Uh-oh, bought some Polks!

speakerman39

speakerman39

Audioholic Overlord
Everything lights up on mine. The wood isn't in perfect shape, but the internals look practically brand new aside from some dust.
Dust-nothing a can of compressed air couldn't fix. I guess you can use it in that regard just like we blow the dust out of our computers from time to time. By looking at your pic, everything internally from what I can tell is solid. How did you come across such a nice piece of vintage gear? ;):);)



Cheers,

Phil
 
Alex2507

Alex2507

Audioholic Slumlord
I just got a line on a sweet *mint* vintage Pioneer SX-1010.
What a coincidence. I picked up the same receiver at the same time as the H/K that I'm trying to fix. It ain't mint though. Much like the H/K, I'm not sure if it works. I did have it out in the car but after reading that your looking to get one, I went out and brought it in.

I'm starting to think this is getting out of hand though. Two bedroom condo, four receivers but only two work and I need a job. Maybe I should start writing country songs. Awe shucks ... this is a country song. :)

SX-990. Only 25W though.
Really? I have an SX-650 and I'm pretty sure it's 35 watts.

Edit: This one at least stays turned on. I'm stoked. It is particularly nasty.
... I half way expected a rat to come crawling out when I yanked the cover ... :eek:
 
Last edited:
j_garcia

j_garcia

Audioholic Jedi
Dust-nothing a can of compressed air couldn't fix. I guess you can use it in that regard just like we blow the dust out of our computers from time to time. By looking at your pic, everything internally from what I can tell is solid. How did you come across such a nice piece of vintage gear? ;):);)
You wouldn't believe it. I picked that pristine piece up for $5 at a yard sale!!

Really? I have an SX-650 and I'm pretty sure it's 35 watts.
I checked on a site that sells vintage gear and that is what they said, though that is not the manufacturer's spec. I couldn't find manufacturer's specs though.
 
speakerman39

speakerman39

Audioholic Overlord
You wouldn't believe it. I picked that pristine piece up for $5 at a yard sale!!



I checked on a site that sells vintage gear and that is what they said, though that is not the manufacturer's spec. I couldn't find manufacturer's specs though.
You got to be kidding me? I mean only $5-dang you are lucky. I have shopped a few yard sales in my time, but never found anything like that. Congrats on the find. Oh, do you plan to blow out good with a can of compressed air? I bet it wouldn't hurt anything. ;););)



Cheers,

Phil
 
Matt34

Matt34

Moderator
I got a tracking number, they should be here Monday!! He did a great job boxing them up and even removed the drivers from the cabinets to avoid damage.
 
j_garcia

j_garcia

Audioholic Jedi
You got to be kidding me? I mean only $5-dang you are lucky. I have shopped a few yard sales in my time, but never found anything like that. Congrats on the find. Oh, do you plan to blow out good with a can of compressed air? I bet it wouldn't hurt anything. ;););)
Yeah, a little compressed air and a long hair paint brush got most of it. A little Deoxit and I fired it up and it sounded very nice. Warm and clear, though the old RCA connector spacing doesn't fit the ones that I have; the barrels are large diameter so the close spacing doesn't let me plug two in :rolleyes: I had to use some "included in the box" RCAs to hook it up.

That's awesome Matt, glad the seller knows how to properly ship them. Let us know how you like them when they get in.
 
Alex2507

Alex2507

Audioholic Slumlord
Alex, you feeling ok buddy?
I haven't been taking care of myself lately but it's nothing a bath and a hair cut won't fix.
Do you smell that? :D

He did a great job boxing them up and even removed the drivers from the cabinets to avoid damage.
I heard this mentioned before about removing drivers to ship. What's that about?
I figure that I may as well learn something while I'm here doing nothing. :)
 
Last edited:
R

Ron Temple

Senior Audioholic
Matt, I finally looked at the auction. Those look like 2As not 2Bs. They have the 2A cabinet style. The difference is a different driver complement and crossover config. It's not a bad thing, the drivers in the 2As are used in various SDA models including my 1Cs. However, during the model rollovers sometimes the newer rev was put into the older cabinet. If these have the pin/blade interconnect they are 2Bs, if it's blade/blade they are 2As and cannot be upgraded to the TL version and must have common ground amps (1A-1 isophase modded cable won't work. This IC mod was/is offered by Polk for their late model revs). Depending on the amp, you might be able to strap the negative grounds (on the amp terminals) of a non common ground amp and have no problems, but you'll have check with the manufacturer.

About the tweeter, it's the SL2000. You've probably read all about Polk's silk replacement the RDO-194-1 and how it crushes the SL2000. I've done the replacments and here's my take. The original SL2000 had a 5db hump at 13khz. As they age, they can get a little hissy, some more than others, but I found them a pretty darned good tweeter. The RDOs are better, controlled, no sibilance after breakin (and it's noticeable at first). Initially, I thought them a tad boring in comparison, then after awhile, I had no issues with them. When I bought a second pair of SDAs, I replaced the tweets again, but I listened to the 2000s for a few days. After the 2nd day, I found them annoying. As soon as the replacements came in I popped them in. So, my advice is to keep them stock for awhile and judge their strengths and notice weakness. The tweeters are a nice upgrade. Not essential, but only one person that I know doesn't prefer the silks.
 
R

Ron Temple

Senior Audioholic
I heard this mentioned before about removing drivers to ship. What's that about?
:)
Magnets may get misaligned or bumped off during transit. SDAs should be on their backs. Just a precaution. The larger model carry 4 - 8 MWs and it can get quite expensive replacing them.
 
