where to start with vintage gear?

[cstmar01]

Ok, so I'm just going to look for suggestions for this. I really have no idea where to even begin with vintage polk speakers. I have never owned them or anything and just would be looking for a reference point of where to start the journey at.
Such as whats a good model to start out with with SDA's? or do you feel that I should start smaller with like Polk monitor as this would be a better start into getting the feel of vintage gear?

I really have no idea. For room and everything my main HT room I use is a 14X18 give or take on the 18.
or I have a bedroom I would be able to place stuff in, its 8X14 with a window on the 14 side as well as a door.
So suggestions would be helpful, because I have no idea.
I would be using them for 2 channel listening as my HT is covered by my RTI stuff.

[nooshinjohn]

I would go for the SDA-1c's to begin your journey with SDA's. Most find these to be the best sound/value ratio in the SDA line. I would also recommend either a good 50wpc tube amp, or a strong 250wpc or better solid state amp to drive them, but make certain that whatever amp you drive them with is common ground...

Your ears are in for a treat, and your wallet will hate you for it, but it is a ride well worth taking. Good Luck!

[Conradicles]

Maybe try some SDA-2B's in the bedroom on the 14 FT wall depending where the door is located. They are really sweet speakers for smaller rooms. They can also be modded (which I WILL try soon on mine) to the TL upgrade which a few polkies say is really nice. That would be my humble suggestion.

Enjoy and note that VINTAGE POLKS RULE!!!

[leroyjr1]

SDA 2.3tl's
SDA 1C's
SDA 2B's
SDA CRS+'s

The 1c's, 2b's and CRS's are fairly easy to drive. I have a pair of 2.3tl's you can listen to.

The RTA 11's and 15's are also good Vintage Polk speakers.

[Ron Temple]

Where to start? I wouldn't pass on any of the following if the price is right and they are in good shape.

M5jrs
M5s
M7s
M10s
RTA 8T/TL
RTA 11T/TL
RTA 15TL
LS50
LS90
RTA 12 ABC

If you start with SDAs, you might never want a shot at some of these and certainly a few of them will be a nice stopping place for awhile.

[Zitro]

I use my LSi's on my 2 channel rig now, but I keep my Monitor 5jr's because I just like them too much to get rid of them. Try out a pair of monitors if you can, they have a very open sound that is refreshing.

[F1nut]

Maybe try some SDA-2B's in the bedroom on the 14 FT wall depending where the door is located. They are really sweet speakers for smaller rooms. They can also be modded (which I WILL try soon on mine) to the TL upgrade which a few polkies say is really nice. That would be my humble suggestion.

Enjoy and note that VINTAGE POLKS RULE!!!

I agree that the 2B's would be a great speaker to start with, but they should go on the 18 foot wall.

[bluecomet]

For the bedroom you have I would go with Monitors. The room is too small in my opinion to really enjoy the SDA effect. Your room that is 14x18 would work with any of the smaller SDA's such as the 1C's, 2B's or CRS+ speakers. I would look for the best speakers you could find, out of those three. All of the other speakers Ron Temple mentioned that are not SDA's are really nice speakers and would sound great if you don't need the SDA affect. Personally I would look for a pair of 1C's. They give a big SDA soundstage in a smaller package compared to SRS 2's or the big boy SDA SRS models which need a larger room to really be appreciated. Just my opinion.

[falconcry72]

SDA 2.3tl's
SDA 1C's
SDA 2B's
SDA CRS+'s

The 1c's, 2b's and CRS's are fairly easy to drive. I have a pair of 2.3tl's you can listen to.

The RTA 11's and 15's are also good Vintage Polk speakers.

This my be off topic, but I've noticed a lack of love for the 3.1tls around these parts. Why is that? I would think that they'd be great! (I've never heard'em). Is it that they're more rare than the others and so not as many people have heard'em, or do they just not stand up to the 2.3's???

[dpowell]

+1 for the 1C's.

[leroyjr1]

This my be off topic, but I've noticed a lack of love for the 3.1tls around these parts. Why is that? I would think that they'd be great! (I've never heard'em). Is it that they're more rare than the others and so not as many people have heard'em, or do they just not stand up to the 2.3's???

They're more rare, not too many floating around. The others can be found more easily. I had the pleasure of owning the 3.1tl's last year and was my favorite of the SDA's for my size room.

[concealer404]

Where to start? I wouldn't pass on any of the following if the price is right and they are in good shape.

M5jrs
M5s
M7s
M10s
RTA 8T/TL
RTA 11T/TL
RTA 15TL
LS50
LS90
RTA 12 ABC

If you start with SDAs, you might never want a shot at some of these and certainly a few of them will be a nice stopping place for awhile.

What he said.

[sda2mike]

ok...you can copy my rig...be sure to include the 'on the to-do list' xover upgrades and dac upgrade..YMMV;)

[cstmar01]

Thanks for the advice guys. I really want to get into vintage gear but just didn't know where to start and really if I would have enough room to really let them sound as good as they should (SDAs).
I'll have to take you up on the offer to hear your set Leroy. I'm just exicted to get to hearing some of the different models out there and go from there. Seeing I've only heard a pair of SDA's once in my life and wasn't in the best state of mind to hear them I would like to hear them again soon.