SDA 2A's what to look for when buying?

[Kajun442]

Hey all,

I found some SDA 2A's for sale local for $ 300. They appear to be mint from the pictures. Is that a good price? I'm looking to set up a 2channel system and these seem to be a good start. Any advice on what to look for when I go to check them out?

Thanks in advance
Jim

[Marty913]

Hey all,

I found some SDA 2A's for sale local for $ 300. They appear to be mint from the pictures. Is that a good price? I'm looking to set up a 2channel system and these seem to be a good start. Any advice on what to look for when I go to check them out?

Thanks in advance
Jim

My personal opinion is that for local pickup, it is a good deal. Having said that, yes there could be a bad driver or two, or even a a bad crossover but you may want to eventually upgrade those anyway. If you can listen to them and everything basically works, then I would go for it. In our part of the country, local pickup Polk's are rare.

Are they wood or studio versions? Have (or can you) listen to them? One of the first things I ask myself when it comes to value or worth is "what other speaker can I get for $300 that will beat the Polk's?". There's nothing new for that price. You may find another pair of old vintage Polk's but the 2A is a very nice speaker and a great start to some serious 2-channel listening. If the cabinets are in reasonable shape and the drivers all work, it's a good deal.

Even a few minor problems may still make it a good deal.

[heiney9]

IMO, it's at the upper end for 2A's unless they are mint in every way. I would be inclined to pay $300 for 2B's, but not 2A's. Having said that you can't put a price on local p.u. and inspection. Sometimes it's worth paying a bit more for that option.

2A's still had the funky dimensional tweeter, which strictly IMO is slightly less desirable, but solid speaks nonetheless.

H9

[nms]

I second H9, $300 seems a little high. See if you can talk him down to 250 or 275 or so. Give them a thorough inspection - make sure all the drivers and tweeters are working, check the surrounds, does he have the IC cable, is it in good shape, etc. If you're trying to talk him down look for any little flaws that you can nitpick on, even if the flaws really don't matter.

FWIW, I paid $200 for a pair of 2Bs in solid condition (a few nicks on the corners) off of Craigslist.

[Marty913]

IMO, it's at the upper end for 2A's unless they are mint in every way. I would be inclined to pay $300 for 2B's, but not 2A's. Having said that you can't put a price on local p.u. and inspection. Sometimes it's worth paying a bit more for that option.

2A's still had the funky dimensional tweeter, which strictly IMO is slightly less desirable, but solid speaks nonetheless.

H9

I believe 2A's (right) did not have the SDA tweeter, 2's (left) did.

[heiney9]

There may have been an odd transitional model but to my recollection and according to the compendium 2's and 2A's had the dimensional tweeter and (3) 6.5" drivers. 2B's had the single tweeter and (2) 6.5" driver and they came in a Studio version and oak/walnut end capped version.

H9

[heiney9]

It appears there is conflicting info in the compendium and I believe you are right the 2A's have 1 tweeter and 2 drivers. I'll go with that. If the OP could post a pic or a description that would be helpful too.

Still $300 is steep unless they are minty, minty, minty.

[danger boy]

2A's did not have two tweeters.... the 2's did. I've owned a pair of 2A's before.. i know.. :p

$300 clams is a bit on the high side.. here again.. if they are minty looking.. i might jump on em.. if i was looking. the 2A's are a fine sounding speaker you know. good size and very open sounding from what I remember.

[heiney9]

Did more indepth searching in the compendium and only in one spot is there a typo, which is what I was going on. They are 2A's and I'd offer $225 and max out at $250.

[RuSsMaN]

SDA 2A's what to look for when buying?

2B's?

[danger boy]

2A's IMHO are close sounding to 2B's, but lack some of the bass that the 2B's bring to music..

see if the seller will drop the price by say.. $50 or so...

[heiney9]

2A's and 2B's have different cabinets and utilize different drivers. 2B's, all other things being equal, are a better choice but one should take what one can readily get. :) 2A's certainly are not a bad choice.

H9

[danger boy]

2A's and 2B's have different cabinets and utilize different drivers. 2B's, all other things being equal, are a better choice but one should take what one can readily get. :) 2A's certainly are not a bad choice.

H9

ageed! but you also forgot to mention vastly different crossovers too.. ;)

[dorokusai]

That's too much money.

[Kajun442]

Thanks for all the info. The speakers are 2A's and they are 15 minutes drive from me. I hope to check them out tomorrow. If I get em I'll post pics. They have been for sale for about two weeks now, so their either junk or (more likely around here) nobody knows what they are. I like to go by the motto: Cash is King! So I hope to get them for no more than $250.

