RD0-194 upgrade in SDA SRS2 was a big disappointment

@jmardy

I'm 68 years young, and I have the same speakers you have. This is my second pair. I reluctantly had to sell my first pair. I've replaced all 8 tweeters with RD-0194s.

I also can't hear above 11khz on a normal flat hearing test. I'm not sure if turning the equalizer/tone controls up around those higher frequencies allows me to hear above 11khz or not. I worked around loud trucks a lot in my life.

Now, I agree with you that the RD-0194s sounded DULL when first installed. Too dulled, I THOUGHT but...

MANY years ago, Polk Forum members here told me to give them a week or more, and they'd liven up. THEY DID, or I got used to them. The second pair, after quickly replacing them too, sounded a little dull, but quickly sounded just fine. REAL FINE in fact.

Let them break in.

Take the SL2000s back out. Break the 4 new ones in at the same time. In a month or less, you'll probably like the sound those beautiful speakers will be putting out. A lot of us have lived your experience. We all now agree the RD-0194s sound very nice, and better than the old SL2000s.

If you still prefer the older tweeters, we won't scorn you. We all hear differently.

Are those the original crossovers? Maybe a fresh recap and possible a slight resistor value tweak to give the 194's a little air. I would think that's feasible....I would think the 194 would be a smoother tweeter all around and maybe you can give it that touch of sparkle....I'll let others chime in on that.

I'm betting your crossovers have not been upgraded. My 1C's sounded dull and muffled until I upgraded them.

In which tweeter position (top or bottom) did the 194 tweeters make the speakers sound better than original? Although I'm not certain about the SRS 2, I suspect the tweeters have different crossover frequencies and don't produce the same spectrum top and bottom because the SRS models are supposed to be progressive point source. Could be the remaining SL2000s are only producing frequencies in the less offensive position in the speakers and the 194s have fixed the offensive sparkly high frequency spike.

Big disappointment seems to be an overstatement if the 194s did make a positive impact. But it's also true that some listeners have liked the less than accurate SL2000s and stuck with them. I thought they were awful and harsh sounding with modern equipment driving them.

Being happy with the speakers the way they perform in one's own system is all that really matters.