SDA-SRS on Craigslist...Charlotte, NC

MB,SC Polkie

Hello fellow Polk heads.
MB,SC Polkie here. I am new to the site, and this is my first thread. I recently saw an add on Craigslist for a pair of Polk RTA-15TL's and wanted to pick them up as I really regretted getting rid of my last pair. I went only expecting to pick up a great pair of speakers, and in the process made a great friend.....Hey Tony. What more could you ask for right? While I was there, I had a chance to finally hear some of the big Polk SDA's. I was blown away by the soundstage etc. That was it....I was on a mission to find a pair to call my own. I thought it would probably take a lifetime to find, but none the less I was on the hunt.

After being home for a few days, I did a search. Low n behold there they were in Charlotte, NC. When I saw the add, it was still the most recent thing listed in the electronics section, so I thought I might actually have a chance at them. I emailed the guy, and he told me that I was second in line for them...SDA-SRS (The big ones). The crazy thing about it was that the guy was only asking $600. bucks! I just knew I didn't stand a chance. It was too good to be true! I kept asking myself..."What are the odds of the first guy passing on them at that price?".

After several emails, and a sleepless night, I convinced the seller to contact me via phone. He then told me that the first guy lost interest after he told him that they reeked of cigarette smoke etc. Could this be true? I was stoked to say the least. After getting that news, I got packed up, and rented a Uhaul trailer. I was on the road faster than you can say lickidy split!

I get up there expecting to see some beat up stinky /smokey SDA-SRS speakers, and low and behold there they were gleaming at me as if they knew they were finally going to be appreciated. While I went through the motions of a typical speaker deal....testing etc. I couldn't help but think how I was wasting my time! There was nothing at that point that could possably be a deal breaker. I carefully strapped them down to a queen sized mattress in the back of the covered trailer, and sealed the deal with the mutual understanding that if there were any blown 6.5's he would toss me some cash back.

It was a long haul, but well worth it! When I returned home and told my new buddy Tony about them, he informed me that the guys at Club Polk were buzzing about who was the lucky sap that landed the Charlotte SDA-SRS's. I read the whole thread, and it only reinforced what I already knew to be true....I had landed one heck of a deal! To this day I still find myself staring in ahw. They don't even have to be playing anything to be appreciated! I thought about joining a Polk Club before if I could find one on the internet, but now that I'm sitting on the biggest RTA's, and the biggest SDA's, I no longer am lurking in the shadows!

Thanks for letting me be a part of such a great club! I am honored, and hope to help others when I can, as I will need help too. If you find yourself saying what a lucky s._.b., don't give up the search! It truly is a magical moment to be in the presence of such a wonderful vintage speaker! The stars do actually align at times. That deal is proof!

Have a great one!!

comfortablycurt

Welcome to Club Polk!

Sounds like you got a killer deal on those speakers!

Stick around for a while and you'll end up upgrading those tweeters to some RD0-198's...and upgrading the crossovers!;)

What kinda gear are you running those beasts with?

gdb

Welcome......thief!! Just kidding.:D what are you going to use for amplification?

MB,SC Polkie

I was thinking about picking up an Adcom 5802, but not sure. I currently own an Adcom 5400, Adcom 5500, Nad 2200, Onkyo Integra M-504. I am concerned about the common ground thing, and don't know which one of my amps are safe to use with them for now. I'm all ears on suggestions on what I have now as well as what would really set them off. Thanks

Tony M

Hi John,
I would like to see that Onkyo m504 heat up pushing them, Also with that p-306 pre to control the sound. It should be a warm day in the south that day:D. I guess on any of those amps you should be able to cook some dogs and chili on em ,If you play em like you should.

Testing, Testing, 7.8.9. oh yeah!!;) testing, testing, 10.11.12 oh sh*% temp. rising..soundfields spreading..chicka chicka boom boom... lets daaance to the MUSIC......

AND A BIG Welcome ABOARD to the BEST, diverse, funny at times ,classiest, knowledgable AUDIO club I know..CLUB POLK..da daaaa.

mmadden28

Welcome to the Club, and thanks for sharing your story.

beemer

Great story, Great speaker, Great deal. Enjoy!

Best,

Paul

engtaz

Congrats and welcome.

hearingimpared

Welcome to Club Polk. If I'm not mistaken you can't use RD0198s you have to use RD0194s.

MB,SC Polkie

Can anyone tell me which of the amps originally mentioned are common ground amps, and which are not? Thanks in advance.

Conradicles

Welcome to Club Polk MB, enjoy those SDA's.

Tony M

I have read that non-common ground amps have WARNINGS on the rear panel but to make sure I also have read you can contact the amp company cust. service or POLK audio cust. serv. and someone there might be able to tell you about your amps in question.

Maybe an owners manual will state in ther some where.

I know you don't want to ruin your new speakers or a fine amp on the maiden voyage.....:eek:

MB,SC Polkie

tony millard wrote: »

I have read that non-common ground amps have WARNINGS on the rear panel but to make sure I also have read you can contact the amp company cust. service or POLK audio cust. serv. and someone there might be able to tell you about your amps in question.

