SDA Mods not for the faint of heart lol!

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mopar paul
mopar paul Posts: 277
edited January 2010 in Vintage Speakers
Greetings all,
Hope everyone had a great holiday weekend. I ended up breaking my lower leg and had surgery to screw it back together, so didn't make any rounds Christmas day! Anyway, now that I will have 3 months at home on the couch I decided to do some long overdue mods on my speakers. I have a pair of SDA SRS 1.2TL's that I bought from a member here a couple years ago. They already had upgraded RD0198 tweeters. Soon after I did the crossover mods with Sonicaps and Mills resistors and WHAT A DIFFERENCE! Anyway, I decided to make sure my magnets never shift and my speakers survive many more years. After disassembly I decided to also inspect the passive radiators and cabinets. Glad I did. Keep reading.
Post edited by mopar paul on
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  • mopar paul
    mopar paul Posts: 277
    edited December 2009
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    Here is all 16 drivers layed out. I picked up a 2 part epoxy that is used to bond steel body parts together in the auto repair business. It is super strong, and expensive. The epoxy is $35.00 and the special gun to use it with is $40.00, but well worth it for the quality!
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  • JohnLocke88
    JohnLocke88 Posts: 1,150
    edited December 2009
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    $75 is cheap; one replacement would be $50, and that's today; who knows what will happen to the prices as the years pass.
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  • mopar paul
    mopar paul Posts: 277
    edited December 2009
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    After cleaning both sides of the magnet (where it meets the pole plates) with alcohol, I ran a bead of epoxy on both sides of it making a "bridge". I was worried at first that I wouldn't have enough epoxy, but had more than enough. While the lip of the magnet is only about 1/8" wide, if you multiply that times the whole circumference it really adds up to a lot of surface area! Since the epoxy is pretty thick, I was able to do both sides without the fear of it dripping.
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  • mopar paul
    mopar paul Posts: 277
    edited December 2009
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    After that, I turned my attention to the passive radiators. I noticed a rear paper damper had fallen off. I used 3M high tack adhesive to fix that. I then used a Dynamat style product to apply to the basket. If you thump the baskets with your finger you will notice a very high pitch ringing. I dint know if that matters, but hey while it's out it cannot hurt. I used a kind of generic Dynamat and it killed the ringing just fine, I dint think it's real critical what's used here as long as it does the job it's better than nothing.
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  • mopar paul
    mopar paul Posts: 277
    edited December 2009
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    I then turned my attention to the cabinets which I'm really happy I checked thing out. In inspecting the braces I noted that the wood had shrank and caused gaps in the glued areas. Well guess what? Every brace was like this and they RATTLED! It's really odd because I was standing close to one of my speakers the other day and would have sworn I heard a rattle, at first thinking it was a driver! Anyway, you can see what a large gap this created and using some Gorilla Glue solved the problem. Next week I will tackle the mods I'm doing to the interconnect cable and terminal plate so I'll keep you guys posted.
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  • vmaxer
    vmaxer Posts: 5,116
    edited December 2009
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    Looking good. I installed all Cardas binding posts on my 1.2tl's and they are great. I also use PNF Audio cables for the SDA cable. So far so good!!

    good luck and keep us posted.
    Pio Elete Pro 520
    Panamax 5400-EX
    Sunfire TGP 5
    Micro Seiki DD-40 - Lyra-Dorian and Denon DL-160
    PS Audio GCPH phono pre
    Sunfire CG 200 X 5
    Sunfire CG Sig 405 X 5
    OPPO BDP-83 SE
    SDA SRS 1.2TL Sonicaps and Mills
    Ctr CS1000p
    Sur - FX1000 x 4
    SUB - SVS PB2-Plus

    Workkout room:
    Sony Bravia XBR- 32-Inch 1080p
    Onkyo TX-DS898
    GFA 555
    Yamaha DVD-S1800BL/SACD
    Ft - SDA 1C

    Not being used:
    RTi 38's -4
    RT55i's - 2
    RT25i's -2, using other 2 in shop
    LSI 15's
    CSi40
    PSW 404
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,576
    edited December 2009
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    Great job!
    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.
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 16,908
    edited December 2009
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    mopar paul wrote: »
    After that, I turned my attention to the passive radiators. I noticed a rear paper damper had fallen off. I used 3M high tack adhesive to fix that. I then used a Dynamat style product to apply to the basket. If you thump the baskets with your finger you will notice a very high pitch ringing. I dint know if that matters, but hey while it's out it cannot hurt. I used a kind of generic Dynamat and it killed the ringing just fine, I dint think it's real critical what's used here as long as it does the job it's better than nothing.


    Nice Job, and I agree it can be "not for the faint of heart".
    did you just do the passives? doing the drivers is a plus as well.

