SDA-2 thoughts?

lakedmb
lakedmb Posts: 35
edited November 2009 in Vintage Speakers
Hey everyone -

What is the general consensus on the SDA-2?

Also, what would be a normal range in price for a used pair?

Thanks!
Post edited by lakedmb on
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited October 2009
    Which sda 2's are you referring to?
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lakedmb
    lakedmb Posts: 35
    edited October 2009
    Not sure of the type, but will ask. Here is a picture of them.

    Thanks.

    3k33m13o75O35P25R49a7469e5a6e83af1c85.jpg
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • NJPOLKER
    NJPOLKER Posts: 3,474
    edited October 2009
    Like they say, no one likes their child being called ugly, but they are ugly. Kind of joking here but the single tweeter dual driver version is a much better sounding speaker.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • nadams
    nadams Posts: 5,877
    edited October 2009
    Those are the original SDA 2's. NOT 2a's, or 2b's.

    I picked mine up for $175 from a polkie, but both SDA 6.5's were locked up and had to be replaced. Also, they have the SL2000's, which almost everyone will recommend you replace with the new silk tweeters.

    Personally, I just disconnected the two SDA tweeters and the sound is much tamer now.
    Ludicrous gibs!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,216
    edited October 2009
    They look like 2A's to me. Original 2's had a baffle material around the outer cabinet front and drivers. Of course all the models crossed over so who knows. They are definitely not the very earliest of 2's. Not the most desirable because of the 3 drivers and side by side tweets..............but they are SDA's.

    H9
    "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!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lakedmb
    lakedmb Posts: 35
    edited October 2009
    Thanks for all the feedback. I think I will pass on this pair. Glad I got some good info on them before taking the plunge.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • thsmith
    thsmith Posts: 6,082
    edited October 2009
    Try to find a nice pair of 1Cs, upgrade the crossovers and tweets and you will be happy.
    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
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • THEJERMON
    THEJERMON Posts: 96
    edited October 2009
    Hello Lakedmb,
    I have a set of those and love them. I think they are a fantastic sounding speaker and are very accurate. If the price is right, I would personally jump on them. The set I bought a year or two ago cost me a little over $400 bucks delivered to my door and they were in mint condition. I hopefully will always have a set of these SDA 2's.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • fbm211
    fbm211 Posts: 1,488
    edited October 2009
    You could always change them to a 1 tweeter design.
    SDA-2BTL with custom IC
    Adcom 565 monoblocks--Monarchy Audio M-10 preamp
    Theta Data Basic Transport--Stello DA100 Signature DAC--Camelot Dragon Pro2 MK III
    Harman Kardon T-55c TT
    DH Labs Q-10 Signature Speaker Cables With Furez silver plated copper bananas
    Revelation Audio Labs Prophecy Cryo-Silver Reference AES/EBU
    Revelation Audio Labs Prophecy Cryo-Silver i2s digital cable
    4 Furutech FP-314Ag with FI-11cu Plugs/FI-11AG IECs--- Power Cords
    DH LABS REVELATIONS ICs-amps
    Revelation Audio Labs Paradise cryo-silver ICs-Source to pre
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • NJPOLKER
    NJPOLKER Posts: 3,474
    edited October 2009
    fbm211 wrote: »
    You could always change them to a 1 tweeter design.

    Which is a pain in the **** compared to finding the "right" SDA's but always an option.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited October 2009
    Why is it a PITA? If the price is right and condition is tight, big deal.

    The dimensional tweeter array isn't a bad thing, just not everyone enjoys it. I've had 3 pair of that speaker and always liked them since they aren't common.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • NJPOLKER
    NJPOLKER Posts: 3,474
    edited October 2009
    Its a pain in the **** to properly seal off the openings which won't be used when changing over to a single tweeter design for starters.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited October 2009
    Why would you do more than is actually neccesary?
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited October 2009
    heiney9 wrote: »
    They look like 2A's to me. Original 2's had a baffle material around the outer cabinet front and drivers. Of course all the models crossed over so who knows. They are definitely not the very earliest of 2's. Not the most desirable because of the 3 drivers and side by side tweets..............but they are SDA's.

