Making an SDA interconnect

inspiredsports

Assimilator87 wrote: »

Thanks for taking the time to quote four different posts instead of helping someone in need.

It's just that I just derived such huge entertainment value from what were your original words, . . .

. . . which were precisely, "I can't be bothered . . . " .

Assimilator87

inspiredsports wrote: »

It's just that I just derived huge entertainment value from what were your original words, . . . "I can't be bothered" .

No worries. I probably deserve some ball busting for that line. So is it safe to disconnect and reconnect the cable while there's something playing so I can A/B the difference? I keep worrying about frying something. It may not sound like it, but these are my dream speakers and they're one of the most prized possessions of mine.

inspiredsports

Assimilator87,

I might have missed this, but did you say your SDA-2B female interconnect connections on the back of the cabinet are what they call Blade/Blade, or Pin/Blade?

The reason I ask is that the 1987 Blade/Blade version of the SDA-2B is unique in that only the narrow blade is connected inside of the cabinet. If you have Blade/Blade, I don't think an RCA plug will fit into the narrow blade's slot.

Greg

Assimilator87

It has the pin/blade jack.

inspiredsports

Assimilator87 wrote: »

It has the pin/blade jack.

Then it is correct that only the pin side needs to be connected from left to right cabinet to complete the SDA circuit if you are certain you have a common ground amp.

All you need then is the single pin to pin connection (I was actually being half serious that a coat hanger wire between the two pin sockets really would do the trick if you could insure it didn't touch anything that would short it out )

. . . is it safe to disconnect and reconnect the cable while there's something playing so I can A/B the difference? I keep worrying about frying something. It may not sound like it, but these are my dream speakers and they're one of the most prized possessions of mine.

I've plugged and unplugged mine a few times with music on at moderate listening volumes with both my SDA-2B's and SDA SRS 2's with no apparent problems. I'm not an EE, but my take on it is that it impacts the speakers in even less than the same way as when you first turn them on with the volume turned up a bit on your preamp or receiver.

2B's are amazing speakers, especially when modified according to "TL" guidelines you can find here at CP.

hearingimpared

inspiredsports wrote: »

Then it is correct that only the pin side needs to be connected from left to right cabinet to complete the SDA circuit if you are certain you have a common ground amp.

All you need then is the single pin to pin connection (I was actually being half serious that a coat hanger wire between the two pin sockets really would do the trick if you could insure it didn't touch anything that would short it out )


I've plugged and unplugged mine a few times with music on at moderate listening volumes with both my SDA-2B's and SDA SRS 2's with no apparent problems. I'm not an EE, but my take on it is that it impacts the speakers in even less than the same way as when you first turn them on with the volume turned up a bit on your preamp or receiver.

2B's are amazing speakers, especially when modified according to "TL" guidelines you can find here at CP.

Yes my friend but how would it sound?

PolkMaster1

Should one attempt to replace the SDA interconnect cable of his (meaning me) Polk Audio Speaker?

I take it I would get better imaging if I did?

And if I did, would anyone recommend using a quality RCA cable and chassis connector to replace the current IC cable or should one use binding posts with heavy sheilded speaker cable to get the maximum imaging?

Audio nirvana is the goal here.

hearingimpared

PolkMaster1 wrote: »

Should one attempt to replace the SDA interconnect cable of his (meaning me) Polk Audio Speaker?

I take it I would get better imaging if I did?

And if I did, would anyone recommend using a quality RCA cable and chassis connector to replace the current IC cable or should one use binding posts with heavy sheilded speaker cable to get the maximum imaging?

Audio nirvana is the goal here.

Check this thread out by DarqueKnight.

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30467

Great stuff on SDA cables.

PolkMaster1

I have not read the whole article yet by DarqeKnight (but I will, love his name by the way!), with all the modifications that people have done with the SDA line to further improve the sound, one would think that Polk would have put all of these improvements into their hallmark SDA and SRS-SDA line to give it the final touches, marking them a superior speaker, which they already were at the time that they were manufacturered and are still considered a superior speaker for those of us who are experienced with the legendary Polk SDA sound.

Are you really hearing impared as your name implies? Is it because of all that SDA listening you do? ;-)

hearingimpared

PolkMaster1 wrote: »

I have not read the whole article yet by DarqeKnight (but I will, love his name by the way!), with all the modifications that people have done with the SDA line to further improve the sound, one would think that Polk would have put all of these improvements into their hallmark SDA and SRS-SDA line to give it the final touches, marking them a superior speaker, which they already were at the time that they were manufacturered and are still considered a superior speaker for those of us who are experienced with the legendary Polk SDA sound.

Are you really hearing impared as your name implies? Is it because of all that SDA listening you do? ;-)

To answer your first question they had to keep costs down or the price of the speakers would have been prohibitive at the time and to the target consumer.

Yep, I have hearing lose in my right ear since I was a child but have become accustomed to it.

inspiredsports

hearingimpared wrote: »

Yes my friend but how would it sound?

Joe, that's one experiment (coat hanger) I have not tried.

I have some very special 12-gauge 19-strand Silver wire with Kapton Teflon insulation running between both sets of SDA's. And yes, after I did the listening tests, I sold both my original Polk and Polk after-market interconnect cables here in the CP for sale thread.