SDA 1C's - Finally!

[smglbrth]

I now am the proud owner of the SDA 1C's!!

This is my first pair of SDA's and I can honestly say the sound is nothing short of amazing. Talk about depth and spaciousness! The difference in the same music I've had for up to 20 some years is really neat. The details are awesome. After listening to these I can't believe anyone, anywhere would want to listen to any other speaker. I don't have the exact set-up Polk recommends for listening and it still does great.

I tried them with and without the interconnect cable. Observances without the cable - dull, lifeless, VERY closed in. With the cable - open, spacious, detailed, room-filling (with little volume which I very much like). That got me thinking. I suppose it's not a right comparison to just switch the cable on/off since the stereo/dimensional drivers are wired differently within the crossover. It might be neat to have a pair where all the drivers are wired for stereo like a regular speaker, then do the comparison with the cable on a correct set. If I remember correctly the dimensional drivers aren't in stereo when the cable is not plugged in, hence, I would think, the extremely dull sound. Even my 8t's sound better without that cable plugged in.

I almost forgot what the SL2000's sounded like. Definitely brighter than the RDO replacements but they still do shine with the brass instruments as long as the volume is not high. Will I do the upgrade for the tweets? Maybe but not right now. My wife was ok with them BEFORE I had them set-up in the living room. After she saw them she said she didn't like them there. Told her that SOMEDAY I WILL HAVE MY VERY OWN SOUND ROOM!!! Until then she just had to put up with them. She couldn't deny the sound they put out, however.

The gentleman I purchased them from was the original owner and stated they stayed in the same room in the house since he bought them, in 1988. He gave me all the literature he had which included two advertisements for Polk in booklets which talk about all their different speakers, at the time. Wow, $800 per speaker back in 1988 was alot of dough. No wonder it took me 20 years to get SDA's!

[thsmith]

Congrats ! pics we need pics:D What you powering them with ?

[Fongolio]

Congratulations, I know just how you feel. I only got mine 3 weeks or so ago and they still have the "new cool toy" factor going strong. I played Norah Jones "Come Away With Me" on vinyl yesterday and it was like she was there with me in the room. The best speaker I've heard yet at reproducing a female voice. I'm sure there are others that are better but not in this price range. Enjoy!!!

[kawizx9r]

Another proud SDA owner, congrats! I just got my pair over a month ago and I continue to fall in love with everything they dish out. Like Fongolio says, when it comes to reproducing female voices it sounds so natural. Very revealing set, even playing Metallica I heard the pick on the guitar being strum and the bass strings plucked. It all sounded so real and imaging was beautiful. I think you need to get some tubes on those things ;)

[Ron Temple]

I've had mine for going on 3 years and I still walk around with a virtual hardon whenever I fire them up. I stopped having speaker envy and just concentrate on the sound.

[lifelongnewb]

Congrats, there is no other better series a speaker imo for music. Even tho I own the much-maligned SDA1A's I have yet to find any other in the price range that can topple them.

Congrats again and enjoy!

[everpress]

One day I will score a pair... One day...
:D

[BB3]

smglbrth, Congratulations on your purchase. Something tells me that you are going to enjoy and cherish every moment with them.

Take Care and Happy Listening, B.B.3

[maandjojo]

Another satisfied customer. The real fun thing about it, it will only get better and you won't get tired of them. Fongolio, if you had Norah Jones with you, you wouldn't just be listening to her, but hell, keep on fantasizing.

Joe

[smglbrth]

thsmith - As soon as I am able I'll get the pics. I am running them with a B&K Reference 200.2.

Thanks for the kind words! I have a funny feeling this might be the LAST speaker set I purchase. Now I know why so many continue to question why Polk quit making them (although it has been answered). After having a set of SDA's myself now, I am mulling over the same question.

Female voices do sound great on these. I was just listening to a little today before work and, well, the wow factor continues to amaze me. The only kind of music I really don't care for is Rap. The verdict on harder rock is still out as I haven't experimented with this style much, yet. The way my brain works, probably out of habit with years of "looking" at the speakers while they play, I have to close my eyes and just listen. Everything opens up and LIFE IS GOOD. I'm not happy unless I hear pages of music turning and breath sounds from the musicians playing instruments. With these I hear more of it than I've ever heard before (depending on the recording of course).

The Polks I've had in the past all were good speakers but seemed to always lack something, somewhere, with each pair I had. These 1C's, for me anyway, seem to have it all in one place.

Feels like I'm in the family of SDA owners and what great family to be in! I love this hobby...

[nooshinjohn]

Thanks for the kind words! I have a funny feeling this might be the LAST speaker set I purchase. Now I know why so many continue to question why Polk quit making them (although it has been answered). After having a set of SDA's myself now, I am mulling over the same question.

Feels like I'm in the family of SDA owners and what great family to be in! I love this hobby...

Welcome to the family... but I must warn you that the family you joined is like the Mob. You may be happy where you are right now, but someday you will want to be the boss. The 1.2TL's is where you will end up:)... SDA's rule!

[engtaz]

Congrats. Very nice speakers.

[leroyjr1]

Congrats!!!!!!!


Did you pay the asking price?

[salasg]

Jealous am I. Congratulations on the addition to the family. I have made the jump, not as big as you, into the SDA family. Just purchased a pair of SDA CRS on Ebay. :D Hope to get them in about a week and then I will get a little taste of the SDA experience.
I fear that I wil only want more. :o

[george daniel]

congrats on the purchase--enjoy,,although I own other speakers,,I keep going back to the SDA's,, just something special about them.

[bluecomet]

The SDA 1C's were my first set of SDA's I bought. You can see by my signature where that lead me, a room full of speakers and a mess of audio gear. These speakers are very addictive. You will put SDA's in one room and then walk into another room and start thinking "I think I could fit a set of SDA 2B's in my living room." Then walk into your bedroom and think. "Yes, a nice set of SDA CRS+ would work here." and so on and so on until you have a house full of these SDA speakers. In your quest for these speakers logic well go out the window. My family would like to go on a vacation to somewhere 4 hours away. I tell them I don't feel driving that far but if you said there was a set of SDA SRS 1.2tl 8hrs one way, I would be packing up the car for a road trip. These speakers are evil I tell you. Evil. They become an obsession. Enjoy your speakers but beware. You have been warned.

[smglbrth]

After my wife's comment on these I showed her the 1.2TL's in the Polk brochure and told her those were the ones I REALLY wanted. 'Course, right now I definitely don't have the room, well, a room for them in this house. I listened to the 1.2's back in 1988 when I first started getting into audio and was blown away. I never forgot that experience! If I had that much cash and didn't care I'd drive to one of the coasts to get them! But..., I continue to drool at times and right now I'm as happy as a pig in, you get the idea.

I did pay his asking price after I saw the shape they were in. Like new was pretty much it and since they didn't move from the same house (or room) in all that time figured everything with the speakers were A-1, and they are. Being in the midwest decent SDA's don't seem to come up that often that are this nice. They seem to come up on the coasts much more often. Seller stated to me that he now has to hear his adult son complain that he didn't give them to him. Glad his son wasn't there when I was!

Tubes, ya, I've thought about it...

[Conradicles]

Sweet, glad it all worked out good and you got some minty 1C's!!!

[nooshinjohn]

where in the midwest are you...

[smglbrth]

My amp is still here, Eric...;) If I could bi-amp these I'd keep it for the highs.

I am located about an hour north of Leroy.

[nooshinjohn]

all you local guys are welcome to drop in any time... eve Lightman is welcome so long as he is taking his meds.

[smglbrth]

Party at Johns place to "play" with his 1.2 TL's!!!:D