SDA-SRS vs Walsh Ohm 3XO

[brokenbodyma]

SRS are amazing speakers but being SDA they have limitations. Placement critical, common ground amp, i/c cable for the SDA effect a good clean powerful amp of 200wpc.The 3xos were right in the middle of the Ohm/Walsh ladder w/ 5s being the totl. If the surrounds were ok I also would go for the Ohms and I'm a Polk SDA 2B owner. As a side note John @ Ohm takes in old models for trade in on new models ( no affiliation)

 

[dnewma04]

I've had SDA-SRSs in my home and have owned the 4XO. In terms of shear scale, their won't be a comparison. The SRS will be the clear winner in that regard. The SRS imaging/soundstage effect won't show a clear improvement over the Ohm's I don't believe, if anything the Ohms may have an advantage if you are into creating big soundstage. The Polks will do pretty well if forced to tuck the speakers up closer to a wall where the Ohms will want to be out in the room further.

Overall, I'd lean towards the Ohms if there isn't a huge need to knock down china or paintings on the wall.

 

[drumiv]

Thanks for all the info, you guys! Unfortunately, I do live in an area where I don't really have a wealth of options; these Ohms have actually been for sale for almost 2 years as I remember seeing them at a much higher price before I picked up my Sonys. drumiv, are the woods really that easy to replace on the Polks? I assume pop of the top two drivers and the radiator and unbolt them?

Yes they are; if you take out the passive radiator, you can get to the 4 bolts holding it in place, same for the top, just take out the first 2 mids. Of coarse, the speakers will have to be on their backs. And you WILL need help; they are 182#s each. I've heard some of the negatives about them. My personal experience with them is that they are outstanding speakers. My wife thinks so, as does everyone who hears them. They are very rare. If you can get them, do so. If they are that beat up, you should be able to get them at a good price. There is not that much to them, in that there's not that much wood, mostly fabric.

 

[wafflesole]

Well, the SRS speakers are gone. Guy sold them because he needed fast cash. I'm kind of eyeing some RTA-12Cs that are on the auction site right now.

 

[drumiv]

Yep, they usually don't last long. That's to bad. Good luck on your quest.

 

[Rob41]

Not even close. The Polk will trounce the Ohms hands down. If you want any degree of authority, have a room bigger than a breadbox, are a bass lover or like to rock you'll want the polks. They will handle all of the above while immersing you in a soundstage with an accurate depth of field with amazing seperation and detail.

 

[drumiv]

Well, the SRS speakers are gone. Guy sold them because he needed fast cash. I'm kind of eyeing some RTA-12Cs that are on the auction site right now.

I just saw that listing. For that price, you can't go wrong. Keep in mind, no other Polk speaker compares to the SRS's.

 

[frommerstop]

This has been my experience as well.....with the exception of the "small listening space" part. Once I started hearing them in the company of Vandersteen, Magnepan and Acoustat their tonal deficiencies became apparent quickly.

On rereading my post, I think it may be misunderstood. I was referring to the SDAs having a small "sweet spot" where the affect is optimized... What I wrote could have been read as my thinking the SDAs only worked in a small space. The Polks can fill a large room with sound, but there is only a small "ideal listening space" in which to enjoy the affects of the SDA technology.

 

[frommerstop]

I've had SDA-SRSs in my home and have owned the 4XO. In terms of shear scale, their won't be a comparison. The SRS will be the clear winner in that regard. The SRS imaging/soundstage effect won't show a clear improvement over the Ohm's I don't believe, if anything the Ohms may have an advantage if you are into creating big soundstage. The Polks will do pretty well if forced to tuck the speakers up closer to a wall where the Ohms will want to be out in the room further.

Overall, I'd lean towards the Ohms if there isn't a huge need to knock down china or paintings on the wall.

Ohm suggests the Walsh line be placed relatively close to the back wall for best bass integration, and my experience echos those observations. I've found them to need to be no more than 6"-8" from the wall, and they actually start to sound thin if you bring them more than 15"-20" out into the room.

I think most folks who have the impression the Walsh line are "too polite", or "lack bass", have been pulling them too far out into the room. When I firs got a pair, that's what I did as well... I thought if they are supposed to have semi-omnidirectional properties, they MUST need "room to breath".

Well, they DO, but mostly to the sides. IME, they need as much clear space between them, and from each side wall as practical, but their bass needs the back wall for reinforcement to sound smooth & extend their response. Without it, they have a pretty noticeable upper bass "suck-out", and roll off really fast just below that, making them sound too lightweight & thin. But put them less than a foot from the wall & that suck-out disappears, and bass extends down at least an octive lower before it starts rolling off. Such placement also helps with dynamics, though they still are not room rattlers like big Polks.