SDA vs Monitor Series - Are they better? How much better

jimmypet · February 18

Hi Guys, my next wide ranging quest for information from you gurus is the SDA series vs my "conventional" Polks Monitor Series, LS90s, RTIA9s.
Are the markedly better?
How much better?
If I were to go SDA hunting what are the ones to look for?

I have seen in my regional Marketplace ads some SDAs that I believe are pretty reasonable asking prices for what appear to be adult owned, well preserved examples.

If one were to have a good collection of older conventional Polks that I honestly love is it worth chasing down a pair of SDAs?

Is that a rabbit hole worth going down?

I'll be honest I have never heard a pair, nor do I even know anyone who owns a pair so unlike the Monitor Series and the LS series I have no context as to the delta of how much superior the SDAs are (or are not).

I welcome your knowledge!
Cheers
Jimmy P

Braddles63 · February 18

FWIW I've had most of the vintage monitor series in and out my doors over the years and still own a couple of pairs today.

Ive also had some SDA2 and CRS+ as well. The CRS where my favorite of the two. Suited my room better.

My answer is yes and no.

IME if you have the right environment to set up the SDA as designed then that can be quite spectacular.
But if not then YMMV.
I also found the SDA could be very dependent on the recording to sound their best. Some songs just don't sound as good as others and i sometimes found myself feeling disappointed with how they sounded with some stuff. But the next song could blow my socks off.
The monitor series is not as dependent IME. More forgiving and has a sharper focus / center image while the SDA is a more open / spacious sound.
The SDA require some decent amplification to get the best out of them where as the Monitor Series are easier to drive but will also scale well with a good front end driving them. Anyway that's my experience.

In short if you have the itch to try the SDA's and some come up in good condition give them a go.
You can always re sell. Depending on your room size would influence what model would be best but the SDA2 are a good each way bet to see what you think.

honestaquarian · February 18

This is kinda like asking someone how something tastes and if that person thinks you’ll like it or not. Ya gotta taste it yourself and see. Simply no other way.

jimmypet · February 18

I get it, audio in general is completely subjective, but its good to hear the experiences of others who have owned / heard / had both and see what they think.
There is no right or wrong answer, its just seeking opinions and experiences.

@Braddles63 - I thank you for that reply, its exactly what I was looking for.
Just the listening experiences of those who have had both.

F1nut · February 18

Having owned and listened to both series, SDA always wins.

jimmypet · February 18

F1nut wrote: »

Having owned and listened to both series, SDA always wins.

Which would be your favorites of the SDA line?

DeRod · February 18

I like my CRS+ ... they don't take up much space and have a really impressive soundstage. They are super fun to listen to. I would highly recommend them

pitdogg2 · February 18

jimmypet wrote: »

F1nut wrote: »

Having owned and listened to both series, SDA always wins.

Which would be your favorites of the SDA line?

2.3tl

Viking64 · February 18

pitdogg2 wrote: »

jimmypet wrote: »

F1nut wrote: »

Having owned and listened to both series, SDA always wins.

Which would be your favorites of the SDA line?

2.3tl

F1nut · February 18

jimmypet wrote: »

F1nut wrote: »

Having owned and listened to both series, SDA always wins.

Which would be your favorites of the SDA line?

2.3TL and 2BTL with the usual upgrades.

jimmypet · February 18

OK thats a double recc.

There are a few sets of SDA2 and a couple sets of SDA 1C for sale near me that appear in photos to be in very nice condition and under $400

Worth looking into any of those or continue waiting / looking / watching for the models above?

audioluvr · February 19

My favorite one is the SDA-XXXXXX with the SDA-**** being a close second.

F1nut · February 19

jimmypet wrote: »

OK thats a double recc.

There are a few sets of SDA2 and a couple sets of SDA 1C for sale near me that appear in photos to be in very nice condition and under $400

Worth looking into any of those or continue waiting / looking / watching for the models above?

Folks don't always properly identify what they call the SDA 2. There's the original SDA 2, which you don't want. Then there's the SDA 2A, SDA 2B and two versions of the SDA SRS 2.

Toolfan66 · February 19

I agree with the advice above, but I would also say room treatments will make a world of difference as well.

My favorite SDA's are: And I still own..

2.3TL
2B (pin blade)
CRS+ (pin blade)

I wouldn't sleep on: Depending on what comes around in your area, or how far you're willing to drive

1.2TL (if you have the room)
2.3 (original w/donut drivers)
SDA SRS 2 (pin blade)
SDA SRS 2 (blade blade)
1C
2B (blade blade)
CRS+ (blade blade)
3.1TL

I have had most of these come through my house, others I have been lucky enough to listen to at others homes. Any of these will give you enjoyment in dipping your toes in SDA's, my opinion of course..

All are dependent on condition, and what mods may or may not have been done..

EDIT: why does vanilla space everything out so far? Hate it..

VR3 · February 19

Just had a set of 1c done all the way and I thoroughly enjoyed them.

msg · February 19

Hey @jimmypet - while I see you've made mention of the term "conventional" when referring to your existing Polk collection, and since it doesn't seem to have been explicitly stated, you do understand that the SDA series is not just about the sonic signature right? That it's primarily about the SDA technology and a different presentation due to the cancellation of the interaural crosstalk?

