Thanks,
Harry

HB27

Anyone tried "weighting down" the pr to take some of the travel out? Just thinking out loud in the hope another "brainstorm" will pop up.

Ron Temple

Sounds like room gain...treatments maybe?

Joe08867

+1 ^^^^

heiney9

HB27 wrote: »

Anyone tried "weighting down" the pr to take some of the travel out? Just thinking out loud in the hope another "brainstorm" will pop up.

Not usually an issue and not recommended. A combination of gear/cable synergy/room placement/spikes/treatments are in order. Make sure all the tweets are working properly as stated earlier.

GL

H9

danger boy

what kind of music do you listen to? mine sometimes have a bit to much bass. but that's usually with newer music only. older classic rock which I listen to a lot, doesn't have the overbloated bass that today's CD's/music does.

HB27

heiney9 wrote: »

Not usually an issue and not recommended. A combination of gear/cable synergy/room placement/spikes/treatments are in order. Make sure all the tweets are working properly as stated earlier.

GL

H9

Double checked tweeters to be double sure. All working fine. Changed out to an Adcom GTP-400 pre with tone controls AFTER I rolled some tubes in my pre that didn't put out so much bass.
It toned down the bass a bit more but I lost a lot of the tube sound I prefer. I put a couple of foam traps to the side of the SDA's and "improvised" forward absorption with a sheet of 1" styrofoam" covered by a blanket.
I"ve had a lot of systems in this room and NEVER had to deal with so much bass.
The speakers have a great quality to them but I doubt they're going to "melt" into the room.
I'll install spikes tonight and see if I can get it balanced out better. Good ideas and I'd forgot about "spiking" the cabinets and raising them up.
Thanks, It's a work in progress. Getting "brain fried" trying to figure it out. SDA's are new to me and I'll just have to learn their traits.
Harry

nadams

have you tried securing them to the back wall? Search around for "bass brace" and you'll get the idea. Supposed to tighten up the bass some in the larger sdas. I guess the idea is that the cabinets themselves move enough that it mucks up the sound.

nadams

Here's a good thread re: the bass brace http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24529

HB27

danger boy wrote: »

what kind of music do you listen to? mine sometimes have a bit to much bass. but that's usually with newer music only. older classic rock which I listen to a lot, doesn't have the overbloated bass that today's CD's/music does.

I"m almost 60 now and I listen to a lot of blues, light jazz, classical, and early rock and roll from late 50's to late 70's.
Even stand up bass is strong. These just flat out kick out some serious bASS.
Harry

heiney9

HB27 wrote: »

Double checked tweeters to be double sure. All working fine. Changed out to an Adcom GTP-400 pre with tone controls AFTER I rolled some tubes in my pre that didn't put out so much bass.
It toned down the bass a bit more but I lost a lot of the tube sound I prefer. I put a couple of foam traps to the side of the SDA's and "improvised" forward absorption with a sheet of 1" styrofoam" covered by a blanket.
I"ve had a lot of systems in this room and NEVER had to deal with so much bass.
The speakers have a great quality to them but I doubt they're going to "melt" into the room.
I'll install spikes tonight and see if I can get it balanced out better. Good ideas and I'd forgot about "spiking" the cabinets and raising them up.
Thanks, It's a work in progress. Getting "brain fried" trying to figure it out. SDA's are new to me and I'll just have to learn their traits.
Harry

I hear ya Harry.....that's why I've left my system alone for so long. It took me awhile to get it right, now it sounds excellent. I have my 1C's on 3/4" thick flooring tile rather than spikes. It did tighten up the bass a wee bit. Just keep working with them, but honestly it shouldn't be this difficult. Perhaps you'll get used to them. The bass isn't sloppy or muddy, right? Just a lot of it. What size is your room?

H9

heiney9

HB27 wrote: »

Even stand up bass is strong. These just flat out kick out some serious bASS.
Harry

Perhaps that's more the issue................you aren't used to bass this serious. I love the bass performance from Polk MW drivers and the passive radiator designs. Not a big fan of the ported type speakers. I realize the PR is a type of port system, but I prefer it over a typical tube port.

H9

HB27

heiney9 wrote: »

I hear ya Harry.....that's why I've left my system alone for so long. It took me awhile to get it right, now it sounds excellent. I have my 1C's on 3/4" thick flooring tile rather than spikes. It did tighten up the bass a wee bit. Just keep working with them, but honestly it shouldn't be this difficult. Perhaps you'll get used to them. The bass isn't sloppy or muddy, right? Just a lot of it. What size is your room?

H9

17x12 and shrunk another couple of feet with the couch in front of the speakers. I just measured it out at 9 1/2' from cabinet to "ear" but actual width is about 10' in listening area. I fear it's just too small a room at this point. I bought them from a gy with a 20 x 18 listening area and fell in love with these. Had to have them.
Bass is crisp, clear, and deep and close to overpowering the room. They're actually good sounding but....
Harry

HB27

heiney9 wrote: »

Perhaps that's more the issue................you aren't used to bass this serious. I love the bass performance from Polk MW drivers and the passive radiator designs. Not a big fan of the ported type speakers. I realize the PR is a type of port system, but I prefer it over a typical tube port.