Matt34

Matt34

Moderator
Matt, I finally looked at the auction. Those look like 2As not 2Bs. They have the 2A cabinet style. The difference is a different driver complement and crossover config. It's not a bad thing, the drivers in the 2As are used in various SDA models including my 1Cs. However, during the model rollovers sometimes the newer rev was put into the older cabinet. If these have the pin/blade interconnect they are 2Bs, if it's blade/blade they are 2As and cannot be upgraded to the TL version and must have common ground amps (1A-1 isophase modded cable won't work. This IC mod was/is offered by Polk for their late model revs). Depending on the amp, you might be able to strap the negative grounds (on the amp terminals) of a non common ground amp and have no problems, but you'll have check with the manufacturer.

About the tweeter, it's the SL2000. You've probably read all about Polk's silk replacement the RDO-194-1 and how it crushes the SL2000. I've done the replacments and here's my take. The original SL2000 had a 5db hump at 13khz. As they age, they can get a little hissy, some more than others, but I found them a pretty darned good tweeter. The RDOs are better, controlled, no sibilance after breakin (and it's noticeable at first). Initially, I thought them a tad boring in comparison, then after awhile, I had no issues with them. When I bought a second pair of SDAs, I replaced the tweets again, but I listened to the 2000s for a few days. After the 2nd day, I found them annoying. As soon as the replacements came in I popped them in. So, my advice is to keep them stock for awhile and judge their strengths and notice weakness. The tweeters are a nice upgrade. Not essential, but only one person that I know doesn't prefer the silks.
Thanks for the in-depth info!! Yeah I've read up on the upgrades people has done and/or recommend. I plan on enjoying them as is unless something is defective or just showing signs of age. I will probably get the cabinets refinished as I've seen done...they really look nice done right.

Just an FYI to everyone else reading this thread. I did email Emotiva yesterday and Nick stated that all their amps have a common ground and he suggested the XPA-2 for the SDA.
 
R

Ron Temple

Senior Audioholic
Thanks for the in-depth info!! Yeah I've read up on the upgrades people has done and/or recommend. I plan on enjoying them as is unless something is defective or just showing signs of age. I will probably get the cabinets refinished as I've seen done...they really look nice done right.

Just an FYI to everyone else reading this thread. I did email Emotiva yesterday and Nick stated that all their amps have a common ground and he suggested the XPA-2 for the SDA.
Great and that's the Emo amp I'd recommend to, but my understanding was the the dq'd RPA were dual monos and couldn't be used.

Make sure you post an in depth review when you get them. It's always a pleasure to read what new owners have to say. Over on CP, those that have them don't say much except Wow. They are hard to compare to conventional speakers.
 
Matt34

Matt34

Moderator
Fed-Ex guy just dropped them off! I'll post some pics tonight when I unpack them.
 
sawzalot

sawzalot

Audioholic Samurai
savor every last moment of the unwrapping you must feel like its your birthday I am excited for you...:)
 
Matt34

Matt34

Moderator
I got them unboxed and the speakers put back in place. I must say I'm very pleased with the way the seller boxed these up. He took all the speakers out and packaged them very well to avoid any possible damage as well as labeling everything so it was a no-brainer to put them back together.

For 20 year old speakers they are in very good shape, just some nicks and just a little peeling on a couple corners. All the drivers look in great shape too, they did come with the SL2000 tweeters and the blade/blade interconnect so I guess they are the 2A. Going to fire them up in a bit but first, here are some pics.

Wife has the good camera so all you get is blackberry pictures.:(









 
Last edited:
sawzalot

sawzalot

Audioholic Samurai
were the speaks bolted together with a spacer between them for shipping, looking good.I hope the sound meets your expectation.
 
Matt34

Matt34

Moderator
were the speaks bolted together with a spacer between them for shipping, looking good.I hope the sound meets your expectation.
Yes the tweeters had a cardboard empty tape roll in between them and wrapped in saran wrap. The 6.5" drivers where bolted together with three nuts to keep them in place.

I just went through three songs, "Hotel Cali" by Eagles, Dire Straights "Money for Nothing", and the first song on the Focal JM labs demo disc. They are almost just like I remember them!! I set the H/K AVR 330 to large and powered up the Emotiva LPA-1. The left one is a little cramp in the corner but I do have them about 6 1/2' apart and just over a foot from the front wall. It amazes me the amount of bass they can put out, more than my JBL's which have two-10" woofers. I really have no need for a sub in that small room. The SL2000 tweeters were great, right now I don't see me replacing them anytime soon. The mids, well the mids were down right the best I've heard in my house, exceptional.

I think I may get some type of restorer for the finish and line the inside of the cabinets with some peel 'n seal and that's it.

 
Last edited:
R

Ron Temple

Senior Audioholic
Congrats, welcome to the cult of SDA. Glad you're liking them. The bass is quite good, midrange is ungodly good, a very "live" feel with the huge soundstage and the tweets are lively. I know many in my area that have never had a problem with the SL2000. I never did either until I replaced them.
 
Matt34

Matt34

Moderator
Congrats, welcome to the cult of SDA. Glad you're liking them. The bass is quite good, midrange is ungodly good, a very "live" feel with the huge soundstage and the tweets are lively. I know many in my area that have never had a problem with the SL2000. I never did either until I replaced them.

I've done some more listening tonight and you are right the soundstage is great, I can hear the acoustic guitar on the right past the speaker and the piano on the left. I had Livingston Taylor "Isn't She Lovely" playing and when he whistles it really does sound like he's in the room and not a speaker reproducing a sound.;)
 
newsletter

  • RBHsound.com
  • BlueJeansCable.com
  • SVS Sound Subwoofers
  • Experience the Martin Logan Montis
Top