Viking64 · February 19

msg wrote: »

Hey jimmypet

I can remember when you used to call me this.

jimmypet · February 20

msg wrote: »

Hey @jimmypet - while I see you've made mention of the term "conventional" when referring to your existing Polk collection, and since it doesn't seem to have been explicitly stated, you do understand that the SDA series is not just about the sonic signature right? That it's primarily about the SDA technology and a different presentation due to the cancellation of the interaural crosstalk?

Yep I do understand. Thats primarily why I started the thread, my quest was is the SDA technology & sound that significant that it warrants finding a set to experience it.

I love my current collection of Polk speakers (I'll love it even more when I get my 11T crossovers done by Trey) but there is always room for another set of speakers and hey if they are really game changing then maybe another set gets sold or rotated out of service.

Since I have never heard a set I wanted to ask the people who have experienced both and get their opinions

F1nut · February 20

When you get a set you will understand.

Striker2237 · February 21

The non-SDAs just sound like normal speakers that are okay, nothing really exceptional.

The SDAs when setup correctly and preferably with a refresh to the crossovers have a crazy easy time totally disappearing like a set of $50k speakers with ambient space reclamation tweeters and the soundstage extends beyond the top/sides/and bottom of the speakers and with an imaging accuracy that is insane considering the price point of the speakers. They cause confusion for people who have never heard them or super high end speakers as to how images are just "appearing" accurately from various locations not just from dead center and at the left/right speakers as is normal for most mainstream speakers.

It's to the point where modern $10-15k speakers have a really hard task trying to unseat my "ancient" mains and that's before you factor in that the old SDAs are full range speakers and how much better that is for some people in terms of enjoyment. Modern stuff has a lot "missing" that you will have to get a sub for and it will never integrate as naturally/perfectly as true full range speakers.

I have a fairly good system and will be replacing my power amp with a McIntosh 452 soon but I still don't have any motivation to replace the actual speakers unless I can find a set of 2.3TL/1.2TLs or can rationalize spending $50k on a set of used VSA Ultra 5s. Those, MBL 101Es, Wilson Alexia's, 801 D4s and a few others are the only speakers I've heard so far that I would actually consider as true unilateral upgrades.

That said I still want to try a set of the big SDAs with VR3 crossover networks before any of them.

VR3 · February 21

I've listened to a set of fully modified sda srs, 1.2tl and my modified grandes all in the same day.

Good sound is good sound and decked out SDAs can hang with some of the best speakers in existence in overall presentation. When you start getting into individual frequency preferences then it just comes down to what you are looking for.

motorstereo · February 21

^^^^^^^Pretty high praise from a fellow that would know. I guess that explains why I've had such difficulty finding something to send my 1.2tls to another home.

VR3 · February 21

There is no question better speakers are out there, especially if you use the ASR and Dannie Ritchie idea of good sound.

If you are want a ruler flat hyper detailed sound, the old Polk lines are not for you. if you wanted to stay with Polk I would point you to the legends.

They will never do what magico can do as far as air and spatial cues etc.

But you would have to mortgage your house to buy a new pair of hi fidelity speakers that produce the scale, range and soundstage of the larger polks, no question. (spending new dollars) . That is where the appeal comes in, for a reasonable amount of money you can obtain incredibly high quality soundstage with a massive soundstage and deep bass. You also need zero skill with placement or room acoustics to achieve that!

jimmypet · February 22

These last few posts were great.
A lot of conviction in them.
Ok you guys convinced me that the SDA juice is worth the squeeze.
I will start looking more serious at the SDAs listed for sale in my area that are on the posts above.
Thanks for this great thread.

nooshinjohn · February 22

motorstereo wrote: »

^^^^^^^Pretty high praise from a fellow that would know. I guess that explains why I've had such difficulty finding something to send my 1.2tls to another home.

In my space, the Legend L800’s were able to accomplish that feat. I believe the 1.2 TL’s were just too big for my listening room. In Doug’s place, they sounded much better.

odcics2 · February 22

Interesting tread!

In my 11.6’ wide by 15.8’ deep room I don’t have the space for large speakers.

My Monitor 7B speakers sound great and it’s amazing how much a simple gummy can add to the listening experience.

jimmypet · February 24

I'm not sure if there is a forum to ask for comparables but I see in my region two separate sellers asking $1800 for what appear to be nicely preserved SDA CRS and $2500 for a set of SDA SRS 1.2

I'm not really looking to dive into my first set of SDAs to that level but I am wondering if thats in the ballpark of the selling point of those higher end SDA models or if these people are just shooting way high?

On the other end I did find what looks like a very nice pair of SDA 1B for $400 thats very near where I live.
Would you guys say thats a good one to go look at?
From an SDA newb standpoint that seems very reasonable entry level to sample a pair of SDA.

audioluvr · February 24

Get the 1B's. Thank us later. Welcome to Club Polk.

joebass3 · February 24

Location?

F1nut · February 24

That's WAY too much for the CRS, ridiculous in fact. Even the 1.2 price is unrealistic.

DeRod · February 24

I got my CRS+ right before Christmas and paid $200 for a perfect mint condition pair. $1800 is crazy!! You could buy some really serious speakers for that kind of bread.

The CRS's are some awesome speakers but you need to find them for the right price. I would not pay over $350 for those and thats pushing it.

SDA vs Monitor Series - Are they better? How much better

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