    Enjoy.
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  • mopar paul
    mopar paul Posts: 277
    edited December 2009
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    The drivers too? Are you kidding me? AHHHH I guess I could do them too, nothing but time on my hands....
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  • agfrost
    agfrost Posts: 2,421
    edited December 2009
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    Nice work.

    A broken leg was my Christmas present to myself last year, so good luck with your recovery. All things considered, looking back, I wish I hadn't broken it!

    Jay
    Jay
    SDA 2BTL * Musical Fidelity A5cr amp * Oppo BDP-93 * Modded Adcom GDA-600 DAC * Rythmik F8 (x2)
    Micro Seiki DQ-50 * Hagerman Cornet 2 Phono * A hodgepodge of cabling * Belkin PF60
    Preamp rotation: Krell KSL (SCompRacer recapped) * Manley Shrimp * PS Audio 5.0
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited December 2009
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    Excellent work! You hit the nail on the head with the "not for the faint of heart" comment. I did my crossovers with Jesse and when he handed the second crossover to me, I broke into a nervous sweat.
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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,100
    edited December 2009
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    Great job man... I would love to see them when you get them back together. I can even bring the beer.:)
    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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  • mopar paul
    mopar paul Posts: 277
    edited December 2009
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    Hey nooshinjohn,
    After I get these puppies back together I'll give you a call and we can hook up & drink a few cold ones, bring some cd's that you like. What part of Indiana are you? I'm down here in Evansville.
    That is of course after I sell some junk in the flea market section-I've got my eye on some McIntosh components that I'm dying for, just need to move some stuff to help fund them!
    Paul
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  • NJPOLKER
    NJPOLKER Posts: 3,474
    edited December 2009
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    How did you break the leg? I hope you didn't break it on purpose so you have extra time on your hands to do all this stuff. People around here have been known to do some pretty crazy stuff just to get deeper and deeper into the rabbit hole. On guy kicked himself in the balls just to get a couple days off work so he could make a road trip to pick up a pair of SDA's Thats a true story. Do a search and I am sure you'll find the thread.
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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,100
    edited December 2009
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    I am in Lafayette... I can bring my Sunfire 600x2 for you to try out.
    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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  • mopar paul
    mopar paul Posts: 277
    edited December 2009
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    I broke it at work, chasing a meth dealer (I'm a cop-please don't hold it against me!). Came down over a fence and landed on one leg as I tackled the guy. Broke the tibia lengthwise and on the end. Man it sure hurt! Shouldn't have bothered, he was out of jail in a week and I'm busted up for 3 months and will probably have arthritis the rest of my life-oh well thats the breaks:D.
    I've got some post in the 2 channel section I would like some advice on if you guys wouldn't mind putting in your 2 cents worth. Thanks!
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited December 2009
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    mopar paul wrote: »
    I broke it at work, chasing a meth dealer (I'm a cop-please don't hold it against me!).

    Those tweakers are trouble!
    Jake
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited December 2009
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    mopar paul wrote: »
    I broke it at work, chasing a meth dealer (I'm a cop-please don't hold it against me!). Came down over a fence and landed on one leg as I tackled the guy. Broke the tibia lengthwise and on the end. Man it sure hurt! Shouldn't have bothered, he was out of jail in a week and I'm busted up for 3 months and will probably have arthritis the rest of my life-oh well thats the breaks:D.
    I've got some post in the 2 channel section I would like some advice on if you guys wouldn't mind putting in your 2 cents worth. Thanks!

    Thanks for your service & bravery protecting the public.
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  • JohnLocke88
    JohnLocke88 Posts: 1,150
    edited December 2009
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    hearingimpared wrote: »
    Thanks for your service & bravery protecting the public.

    +1: just don't taze me bro!
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  • whitetruk
    whitetruk Posts: 308
    edited January 2010
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    welcome back paul(i have your original 1.2 tl)
    and yes they are still in cleveland ohio,with me.
    anything paul has for sale will be better then described,first class guy.
    I thought it was fairly amusing also. The Polk Ogre doesn't always get 'it'
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  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited January 2010
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    Impressive work there, nice job. :)

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


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  • dudeinaroom
    dudeinaroom Posts: 3,609
    edited January 2010
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    mopar paul wrote: »
    I then turned my attention to the cabinets which I'm really happy I checked thing out. In inspecting the braces I noted that the wood had shrank and caused gaps in the glued areas. Well guess what? Every brace was like this and they RATTLED! It's really odd because I was standing close to one of my speakers the other day and would have sworn I heard a rattle, at first thinking it was a driver! Anyway, you can see what a large gap this created and using some Gorilla Glue solved the problem. Next week I will tackle the mods I'm doing to the interconnect cable and terminal plate so I'll keep you guys posted.

    looks like we found out what is wrong with bobt's speakers
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