Life After SDA?

SMP

I continue to own a pair of vintage SDA 2's that I purchased in the mid 80's. They were my first and have remained my only floorstanding speakers for the last quarter century.

I've finally replaced my analog tv with hdtv and my dvd player with blu ray.

So I'm now wondering if there is life or a loudspeaker after SDA? If you've owned an SDA and have replaced them, I've curious about which loudspeakers you finally settled on and why?

Thanks for your time in sharing your journey!

ben62670

Upgrade them with new XO's and tweeters. They will give you another 20 years, and sound better than stock.
Ben

SMP

Thanks for your reply Ben. Sounds like you've been down this path before. Am I right? What crossover and tweeters did you replace yours with?

Ed

Toolfan66

He has been around the block a time or two.:)

nooshinjohn

Life after SDA...

















is simply not worth living.;)

SMP

So ... I'll bite. No one on this forum who has ever owned an SDA loudspeaker from Polk has bought another speaker that they thought was an upgrade?

Talweh

well, I'm pretty new here, and also new to SDA ownership, but from what I have gathered hanging around here, most of us aren't loaded, and it costs a LOT of money to find a better speaker. If I'm wrong, I'm sure some(every)one will correct me...

Hypnotoad

I entertained the idea of Martin Logan.

The Martin Logan's I listened to were a bit sterile for my taste accurate but not inviting.

Then I listened to some SDA's and loved them immediately, good bass, not a huge amount of power needed. Realistic buying price and the SDA effect makes you sound like you are in a concert hall.

Don't think I will be buying anything else for quite a while.

comfortablycurt

SMP wrote: »

So ... I'll bite. No one on this forum who has ever owned an SDA loudspeaker from Polk has bought another speaker that they thought was an upgrade?

I've never owned any speakers better than my SDA's, but that's simply because I haven't gotten anything different yet.

A lot of people will say that you have to spend 8-9000 dollars to get anything better, but I can't say I agree with that. I've heard speakers in much smaller price ranges that I think sound better than SDA's. They simply don't have the SDA effect.

The SDA's big drawback to me is in accuracy, and a slightly muddy(at times) bottom end. The high end through the RD0-194's has a touch of harshness to me at times as well.

The big thing to me with the SDA's, is how unique sounding they are. There aren't any other speakers out there with the SDA effect. I've never heard a speaker with a wider soundstage. I'll upgrade my speakers eventually, but I'll always have a pair of SDA's around.

FWIW, I think the LSi series smokes the SDA's as far as actual sound quality goes. The high end is MUCH smoother, the mids are punchier, low end is tighter and more focused. They just don't sound "larger than life" like the SDA's do. The SDA's do have a distinct warmth in the mid-range that the LSi's can't match though.

dorokusai

There are a bunch of better loudspeakers. For me it was Magnepan.

F1nut

There is no life after SDA's, period.

The SDA's big drawback to me is in accuracy, and a slightly muddy(at times) bottom end. The high end through the RD0-194's has a touch of harshness to me at times as well.

It's not the speakers, so look elsewhere for the issues.

muncybob

I still run my 2B's in my game room and they sound great in there. Upgrading the crossovers is nest on my list(tweets done). I replaced them with Vandersteen 2CE that I picked up locally for $400...in good condition. Different sound for sure but I mean that in a good way. The mids seem a bit more detailed. I doubt I'm getting the best of either speaker as I'm still running an AVR to power them. After the SDA upgrade a good amp is next.

I guess this is proof you don't need to spend big $$$$ for good sound.

heiney9

There probably is............but you're not just going to find any old pair of speakers that will come even close and plan to spend some serious cash.

Maggies are nice, Gallo's are nice, Dynaudio, Totem, Linnbrook, Von Schweikert, etc, are all very, very nice, but be prepared to reach deep into your pockets and they may not satisfy in the same way SDA's can. New tweets and some really nice caps and resistors will really improve a pair of SDA's. So you should seriously think about that option as well.

I disagree with Curt as two of the SDA's strongest characteristics is the amazingly solid, deep, organic uncolored bass and the clarity up top w/RD0's and proper new caps. Mated with the right gear and set-up properly SDA's are every bit as good as many top "box" speakers today.

H9

heiney9

P.s. I just have to add that IMO, having owned LSi's and hearing them on several occasions.........they in no way "smoke" the SDA's. In fact they have some bass issues that are hard to miss.

LSi 9's have a very prominent upper mid bass hump and LSi 15's have a bit of a control issue and tend to be slow in the bass area. These two reasons are why I decided to sell my LSi's and never looked at another pair. Don't get me wrong LSi's are damn fine speakers but I couldn't live with upper bass hump and the 15's can't come close to doing bass like the SDA's. Not even close.

All Polk speakers tend to have the midrange warmth, regardless of age...........it's sort of the unofficial trait of Polk Audio speakers. Some have it more than others, but it's there.

To sum up SDA's are MUCH more than just the SDA effect as some have alluded to here.

