I want to build a pair of polk sda 1.2's . Help?

tina902

I can't afford a vintage pair so wondered how I could build similar cabinets, cheap drivers ..all within a "dead cabinet" as in non working thus lighter. I collect audio speakers & just want a pair of these wonderful speakers for my audio/video room.Or, may buy a non working pair if in cosmetically good condition. any advice on how to make this possible? tina

hoosier21

tina902 wrote: »

all within a "dead cabinet" as in non working thus lighter

what does that mean?

TroyD

Uh, not to be negative but were it possible to build them cheaper than to buy them, we probably all would have done this...

heiney9

Welcome to Club Polk. I don't believe it's possible to build a pair of SDA's cheaper than buying a used pair. You might be able to if you use really cheap wood, drivers and x-over parts.................but then they aren't really SDA's. They would just be really cheap, crappy sounding speakers.

Plus most of the SDA information as far as X-overs, driver information, baffle dimensions, etc, etc. is proprietary so you'd just be guessing.

Save up for a pair...................you'll be much farther ahead and much better off.

Good luck

H9

Face

It would cost twice as much to build a pair, unless they were for show only.

dorokusai

I haven't paid more than $525-900 for the 3 pairs of 1.2TL's I've come across. Then again, I'm in Polk Audio central.

inspiredsports

Welcome aboard!

I've done a lot restoration on 2 smaller Polk SDA models and this leads me to believe it would not be more economical to build from scratch. You should just keep looking for a listing on an existing vintage pair. Also, while 1.2's are certainly considered to the reference model, they require a large listening area. You may be much happier with a smaller SDA model which improves your chance of finding a bargain.

Also, are you sure you really want to invest time and money in "cheap drivers" in a "dead cabinet" ???

gdb

These aren't the model you want, but they're already upgraded and a couple tanks of gas will get you to em. Just sayin...:) Click link below
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=76064
Oh Yeah, Welcome !!!

inspiredsports

gdb wrote: »

. . . these aren't the model you want . . .

These are one of the sweetest deals out there, and absolutely capable of reproducing sound like a 1.2 unless you live in a cathedral.

inspiredsports

You might want to check out some home built SDA's at . . .

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=74734

John in MA

inspiredsports wrote: »

These are one of the sweetest deals out there, and absolutely capable of reproducing sound like a 1.2 unless you live in a cathedral.

From what I've heard, in most situations the 2.3 might sound better in normal-size rooms. Didn't stop me from putting 1.2TLs in a walk-in closet, though.

snow

I agree with all the above. Simply save your money up and find a pair, they can be had at a great price if you are patient I paid $600.00 for my 1.2TL's Even if you had both the room and tools and skills to build a pair they would cost more than you could buy a really nice used pair for. Welcome to the forum Tina



REGARDS SNOW

leroyjr1

Do you currently have any external amps to push them? If not factor in another $300+ for an amp/amps.

ben62670

inspiredsports wrote: »

You might want to check out some home built SDA's at . . .

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=74734

That dude is ****:eek:

lightman1

ben62670 wrote: »

that dude is ****:eek:

+100

BrettT1

Build me some more Parasounds while you're at it...:D

skrol

Lasareath wrote: »

Welcome Tina to Club Polk!!!
...I had to replace the Passive Radiators because one of my cats scratched one of them and ripped the butyl rubber surround. That cost me another $250...

You didn't include the cost of the cat funeral:rolleyes:.

F1nut

If not factor in another $300+ for an amp/amps.

If you're driving the larger SDA's with a $300 amp, you don't deserve the speakers.

leroyjr1

F1nut wrote: »

If you're driving the larger SDA's with a $300 amp, you don't deserve the speakers.

A $300 Adcom 555 would be a great little amp for someone getting into sda's on a limited budget.

F1nut

I stand by my comment.

ben62670

F1nut wrote: »

I stand by my comment.

Add in the MIT's or go home, then you need a good source, and a good pre. Then the tweeters, and XO's. Not everyone can afford to drop more than 6k into their system to start. Some people have things like kids, mortgages, car payments, bills, and food that are important. I certainly have enjoyed upgrading my system over the last couple years. An Adcom is about the best way to get into SDA's. You don't need to spend $3k to start enjoying them. Certainly upgrade when you can, but why discourage someone from getting into SDA's? Buy used, resell what you have at no loss, and then move on up when you can.
Ben

george daniel

Not to start an argument,, I think what Jesse's trying to say is that if you really want to do the SDA's justice, put some real quality power/current and a good source into them. Having recent first hand experience,I can say that the upgrade(amps) from a Carver TFM 45(recently serviced) and Adcom 555's (bi-amped)was a night and day difference.IMHO,, one may possibly have to spend a little coin to get them near their potential. I don't think anyone is discouraging him from owning/keeping SDA's,, rather a "push" in the right direction. Ben,, if I know you,,I would bet those adcoms of yours have been "tweaked" eh?Probabally sounds pretty darn good also.:cool:;)Not trying to ruffle any feathers,, being the diplomat that I am.

Peace---george

Edit; Ben is "spot" on about the MIT's,, just my .02 worth.

snow

george daniel wrote: »

I can say that the upgrade(amps) from a Carver TFM 45(recently serviced) and Adcom 555's (bi-amped)was a night and day difference.IMHO,, one may possibly have to spend a little coin to get them near their potential.