    H9

    Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe those are 2A's. I've got a pair of 2A's, and they're of the two MW, one tweeter design.
    The nirvana inducer-
    APC H10 Power Conditioner
    Marantz UD5005 universal player
    Parasound Halo P5 preamp
    Parasound HCA-1200II power amp
    PolkAudio LSi9's/PolkAudio SDA 2A's/PolkAudio Monitor 7A's
    Audioquest Speaker Cables and IC's
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,216
    edited October 2009
    comfortablycurt wrote: »
    Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe those are 2A's. I've got a pair of 2A's, and they're of the two MW, one tweeter design.

    You're probably correct as I was thinking of 1A's as they one had an extra generation. But again as I stated
    Of course all the models crossed over

    there isn't a clear delineation between successive models. Many were parts bin models until all the older parts were used up.
    "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!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • nadams
    nadams Posts: 5,877
    edited October 2009
    My SDA2's have the same driver arrangement, and are the original 2's.

    You don't have to go through all the work to modify the cabinet to switch over to a single tweeter. Simply disconnect the dimensional tweeter, and put it back in the cabinet. Now you have a spare tweeter in each cabinet if you pop one.

    Ben recommends adding a resistor somewhere in the crossover to bring the level of the remaining tweeter up, but I didn't find it necessary. With the SL2000's, there's still plenty of tweet for my tastes, and I'm running the speakers flat on my pre.
    Ludicrous gibs!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited October 2009
    Ding ding ding.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • NJPOLKER
    NJPOLKER Posts: 3,474
    edited October 2009
    Damn I forgot about this thread. Ding ding ding you are right :) I didn't think about it that way. Always learning.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • richamor
    richamor Posts: 16
    edited November 2009
    Well, I'll dig up this old thread by saying I'm the happy new owner of those SDA2's. And according to the literature that came with them, that's what they are, 4ohm SDA2's with the SL2000 tweeters. In fact, they came with everything but the original boxes, including the original purchase receipt for $1000.00 ($930.00 + tax).
    The tweeters are a bit bright, but switching on the hi filter on the amp takes care of that. I may do the RDO-194 upgrade later if it will sort that out. In my 13x13 "listening" room they sound pretty good. The sound is certainly different. I think my Epicure 2.0's have a little more musical clarity, but they don't have the presence of the Polk's and I like the SDA effect. They'll never replace my Klipsch KG4.5's but I'm thinking I'll be hanging onto them. Time will tell.
    I really don't have room for much larger speakers and passed on the SRS's on ebay located in Raleigh.
    And yeah, the speaker arrangement is sorta funky, I just keep the grills on as is recommended.:D
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited November 2009
    Congrats on the new Speakers..

    I've heard nadams set above so I'd say follow his advice and you'll enjoy them even more...if you're up for RDO-194s you can do that too.

    I have SDA 2Bs which stll have the SL2000 tweeters...I may go RDO eventually but they're OK even with the 2000s...as you've described.

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • keith allen
    keith allen Posts: 734
    edited November 2009
    That was the first pair of sda's that I owned,for my types of music I didnt really care for them. I did dig the sda effect that they produce,but because of the lack of bass they really werent for me.I now own sda1a's and Im lovin em!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • movtarget
    movtarget Posts: 125
    edited November 2009
    richamor wrote: »
    Well, I'll dig up this old thread by saying I'm the happy new owner of those SDA2's. And according to the literature that came with them, that's what they are, 4ohm SDA2's with the SL2000 tweeters. In fact, they came with everything but the original boxes, including the original purchase receipt for $1000.00 ($930.00 + tax).
    The tweeters are a bit bright, but switching on the hi filter on the amp takes care of that. I may do the RDO-194 upgrade later if it will sort that out. In my 13x13 "listening" room they sound pretty good. The sound is certainly different. I think my Epicure 2.0's have a little more musical clarity, but they don't have the presence of the Polk's and I like the SDA effect. They'll never replace my Klipsch KG4.5's but I'm thinking I'll be hanging onto them. Time will tell.
    I really don't have room for much larger speakers and passed on the SRS's on ebay located in Raleigh.
    And yeah, the speaker arrangement is sorta funky, I just keep the grills on as is recommended.:D


    SRS in Raleigh on ebay? - still active, recent, or a while ago? Not seeing it in completed listings. Would be interested. Any info appreciated (not trying to thread jack, just missed it)

    *** Editing to say nevermind - found them on ebay - SRS2's - I'm looking for another SRS original thank you ****

    Movtarget in Raleigh
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter