Rebuilting SDA CRS+

[Raiders6900]

Hi - First time poster....

I'm looking to rebuild my SDA CRS+ speakers. I've owned them since 1987 and the parts are most likely worn and the cabinets are tired.

1. Will I benefit from rebuilding them?
2. How should I go about it? Replace everything?
3. I want to rebuilt the cabinets - what type of wood gives the best sound quality?

Thanks!

[danger boy]

hi and welcome to club Polk.. there are a few people in here with great woodworking skills. i'm sure they'll chime in sooner or later.

What condition are your CRS+'s in exactly anyways?

[hearingimpared]

Welcome to the club. Do search on 4.1 upgrade that is what I am doing to my CRS+s.

[Raiders6900]

They are in good shape actually. I have always moved them in their original boxes.

i did replace the mid ranges about 2 years ago - but a good makeover is now in-order. i love the sound and do not want to go through the process of search for new speakers for my simple system. i spent $800 bucks new for them in 87'.

I live near the beach and there is rust on a few of the screw - so I cannot imagine that the rest of the parts are in good shape.

[danger boy]

people often replace the tweeter's in their SDA's.. all models of SDA's. crossover upgrading/updating is another favorite one. You are on the right track.. they are worth the makeover they deserve.

[Early B.]

You'd probably be better off financially selling yours and buying another pair with upgraded tweeters for $300 - $350. Net cost might be something like $100.

[hearingimpared]

From what I've been told by some very knowledgeable Polkies the 4.1 upgrade on the SDA/CRS+ speakers are the way to go. I am definitely going this route. Replacing the tweeter with the new RD0194 supposedly doesn't do the speakers justice. I am not speaking from experience here, I am repeating what I've been told by others who have the experience that is why I am doing the 4.1 upgrade.

[Raiders6900]

Where do i search for "upgrade 4.1"?

[hearingimpared]

You would search the Vintage Speakers section. I'm having a hard time finding the thread I'm thinking about right now but hang in there and keep searching, it will turn up.

[Polk65]

Welcome Raiders6900 to the club. If you're interested in keeping these and doing some modifications, you've come to the right place. The benefit is noticeable so yes it's worth the effort and cost if you like these speakers. Polk Audio still makes some replacement mid-woofers and also has updated tweeters available. Mention that you are a Club Polk member when you call.

If the wood has not been water damaged or bloated from the ocean air they should be fine. If you build replacement cabinets, use some sort of compressed wood like MDF as it will not resonate like solid woods. You can then cover it with a wood veneer or vinyl veneer. PartsExpress sells a close match to the original vinyl, search their site for "vinyl laminate". Local wood supply stores like woodcraft and some lumber yards will have real wood veneer.

The crossovers are becoming a standard replacement these days along with the updated tweeters for a better overall sound. Your mid-woofers should be okay unless they sound scratchy when heavy bass is playing. Many old speakers have some rust on the screws. Try removing them one at a time and gently rubbing with steel wool or just replace them.

Use the search (http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/search.php) on the blue line above, not the one at the very top. Three characters is the key, here are some examples.

sda+crs*
"sda+crs*"
"sda tweeter*"
"sda crossover*"
"crossover upgrade"

Tips:
* use (+) between two 3 character words
* narrow your searches with quotes
* select the Vintage Forum in the search list
* look at the bottom of each page. there are often links to similar posts.

Here's the 4.1tl posts.
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40577
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46489

Grab a chair and hit search. There's a lot of info here.

[hearingimpared]

Welcome Raiders6900 to the club. If you're interested in keeping these and doing some modifications, you've come to the right place. The benefit is noticeable so yes it's worth the effort and cost if you like these speakers. Polk Audio still makes some replacement mid-woofers and also has updated tweeters available. Mention that you are a Club Polk member when you call.

If the wood has not been water damaged or bloated from the ocean air they should be fine. If you build replacement cabinets, use some sort of compressed wood like MDF as it will not resonate like solid woods. You can then cover it with a wood veneer or vinyl veneer. PartsExpress sells a close match to the original vinyl, search their site for "vinyl laminate". Local wood supply stores like woodcraft and some lumber yards will have real wood veneer.

The crossovers are becoming a standard replacement these days along with the updated tweeters for a better overall sound. Your mid-woofers should be okay unless they sound scratchy when heavy bass is playing. Many old speakers have some rust on the screws. Try removing them one at a time and gently rubbing with steel wool or just replace them.

Use the search (http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/search.php) on the blue line above, not the one at the very top. Three characters is the key, here are some examples.

sda+crs*
"sda+crs*"
"sda tweeter*"
"sda crossover*"
"crossover upgrade"

Tips:
* use (+) between two 3 character words
* narrow your searches with quotes
* select the Vintage Forum in the search list
* look at the bottom of each page. there are often links to similar posts.

Here's the 4.1tl posts.
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40577
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46489

Grab a chair and hit search. There's a lot of info here.

Thanks for going to bat for me Steve, my searching skills SUCK!!!

[heiney9]

Welcome to the club. Do search on 4.1 upgrade that is what I am doing to my CRS+s.

Welcome and +1 to the 4.1 mod. and the silk dome RD0 tweeter replacement/upgrade (RD0194-1)

[NeilGabriel]

Can you just do the tweeter upgrade, or is something else (e.g. crossover) needing to be changed as well?

[rskarvan]

Yes, you can do just the tweeter upgrade and the results are excellent!!!

[engtaz]

Tweeter will make a real sonic difference. Smooooooth

[F1nut]

Can you just do the tweeter upgrade, or is something else (e.g. crossover) needing to be changed as well?

If just want to change the tweeters, you need to order RD0194-1. If you order RD0198-1, you have to rework the crossovers as well.