H9

McLoki

heiney9 wrote: »

P.s. I just have to add that IMO, having owned LSi's and hearing them on several occasions.........they in no way "smoke" the SDA's. In fact they have some bass issues that are hard to miss.

LSi 9's have a very prominent upper mid bass hump and LSi 15's have a bit of a control issue and tend to be slow in the bass area. These two reasons are why I decided to sell my LSi's and never looked at another pair. Don't get me wrong LSi's are damn fine speakers but I couldn't live with upper bass hump and the 15's can't come close to doing bass like the SDA's. Not even close.

All Polk speakers tend to have the midrange warmth, regardless of age...........it's sort of the unofficial trait of Polk Audio speakers. Some have it more than others, but it's there.

To sum up SDA's are MUCH more than just the SDA effect as some have alluded to here.

H9

In all fairness - did you compare your SDA's to LSi's both in stock form or both modded?

LSi's will never be a match for SDA's in soundstage width, but I bet modded to modded - they will compare pretty well in other areas and come out ahead in some. (whether the areas the LSi's beat the SDA's are important to you or not is an entirely other question... )

My goal for this year is to get my 15's modded (upgraded crossovers and 8" woofer). Once I do and they get broken in a bit - I will make a point to bring them up (or invite the RAS crew down) so we can get a good modded to modded comparison.

Michael

To the OP (and so I can actually contribute something to the thread) - There are lots of speakers that are better than SDA's in one characteristic or another (even quite a few that are better in most ways) - what are you looking for? Just ready for a change? What do you not like about your SDA's? If nothing else, you could always move up the SDA line....

tonyb

SMP wrote: »

So ... I'll bite. No one on this forum who has ever owned an SDA loudspeaker from Polk has bought another speaker that they thought was an upgrade?

Pal, I have to say a good majority of members here have had SDA's in some fashion over the years, and have moved on. Just part of the audio journey is all. For me, I've owned alot of Polk speakers, The last ones, the SRT system, the king some will say of the SDA's,was replaced with Legacy Focus 20/20's and without any regrets. There are more speaker companies now than you can shake a stick at these days so your options are endless. SDA's still offer some of the best SQ for your buck, you'd be surprised what they can do with upgraded source electronics. I might also add that most,being as old as they are, are in need of some upgradeing in the speakers themselves,which some do not have the time or knowhow to do, and thats tragic really because they are capable of so much more. Granted,SDA's are not the most beautifull speaker out there, but still hold their own after decades.

heiney9

Valid point Michael.

Schurkey

dorokusai wrote: »

There are a bunch of better loudspeakers. For me it was Magnepan.

I had a "near magical" moment with a pair of Maggies in the dealer showroom.

They were set up for nearfield listening; and I wasn't thrilled with the choice of music being played through them--it was some audiophile-approved stuff which was wonderfully recorded but the actual music had no emotional impact for me.

At any rate, there was a semi-comfy two-person seating arrangement; my wife and I parked there, and I was STUNNED at the treble clarity. There was no lack of bass, the midrange was wonderful--but the treble was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. And absolute pinpoint imaging. No SDA-outside-the-triangle "widetrack soundstaging"; but what width there was--was PERFECT.

My wife liked them; but mostly she humored me.

We walked around the showroom for awhile; and then went back to the Maggies. This time, she sat where I had, and I sat where she had.

SHE thought they were magical, pin-point, and "perfect". I thought they were pretty good. In that room, with that seating position, the "sweet spot" did NOT extend to two people. An absolute E-ticket ride (for one person.)

This would have been at the Maggie dealer in Minneapolis (Audio Perfection) and many, many years ago--early-to-mid 1990s. The speakers were the 3.3R.

I bought my monoblocs from a guy near DC, he had been using them with Maggie 20.1s. I don't think those were set up optimally; or my hearing has degraded a lot since the earlier time with the 3.3s. At any rate, they were VERY GOOD; but not "magical". Wasn't nearfield listening, either.

Conradicles

SMP wrote: »

If you've owned an SDA and have replaced them, I've curious about which loudspeakers you finally settled on and why?

If I ever replace my SDA's I'll let you know.
My SDA-1C's and SDA-2B's satisfy me. My only desire it to mod them and upgrade my sources/components that drive them.
SDA's rule. Period.:cool:

Hypnotoad

This reminds me of the debates about the Technics SL1200 Mk2, like SDA's it has a huge following and rightly so.

This is my take on the SDA's, I recently got a pair and without the interconnect they give my Boston Acoustics A200's a good run, sounding slightly better IMO.

But with the interconnect they are magical, I auditioned Martin Logan's and preferred the Polk's. They have great bass response, smooth mid range and highs, not bright or fatiguing like a lot of other speakers.

They make well produced vinyl records sound absolutely amazing. But I have always love the surround sound effect.

It's all subjective and very personal, some people describe Maggies as too bright, flabby bass and others describe them as smooth and amazingly detailed. One man's medicine is another persons poison.

If you like Maggies then buy them, if you like SDA's buy them, if you like single driver back loaded horns buy them and love them and if you do that's all that matters.

erniejade

F1nut wrote: »

There is no life after SDA's, period.