Maybe an owners manual will state in ther some where.

I know you don't want to ruin your new speakers or a fine amp on the maiden voyage.....:eek:

Exactly! This is also why I am waiting to hook up the SDA I.C. cable. The last thing I want to do is damage them. Lacking all manuals, and didn't want to bug the guys at Polk Audio, even though I know they would gladly help me.

NJPOLKER

As I remember the Adcom 5400 5500 are not common ground. Call Adcom and ask customer service. They will probably tell you to tie the black posts together.

Conradicles

^^Pretty sure NJ is correct as I had the 5300 and connecting the grounds will work and make that particular design common ground.^^

NJPOLKER

I forgot to welcome you to the club. Thanks for sharing the success story with us too.

NJPOLKER

I had a Adcom 5400 and called Adcom Customer Service and they told me its ok to tie the Black terminals together with some 16 gauge wire I had around. And they were right. It was a great Amp but not nearly enough juice for me so I sold it.

BB3

MB,SC Polkie.....I can relate with your speaker situation.

I'll still own my RTA15TL's that I bought brand new and lately...I've been like a man possessed. I bought 2 sets of SDA-SRS's within just a couple of weeks of each other.

Anyways....Congratulations on your purchase, happy listening, and welcome to the Polk Audio Forum.
----B.B.3

SDA SRS 1.2

Great deal - Congrats!

Emlyn

Be careful with the 5802 if you buy one. See this thread:

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72787&highlight=5802

MB,SC Polkie

Emlyn wrote: »

Be careful with the 5802 if you buy one. See this thread:

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72787&highlight=5802

Thanks for steering me to this article. It was very helpful. Lots of great links, and a great read. Take care.;)

MB,SC Polkie

I really need to take the time to mention how awesome my wife is with stuff like this. She really is a trooper! When I landed this deal, she didn't roll her eyes or anything. She even called the Uhaul rental for me. We went through hell to say the least, as far as the drive is concerned. All the bikers were leaving the Myrtle Beach area after bike week, so the short route was nasty!

We ended up driving for about 7 hours there, when it should have taken about 4 hours. It was freaking raining cats and dogs! Thank God for the covered trailer! Anyway, I just really wanted to take the time to add how selfless my wife is, and was that day....and yes it ate up the whole day.

I didn't hear the first complaint out of her. The kicker is that I have enough gear to wire up the neighborhood,:p and she should have been pissed that there was another set of speakers coming home. Not just any speakers, but freaking monster speakers.

I try to stick to a general concept to keep her happy as it can be a bit overwhelming concidering she isn't an audio freak like I am. It simply is this...Blood in, blood out. This is a way to keep the audio gear to a reasonable limit. Reasonable by my standards, not hers. What a gal! My hat goes off to her, and to say the least, she rocks as hard as the SDA-SRS's!

Sorry to ramble, but as you all know, a wife like this to some is just a myth. I am truly greatful, and know how rare a gal like she is! This is a very important part of the story, and no, she isn't kicking me in the ribs right now. To all the women out there that suppot there men and there screwed up audio addiction my hat goes off.

Thanks!;)

mmadden28

Cool-My hat is also off to her---

however....:o
the pessimistic side of me is telling me she wants some new (expensive)jewelry or a new car and she knows your softspot. :eek::D

MB,SC Polkie

mmadden28 wrote: »

Cool-My hat is also off to her---

however....:o
the pessimistic side of me is telling me she wants some new (expensive)jewelry or a new car and she knows your softspot. :eek::D

Sometimes a good thing is simply that. No alterior motives. Just supporting me and my obsession when she knows it means a lot to me. Most people would agree with you. Most people however do not have such a understanding wife when it comes to tons of audio gear.:( I however do. I don't say this to smight you, rather to help you understand the depth of her support for my obsession simply because she loves me, and likes to see me smile for a month or so after such a bomb deal. What a classy gal!;)

mmadden28

I know--I was just kidding -messing with you. .

You're a lucky guy--and she's a lucky gal to have a husband to recognize her for it.

MB,SC Polkie

mmadden28 wrote: »

I know--I was just kidding -messing with you. .

You're a lucky guy--and she's a lucky gal to have a husband to recognize her for it.

Rock on brother, rock on!;)

Tony M

Hi John, Can you believe my wife pulled out the card (a couple weeks ago)to allow me to get some NAD gear.She always asks "do you have this already?" or "when did you get this?".... You know my wife, and I thank God for mine too. She (for the first time) even sat in on the first try-out of the set of Jbl L3's (yard sale find sat. before last)I showed you..She was actually getting into it.:p
Now if our wives get this bug, that would be quite interesting huh.

OH, another friend came by tonight and he had heard my SDA SRS2's in the early stages and there was distortion so he didn't hear anything close to what these were capable of. Tonight that changed. He wrote down the model # and he said he would like to get a set of them some day.
Maybe his search will end with the Big guys too.:D
I told him he just missed nooshinjohns' perfect pair. He does road trips quite often for car parts so he would've combined the two I think.

Thank God for understanding wives