LOL, they're not as bad as you remember but they do take more care to set up than most any other speaker I've ever had. That's one of the problems dealers had when showcasing them. I don 't know which model/version you auditioned ~30 years ago but there were so many models/versions (over 20 I believe) and yes, from what I hear some may have been dreadful. I think the SRS2 were reported to be one of the better ones. A "Goldilocks" model if you will. When I sit in the sweet spot (you have to) I find them more impressive than not (and not just the sound-stage).
The guy that put together the handbook linked below, Dr. Raife F. Smith II has a Ph. D in Electrical Engineering. He compiled the SDA Handbook as a labor of love. He's definitely a fan of the SDA SRS. He's also someone you could discuss comb filters in relation to the SDA SRS with. I recall reading his comments on the very same subject except that they were positive toward the SDA SRS. I'd love to have a glass of wine and listen to the two of you discuss the topic. Truly a gifted individual. He was powering his SDA SRS with Pass Labs mono blocks so my educated guess is that he has also auditioned some VERY serious top end speakers. Are these SDA SRS variants really as bad as you say they are? Is it possible that you didn't have a proper audition 25-30 years ago?
http://www.vr3mods.com/uploads/SDA_Handbook_2011_Rev2.pdf
I've had quite a bit of decent modern speakers in here (mainly stand-mounts) and for some reason these SDA SRS2s have remained since I picked them up a few years ago. That's what I do, I buy and try. I attend the Hi-Fi shows and have been to every Hi-Fi dealer within a 100 mile radius. Believe me, I've heard the Good, the Bad and the Ugly and IMO the SDA SRS2s are definitely not in the "bad" category (to continue with ACDTGuy's Spaghetti Western theme).
If you ask my wife, she'd paraphrase your comment and and tell you
"No, brother- it's long time he STOPPED shopping for speakers"
I've done quite a bit of "shopping", owning and auditioning over the years. I don't discriminate based on price or size either. I like to listen to it all. This way I know for myself. This is an old picture of what was probably my lowest priced speaker, the Philharmonic "New" AA Monitor version (I also had the original version of the AA Monitors which I think I actually preferred). The SDA SRS2 are hanging out in the back.
I honestly don't remember the SDA SRS2 sounding "like nothing on Earth" after listening to the AAs for several hours/days.
Side note for anyone that's interested:The Yamaha in the background is not the A-S801 it's a very cool little vintage CA-600.
Ohhh, the feel of those knobs and switches and how they function compared to the 801, what a shame that quality feel was lost in the newer models.
As for Bose, I have a pair of beat to crap sacrificial 201s that I only use to initially test any second-hand amp I'm thinking of buying. When I had the Monitor Audio Bronze 2 in here I was so unimpressed that I thought- jeez, I think even my crappy Bose testers sound better than these. I dug them out and sure enough the MA BR2 were only marginally better (gotta find pictures of that day). Very surprising indeed. Never looked at a
What Hi-Fi review the same ever again.
Below is what I've settled in the main room - but yeah I know, some will say these are dreadful too, but with them my shopping days are finally over! ... for now...I think...don't tell my wife...
Anyway, it's interesting to hear that there
may be "
less phase cancellations" in one of the settings (Direct vs Regular). I have never hooked the Yamaha A-S801 up to the 805Ds but I will someday soon. I wonder if I'll hear a difference on them also.
