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POLK Audio SDA-2A Thoughts

Billy1973

Billy1973

Member
I just acquired a set of very clean SDA-2A's, packed in the original packaging with the interconnect cable. I have paired them with my Sansui 3000a and my Sansui SR-4050a, they sound amazing to me, but that being said I am new at this. This is my first system. Does anyone have any experience with the SDA-2A or have any opinions on them? Also does anyone know the difference between the SDA-2 and the SDA-2A, they look identical to me.
 

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@F1nut should be able to get you the info needed to figure out what series they are and what may need to be done with them. I have a pair of Monitor 10's I really like and he was a big help. Rebuilding the crossovers for one. That really woke my 10's up.
 

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The SDA 2's had two tweeters and three of the mid bass speakers per cabinet, the 2A's have one tweeter and two mid bass per cabinet. I had a pair of the 2A's at one time. I found it's best to keep them away from side walls, don't have things between them or beside them that may interfere with the sound coming out. In other words they need plenty of space around them so try moving them out a bit from where you have them and see if they sound better.
 
No thoughts on the SDA's but that Sui looks mighty fine !
Look out for that eq pattern though.. obviously, on the 12dB boost side...
 
gladiator335 said:
Congrats! But you will need much more horsepower for those babies!
Click to expand...
Yes I agree, I am in the process on trying to figure out hoe to add an amp to my receiver and ditching the EQ. I am looking at the Carver TFM-15. I believe it is rated at 100 watts per channel. My Sansui is rated at 45 watts per channel at 8 ohms.
 
sax6 said:
No thoughts on the SDA's but that Sui looks mighty fine !
Look out for that eq pattern though.. obviously, on the 12dB boost side...
Click to expand...
The EQ is there to help drive the phono level up. I am planning on ditching it as soon as I figure out how to add a Carver TFM-15 to my Sansui. My Sansui does not have a pre amp output. I just brought the Sansui back from the dead about a week ago and I have another Sansui 3000a that I will also be bringing back from the dead in the next few weeks.
 
HypnoToad said:
The SDA 2's had two tweeters and three of the mid bass speakers per cabinet, the 2A's have one tweeter and two mid bass per cabinet. I had a pair of the 2A's at one time. I found it's best to keep them away from side walls, don't have things between them or beside them that may interfere with the sound coming out. In other words they need plenty of space around them so try moving them out a bit from where you have them and see if they sound better.
Click to expand...
Sorry I think I meant to ask the difference between the SDA-2A and SDA-2B.
 
Billy1973 said:
Sorry I think I meant to ask the difference between the SDA-2A and SDA-2B.
Click to expand...
Different drivers, different crossovers, different cabinets. 2A is 4 ohm nominal, 2B is 6 ohm. 2A uses the blade/blade cable and cannot be used with non-common ground amps. 2B uses the pin/blade cable and with the Polk AI-1 or Dreadnought isolation transformer can be used with non-common ground amps.

Ideal set up, 5 to 6 inches off the back wall, 6 to 8 feet apart, 3 feet from any side wall and no toe in.

Replace those nasty SL2000 tweeters with the RDO194. You'll thank me.

Adding spikes will tighten the bass and clean up the mids.

You don't want that or any Carver SS amp. However, his tube amps are stellar.
 
I had both. 2b’s were better speakers. From what I recall, the crossover was wired a bit different which improved the performance. Allowed for use of he latest tweeters.
 
Thank
F1nut said:
Different drivers, different crossovers, different cabinets. 2A is 4 ohm nominal, 2B is 6 ohm. 2A uses the blade/blade cable and cannot be used with non-common ground amps. 2B uses the pin/blade cable and with the Polk AI-1 or Dreadnought isolation transformer can be used with non-common ground amps.

Ideal set up, 5 to 6 inches off the back wall, 6 to 8 feet apart, 3 feet from any side wall and no toe in.

Replace those nasty SL2000 tweeters with the RDO194. You'll thank me.

Adding spikes will tighten the bass and clean up the mids.

You don't want that or any Carver SS amp. However, his tube amps are stellar.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the information and advise, I will replace those tweeters. How does one know if the amp is common ground or not?
 
Billy1973 said:
Thank


Thank you for the information and advise, I will replace those tweeters. How does one know if the amp is common ground or not?
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Almost all receivers are common ground. Amplifiers are best tested using a DVM set to ohms on the negative outputs. Unplug the amp first. A reading of zero or extremely close to that means the grounds are common.
 
F1nut said:
Almost all receivers are common ground. Amplifiers are best tested using a DVM set to ohms on the negative outputs. Unplug the amp first. A reading of zero or extremely close to that means the grounds are common.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. BTW I just ordered a pair of RDO194's to replace the SL2000's.
 
Cylontymany said:
Cant you use the RDO198 ?
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While it is possible to add a 5.8uF cap to the high frequency circuit of the crossover in order to use the RDO198 in the 2A one needs to consider the rest of the crossover circuit and the mid-drivers are completely different than the 2B, which after the modification can use the RDO198.
 
F1nut said:
You don't want that or any Carver SS amp.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a mischievous lightning strike that took out my TFM-45 amp might have done me a favor years ago! :)

Replacing the Carver with the Sunfire Signature 600 wpc was a big improvement!
 
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