Polk SDA CRS Early Model

[Gonzonator]

I have the chance to buy a pair of these speakers, they are the early model with two tweeters on each speaker. Would you spend $150 for the pair in good condition, he tells me they are a 7 out of 10. I was planning on going there and offering him $100 but I didn't want to insult him. I believe that sometimes it's best to pay the price if its a good deal from the start. I hate when I sell something and list it for a deal and people still try to haggle. Thanks in advance for any input

[On3s&Z3r0s]

IMO it depends on why you're buying them. I only say this because I bought a pair of the original SDA 2's, which also have the dimensional tweeter, and I share the sentiments of some people on the board that the extra tweeter isn't good for the sound. So if you're buying them because you want to hear what the dimensional tweeter sounds like or just for the historical interest in owning a pair from that period, then I say go for it. I've seen the original CRS go for more than $150, but no harm in asking the guy to take less. I'm sure he wouldn't be so offended that he'd throw you out of his house.

If you're looking for a great sounding SDA speaker, then personally I'd wait for one of the later models and avoid the hassle of eventually re-selling those, but that's just me.

[Gonzonator]

I did have a little experience with the dimensional tweeter, I had the SDA 1A's for a short time. I did enjoy the way they sounded, but I've never listened to a pair of sda's without the dimensional tweeter. I found the CRS interesting because of their size and that many reviews say they produce quality sound. I just added another set up in my sun room and thought it would be nice to have that vintage Polk sound in a small size. This may sound dumb, but cant I just disable one tweeter on each speaker to eliminate the dimensional effect?

[ben62670]

Yep. Just unhook one of the leads to the dimensional tweeter. If the highs are too muted after that you can change a resistor on the crossover board.

[Gonzonator]

Do you think that the highs will sound muted, I really a have no experience with modifying crossovers (even though I would love to learn). I guess if I can get him down a little on his price they would be worth it.

[ben62670]

They might be slightly muted. If you can solder you can do the mods.

[Cayuga]

For $100-$150 for a pair of CRS's if you have the money why wouldn't you get them? For that amount of money you get some nice speakers and a litte history. If you get them for $100 and don't like them, PM me and I'll take them.

[Gonzonator]

What about the ls 90's for $350. I just saw a pair that are still available, I really didn't want to spend that much, but I always wanted a pair. I know that placement, room size etc are important, maybe my room is too small for the ls 90's

[ben62670]

I'd rather have the SDA's. Take the extra $200-250 dollars and put it into modding them.

[On3s&Z3r0s]

I do agree that it's a good price for a good speaker, and the best part about any of the CRS models is that they still sound like an SDA without dominating the room physically. And about the dimensional tweeters in general, I like them a lot in some ways, especially on music that isn't over-produced that you can imagine taking place in a live venue... they can just get a little echo-y on some pieces of music. If you already know you like that sound, for the price it's hard to go wrong, and they're a cheap place to start if you like to tweak, as Ben said.

[OldmanSRS]

I recently picked up some CRS+'s for $160 and I was surprised at; 1. how heavy they are and 2. how good they sound and fill an average size room. Running them with a decent sub makes a very impressive setup for a den, sun room, or a man cave. The imaging is great and so is the overall tonal balance.

Plus as stated, you own a piece of history that started the SDA evolution.

[stubby]

I have a pair of early CRSs that I picked up for about $150. I then bought a pair of SDA 2B crosssovers from Geppy for about $40 and installed them in the CRSs.

Not perfect but a nice sounding pair of speakers. Will TL them some day. And install the correct drivers.

stubby

[leftwinger57]

Hi guys,
I have seen many threads on the famed SDS-CRS line of speakers and there is one thing about the wireing I do not understand. Is it true you need an inter connect for right speaker to left then they home run like all other speakers. I might be so wrong about this but I'd like to find out because that
extar run could be logistically imposible in some applications. Could someone please explain the way these speakers are wired and if in fact you need a jumper to bond these speakers in some way. Again I might be totatally wrong, but I'd like to know either way. Personally I'm a Klipsch endorser but hearing monitor 70s has changed my mind quite a bit...Thanks lw

[F1nut]

All SDA speakers require the interconnect cable that runs between the right and left speakers in order to get the benefit of SDA. You can run them without the cable, but why would you!?!

[omniamore]

All SDA speakers require the interconnect cable that runs between the right and left speakers in order to get the benefit of SDA. You can run them without the cable, but why would you!?!

