Opinions on SDA-1B or 1C

Fongolio
Fongolio Posts: 3,516
edited April 2009 in Speakers
I have a chance to buy a pair of excellent condition SDA-1B's or they maybe 1C's. They have the vertical tweeters and are in the black finish. I live in a small apartment and this is about as big a speaker as I have room for. A couple questions....how do you tell the 1B from the 1C? These speakers are 500 miles away so I need to ask the right questions. I've been searching the forums and they seem to be reasonably highly regarded but some real world reviews would be nice. How much should I pay? Asking price is $700.00 canadian dollars which is about $575 american dollars. Anything else to be aware of that anyone can contribute is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Kelvin
SDA-1C (full mods)
Carver TFM-55
NAD 1130 Pre-amp
Rega Planar 3 TT/Shelter 501 MkII
The Clamp
Revox A77 Mk IV Dolby reel to reel
Thorens TD160/Mission 774 arm/Stanton 881S Shibata
Nakamichi CR7 Cassette Deck
Rotel RCD-855 with modified tube output stage
Cambridge Audio DACmagic Plus
ADC Soundshaper 3 EQ
Ben's IC's
Nitty Gritty 1.5FI RCM
Post edited by Fongolio on
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Comments

  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited April 2009
    575.00 is kinda high,even for mint 1C's,,IIRC they came in the Studio Version (black cab/w/base) and the Oak End Cap version(different shades).I have a mint pair of 1c's,that I paid alot less for,thru the help of some polkies,,there may be something in the FM,,then you could set up a relay of sorts,,never know until you ask--good luck.
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited April 2009
    http://polksda.com/ebay.shtml

    1C's have a lip on the top and bottom.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • Fongolio
    Fongolio Posts: 3,516
    edited April 2009
    So is the 1C better or more desirable than the 1B? The seller may or may not have the interconnect cable. Is this hard to find or can one be made that will work?
    SDA-1C (full mods)
    Carver TFM-55
    NAD 1130 Pre-amp
    Rega Planar 3 TT/Shelter 501 MkII
    The Clamp
    Revox A77 Mk IV Dolby reel to reel
    Thorens TD160/Mission 774 arm/Stanton 881S Shibata
    Nakamichi CR7 Cassette Deck
    Rotel RCD-855 with modified tube output stage
    Cambridge Audio DACmagic Plus
    ADC Soundshaper 3 EQ
    Ben's IC's
    Nitty Gritty 1.5FI RCM
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited April 2009
    I haven't heard both, but they are more desirable.

    If the SRS2's are Pin/Blade, a hookup cable would be simple to fabricate. If they're Blade/Blade, you can buy one from Polk, ebay, and I believe Ben even makes them.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • bluecomet
    bluecomet Posts: 1,118
    edited April 2009
    It sounds like you are describing the SDA 1C studio version in black. I have a set and they are excellent. The price is good if you get the interconnect cable, set is in excellent shape and there are no issues with the sound of the speakers such as replacing tweeters and mid's. If these are the speakers you have your heart set on then go for it. You will see them in person and know they won't be damaged in shipping. It is not a bad deal when you factor in savings of shipping and peace of mind from listening to them.
    Polk HT system 1: LSIC, LSI25 mains, LSI F/X rears, Lsi F/X rear centers,
    Yamaha RX-V2500 System, Carver A753 3 channel amp.

    Polk HT system 2: , SRT system with f/x 1,000's rear speakers on 7.1 system currently using Onkyo TX-RZ820 receiver, powered by Sunfire Grand Theater amp

    Polk Speaker collection: SDA SRS 1.2tl x 2, SRT system, SDA SRS 2 P/B, SDA 2A, SDA 1C Studio, SDA CRS+, Monitor 7B & 4, SRS 3.1tl, RTA 15tl, LS90, LSI 9
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  • Ender
    Ender Posts: 603
    edited April 2009
    $575 isn't too bad. It's not an amazing deal. It's more close to fair value, imo. Maybe closer to $500 or so is a bit better.
    SDA 1C, SDA 2A, SDA SRS 2, CMT-340SE, Swan M200MKII, Swan D1080MKII, Behringer MS40

    Outlaw Audio M2200 x2, GFA 555 II, BGW 750C

    GDA 700, Outlaw Audio Model 990, Sansa Fuze, X-Fi Platinum Fatality
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited April 2009
    I don't mean to rain on anyones parade,, but 575.00 is kinda high for 1C's,if you are going to replace the tweeters,add 200.00,,just saying get em' cheaper if you can.Good luck,keep us posted.
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • thsmith
    thsmith Posts: 6,082
    edited April 2009
    I have a pair of 1C studio's on FM for $300. To me $500 is high but if there rarely come up in your area that too is a consideration. I drove to Phoenix from Dallas and back in 48hrs for the Studios. I paid $400 for them and considering gas and a hotel room I guess I actually have well over $500 in them. Never mind my time. But for local pick up over $500 is high IMO.

