Vintage Monitor and SDA Speaker Deals

kmeek wrote: »

I've got two sets of Larry's rings, Dynamat and nice Aluminum binding post plates from VR3 I want to get installed on the big boys before putting them back in service. I just can't catch a break from work travel....

My problem too!

@kmeek , looks like you have a cherry pair of SDA-SRS 2.3(TL?)s and SDA-SRS 2s! If you got those SDA-SRS 2s for $200, I hope you ran like you stole them, because you did! Wow, nice score.

Jaybeez wrote: »

Would this be a project worth considering? Look like 2Bs with no bases or side panels. No reference to interconnect so may be missing.
Listing has been up awhile so may be an opportunity to pick up for a buck fiddy and have some $$ for repairs and upgrades.
Room is 18 x 10 with 8 foot ceilings so thinking these might be the best model of SDAs to get my feet wet.

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/ele/d/polk-audio-speakers-sda-2/6490365747.html

For sure! New bases are easy to make, and the other mods are well documented here on CP!

250GTLusso wrote: »

@Jaybeez , they are only a couple blocks from my work, and I have been tempted over the past several months to go look at them (but I already have a very nice pair of 2Bs). If they aren't close to you, I could always swing by on my way home and check them out for you. Let me know.

If you wouldn’t mind that would be great! I’m in Chino Hills but get to OC a couple times per week. You know way more about these speakers so I’d value your opinion on them after a live view and/or listen. Thanks!

@Jaybeez , I just spoke with the seller. I am going to go see them around 4:00pm today. He said that they are hooked up in his living room, so I can listen to them.

Watch this space for an appraisal a little later this afternoon.

250GTLusso wrote: »

@kmeek , looks like you have a cherry pair of SDA-SRS 2.3(TL?)s and SDA-SRS 2s! If you got those SDA-SRS 2s for $200, I hope you ran like you stole them, because you did! Wow, nice score.

@250GTLusso, Yes I lucked out on offerup the SRS 2's had litterally hit the press 10 minutes before I happened upon them and better yet she was like 10 minutes away. By the time I got there to get them apparently her phone was blowing up. The speakers were prestine except for the bottom grill cloth on one side was pulling away from the frame a little. Original owners with the manuals and cable. You hit the nail on the other pair they are 2.3's but not TL's they are early ones with the doughnut drivers (couldn't be that lucky). Got those as a package deal with a decent mirage subwoofer, some nice Audioquest cables and original SDA non-ground interface. Ended up reselling the Sub that I didn't need and have $300 in the rest....
Congrats on the 2's you picked up.

Peerless 5As for a bill
https://cnj.craigslist.org/msg/d/2-polk-audio-speakers/6514821467.html
No affiliation

2 pair of LS 50... Cheap!!
https://newyork.craigslist.org/que/ele/d/polk-speakers/6513893250.html
No affiliation

CRS+ for 2 bills
https://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/ele/d/polk-sda-compact-reference/6539615794.html
No affiliation

Series II M4s... I wonder if they'll ship... I kinda want them.
https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/sys/d/polk-model-m4-set-of-2/6539468450.html

@Jaybeez , the Lake Forest SDA 2 recon mission is complete.

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/ele/d/polk-audio-speakers-sda-2/6490365747.html

Here is my assessment:

Model: SDA 2B
Wood: Oak veneer
SN: L SDA 2 22984
SN: R SDA 2 22284
IC: Pin/Blade (Missing)

Appearance:
Top Plank:
- Mild water stains, some delaminating veneer on edge strip
Bottom Plank:
- Missing on both speakers
Cabinet Front:
- 4 small chips on the right speaker at right side front edge (appears to be due to staples?)
Cabinet Sides:
- Glue residue, but no damage to vinyl (other than 4 small chips noted above)
Cabinet Back:
- Applique present on both speakers, small tear on right applique, small tear in vinyl on right speaker (resulting from same contact that damaged the applique)
Cabinet Bottoms:
- Glue residue, holes from staples, but remarkably no damage to vinyl due to removal of bottom planks.
Grills:
- One small tear in grill cloth, no damage to baffle (wood), loose Polk Audio badges on both speakers (i.e. easy to spin, but still retained by spring clips)

Functional Assessment:
Cabinet:
- PR push test: PASSED (3+sec MW recovery time)
- Cabinet Tap Test: Solid, no evidence of separation at any of the exterior structural joints, no evidence of water damage.
- Treelocks: All present, and retain the grill firmly
Drivers:
- SL2000: Functional, no scratchiness, no damage to the domes
- MW6503 (Stereo Driver): Functional, Butyl rubber surrounds very supple with no tears, Passed VC push test (no rubbing)
- MW6511(SDA Driver): Butyl rubber surrounds very supple with no tears, Passed VC push test (no rubbing), no IC so functionality is unknown.
- SW121 (PR): Butyl rubber surrounds very supple with no tears

Interesting Observation:
- It does not appear as though any of the drivers have ever been removed based on the following: There is brown paint in the exact same place (4 O'clock) on each of the MW6503s, MW6511s, and SW121s, and the screw heads have not been touched since that paint was applied. Now I have never seen this paint on a Polk speaker before. Has anyone else seen this before? Could this possibly be some form of anti tamper indication?

The Seller:
- I was greeted by the Seller's brother, and very nice man. He was representing them for his brother who is stationed in Germany (F/A-18 pilot).

The Offer:
- I told the Seller's brother that the speakers appeared to be functionally sound, however without the IC cable I could not assess the MW6511s and the condition of the SDA circuit. The speakers obviously had some significant cosmetic issues that would need to be addressed, and that I could not offer him $200 based on the cosmetic condition alone. I asked him to let his brother know that I was interested in them, but could only offer $100 for the pair at this time. The brother said that he would present the offer to his brother within the next day and let me know.

Photos:
- Here are some better photos of the speakers in question (the photos in the CL ad left a lot to be desired)



















































Watch this space!

@250GTLusso, Dude you rock! You should do paid gigs doing recon!! Nice write up with pictures.

250GTLusso wrote: »

@kmeek , Thanks! Always willing to help out a fellow CP member.

WAY beyond thorough! Thanks for checking them out for me. I knew they'd be a project, but everything looks pretty do-able, and I've seen posts on most of the cosmetic stuff here on the forum.

Thinking the sides might have come loose and someone might have tried to staple them.

Interested to hear back on the offer.

Again, much appreciated and I do owe you a beer or whatever for your effort!

Viking64 wrote: »

Jaybeez wrote: »

Again, much appreciated and I do owe you a beer or whatever for your effort!

A beer? That report was worth a fifth of 18-year-old single-malt scotch.

I could do that too / instead!

Viking64 wrote: »

I see a new strategy for seeking-out potential future speaker purchases.

What? Beer and/or scotch before making purchase decisions on speakers we all love????
OR
Having someone scout for speakers who knows what their looking at finding you the diamonds and/or diamonds in the rough?

Either on is brilliant! Count me in!!!