Does Polk SDA SRS 1.2TL Live Up To It's Fame?

dorokusai

Face wrote: »

After seeing a friend spend $400 on a pair of SRS 2's and seeing a pair of 2.3TL's go for 800 on here, there's no way I'd spend close to $2k on a pair of 1.2TL's.

I agree and the 1.2 is the most overrated SDA in the lineup.

Toolfan66

dorokusai wrote: »

I agree and the 1.2 is the most overrated SDA in the lineup.

As that might be true, does that mean it's a speaker not worth owning?? I love mine. But I do know that the 2.3's/tl's are just as good..

I paid $2000 total for 2 sets of 1.2's and a set of mint 1C's.. I think I came out pretty good..

dorokusai

Of course it's worth owning, that's just personal. It's an excellent loudspeaker but there are lesser models that are often overlooked and forgotten, which give every bit as much and cost less on the used market.

bluecomet

I have a set of 1.2's and two sets of 1.2tl's, nothing comes close to them in the SDA lineup including the 1C's. In the SRS lineup the 2.3tl's would be comparable or depending on your taste better than the 1.2's. No disrespect to 1C's because I love mine but they cannot compete with a properly driven 1.2 or 1.2tl in a large room. I don't where this misconception is coming from that you can't enjoy 1.2's or the big boys in a smaller room. That statement is false. You don't have to crank up the volume to enjoy these speakers even though it is tempting. In the midsize floorstander catagory I would take the 3.1tl's over the 1C's. They have better bass and a better tweet. In the end it's a matter of preferance but I own them and hear them all the time and these are my impressions from A/B them frequently. Sorry about the rant but I have been seeing to many threads and responses that come close to degrading these speakers in favor of the lesser models. There is a reason why Polk made these speakers the flagship of their lineup.

Toolfan66

WOW!! SDA ****!!!

dorokusai

Bluecomet - I respect your position and ownership of the flagship. I've owned everything you do now and it's just a personal observation from my standpoint. I didn't, and don't mean it to take away anything from the larger models at all. Yes, there is a reason they made a pimp daddy for sure.

My main point is that there are other models, of equal fun and SDA effect, that are often overlooked and passed up simply because they are not the "big ones". It's simply a skewed way to look at the entire lineup. I call them overrated because I'm a smaller loudspeaker fan and a smaller SDA fan. In regards to the overall sonic's of a 2.3 vs a 1.2...I just don't agree, who cares really, just an opinion. I'm not calling your loudspeakers an ugly redheaded stepchild but they are not my preference nor recommendation when looking for a used SDA. They are often hard to find, overpriced or in poor condition....when a minty fresh pair of SDA1C may be right down the block, for example. No offense was meant and I hope you understand the body of what I'm saying. You own a wonderful speaker(s) and it's always a pleasure to listen to.

Mark

heiney9

dorokusai wrote: »

Bluecomet - I respect your position and ownership of the flagship. I've owned everything you do now and it's just a personal observation from my standpoint. I didn't, and don't mean it to take away anything from the larger models at all. Yes, there is a reason they made a pimp daddy for sure.

My main point is that there are other models, of equal fun and SDA effect, that are often overlooked and passed up simply because they are not the "big ones". It's simply a skewed way to look at the entire lineup. I call them overrated because I'm a smaller loudspeaker fan and a smaller SDA fan. I'm not calling your loudspeakers an ugly redheaded stepchild but they are not my preference nor recommendation when looking for a used SDA. They are often hard to find, over priced or in poor condition....when a minty fresh pair of SDA1C may be right down the block. No offense was meant and I hope you understand the body of what I'm saying. You own a wonderful speaker and it's always a pleasure to listen to.

Mark

True Dat! Hammer - Nail - Head.

Many are on a quest to own the bg daddy's and may wait several years for a pair to show up and miss out on a pair of 1C's for 1/4 the cost yet the 1C's in a typical room will give you 90% of the same experience.

I can tell you I've heard the tbig boys in a smallish room and the room didn;t do them any favors. I wouldn't put a pair in my listening room, they are simply too much speaker and would diminish my enjoyment. My room is approx 15' x 12'.

H9

shack

dorokusai wrote:

They are often hard to find, overpriced or in poor condition....when a minty fresh pair of SDA1C may be right down the block, for example.

