RTA 11TL vs SDA 2B with TL mod

Big Dawg
Big Dawg Posts: 2,005
edited May 2012 in Vintage Speakers
I currently own a pair of SDA 2Bs. I have a line on a pair of RTA 11TLs (what is a fair price?). I'm interested to know how the two compare - what are the similarities and differences in sound (especially if I replace the tweeters in the RTA's with RDO198).

I'm assuming that most here will prefer the SDAs, but I'd like to know if anyone feels differently?
Post edited by Big Dawg on
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited January 2010
    The RTA's will work in rooms where SDA's won't. If you don't have at least 14 feet of wall to setup SDA's properly the RTA's will perform better.
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,375
    edited January 2010
    The RTA's with the RDO198 and XO upgrade are quite incredible. The sound stage is wider and has a nearly 3D presence without sounding artificial.

    I haven't experienced the SDA's in many years but I'd love to compare.
    Stan
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
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  • Big Dawg
    Big Dawg Posts: 2,005
    edited January 2010
    ben62670 wrote: »
    The RTA's will work in rooms where SDA's won't. If you don't have at least 14 feet of wall to setup SDA's properly the RTA's will perform better.

    I have a large enough space - perhaps too large. The wall that the speakers are on is about 16 feet, and the room is about 23 feet long and mostly open to another room about 18-20 feet more. That's part of why I am wondering. The sweet spot with the 2Bs is fairly small - would the 11TLs open up the listening area? Also, given the similar drivers (and eventually identical tweeters), would they sound about the same (minus the SDA effect)?
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  • Big Dawg
    Big Dawg Posts: 2,005
    edited January 2010
    skrol wrote: »
    The RTA's with the RDO198 and XO upgrade are quite incredible. The sound stage is wider and has a nearly 3D presence without sounding artificial.

    I haven't experienced the SDA's in many years but I'd love to compare.
    Stan

    I've only heard the SDAs. I've heard good things about the RTAs, though. Are they preferred in the order of size (15TL, 11TL, 8TL)?

    Anyone have thoughts on what is a fair price?
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  • domflane
    domflane Posts: 653
    edited January 2010
    Anything around $150 is normal, but I've seen them for closer to $100 in decent shape. I had a chance to get a pair for $120, wish I would have jumped on it.
    Home Theater
    RTiA5 - CSiA6 - FXiA6 - PSW650 - Pioneer Elite SC-55 - Carver AV-505 - Sony 46" 120Hz - Monster HP 2400 - Xbox 360 - Playstation 3
    2 Channel
    Polk RTA 15TL - Harman Kardon HK3485 - HK DVD48 - Signal Cable IC's and speaker cables
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited January 2010
    $200 is fair for minty 11's.
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited January 2010
    I had 11's and have 1C's now. There is no comparison, apples and oranges. The 1C's are "better" in every way. That's not to say the 11's aren't great, but if I had to choose just one pair...............there is no choice SDA 1C's all the way.

    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!
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited January 2010
    I'll add that most SDA's sound very good out of the sweetspot. You don;t the same "effect" but they still sound full and large. You will have the same issue with the 11's. They have a small sweetspot too and off axis they sound very good.

    If you have such a large room try 1C's or 2.3 or 1.2 SDA's if you are having a problem filling the room. The 11's won't put out anymore sound than your 2B's.

    11's are great but SDA's are "better" IMO.

    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!
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited January 2010
    If you do the TL mod, you'll forget all about the 11TL's.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • Big Dawg
    Big Dawg Posts: 2,005
    edited January 2010
    Face wrote: »
    If you do the TL mod, you'll forget all about the 11TL's.

    My 2Bs already include the TL mod (and sound great). I'm just looking for MORE.

    I guess I'll move on....

    Thanks for the input!
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited January 2010
    Big Dawg wrote: »
    I'm just looking for MORE.

    Thanks for the input!

    See post #9 or start improving your gear.

    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!
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  • kniowsk1
    kniowsk1 Posts: 33
    edited February 2010
    $200 seems like a steal for the 11TLs. If you can find some for that I would jump on it.
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  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,375
    edited February 2010
    delete
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
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  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,375
    edited February 2010
    kniowsk1 wrote: »
    $200 seems like a steal for the 11TLs. If you can find some for that I would jump on it.

    How much are you paying for yours that you are getting in a couple weeks and that you are so excited about?
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
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  • MillerLiteScott
    MillerLiteScott Posts: 2,561
    edited February 2010
    Bigdawg if the 2B's are not giving you what you want in your room you should move up the SDA ladder because the 11TL's are not going to give you anymore than the 2B's infact it could be less. IMHO

    Scott
    I like speakers that are bigger than a small refrigerator but smaller than a big refrigerator:D
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  • chumlie
    chumlie Posts: 8,658
    edited May 2012
    bump for ambiophonics.
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  • ambiophonics
    ambiophonics Posts: 726
    edited May 2012
    thanks chumlie - exactly the info I was looking for
    2 Channel - Polk SDA-2BTL, Carver TFM-35, Peachtree iDAC, Qobuz streamed via Episode Lynk using bubble UPnP server
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  • boston1450
    boston1450 Posts: 7,640
    edited May 2012
    not sure this helps but here goes. i have 16+24 room had sda2b hooked up in that room. sounded awesome. decided to bring them into main room which is much smaller. when i play it now i hear it EVERYWHERE in house. smaller room..i inturn used my RTA15TL's in my bigger room and they sound wonderful. im looking at a pair of 11t's for the big room. hope they are in good condition. should sound good on a HK3470 i have the 2channel hooked to tv on audio as tv is NEVER on anyways. the sda's do very nicely in the room that is 12+14 with openings to other rooms. not sure id wanna use them in a closed small room. probably brain damage for sure. good luck
    ..
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