It's not the speakers, so look elsewhere for the issues.

Going to agree with F1 on this. For me, the harshness went away when i changed my Adcom amp out and changed my Adcom pre amp to a tube preamp.


The amp difference was slight but noticable when i went to the McIntosh amp or the Sunfire Sig II.

To be honest, the biggest difference on my 1.2 or 2.3's was changing the preamp to a tube unit. It was night and day, 99% of the harshness went away.



Now to get back to the question Yes there is life after but, it depends on what you are looking for. Everyone's taste is different sooo ... In my rig i have the 1.2,, 2.3 and a set of Carver Amazing. I have one friend that loves the amazing and hates the way the polks sound but I have another that loves the way the polk's sound and hates the way the Carvers sound. It is all personal preference. There is no wrong or right answer to this question BUT trying to find out is 99% of the fun!~ I love trying out different speakers, amps, preamps that is all fun for me!!




Heiney9 "To sum up SDA's are MUCH more than just the SDA effect as some have alluded to here."

I also agree with this statement. For some cd's or LP, the SDA effect .. well it doesn't sound right with. I actually will unplug the cable and listen to the speakers without the effect.

madmax

SDA's have a magic you don't get until a lot of money is spent. Certainly not the best speaker out there but I have heard some others at over three times their original cost that I would not be able to live with. I still keep mine and listen to them even though I have found my calling in horns.

Tony M

I also own a set of Newform Research R645's with 4' tall ribbons sitting on top of a bass cabinet. I also own a set of ESS AMT 1b's with Heil AIR MOTION TRANSFORMERS.

Both of the above present an amazing listening experience.

Just like the veterans say, we all have different ears. What ever sounds right is what you should try to aquire. I thought I had a great sounding speaker set until I heard the ESS's. Then I heard the Newform Research's. Then I heard the SDA-SRS2's. All three have given me joy in listening to my music collection over and over again.

Oh, I forgot to add the Polk audio RT3000p's too. Another great speaker. Then there are the other 100 various prs I've owned that sound great in their own rights too.

What ever you find at sales , a friends house or however you get them, only
your own ears will be able to tell you if they're better than Polk's SDAs.

I've had people who love the three top or 4 sets mentioned earlier and said they were the best they have ever heard.

Like another said , going to a shop to hear the sets available at todays prices or discounted models will give a taste of todays technology and their attributes to the audio experience. My advancement in audio has been alot of luck and also listening to veterans advice.

They've been here and done this. Listen to what they advise.

Life after SDA, I don't think it's worth living either...PS..SRS style though.

wayne3burk

Conradicles wrote: »

If I ever replace my SDA's I'll let you know.
My SDA-1C's and SDA-2B's satisfy me. My only desire it to mod them and upgrade my sources/components that drive them.
SDA's rule. Period.:cool:

I'm with Conradicles, I only wish to upgrade my SDA-1Cs and my solid state gear to tube gear... and maybe pick up a pair of SDA CRS's...

And get a very nice home theatre receiver with corresponding power amps for front center and rear speakers, and a nice 52" LCD TV, and and....

maybe win the lottery too.

mopar paul

I'll bite here because I consider myself very open minded. I have owned THREE sets of SDA SRS's. I sold an original pair, a pair of 1.2 TL's, and now am back to another pair of 1.2 TL's. During the time I did not have the SDA's, I had top of the line Paradigms, Klispch, other Polks and listened to quite a few others. I found some that I really liked (B&W) but they were well over $5k. I ended up finding out it was my electronics that was sub-par, not the SDA's. While they are not perfect, they are amazing with the right components hooked up to them and truly hard to beat for the soundstage (and money).
Someday I might buy another set of speakers (when I'm rich) but I will never get rid of my SDA's again. I'm in heaven right now with my current setup.

MillerLiteScott

Personal Taste and Synergy.

I like the polk sound so that is were I am. Some gear just sounds good together and you can get some magic.

It's a musical journey.

dkg999

It is a journey, not a destination. For me my Magnepan's have most of the characteristics I like about SDA's plus other characteristics that I value much more than what the SDA's can provide. That's not a criticism of SDA's or the people who like them, it's simply what my ears and brain interpret and value.

Listen to a lot of speakers. Then decide what you like the most. Then do that.

heiney9

Sometimes it's nice to step away from something you are so familiar with. This weekend I swapped out some gear and realized how much better the original gear really is. I had become so familiar with its sound I was wondering.

I appreciate the SDA's very much after being away from them. I feel the same as Doug after hearing his Maggies and another friends Maggies. I feel my SDA's give me a decent dose of the openess a Maggie is known for but also does some other things I like real well over Maggies.

Just enjoy the music and don't make hastey decisions.

H9

Toolfan66

HAHA... Life after SDA's? a little over a year ago I had no idea what an SDA was. Now I don't know how I would live without them.

TroyD

Quad ESL's....

BDT

hearingimpared

TroyD wrote: »

Quad ESL's....

BDT

Yeah but you still have a huge hole in your heart about the size of 2.3 TLs.;)