    Listen to them and make sure you have sound coming from all speakers. without any power to them gently push in on on the PR and the 4 MWs should come out and when PR is release they should retract.
    Again with out power gentle push each MW and make sure they not make a scratch sound. If the do the the magnet has shifted and will have to be replaced.

    If the owner does not have a IC cable I would take a long enough RCA cable with me breaking off the outer ring which would allow you to see if the dimential speakers are working, otherwise they will not play.

    Hope this helps.
    Speakers: SDA-1C (most all the goodies)
    Preamp: Joule Electra LA-150 MKII SE
    Amp: Wright WPA 50-50 EAT KT88s
    Analog: Marantz TT-15S1 MBS Glider SL| Wright WPP100C Amperex BB 6er5 and 7316 & WPM-100 SUT
    Digital: Mac mini 2.3GHz dual-core i5 8g RAM 1.5 TB HDD Music Server Amarra (memory play) - USB - W4S DAC 2
    Cables: Mits S3 IC and Spk cables| PS Audio PCs
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  • Fongolio
    Fongolio Posts: 3,516
    edited April 2009
    thsmith wrote: »
    I have a pair of 1C studio's on FM for $300.

    I'd buy them in a heartbeat if I had a way to get them to Canada. I live in British Columbia.
    SDA-1C (full mods)
    Carver TFM-55
    NAD 1130 Pre-amp
    Rega Planar 3 TT/Shelter 501 MkII
    The Clamp
    Revox A77 Mk IV Dolby reel to reel
    Thorens TD160/Mission 774 arm/Stanton 881S Shibata
    Nakamichi CR7 Cassette Deck
    Rotel RCD-855 with modified tube output stage
    Cambridge Audio DACmagic Plus
    ADC Soundshaper 3 EQ
    Ben's IC's
    Nitty Gritty 1.5FI RCM
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • thsmith
    thsmith Posts: 6,082
    edited April 2009
    Fongolio wrote: »
    I'd buy them in a heartbeat if I had a way to get them to Canada. I live in British Columbia.

    See if you can put together a polk relay as George described. You never know. ANy plans to drive down to the lower 48 in the future ?
    Speakers: SDA-1C (most all the goodies)
    Preamp: Joule Electra LA-150 MKII SE
    Amp: Wright WPA 50-50 EAT KT88s
    Analog: Marantz TT-15S1 MBS Glider SL| Wright WPP100C Amperex BB 6er5 and 7316 & WPM-100 SUT
    Digital: Mac mini 2.3GHz dual-core i5 8g RAM 1.5 TB HDD Music Server Amarra (memory play) - USB - W4S DAC 2
    Cables: Mits S3 IC and Spk cables| PS Audio PCs
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  • Fongolio
    Fongolio Posts: 3,516
    edited April 2009
    Hmmmm. Good idea. I'll see if I can get a relay going. I just remembered as well my son's grandfather (not my dad) is down in Arizona somewhere in his Class A motorhome and may be coming back up to Canada soon. I'll do some emailing. I might just have to get them from Texas to Arizona. Which part of Texas are you in thsmith?
    SDA-1C (full mods)
    Carver TFM-55
    NAD 1130 Pre-amp
    Rega Planar 3 TT/Shelter 501 MkII
    The Clamp
    Revox A77 Mk IV Dolby reel to reel
    Thorens TD160/Mission 774 arm/Stanton 881S Shibata
    Nakamichi CR7 Cassette Deck
    Rotel RCD-855 with modified tube output stage
    Cambridge Audio DACmagic Plus
    ADC Soundshaper 3 EQ
    Ben's IC's
    Nitty Gritty 1.5FI RCM
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,483
    edited April 2009
    thsmith wrote: »
    See if you can put together a polk relay as George described. You never know. ANy plans to drive down to the lower 48 in the future ?
    I live in indiana, and willing to do my part to help....
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
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