SDA 2 Differences

mshimkus

I recently bought 2 sets of Polk SDA2s from different sources. One pair has 1 tweeter, 2 mids & the bass radiator. The 2nd pair has 2 tweeters, 3 mids & the bass radiator. BOTH pairs are marked on the back SDA2. Did Polk use the extra drivers in the 2nd pair of SDA2s for the cancellation signal sent by the special cable? The pair with the extra drivers seems to sound better. I plan to keep one pair & sell the other (out of room!). Which one would be better to keep. Thanks for any response!

Face

The version with 2 mid woofers and a single tweeter is either a SDA 2A or 2B.

Are you using the cable with either pair?

mshimkus

yes, I only have one cable but have been using it when listening to each pair.

inspiredsports

Hi mshimkus,

There's a good chronology/price guide at http://www.polksda.com/list.shtml that will give you some more information. There is a typo in that the SDA-2B (Real Wood) was produced in 1989 as I purchased the pair I still have today on 12/29/1987.

Are the tweeters the same color on both models? An all black (dome included) tweeter means it has been upgraded with a much smoother sounding replacement.

I'm not familiar enough with the original 2's to say for sure, but the 2B was designed several years later as an improved model in the line. If there are no problems with the 2B drivers, trust your ear and keep those you like the best.

Remember that distance from back and side walls, and keeping fronts level and in the same plane is critical to the sound. If you are not comparing the speakers in the exact same placement, you are not getting a fair comparison.

mshimkus

The tweeters are not black. They are the same color in both pairs. I'll check out the chronolgy/price guide. thanks for your comments!

mshimkus

The pair with one tweeter is black with a silver done & says on it silver coil dome. The pair with 2 tweeters is silver color. I checked the chronolgy/price guide. The pair with 2 tweeters is shown there as SDA2 made from 1984 to 1985. thanks for your comments!

inspiredsports

Both were shown to have the "SL2000" tweeter installed at the factory, but there must have been a cosmetic difference from the earlier to later years. The most recent SL2000's did say "silver coil dome" and my 2B's bear this out. There's also a chance the 2's had a different brand tweeter as sometimes Polk used up parts from prior model years. Many people claim the SL2000 is too harsh and order the $48 + S&H all black silk replacements directly from Polk. I'm in the process of installing the new tweeters in my 2B's within the next 10 days and will post my results.

mshimkus

Thanks for all the help! I believe the older SDA2s have SL-1000s which were a all over silver type color. Would the RD0194-1's be a good replacement for them or do they not have the peak in them that the SL-2000s are reported to have??