Thoughts from the Shane Mann/RT1/Raife Smith Auditorium….

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TroyD
TroyD Posts: 13,124
in Vintage Speakers
So, I’ve got Raife’s Crs+’s installed in the listening room, dedicated to a couple of our departed Polk comrades…..

I still have some work to do getting the CRS’s dialed in…..the L800’s are going back in the living room and the Amazings may get a long overdue crossover refresh….

But, I gotta tell you, I didn’t think that the sound I’m getting was possible from legacy SDA’s. The level of resolution and soundstage depth is breathtaking….and this is hastily set up sitting on a cheap pair of stands…..

VIVA SDA!!kizfmhxmi8gu.jpeg
7qphhq5y4mdd.jpeg
I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 29,752
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    Very nice!

    Fully decked out SDAs are fun man.

    I'm about to ship out the enclosures from. The pair I bought to have veneer installed... Excited to hear them setup later

    Looking like a good time to be had at the ranch!
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • HzTweaker
    HzTweaker Posts: 1,136
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    My CRS's sound great, I can only imagine how Raife’s Crs+’s sound! I'm glad to see these stayed in "the family".
    2ch rig: Speakers: LSi9s with VR3's Fortress mods Preamplifier: Parasound P5 DAC: Fiio K13 Amplifier: Parasound A23 CDP: Pioneer DV-563A Cables: Wireworld Equinox 7 XLR ICs, Wireworld Ultraviolet 7 USB, AudioQuest Q2s, AudioQuest NRG X(preamp)

    Standby: Magnepan LRS w/Magna Riser stands
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  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,124
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    Yes, SDA’s are just inherently musical speakers……very few sins of commission. I had Polk Paul’s CRS+’s for a long time….that had been refreshed in house at Polk….and always loved them but, again, this is next level.

    I’d REALLY like to have heard Raife’s 1.2tl’s….and I need to go visit F1Nut and dig his rig….
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 29,752
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    Toolfan66 wrote: »
    I wonder who ended up with both sets of his big boy SDA's?

    The family member I spoke with said they are in a storage unit
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,124
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    If those hit the market, I’m on those like a hobo on a ham sammich…
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 29,752
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    The sent a tractor trailer worth of gear to tmr
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,124
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    Ok, been doing more listening and continue to be amazed at the level of resolution, detail and transparency that Raife’s modifications yielded.

    However, I’ve always thought of legacy sda as tilting to the warm side of neutral…..perhaps sacrificing the last iota of detail for musicality. At first blush, these present as a different animal altogether. It’s not a complaint, just an initial observation. They are also WAY more persnickety about placement….especially tweeter height in relation to my ears. If I have to find fault, the utter ruthlessness has rendered some recordings unpleasant…..for example, female vocals, particularly Diana Krall, can pick up microphone artifacts that, while accurate, can be distracting. Eva Cassidy Live at Blues Alley, her vocals change in relation to what I would surmise to be her position in relation to the microphone.

    I’m not saying good or bad….I am just saying I am in unfamiliar territory here….
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 20,360
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    I hate to say this brother, but that is bad.

    Tom
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 29,752
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    Are you using the diffraction pads?
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,124
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    No, not yet….and I haven’t spent a great deal of time positioning them, ie on my shorter stands, with the tweeters below my ears, it was worse so I need to spend some time dialing in the positioning before I render definitive judgement…..again, just musing as I go along
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 29,752
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    I've found in the sda line that the ones where the tweeter is above the mids and is exposed to the wide baffle... Insane amounts of diffraction is taking place that makes the high end absolutely wild.

    The 1c is borderline unlistenable without some diffraction control. With it... Man what a fun speaker, very precise and excellent tone
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,124
    edited August 2025
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    I installed the tweeter pads last night and have worked on the positioning….and the improvement on upper mid and treble is pretty dramatic…..Vr3Mods for the win!!

    Edit, also, I’m an idiot….I had my hearing aids in last night….in the smaller room, reverberations play hell with my hearing aids
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,124
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    7m0uy7rgyeyr.jpeg
    g0bf4ym0u4a0.jpeg
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 29,752
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    Nice!

    I'm thinking designing a pad that goes from the tweeter down between the mids could work really well to
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,124
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    Shut up and take my money!!
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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