SDA question/problem

[turboquattro]

Hello everybody,
I have had some 10B's for many yeas being driven by Hafler's. I recently got the bug to get some decent stereo imaging (10B's are great at bass, but imaging isn't their specialty).
I got a set of SDA II's off Ebay. It seems that the right speaker cabinet is not working properly. Sound comes out of all of the drivers, but it's the same sound, meaning it doesn't have a stereo difference. Seems to be all right channel sound.
The left speaker cabinet seems to work fine. The right drivers (stereo drivers in the left cabinet) play the left channel sound and the left most driver (SDA) and tweet play the right channel sound.
Furthermore if I turn the balance all the way left, I get sound from the left cabinet stereo speakers (SDA's drivers are quiet), but no sound at all from the right cabinet.
If I turn the balance all the way right, I get sound from the left cabinet SDA driver and tweet and I get sound from the right cabinet stereo drivers.

Any idea what is going on?
Is that how they are supposed to work?
Oh, they are connected to an inexpenive HK AVR20 reciever.

Thanks much,
Wolff

[jrausch]

I had the same problem when I had mine shipped. Durring shipping one of the wires came loose from the crossover. I pulled out the PR and inspected the wireing and quickly found the fault. Check to make sure the previous owner did'nt mix up the positive and negative speaker terminals to each driver. If this does not work give Ken Swauger a post in troubleshooting and he will hook you up.

,Jer

[liv4fam]

whatever

[F1nut]

Must be jealous :p

[turboquattro]

Thanks Jer,
Ken Swauger is snail mailing me some troubleshooting tips. I kinda wish it was available as a PDF download or something since I don't have a fax machine hooked up. I'll post a follow up once I figure something out.

[nascarmann]

turboquattro

Here is a thread with the info you are getting from Ken. It is posted by Larry......

[turboquattro]

Aaaaaahhhhhhh, sonic bliss.

Ken is snail mailing me the troubleshooting document, but I went ahead and got a copy here. The listening test indicated there was a problem. The electrical tests revealed that the problem was not in the right speaker, as I had suspected, but in the left. It turns out the binding posts are reversed on the left speaker. Electrically the black binding post which is mounted on the left looking at the back of the speaker, is the positive terminal. I just hooked up the external amp wires reversed to fix the problem. For a more permanent and correct solution, should I reverse the binding posts or the wires inside? In other words, which side has the red plastic by convention. On my right speaker which works, the red is on the left. Same on my 10B's. I'm thinking that's how they all are supposed to be?

I also wonder if this was from the factory and the previous owner(s) over the last 15 years were missing out on the full potential of the speakers. No wonder I got 'em cheap :-)

Many thanks to Ken, and to Polk for providing the forum and most of all to the forum members.

[Kenneth Swauger]

Hello,
I'm glad you've found the problem and all's well.
Take care, Ken

[Lasareath]

Aaaaaahhhhhhh, sonic bliss.

Ken is snail mailing me the troubleshooting document, but I went ahead and got a copy here. The listening test indicated there was a problem. The electrical tests revealed that the problem was not in the right speaker, as I had suspected, but in the left. It turns out the binding posts are reversed on the left speaker. Electrically the black binding post which is mounted on the left looking at the back of the speaker, is the positive terminal. I just hooked up the external amp wires reversed to fix the problem. For a more permanent and correct solution, should I reverse the binding posts or the wires inside? In other words, which side has the red plastic by convention. On my right speaker which works, the red is on the left. Same on my 10B's. I'm thinking that's how they all are supposed to be?

I also wonder if this was from the factory and the previous owner(s) over the last 15 years were missing out on the full potential of the speakers. No wonder I got 'em cheap :-)

Many thanks to Ken, and to Polk for providing the forum and most of all to the forum members.

Simple, just unscrew the binding post nuts and reverse them. Woo-La you are done!

[reeltrouble1]

nothing quite like the Seven Year itch.

RT1

[danger boy]

Hello everybody,
I have had some 10B's for many yeas being driven by Hafler's. I recently got the bug to get some decent stereo imaging (10B's are great at bass, but imaging isn't their specialty).
I got a set of SDA II's off Ebay. It seems that the right speaker cabinet is not working properly. Sound comes out of all of the drivers, but it's the same sound, meaning it doesn't have a stereo difference. Seems to be all right channel sound.
The left speaker cabinet seems to work fine. The right drivers (stereo drivers in the left cabinet) play the left channel sound and the left most driver (SDA) and tweet play the right channel sound.
Furthermore if I turn the balance all the way left, I get sound from the left cabinet stereo speakers (SDA's drivers are quiet), but no sound at all from the right cabinet.
If I turn the balance all the way right, I get sound from the left cabinet SDA driver and tweet and I get sound from the right cabinet stereo drivers.

Any idea what is going on?
Is that how they are supposed to work?
Oh, they are connected to an inexpenive HK AVR20 reciever.

Thanks much,
Wolff

Welcome to the world of SDA's. ;)

seems to me your left and right SDA's are working just fine... SDA's sound different than traditional stereo speakers.

enjoy!

[concealer404]

This thread cracks me the eff up.

[Fongolio]

I sure hope the OP reads this.....7 YEARS LATER!!!!

[NJPOLKER]

My questions is for Sal, why bring this thread to life? Or are you just busting balls?