H9

I've been running Polks for decades now. I also build some serious speakers when I have the time. Right now I have AR9LS, AR3, AR3a, 60's Jensen Auditorium's, Altec VOTT, Valencias, Model 14 and 15, Klipsch Chorus II, Mission towers and bookshelfs, Deftecs, and 3 pairs of JBL in my APARTMENT. That's a partial list not counting my M10 5jr and a couple pairs of small bookshelfs. Just a partial list.
I build my own amps and speakers and I'm pretty darned knowledgeable when It comes to audio. I'm an electronics tech (retired) and have been running quality systems since the '60s. I'm not a FNG but I sure need to learn the SDA tricks.
Harry

HB27

nadams wrote: »

have you tried securing them to the back wall? Search around for "bass brace" and you'll get the idea. Supposed to tighten up the bass some in the larger sdas. I guess the idea is that the cabinets themselves move enough that it mucks up the sound.

I'm in an apartment of modest size and since it's not mine I shouldn't be altering the walls. LOL! Bass is pretty tight just a bunch of it.
Thanks
Harry

nadams

Nothin' a little spackle can't cover up

Sounds like they're just too big for the room. Lots of sound deadening might help, but you can only make a room "appear" to be just so much bigger than it actually is to the speakers.

I'll trade ya for my SDA 2's, straight up

concealer404

Harry, i'm pretty sure it's your room, mainly the shape of it and what all is in it.

The speakers you had in there before sounded bass heavy to me as well, and i don't think it was because of your setup then, either.

I'm running into the same problem in my room, but probably not to your extent.

HB27

nadams wrote: »

Nothin' a little spackle can't cover up

Sounds like they're just too big for the room. Lots of sound deadening might help, but you can only make a room "appear" to be just so much bigger than it actually is to the speakers.

I'll trade ya for my SDA 2's, straight up

They are tooooo big for the room. Bigger is better? Eh? I'll get them dialed it or "bust".
Thanks for the trade offer but I'm not ready to throw in the towel just yet. Heck, it took over two years to find them. I'll give them a better chance than what I have so far. Who knows, I may just learn something useful today. Besides, I ain't never been whupped. Well, unless it laid down to fight.
Harry

HB27

concealer404 wrote: »

Harry, i'm pretty sure it's your room, mainly the shape of it and what all is in it.

The speakers you had in there before sounded bass heavy to me as well, and i don't think it was because of your setup then, either.

I'm running into the same problem in my room, but probably not to your extent.

B, I know it's the room. The other speakers were the AR towers with side firing woofers and they ARE bass heavy but nothing to the extent of these SDA's. I've got way too many speakers in the front room but I rearranged things today to put all the speakers on the side of the room by the door and opened up the listening area. It helped a little more. I've got a few more tweaks to throw at it tonight. I should be able to balance them out.
Come by and check them out. I'm proud as heck of them and would love to show them off to another Polk freak.
Thanks,
Harry

F1nut

I'm going with the room issue. I think if you can dial things in, you'll be very happy. Good luck.

HB27

F1nut wrote: »

I'm going with the room issue. I think if you can dial things in, you'll be very happy. Good luck.

Thanks J,
I'm going to start over with a fresh mind in the morning and do one thing at a time. I did the spikes and noticed no difference at all except it made them hard to move around.
I'm going to tune 'em to the tubes. Can't help it. I'm a tube freak and nothing 'cept hot glass will do. I've got burnt fingers from using the "tone controls". Tonight I'll just be picky about the source materials.
Otis Redding is sounding really good now. Old remaster without a lot of bass. Talk about a man with heart, soul, and voice. Gone forever. Love my music as much as I do the gear.
Thanks for all. Updates as successful.
Harry

concealer404

HB27 wrote: »

B, I know it's the room. The other speakers were the AR towers with side firing woofers and they ARE bass heavy but nothing to the extent of these SDA's. I've got way too many speakers in the front room but I rearranged things today to put all the speakers on the side of the room by the door and opened up the listening area. It helped a little more. I've got a few more tweaks to throw at it tonight. I should be able to balance them out.
Come by and check them out. I'm proud as heck of them and would love to show them off to another Polk freak.
Thanks,
Harry

Sounds good to me! I'll give you a call this weekend, i'm probably tied up today and tomorrow trying to redo my whole brake system for once and for all. I'm kindof scared to hear the SDA effect, though... my wallet hurts bad enough just from my modest setup.

HB27

I just had my brakes done at CarX there on 31 and they butchered the job. Darn things squeal horribly. They said drive it a week and it would stop. 3 weeks now and it sounds like a school bus. Nasty job. My highest NON recommendation possible.
I opened up the room quite a bit. It's better. The SDA 2 series with 12" pr would probably have been a better choice for here. I can't leave here for a while so it is what it is for now.
Look forward to seeing you again,
Harry