You upgraded to a pair of 555's from a TFM-45?



REGARDS SNOW

ben62670

My point is that you don't need to spend a ton of money to get into SDA's. To get the most out of them you will most likely want to upgrade. If this were a sports car forum would you say you need a Ferrari to have fun? Start with a Mustang and have a blast:) Most active members have systems that are in the top .01% of the whole country. This is a fun hobby where you can enjoy the upgrades, and do it in steps if you don't have the funds to just go out and buy big dollar stuff. Also even if I had big $ to begin with you can spend a lot of money and not get what you are looking for. There is a lot of gear out there that gets good reviews that really isn't very impressive to a down right disappointment. Some people don't have a discerning ear. I can't tell the difference between $10 wine, and $1000 wine. To each his own. F1nut has one of the nicest systems in the forum here. I would guess his is in the top 20 for SQ. It would be interesting what he would recommend that is affordable(seriously). I have learned a lot from him, but when it comes to gear all I ever see is go big or go home. It's not in the cards for many of us who can't, or won't spend big dollars on their system. Also I find it kinda humorous that people are driving 30 year old designed stamped steel flimsy coned mid woofers with all that impressive gear;) Speaker design has come a long way since these drivers were introduced:)

F1nut

Speaker design has come a long way since these drivers were introduced

What's really funny is that the new stuff doesn't sound any better, IMO.



I almost forgot, go big or go home.

george daniel

snow wrote: »

You upgraded to a pair of 555's from a TFM-45?



REGARDS SNOW

What I was trying to say that we tried the TFM-45 for sometime,,then the 555's,,back and forth,, finally settled on a pair of Odyssey Mono SE's,,, then the "dreadnaught" with the odysseys and,,,, magic,, a very discernable difference,, certainly not subtle,I think that he plans to look/listen to some Musical Fidelity and Kismet amps soon.

ben62670

F1nut wrote: »

What's really funny is that the new stuff doesn't sound any better, IMO.



I almost forgot, go big or go home.

HeHeHe:D I do love the vintage drivers, but you know how I am. I think we both are on the same page wishing there was a new line with better drivers:) That is a dead horse though:(
Happy New Year Jesse:)
Ben

ben62670

george daniel wrote: »

What I was trying to say that we tried the TFM-45 for sometime,,then the 555's,,back and forth,, finally settled on a pair of Odyssey Mono SE's,,, then the "dreadnaught" with the odysseys and,,,, magic,, a very discernable difference,, certainly not subtle,I think that he plans to look/listen to some Musical Fidelity and Kismet amps soon.

Some day I hope to get up there to NJ and get my ears on those MF's. I had better wait, or I will be selling a kidney, a kid, or something:eek:

snow

ben62670 wrote: »

My point is that you don't need to spend a ton of money to get into SDA's. To get the most out of them you will most likely want to upgrade. If this were a sports car forum would you say you need a Ferrari to have fun? Start with a Mustang and have a blast:) Most active members have systems that are in the top .01% of the whole country. This is a fun hobby where you can enjoy the upgrades, and do it in steps if you don't have the funds to just go out and buy big dollar stuff. Also even if I had big $ to begin with you can spend a lot of money and not get what you are looking for. There is a lot of gear out there that gets good reviews that really isn't very impressive to a down right disappointment. Some people don't have a discerning ear. I can't tell the difference between $10 wine, and $1000 wine. To each his own. F1nut has one of the nicest systems in the forum here. I would guess his is in the top 20 for SQ. It would be interesting what he would recommend that is affordable(seriously). I have learned a lot from him, but when it comes to gear all I ever see is go big or go home. It's not in the cards for many of us who can't, or won't spend big dollars on their system. Also I find it kinda humorous that people are driving 30 year old designed stamped steel flimsy coned mid woofers with all that impressive gear;) Speaker design has come a long way since these drivers were introduced:)

I think what Jesse is attempting to tell us here is that dont bother with all the mid line gear simply save your moolah and purchase something that will both drive a pair of 1.2tl's effectively and sound great while doing it. As far as driver technology goes let's say for example that the LSI drivers are better, what would it cost versus the SDA drivers to replace them? Also the cost of crossover changes? It would be kind of the same scenario that the OP started out with not very cost effective and most likely you would be better off buying another set of speakers allready in production.




REGARDS SNOW

snow

george daniel wrote: »

What I was trying to say that we tried the TFM-45 for sometime,,then the 555's,,back and forth,, finally settled on a pair of Odyssey Mono SE's,,, then the "dreadnaught" with the odysseys and,,,, magic,, a very discernable difference,, certainly not subtle,I think that he plans to look/listen to some Musical Fidelity and Kismet amps soon.

So you are driving your SDA's with a pair of Odyssey Mono SE's?



REGARDS SNOW

george daniel

snow wrote: »

So you are driving your SDA's with a pair of Odyssey Mono SE's?



REGARDS SNOW

Yes,, with the AI-1 Dreadnaught,, Dodd ELP pre with Amperex 7308's,, has not sounded this good in 17 years,, this week will replace the tweeters with the RDO's and bypass the poly's,eliminate the silver micas and replace the solens with sonicaps,, and dynamat the PR and drivers,, should be good to go for a few more years.:)