Thanks again
Jim

[Marty913]

That's too much money.

Let's try and keep in mind that not everyone lives within driving distance of a New York, Washington, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, etc. With VERY few exceptions Mississippi, Louisiana, & Northwest Florida pretty much guarantees you will not find local except on rare occasions. It's easy to say $250 - $300 is too much why not wait for $250 2B's and pay $225 shipping (that would be $475 I believe).

I think "pretty much mint" SDA 2A with local pickup for $250 - $300 is a steal in this part of the country. In my scanning of Craigslist for Pensacola, Mobile, Birmingham, Montgomery, and Hattiesburg / Jackson there has been ZERO Polk's offered in 6 months. I did find 2 pair in Jacksonville but that was it.

[RuSsMaN]

You 'think' they are worth it. Have you 'heard' them?

There is a reason Polk dropped the dimensional tweeter cochise.

[dorokusai]

I'm sure he's adult enough to realize it's an opinion, unless you think he's retarded?

[Marty913]

You 'think' they are worth it. Have you 'heard' them?

There is a reason Polk dropped the dimensional tweeter cochise.

Read the posts - they do not have a dimensional tweeter.

[Marty913]

Thanks for all the info. The speakers are 2A's and they are 15 minutes drive from me. I hope to check them out tomorrow. If I get em I'll post pics. They have been for sale for about two weeks now, so their either junk or (more likely around here) nobody knows what they are. I like to go by the motto: Cash is King! So I hope to get them for no more than $250.

Thanks again
Jim

Kajun442, let us know what you find out about the 2A's and if you buy them. If they are in good shape and you can get them for $250, jump on it. If you don't like them after buying them, send me an email and I'll drive up and have a look at them. You can really have enough pairs of Polk's.

[Kajun442]

Well I bought them thursday for $250, loaded them up in the back seat of my truck and brought them home. Get them inside (back hurts). Take them out the boxes. Set them in front of my Rti-8's and SVS 25-31 sub. I wanted to listen to them for a little while before they were moved to the office. I plan to put together a 2 channel system for the office. So I hook them up all the while I'm waiting for a comment from my wife (and not a good comment) So I put on some Steely Dan and crank it a little, then a little more and then some more and I'm thinking D@mm these sound great! So the wife looks over at me: you know these have to stay in the living room. I like the way they look and sound. So my plan for the office is on hold. My new plan is to sell my Rti's and SVS. Buy another Adcom 555 and use both of them to power the SDA's. While I look for some better SDA's. I'm hooked!
http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/5843/img0349wk6.th.jpg (http://img252.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0349wk6.jpg)http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/7595/img0350gj4.th.jpg (http://img180.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0350gj4.jpg)http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/1403/img0351xf3.th.jpg (http://img180.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0351xf3.jpg)

[capitan100]

Nice find. Those look very nice.

I have a pair of 2B's and love them to death.

BTW - I lived in Jackson for a while. Still have a bunch of friends there. Graduated from State back in 1996.

[danger boy]

nice looking pair of 2aaaa's you got there.... look to be in good condition too.

enjoy!

[dorokusai]

I love Polk's in original boxes....it makes them worth keeping, for a week or so. That's a great pair of SDA's to start the addiction.

[Mike Reeter]

I'd say for 250. you did very well...don't find pairs with the original cartons very often.

N'joy

[Marty913]

Told ya.

Nice speakers, fair price, wife likes 'em, listening to Steely Dan on the Polk's. Life's pretty good in Jackson right now. Congratulations and the offer still stands (if you get tired of them, I'll drive up and take them off your hands).

Enjoy.

[Ron Temple]

SDAs are pretty damn good HT fronts too. Don't get rid of the sub...pickup some CRS+s, a close center and you will have an awesome dual purpose rig.

[Kajun442]

capitan100 wrote:
"BTW - I lived in Jackson for a while. Still have a bunch of friends there. Graduated from State back in 1996."

We moved to Brandon two years ago and like it here, plus it's above sea level. Which has become important to us lately.:)

marty913 wrote:
"(if you get tired of them, I'll drive up and take them off your hands)"

I can't see getting rid of these anytime soon, unless I find a better pair. But if I do, I'll try to pass them on to someone here first. I feel like I didnt just buy speakers but also bought all new music.

Ron Temple wrote:
"SDAs are pretty damn good HT fronts too. Don't get rid of the sub...pickup some CRS+s, a close center and you will have an awesome dual purpose rig."

I'll probably keep everything. I have a 12' X 14' room that might become a mini theater.


Thanks to everyone your knowledge and help was greatly appreciated.

Jim