Should a CRS sound a LOT better than a Series 1 SDA?
Bigerik
Posts: 149
Heard something interesting from a friend of mine. He has in his shop right now a pair of original SDA CRS speakers and also a pair of SDA 1's of some kind. Will find out which one tomorrow. Anyway, he said that the CRS's sound GREAT, but the SDA 1's sound lousy by comparison. I mean, according to him, it is a night and day difference. He has been in the audio repair biz since the late 60's and knows his gear really well, so I am not about to dismiss what he says.
However, this makes no sense to me at all. From what I understand, the SDA's should have a family resmeblence in sound, to say the least. I mean, I would think an SDA 1 should sound similar to an early SDA CRS, but just bigger sounding. The difference shouldn't be that big. Wondering if the 1's are in need of a re-cap maybe? Am I missing something?
However, this makes no sense to me at all. From what I understand, the SDA's should have a family resmeblence in sound, to say the least. I mean, I would think an SDA 1 should sound similar to an early SDA CRS, but just bigger sounding. The difference shouldn't be that big. Wondering if the 1's are in need of a re-cap maybe? Am I missing something?
Post edited by Bigerik on
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My CRS+ and SDA1Cs are too close to call. They each have their strong points. The 1Cs have deeper bass response, and the CRS+ have better sound staging IMO. Both great speakers, just slightly different cuts of meat.HT Optoma HD25 LV on 80" DIY Screen, Anthem MRX 300 Receiver, Pioneer Elite BDP 51FD Polk CS350LS, Polk SDA1C, Polk FX300, Polk RT55, Dual EBS Adire Shiva 320watt tuned to 17hz, ICs-DIY Twisted Prs, Speaker-Raymond Cable
2 Channel Thorens TD 318 Grado ZF1, SACD/CD Marantz 8260, Soundstream/Krell DAC1, Audio Mirror PP1, Odyssey Stratos, ADS L-1290, ICs-DIY Twisted , Speaker-Raymond Cable -
Dennis Gardner wrote: »My CRS+ and SDA1Cs are too close to call. They each have their strong points. The 1Cs have deeper bass response, and the CRS+ have better sound staging IMO. Both great speakers, just slightly different cuts of meat.
Damn.
That is about what I figured. They just should not sound THAT much different. Now to figure out why.... -
Room placement and power requirements are different for both of models.
Room acoustics also play a great part on how speakers sound.SRT For Life; SDA Forever!
The SRT SEISMIC System:
Four main satellite speakers, six powered subs, two dedicated for LFE channel, two center speakers for over/under screen placement and three Control Centers. Amaze your friends, terrorize your neighbors, seize the audio bragging rights for your state. Go ahead, buy it; you only go around once. -
I have 1b's and 2b's and they both blow away my old crs+'s. The series 1 that you are talking about may be a different story and the only way to know is to go listen to them. Are they both for sale and you are thinking about buying one or the other?
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I have both and love them both.SRT For Life; SDA Forever!
The SRT SEISMIC System:
Four main satellite speakers, six powered subs, two dedicated for LFE channel, two center speakers for over/under screen placement and three Control Centers. Amaze your friends, terrorize your neighbors, seize the audio bragging rights for your state. Go ahead, buy it; you only go around once. -
Room placement and power requirements are different for both of models.
Room acoustics also play a great part on how speakers sound.
These have been in the shop, so acoustically they have not been in the best possible areas. But it should not be enough different that it should be THAT noticeable. -
candyliquor35m wrote: »I have 1b's and 2b's and they both blow away my old crs+'s. The series 1 that you are talking about may be a different story and the only way to know is to go listen to them. Are they both for sale and you are thinking about buying one or the other?
Will know more tomorrow when I find out which model they are. The 1's MIGHT be for sale. Will find that out too.
Just out of curiosity, what do the 1's and 2's do so much better that they blow away your crs+'s? -
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Will know more tomorrow when I find out which model they are. The 1's MIGHT be for sale. Will find that out too.
Just out of curiosity, what do the 1's and 2's do so much better that they blow away your crs+'s?
The crs+'s had no imaging and didn't even sound like sda's. -
candyliquor35m wrote: »The crs+'s had no imaging and didn't even sound like sda's.
They must have been an effed up pair then, because the CRS+ with the extra spacing between mids projects alot better dimensional image than the side by side drivers for the 1Cs.HT Optoma HD25 LV on 80" DIY Screen, Anthem MRX 300 Receiver, Pioneer Elite BDP 51FD Polk CS350LS, Polk SDA1C, Polk FX300, Polk RT55, Dual EBS Adire Shiva 320watt tuned to 17hz, ICs-DIY Twisted Prs, Speaker-Raymond Cable
2 Channel Thorens TD 318 Grado ZF1, SACD/CD Marantz 8260, Soundstream/Krell DAC1, Audio Mirror PP1, Odyssey Stratos, ADS L-1290, ICs-DIY Twisted , Speaker-Raymond Cable -
Bigerik, a bit of friendly advice. Ignore whatever CL says about anything audio related. His track record speaks for itself.
