top 5

maandjojo
maandjojo Posts: 293
edited June 2009 in Vintage Speakers
Please excuse me for the number of posts today,:confused:I currently have my line in various waters looking to pull me in the big one. My question is, could I see what you folks consider as the top 5 sdas'?

Joe
Joe
Post edited by maandjojo on
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  • bluecomet
    bluecomet Posts: 1,118
    edited June 2009
    On the basis of what I have learned from being in the club, I will say the majority of the members will say. 1. SDA SRS 1.2tl 2. SDA SRS 2.3tl 3. SDA SRS 1.2 4. SDA 1C and 5. SDA SRS 2.3 The tweeters and crossovers seem to be the thing that puts these pairs in the upper tier. Do I agree with the list? I like my SDA SRS 2's that are bi-ampable better than my SDA 1C's. They sound that same only with a bigger soundstage and deeper bass. SDA 2B's also sound sweet and SDA CRS+ are the best book shelf speakers I have ever heard. They get honorable mention in my book. I have the original SDA SRS speakers and they are by far my favorite speaker I own and I did not even put in RDO's in them yet. If you get the SDA SRS speakers make sure you have a big room so they can breathe to appreciate them and get a high powered 4 ohm amp.
    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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  • maandjojo
    maandjojo Posts: 293
    edited June 2009
    My only real suprise here are the 1cs'. I find it amazing with such a simple setup they are rated as high. Thanks, hopefully more will tune in with there opinions.

    Joe
    Joe
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,217
    edited June 2009
    That's tough because I'm sure most would rate the big daddy's as number 1, but in a smaller room they don't do as well as say a 1C or 2B.

    I think the best overall SDA is the 1C. Basically because of it's size and relative numbers available used. It gives 85% of the big boys with a smaller foot print and is a GREAT all around performer

    The top 5 for me would be any of the 4th or 5th (last) generations. They had the best components and benefited from 10+ years of development.

    1) SDA SRS 2.3TL
    2) SDA 1C (very, very close 1st)
    3) SDA 2B (non-studio; simply amazing for a (2) driver speaker and can be "TL" modded)
    4) SDA CRS +
    5) SDA SRS 2 (2nd version pin/blade)

    Honorable mention: SDA SRS 3.1TL
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited June 2009
    heiney9 wrote:
    That's tough because I'm sure most would rate the big daddy's as number 1, but in a smaller room they don't do as well as say a 1C or 2B.

    I think the best overall SDA is the 1C. Basically because of it's size and relative numbers available used. It gives 85% of the big boys with a smaller foot print and is a GREAT all around performer

    The top 5 for me would be any of the 4th or 5th (last) generations. They had the best components and benefited from 10+ years of development.

    1) SDA SRS 2.3TL
    2) SDA 1C (very, very close 1st)
    3) SDA 2B (non-studio; simply amazing for a (2) driver speaker and can be "TL" modded)
    4) SDA CRS +
    5) SDA SRS 2 (2nd version pin/blade)

    Honorable mention: SDA SRS 3.1TL

    This is a very well thought out list...and while argruments concering ranking and inclusion/exclusion could be made either way...the six mentioned are certainly in the mix. I personally have a soft spot for the 1Cs and would certainly include then in any top 5 SDA list.
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

    "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

    "Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
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  • Marty913
    Marty913 Posts: 760
    edited June 2009
    A great list from H9 and hard to argue with. I'm especially glad to see the SDA SRS 3.1TL mentioned. It doesn't get much mention in the forum (not many owners, I think) but a truly under-rated speaker.
    Sony 60'' SXRD 1080p
    Amp = Carver AV-705THX 5-Channel
    Processor = NAD T747
    Panasonic BD35 Blu-Ray
    Main = SDA-1C Studio with RD0s, spikes, XO rebuild, rings, I/C upgrade
    Center=Polk CS10, Surround = Athena Dipoles, Sub= Boston 12HO
    Music/Video Streaming = Netgear NEO550
    TT = Audio Technica
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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited June 2009
    Interesting thread.

    I've always wondered how the 3.1TL's stack up against the bigger brothers. It seems like they'd have a much more subtle SDA effect than the 2.3TL and 1.2TL, due to only having one dimensional driver. Would I be correct in that assumption?
    The nirvana inducer-
    APC H10 Power Conditioner
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    Parasound Halo P5 preamp
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    PolkAudio LSi9's/PolkAudio SDA 2A's/PolkAudio Monitor 7A's
    Audioquest Speaker Cables and IC's
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  • stubby
    stubby Posts: 723
    edited June 2009
    comfortablycurt wrote: »
    Interesting thread.

    I've always wondered how the 3.1TL's stack up against the bigger brothers. It seems like they'd have a much more subtle SDA effect than the 2.3TL and 1.2TL, due to only having one dimensional driver. Would I be correct in that assumption?
    They stack up pretty well against the big boys. They don't have quite the bottom end extension, as to be expected with the smaller cabinet.
    As far as imaging, I think they have better focus and depth. SDA is not as wide all the time. IOW, it takes more seperation on the recording to get the really wide stage. Movies sound really nice with a very real surround effect.
    Dynamic range is very close to their bigger brothers. I listen at some serious levels at times and they never cease to amaze me with their control and effortless manner.

    stubby
    SRS 3.1TL
    Harman Kardon Citation 5.1
    Anthem AVM2



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  • nadams
    nadams Posts: 5,877
    edited June 2009
    Whichever ones I have in my system.

    The original SDA 2's are not regarded as being overly coherent in the soundstage, but by disconnecting the SDA tweeters, they get much more focused.
    Ludicrous gibs!
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  • Tony M
    Tony M Posts: 11,203
    edited June 2009
    I'm sooooooo glad this this thread was started.I'm sure it's been gone over in the past many times and as new owners like me ,we want to know where ours might stand according to a Veteran(expierienced)concensus.I've tried looking in the search section but might not have looked long enough because I couldn't find one.
    I think there should be a permanent thread at the top of this section.
    Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.
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