I have never owned 1.2s or 1.2TLs, but having been around CP for a few years I've had ample oportunities to listen to them in a variety of situations. Are they impressive? Sure. But given what it would take to aquire a pair (see Marks comments above...which are dead on accurate) I will take my near mint 1Cs all day long...especially given my tastes and budget.

hearingimpared

I think the biggest difference in the various sized SDAs is the soundstage presentation. For example, at Ted's Polkfest the 1C's connected to the Manley Stingray sounded glorious but the sound stage was smaller and very low towards the ground. Jesse's 2.3TL connect to his MF kw sounds incredible, very wide sound stage but compare them to my 1.2 TLs, mine sound as good but the soundstage on mine seems like you have to look up at the stage.

Going along with what Mark said, I've yet to hear an SDA (set-up properly and powered properly) I didn't like and that includes the original SDA/CRS with the dimensional tweeters.

The problem is I couldn't tell you which really sound better in that, I've only heard my 1.2TLs, CRS & CRS+s in my rig. The two CRS models sounded great but the 1.2TLs beat them up and consideration has to be given that the 1.2TLs are pretty much tweaked out. I would love to hear those 1Cs that Ted had and those 2.3TLs that Jesse has (they are tweaked out too) in my rig, in my room then I could make a valid experienced statement of opinion but as it stands I have to go with the 1.2TLs in my room.

Of course there are lots more differences in music presentation with the various tweeters, mids and crossovers but in my mind the soundstage presentation is the most glaring as far as differences go.

falconcry72

OK, so what if price and difficulties in aqusition are removed from the equation?

Let's say you could have a mint set set of 1.2's delivered to your house for the same price as a mint set of 1C's delivered to your house?

What is the superior loudspeaker then?

I'm guessing it would have everything to do with room size, and that in a big enough room the 1.2's would be king, whereas in a small room the 1C's may be king.

My room is 11x18, I have to have my 2B's along the 11' wall, and I feel like I'd be pushing it even with 1C's.

hearingimpared

falconcry72 wrote: »

OK, so what if price and difficulties in aqusition are removed from the equation?

Let's say you could have a mint set set of 1.2's delivered to your house for the same price as a mint set of 1C's delivered to your house?

What is the superior loudspeaker then?

I'm guessing it would have everything to do with room size, and that in a big enough room the 1.2's would be king, whereas in a small room the 1C's may be king.

My room is 11x18, I have to have my 2B's along the 11' wall, and I feel like I'd be pushing it even with 1C's.

My room is 19' 8" X 11' 2" with the speakers on the long side and I have no problems at all with the performance of my 1.2TLs in it. HOWEVER I do wonder if 2.3TLs would be a better fit for the room size. This has always vexed me.

IMHO I think you might like the SDA effect better if you put your 2Bs on the long wall and space them far enough apart where you can get a sweet spot atleast 6 to 8' from the center plain of the speakers.

dorokusai

I've ran the gamut of SRT, 1.2TL thru Magnepan Tympani(6ft tall and 4 ft wide per speaker) in a 14 x 23 room and never been unhappy. Does the room matter? Of course but its also not rocket science. I've always had fun and enjoyed every loudspeaker that has ever landed here, regardless of "perfect" arrangements. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a speaker bigger than I actually needed, just the same with a subwoofer being more powerful than the entire house.

Don't pigeonhole yourself because of physical dimensions. Just ensure you can run everything right.

Toolfan66

dorokusai wrote: »

I've ran the gamut of SRT, 1.2TL thru Magnepan Tympani(6ft tall and 4 ft wide per speaker) in a 14 x 23 room and never been unhappy. Does the room matter? Of course but its also not rocket science. I've always had fun and enjoyed every loudspeaker that has ever landed here, regardless of "perfect" arrangements. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a speaker bigger than I actually needed, just the same with a subwoofer being more powerful than then entire house.

Don't pigeonhole yourself because of physical dimensions. Just ensure you can run everything right.

:D:D I Agree on this. My 1.2tl's are not in the perfect room my vaulted ceilings and room treatments is what helps with my tall boys.. and they sound GREAT!!!

hearingimpared

dorokusai wrote: »

I've ran the gamut of SRT, 1.2TL thru Magnepan Tympani(6ft tall and 4 ft wide per speaker) in a 14 x 23 room and never been unhappy. Does the room matter? Of course but its also not rocket science. I've always had fun and enjoyed every loudspeaker that has ever landed here, regardless of "perfect" arrangements. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a speaker bigger than I actually needed, just the same with a subwoofer being more powerful than then entire house.

Don't pigeonhole yourself because of physical dimensions. Just ensure you can run everything right.

Mark you mean the minimum requirements for the speaker placement in the room, no?