To answer your question. As others have stated, they should sound very similar. Since they don't, something is amiss with the larger pair.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
candyliquor35m wrote: »The crs+'s had no imaging and didn't even sound like sda's.
I think it was the great Ronald Reagon that said "There you you go again...".
You sure didn't say they sounded like **** when you sold them to me! In fact, you liked them. Carl, you need a dose of STFU.
To correct what this moron is saying, they sound great and image very well. -
CL is an idiot. What can I say?Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
Thanks
Ben -
Ok.
So are you guys hinting that I should ignore what CL says? Kinda picking up on a subtle vibe in that direction.....
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Ok.
So are you guys hinting that I should ignore what CL says? Kinda picking up on a subtle vibe in that direction.....
Sad but true!!! 99% of the guys here do their best to give accurate advice which is also in the best intrest of everyone here in the forum. You will learn alot by just reading and searching through threads.
Welcome and good luck. -
The only way to know is to go listen to them. If you have enough patience, it would be best if you wait until you find a pair of 1b's, 1c's or 2b's.
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bigerik
Where are you located? Maybe someone is close to you and can let you listen to different SDA's. If you are around NJ I have a pair of modified 2a's you can borrow.
Drew -
Is this the same Bigerik from AK?"He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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Got some answers....
Looks like the SDA 1's are 1B's. The CRS's are the originals, with two new 6 1/2 drivers. Looks like the CRS's might be coming my way in the next week or two. They are in mint shape, with the cable.
Might be a little large for my Target stands, but hopefully a couple of good wads of Blue Tack will fix that up.
Looks like a nice way to start my SDA adventure.
Now, do I upgrade the tweeters....
This will give me a taste of the SDA sound, without a huge commitment at this stage. Should I like what I am hearing, then I will certainly look at other options. Actually, considering the high end stuff I have been looking at recently, even getting a few pair to try out is a relative steal! -
bigerik
Where are you located? Maybe someone is close to you and can let you listen to different SDA's. If you are around NJ I have a pair of modified 2a's you can borrow.
Drew
Sadly, no where close to you. Other side of the border actually.
I really appreciate the offer, however.
E -
I'd go for the 1B's over the original CRS's. That way you won't have to contend with the dimensional tweeter issues.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
I've always liked those 1B's, Maybe you should buy both pairs
Sal
If you had the room, you would own a pair of every kind of SDA ever made.
"He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche -
I'd go for the 1B's over the original CRS's. That way you won't have to contend with the dimensional tweeter issues.
Ok.
What dimensional tweeter issues are we referring to? -
Ok.
What dimensional tweeter issues are we referring to?
The dual dimensional tweeter design of the early SDAs had a weird kind of artifact that I can only describe as adding a shimmering effect to highs on occasion that would make your ears perk and say what the f*ck was that? It didn't happen all the time, but kicked in on occasion, almost like someone flipping on a couple extra tweeters out of the blue........... HT Optoma HD25 LV on 80" DIY Screen, Anthem MRX 300 Receiver, Pioneer Elite BDP 51FD Polk CS350LS, Polk SDA1C, Polk FX300, Polk RT55, Dual EBS Adire Shiva 320watt tuned to 17hz, ICs-DIY Twisted Prs, Speaker-Raymond Cable
2 Channel Thorens TD 318 Grado ZF1, SACD/CD Marantz 8260, Soundstream/Krell DAC1, Audio Mirror PP1, Odyssey Stratos, ADS L-1290, ICs-DIY Twisted , Speaker-Raymond Cable -
The older SDA's, to include the original CRS's had an SDA tweeter. It was nixed in the later SDA series. While not terrible, the SDA tweeter really didn't add much and could really add some wierdness from time to time.
CL35 has no idea what he's talking about, pay him no attention. He wouldn't know good sound if it crawled up his leg and bit him on the ball bag.
BDTI plan for the future. - F1Nut -
CL35
roflol erik come listen to my 4 pair of sdas and you'll find out what I'm talking about. -
If you had the room, you would own a pair of every kind of SDA ever made.
Believe this statement!
I have almost all the sda series speakers made.
I'm only missing the sda 2a,sda srs 2.3tl and the 3.1tl.
All the other sda speakers made are in my possesion.
To me, there are no better sounding speakers than vintage sda series and the srt series speakers.SRT For Life; SDA Forever!
The SRT SEISMIC System:
Four main satellite speakers, six powered subs, two dedicated for LFE channel, two center speakers for over/under screen placement and three Control Centers. Amaze your friends, terrorize your neighbors, seize the audio bragging rights for your state. Go ahead, buy it; you only go around once. -
Ok.
What dimensional tweeter issues are we referring to?
Dennis and BDT nailed it.candyliquor35m wrote: »roflol erik come listen to my 4 pair of sdas and you'll find out what I'm talking about.
I'm sure he has read enough of your (Cornhulio) posts on AK, you know the ones where you outright lie, to know that there's no need to pay you a visit.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
"He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
