Uh-oh, bought some Polks!

[j_garcia]

While I am not a big fan of Polk, the SDAs represent the best they have done in the speaker world. I have heard many of the models in the line and they are great sounding speakers. The fact that you can get some of them so cheap is also a BIG bonus. The downside being their size IMO.

 

[cfrizz]

Congrats Matt. The SDA's are something else I heard a pair at Polk HQ in 2005they were incredible.

I hope you have the interconnect that goes with them, and as was pointed out check to make sure you hook them up to the right kind of amp.

I'm looking forward to reading your impressions of them.

 

[croseiv]

Nice find there Matt! I have never heard any of the SDA series, but I remember hearing a pair of RTA11s hooked up to a 200 wpc Adcom amp some years ago. It sounded fantastic.

I've heard the Monitor 5 and 7 and was very impressed. Honestly, I think Polk made some fine speakers (older generation stuff).

 

[Matt34]

Congrats Matt. The SDA's are something else I heard a pair at Polk HQ in 2005they were incredible.

I hope you have the interconnect that goes with them, and as was pointed out check to make sure you hook them up to the right kind of amp.

I'm looking forward to reading your impressions of them.

Yup they have the interconnect. I'm going to spend some time tomorrow doing some more research on these with the links Adam provided and find an amp suitable for them.

 

[Alai]

In case it seems to be up in the air, these look very very much like SDA 2B to me, which are one of the few highly desired of the SDA line. Congrats on an amazing find.

 

[sawzalot]

Only in a dream, those aren't going to go for anywhere close to $200.

You knew it Bud they are up to well over 400.00 now.

 

[Matt34]

Will my Emotiva LPA-1 power these fine until I get another amp? I understand I need an amp that has a common ground due to the interconnect cable that runs between the speakers but how do you identify if the amp your looking at has one?

 

[DaveHo]

Take a multi-meter and touch the leads to the two negative binding posts. If it's a direct short, then you have a common ground amp. If it's not a common ground amp, you can still hook up the speakers without the interconnect cable.

-Dave

 

[Ron Temple]

Hi Matt,

I met up with John Garcia today. He told me you scored some SDAs. If you've got any questions, just PM me. Optimal setup is 6 -8' apart, 6 - 12" from the wall, no toe in and at least 3' from either sidewall for the full SDA effect. That's optimal, I've got my rig in a catty corner arrangment and they still are wonderful 2 channel and HT speakers. I'm not sure about your Emo, better check with them about the common ground issue. They aren't that hard to drive, but they likey the current. If the LPA 1 doesn't work, be patient and score a nice 2 channel amp. I've run mine on Carver TFMs, Luxman and Adcom with great results.

If you get them setup correctly, they will be extremely hard to upgrade out of...wide, tall, deep, detailed and make studio musicians sound live. You probably know this already.

Congrats.

 

[Matt34]

Hi Matt,

I met up with John Garcia today. He told me you scored some SDAs. If you've got any questions, just PM me. Optimal setup is 6 -8' apart, 6 - 12" from the wall, no toe in and at least 3' from either sidewall for the full SDA effect. That's optimal, I've got my rig in a catty corner arrangment and they still are wonderful 2 channel and HT speakers. I'm not sure about your Emo, better check with them about the common ground issue. They aren't that hard to drive, but they likey the current. If the LPA 1 doesn't work, be patient and score a nice 2 channel amp. I've run mine on Carver TFMs, Luxman and Adcom with great results.

If you get them setup correctly, they will be extremely hard to upgrade out of...wide, tall, deep, detailed and make studio musicians sound live. You probably know this already.

Congrats.

Thanks for the info Ron, Adam hooked me up with the owners manual online so I've read that also for ideal placement.
They haven't shipped out yet, I talked to the guy yesterday and the boxes to ship them in are being built. Hopefully I'll see them this week.