For instance for SDAs the manuals I have for all the different (don't have the 2s or 2Bs manual) state that the minimum from the side walls should be three feet for each speaker, the minimum distance apart from center to center of each speaker is four feet (ideally 6' to 8' apart) and the sweet spot starts at the distance the speakers are apart starting from the center of the plane between the speakers. Distance from the rear wall varies with room size for proper bass response.

Is the above what you mean when you say "just ensure you can run everthing right?"

dorokusai

No. That manual stuff is a guideline, not a rule for me. The best setups I've heard have been in less than perfect rooms and layouts. I've also heard dedicated rooms and I'd take the regular guy setup, anyday. Feel free to get obsessed with the manual and worry about this or that, sorry but it's a waste of listening time to me. I enjoy the music not the indulgence.

bluecomet

dorokusai wrote: »

I've ran the gamut of SRT, 1.2TL thru Magnepan Tympani(6ft tall and 4 ft wide per speaker) in a 14 x 23 room and never been unhappy. Does the room matter? Of course but its also not rocket science. I've always had fun and enjoyed every loudspeaker that has ever landed here, regardless of "perfect" arrangements. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a speaker bigger than I actually needed, just the same with a subwoofer being more powerful than then entire house.

Don't pigeonhole yourself because of physical dimensions. Just ensure you can run everything right.

I totally agree with this statement. There are many factors in having an incredable sonic experience. Just ensure you can run everything right.

The right gear can take the big boys to another level, while other gear makes you wonder what is all the fuss about these speakers. I recently hooked up a Sunfire Theater Grand 2 as a pre amp and used a Carver TFM 45 as the amp to my 1.2tl's. I was stunned at the differance gear made with these speakers. The Sunfire made a huge improvement. I think we all can agree that all of the SDA and SRS speakers are great and has brought much enjoyment to our sonic experiences. I am fortunate to have found and own my modest collection of SDA speakers. When I first joined the club a couple of years ago, someone said to me to watch yourself or you are going to go down the rabbit hole. Well I currently reside in the rabbit hole and I couldn't be happier.

dorokusai

bluecomet wrote: »

When I first joined the club a couple of years ago, someone said to me to watch yourself or you are going to go down the rabbit hole. Well I currently reside in the rabbit hole and I couldn't be happier.

Me too....LOL Excellent perspective BC.

dorokusai

Hey Bluecomet, can you post the guts of that Sunfire? It has a little glass window on the front correct?

Face

falconcry72 wrote: »

My room is 11x18, I have to have my 2B's along the 11' wall, and I feel like I'd be pushing it even with 1C's.

I've run 2B's and SRS 2's in a larger room. IMO, either speaker would be fine in yours.

IMO, the 2B TL is the most under rated and most coherent of the bunch.

megasat16

inspiredsports wrote: »

With 3 days left that bargain 21K mark will be history, and most of the bidders seem to be about 2K of shipping away.

Hey, Just a head up that they are sold on ebay for north of 33K. I don't know why I said these JBL to be Altec before. I must have been drinking lead shots stuff lately.

For 33K worth of speaker, you can get a real nice modern one but these JBL are in almost well preserved specimen and someone must probably wants them seriously.

megasat16

dorokusai wrote: »

I've ran the gamut of SRT, 1.2TL thru Magnepan Tympani(6ft tall and 4 ft wide per speaker) in a 14 x 23 room and never been unhappy. Does the room matter? Of course but its also not rocket science. I've always had fun and enjoyed every loudspeaker that has ever landed here, regardless of "perfect" arrangements. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a speaker bigger than I actually needed, just the same with a subwoofer being more powerful than the entire house.

Don't pigeonhole yourself because of physical dimensions. Just ensure you can run everything right.

Mark,

I know Maggies Tympani but I don't have a chance to own one. They are HUGE. What series Tympani is it and what you drive them with? How's the bass from them? If you decide to do a roadshow demo for them, I want you to know that I am IN!

James

PolkClyde

Lasareath wrote: »

Forget about the 1C's, Been there done that. old news.

Go for the Best!

1.2TL's!!!!

You know you want the Biggest and Baddest Speakers out there!!!!

There's a reason Polk made them for 8 years!!!!

heiney9 even says that his SDA-1C's are better than the LSi's he tried.

My 1.2TL's are like 5 times better than my SDA-1C's i had, there's a reason I sold them!!!

I thought "the Biggest and Baddest Speakers out there" were the Wilson puppies?

Face

PolkClyde wrote: »

I thought "the Biggest and Baddest Speakers out there" were the Wilson puppies?

Not even close.

megasat16

Face wrote: »

Not even close.

hehe..Mike...:biggrin::biggrin:

Why keeping a secret?