1) Running as center/dual mono centers
2) Running as front-center/rear-center
3) Running as side surrounds (and thus facing one another across the room)

[stubby]

1) Running as center/dual mono centers
2) Running as front-center/rear-center
3) Running as side surrounds (and thus facing one another across the room)

By design, SDAs were never intended to face any direction but straight forward, toward the rear wall of the listening room. ANY other direction and they no longer operate as SDAs.

Not saying it couldn't be done, its just a waste of speaker. IMO.

stubby

[F1nut]

1) Running as center/dual mono centers
2) Running as front-center/rear-center
3) Running as side surrounds (and thus facing one another across the room)

We're talking about 2 channel...Hello!

[omniamore]

We're talking about 2 channel...Hello!

I'm glad you clarified that for the non-SDA experts out there. I was just answering your hypothetical question.

In my situation, I have an all SDA home theater and have experimented with several variations of speaker setup where either the center/sides/rear-center are being used without the interconnect cable.....thus disabling the dimensional driver/s.....because as stated, the dimensional effect only works if the two speakers are facing in the same plane.

When, as in a multi-speaker HT setup, the speaker pairs are not in the same plane (center, rear-center, and/or sides) THEN and only then, would you want to use the speakers without the interconnect cable.

I do this so that all of my HT speakers are therefore timbre matched to the SL2000 tweeter.

As far as 2 channel goes though......I see just as many SDA's that are not the CRS........often for the same or less than a pair of CRS, so don't just buy them unless you just want the smallest SDA's.

I have 2 pair of SDA IIa's that I got for 150$ and 175$, and to me they sound much better than the CRS's I have (which I got for 250$ and 290$). But they are a much bigger speaker then the CRS's.

[F1nut]

When, as in a multi-speaker HT setup, the speaker pairs are not in the same plane (center, rear-center, and/or sides) THEN and only then, would you want to use the speakers without the interconnect cable.

I do this so that all of my HT speakers are therefore timbre matched to the SL2000 tweeter.

In that situation I believe a more viable option would be to use RTA 8T's or RTA 11T's.

[omniamore]

I actually thought of going with both of those, but after reading this review in sterophile for the RTA 11t.....I reconsidered. They really didn't review well.

http://www.stereophile.com/content/p...speaker-page-3

Still have yet to try the 8T, but for the 100-150$ I've seen them going for near me, I'm sure I'll get around to trying a pair out. Also thought about the Monitor 5, 7, or 10 with matching tweeters....but I think the 5's would be too small, and the 7 and 10 too big for side speakers.

...And another question...which would be better for an SDA center match....I see a lot of people (like myself currently) have gone with a CRS/+ (or 2)....but without the interconnect cable, you're only getting one of the drivers sending out sound (and the PR/tweet). Would a better choice be an 8T for it's vertical orientation, or a monitor 7 or 10 for their greater response and impact?

I know a lot of SDA HT folks prefer to have NO center, but to my GF's ears, she prefers the dialogue through a center adjusted a few dB higher than the mains. Not sure how I could do that without having a center channel. Is that an option in "center phantom" mode....to be able to adjust the relative level of the "center" relative to the mains?

I'm about to go from a Rotel RSP 1066 to an RSP 1098.....will that make a big difference in the dialogue for the center/phantom? I'll play around with it, but I'm curious what others' thoughts are.

[novembersnews]

I have a pair of the original crs's with the two tweeters. I think they sound great - no issues here at all. I like their horizontal profile and their comparatively small footprint. I also have a pair of sda-2b's - I like the crs's just as well - because of space constraints, I'm going to move the 2b's on. The crs's are so small you can always find a place for them!

[F1nut]

I like their horizontal profile and their comparatively small footprint.

They have the same footprint as the 2B's.

[novembersnews]

They have the same footprint as the 2B's.

Smaller size

[F1nut]

SDA 2B - 16-6/16"W x 11-1/2"D
SDA CRS - 20"W x 9-1/2"D
SDA CRS+ - 20"W x 10-1/8"D
Stand for the CRS/CRS+ - 14-1/2"W x 13"D

For all intents and purpose, the same size.

[Joe08867]

SDA 2B - 16-6/16"W x 11-1/2"D
SDA CRS - 20"W x 9-1/2"D
SDA CRS+ - 20"W x 10-1/8"D
Stand for the CRS/CRS+ - 14-1/2"W x 13"D

For all intents and purpose, the same size.

Maybe he's thinking shelf placement. Which I don't recommend for them myself.

omniamore, Seriously the answers you give are questionable. Not using the interconnect cable diminishes these great speakers to over sized two ways that would be floppy at best with any kind of power thrown at them with all that passive and only one driver being utilized. If you do not understand SDA ask but giving answers like that can really confuse new people.