 

[Ron Temple]

I hope everything works out on the shipping. $36 for shipping a properly packed pair is about $150 lite. They weigh 80lbs each, the drivers and PRs should be removed and packed separately and they should be flat on a pallet. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you. Once you get into these speakers you get pretty passionate about how they are handled...good luck.

 

[Matt34]

I hope everything works out on the shipping. $36 for shipping a properly packed pair is about $150 lite. They weigh 80lbs each, the drivers and PRs should be removed and packed separately and they should be flat on a pallet. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you. Once you get into these speakers you get pretty passionate about how they are handled...good luck.

The $36 was for each, and they are coming from Albuquerque so not too far from me. I'm glad Polk still supports these speakers with parts, etc. Makes it a little less stressful.

 

[Ron Temple]

Yep, the toughest part to get is the PR. Polk doesn't stock them and they have unique properties. Not saying PE or somesuch part won't work just not as well.

 

[Matt34]

Yep, the toughest part to get is the PR. Polk doesn't stock them and they have unique properties. Not saying PE or somesuch part won't work just not as well.

So Ron, of the three amps you mentioned earlier, which did you like the most? I found a Carver TFM 55 on ebay for a decent price.

 

[Ron Temple]

So Ron, of the three amps you mentioned earlier, which did you like the most? I found a Carver TFM 55 on ebay for a decent price.

Well, I'm hooked on the tubelike sound. I'm running a TFM45 now and really liked the Luxman M-117 which both feature a slight rolloff at the very top, that to me, seals the deal. Carver presents almost a 3D soundstage, very wide, deep, as well as, slightly forward. The detail and bass are there, but it's not in one plane. Conversely, the Adcom GFA 555 was a ballzy amp, about 3' forward in my room, some depth, but I felt the detail was etched into that front plane and slightly grainy. The Luxman was somewhere in between, but with very nice punchy bass. I really liked all of them. I sold the Luxman recently and moved up to the TFM 45, not necessarily better, but more dynamic. The 55 has similar power to the 45, some slight sonic differences, but is as highly sought after as the 45 by Carver fans...anything less tha $500 is a very good deal.

Warning: My opinion is entirely subjective, many SDA owners swear by Carver and some swear at them. Anyone thinking that all amps sound the same haven't heard Carver gear (or Luxman). It's not better, it's a preference. The TFMs and M series amps were modded to sound like the infamous Carver Silver 7 tube monoblocks.

2bs are a very fun speaker. They're the best of the SDA2 lineup and can be modded into a 4.1TL config with a crossover/tweeter redo. Those that have done so say that makes them the best medium sized SDA available. I've got a pair of unmodded 2bs with the tweeter upgrade to match my 1Cs. Even without the crossovers done, the 2bs hold there own in everyway. You're going to be a very happy camper.

 

[Matt34]

Ron,

I just got a line on a sweet *mint* vintage Pioneer SX-1010. Regardless if it is compatible with the SDA I'm getting it. I love the look, build quality and conservatively rated power this thing has.

This isn't a picture of the one I'm looking at as I don't really want to give it away just yet.

 

[Ron Temple]

Hmmm...looks nice. I know folks swear by older Pio, Sansui, Lux and Carver receivers...never have heard any (except an old Kenwood 120w receiver I owned in 75, but that was long before I knew what I had). Good luck.

 

[j_garcia]

Hmmm...looks nice. I know folks swear by older Pio, Sansui, Lux and Carver receivers...never have heard any (except an old Kenwood 120w receiver I owned in 75, but that was long before I knew what I had). Good luck.

That ain't mint THIS is mint:

SX-990. Only 25W though (top removed).

 

[Matt34]

I guess I was about two hours too late. He wrote back and said it sold yesterday. Looks like he already took down the ad but he had three pics of it and it was flawless as far as I could tell. Everything lit up and the wood case was in perfect condition.

I hate missing a good deal.

 

[j_garcia]

Everything lights up on mine. The wood isn't in perfect shape, but the internals look practically brand new aside from some dust.