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POLK Audio SDA-2A Thoughts

Interesting! Thanks. Its been awhile since I have researched this out. I thought that if I had a certain crossovers in my2Bs that the 98s were a possible drop in. I am glad I jumped in this thread and didnt purchase the 98s. May I ask why the 94s would be better than the 98s? Thanks again.
 
Cylontymany said:
Interesting! Thanks. Its been awhile since I have researched this out. I thought that if I had a certain crossovers in my2Bs that the 98s were a possible drop in. I am glad I jumped in this thread and didnt purchase the 98s. May I ask why the 94s would be better than the 98s? Thanks again.
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I edited my post above. Yes, you can use the RD0198, but it requires a crossover modification.
 
While I personally didn't find the SL-2000 tweeters nasty, they did have an edge to them and when certain notes are hit its piercing. The drop in 194's smooth things out nicely. At first I thought they maybe sounded a bit rolled off. But after listening to the albums I use for testing speakers I found they weren't rolled off at all. It was just the lack of that edginess I heard with the SL-2000's. I didn't notice any loss of detail either with the 194's. I have a couple other speakers with Mylar domes that have a similar sound to them like the SL-2000's minus that big spike around 12khz.
 
Cylontymany said:
Yes but why recommend the 94s over the 98s in the 2Bs?
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The OP has 2A's, so the RDO194 is really the only tweeter for his speakers. You have 2B's, so the straight swap is the RDO194, but with a modification to the crossover you can use the RDO198.
 
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.
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WOW!!!!

I just installed the RDO194's into my SDA 2A's......... I did not expect such a big difference in sound. Pink Floyd The Division Bell and Wish you were here sound so very different between the two different speaker...... Yes you are right..... I do Thank You Very Much!!!!!!!! Such detail and clarity unknown from the old Tweeters.
 
gladiator335 said:
Congrats! But you will need much more horsepower for those babies!
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I have a CRown 1200 powering my SdA 2's..........I have an av receiver with pre-amp outputs to the amp.....These were great when I was playing my drums but know that I am "listening" to them they suk....load but no definition....using mp3 or cds into the receiver.........what do I need to do????
 
waynedsmith said:
I have a CRown 1200 powering my SdA 2's..........I have an av receiver with pre-amp outputs to the amp.....These were great when I was playing my drums but know that I am "listening" to them they suk....load but no definition....using mp3 or cds into the receiver.........what do I need to do????
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Silly question, but are you using the connecting cable between the speakers? And do do have them set up right? They are marked left and right.
 
waynedsmith said:
yep..........I'm thinking my receiver is garbage..
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You said you were using the crown power amp connected to the AV receiver. Have you tried the AV receiver alone set to two channel, or stereo? You could connect your CD player directly to the Crown, if it has a gain control, connect your CD player directly to the Crown, using the gain control for volume. Who knows,.it may sound better that the AV.
 
Lavane said:
You said you were using the crown power amp connected to the AV receiver. Have you tried the AV receiver alone set to two channel, or stereo? You could connect your CD player directly to the Crown, if it has a gain control, connect your CD player directly to the Crown, using the gain control for volume. Who knows,.it may sound better that the AV.
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no bass/treble control doing it that way correct?
 
waynedsmith said:
no bass/treble control doing it that way correct?
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Yes. If the Crown has a gain control on the front like the Crowns I have, they can be used just like a volume control. Any line level source like a CD player, tuner, etc should drive it. I've ran several of my SS and tube power amps like that. A few times I added an input selector to switch between sources. You won't have any tone controls though connecting directly to the amp without the AV connected. Just using a volume control or autoformer, etc, is also called a passive preamp. No active to e Controls or line stage. Some people prefer this as there is less in the signal chain.
You maybe how it sounds. Notice the volume knob on the crown amp on top in the picture.IMG_20210113_090236.jpg
 
botrytis said:
Passive pre- there is your issue. The resistance from the volume control changes as you turn up the volume so it will change the sound going to the speakers.
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He could be getting some Miller effect I guess having the AV connected to the amp if the amp has a gain control and its not set to full? :dunno:
 
One of my tube amps has an added gain control. If using an active preamp, I set it to max. I've ran this one with just line level sources and an input selector.
 

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Lavane said:
Yes. If the Crown has a gain control on the front like the Crowns I have, they can be used just like a volume control. Any line level source like a CD player, tuner, etc should drive it. I've ran several of my SS and tube power amps like that. A few times I added an input selector to switch between sources. You won't have any tone controls though connecting directly to the amp without the AV connected. Just using a volume control or autoformer, etc, is also called a passive preamp. No active to e Controls or line stage. Some people prefer this as there is less in the signal chain.
You maybe how it sounds. Notice the volume knob on the crown amp on top in the picture.View attachment 2245026
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I just want to here congas when I listen to Santana...........
 
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