Sound quality

None

I have had these speakers boxed up in my attic for over 5 years now. I was cleaning out my attic a couple of weeks ago, when I stumbled onto these. I previously used these with my adcom amp and they sounded great. I retired these speakers when I purchased a pair of Martin Logan speakers. I have grown fond of the ML's for the past five years. I decided to hook these Polk speakers back up to see how they sound. I honestly think these sound better than my Martin Logans do. I have not changed my system in the past 10 years besides the speakers. All components are the same, but with just switching out the speakers, I fell in love with these SDAs all over again. I kind of wish I never put them away. My next decision is to decide which pair of wpeakers I will be placing back into the attic. It's probably going to be my ML's. I want to enjoy the quality sound from these speakers.

Similar Products Used:

Martin Logan, Adcom

As stated above. I think these are great speakers. Polk should come out with a new line of SDA's.

I don't have any suggestions on how to fix this wonderful speaker, except come out with a new line.

I am a true believer of pure unadulterated sound. These speakers are so vivid and clear it's uncanny. I can appreciate the crisp highs, detailed mids, and effective lows. When I pop in Frank Sinatra, I can just imagine Frank sitting in my living room giving a private concert. I have had these speakers for several years. I can remember what the salesman told me when I bought these. "You will enjoy these speakers for your whole lifetime" So far he is right. I have had these speakers for over 13 years, and I have never had any problems. the problem with todays speakers are that they have so many built in amps and subwoofers, it muddles the sound. It is "exagerrated" bass. The sound is not ture and clear. Sounds like a synthesizer. I can appreciate what Polk has done with the true Stereo Dimensional Array speakers. I wish they would come out with another true adiophile speakers where the sonic imaging is top notch. The lineup they have now are very good speakers, but no one, and not even another company can reproduce the quality of these speakers. The only setup I have in my misuc room is an amp, cd player, lp player and these two speakers. I don't have all the equalizers and surround speakers to infect the sound. I like to enjoy true 2 channel stereo where when you close your eyes, you can hear the different instruments and voices exactly where they should be on stage. I am very impressed with these speakers.

Similar Products Used:

Wharfdale, Paradigm, Rotel

Sound quality, price(very good price thanks to my friend), Build quality-these are heavy solidly built speakers

Nothing significant

I recently bought a used pair of these speakers from a friend who was the original owner. I have been admiring these speakers for the past 5 years. Well, it is time for my friend to upgrade to a new set of Polk LSI25's, so he decided to sell me his SDA-2's. I honestly cannot tell a difference in the performance of my friend's new $2500 LSI's vs these SDA's, except for bass response. The imaging in these speakers sound just as good as the new pair of Polk's. I will be adding a seperate subwoofer to these speakers, so I am sure you will not be able to tell a difference. I do like my friends LSI's. They are great looking speakers. They sound awesome. So clear and precise. Just like these SDA's. I am over satisfied with these speakers and glad to finally own a pair. My parents love to listen to classical music. They own a pair of $5000 B&W's(Bowers and Wilkins). I think and so do they, that theses Polks sound just as good.

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I previously owned a pair of old Pioneer speakers. My parents have a pair of B&W speakers. These Polks sound just as good as their $5000 speakers

Sound quality Imaging Clarity Quality

Wish it had a little more Bass

I like the sounds that emit from these speakers. PURE NECTAR. They are so clear and lifelike. The only downside to these speakers..and I have heard it many times in here is the subsequent lack of bass. Many things can help, but the easiest is just getting a seperate subwoofer. They are amazing speakers. I just recently purchased a pair of rt1000i's for my bedroom b/c of the sound quality of these sda's. I guess I am a Polk man for life. Either in music or home thater, these speakers can handle the task. Jazz sound the best with these speakers. 5 Stars all the way around even though the lack of bass. I am not a bass junkie anyways. If you can find these on ebay like the guy before....grab them up. They won't disappoint.

Similar Products Used:

Other Polks, Paradigm, Energy, and Bose

Liquid mids & highs World class imaging/soundstage High quality drivers

Bass is lacking Vinyl "veneer" finish is a bit tacky Ummmm, get back to me, these are hard to fault!

Perhaps this review is premature since I just received these speakers today, but I don't think so (I've owned and/or heard nearly everything out there). These Polks are available inexpensively since they're going on 15 years old. They use rubber surrounds so don't let the age fool you. They're built for a lifetime with responsible use. Impressions : I concur with the majority of other reviewers... outstanding imaging, soundstage, detail and clarity. Downside? No bass, zip, zero zilch... lol, well maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration, but I consider a sub nearly mandatory with these speakers. 'Nuff said, if you don't own a set, go out and find one, they won't disappoint! :)

Similar Products Used:

Pinnacles, Pioneers, ARs, JBLs, KLHs, etc etc.

Imaging Clarity Sound reproduction

Lack of Bass-but I have a powered subwoofer to cure that...

I think these speakers are great. They have great detail, and best of all the imaging is top notch. I use these speakers with my home theater. I have a Denon AVR-4802 receiver with 125 watts x 7. These speakers sound so clear and precise when listening to all types of music. Especially Jazz and Classical. Every instrument sounds so lifelike. They also sound awesome when in movie mode. Albeit the center channel (Polk CS400i) does most of the work, these speakers reproduce the sound effects and music in great detail. If you can buy a pair of these used on ebay....go for it. They are the best of the best...They will even outclass some of the new breed of speakers such as Infinity, Bose, NHT, JBL, and others. As stated in the weekness, lack of bass is present. A powered subwoofer is a quick cure for that.

Similar Products Used:

Klipsh Paradigm

Sound good. (What more do you want from a speaker?)

None at the price.

The sound is very natural and smooth, with excellent imaging and no "strange" effects. The bass is good and solid, without the "hump" in the upper bass that so many of today''''s speakers include to make the user think he''''s getting powerful bass. I really haven''''t auditioned speakers that sound better. (Of course, I don''''t care to spend 8 or 10 grand either, so I don''''t even bother auditioning the real "high end" stuff!) I''''m driving the speakers with a Kenwood Basic M2 amp (rated to drive loads down to 2 ohms) and a Kenwood Basic C1 preamp. (I don''''t think Kenwood makes stuff this good any more.) Sony turntable, Shure V15-VMR cartridge for my old records. (Remember vinyl?) Technics CD player. 12 gauge speaker wire

Gives 3D Imaging, sound appears outside of speakers realm
Rubber suspension on drivers(no rotting out here)

I've had these speakers for 15 years and still love them!
I tell people if my house burnt down only 3 things I would miss. Polk speakers, Hafler DH-500(Of course this amp would probably survive the fire) and my 10 cd-rom disk Of Mp3s.
One guy told me, "people often say come over and seem their stereo." Kevins you go to listen. Somebody was over listening to Chicago "if you leave me now" and at the begining where it goes "ding" he looked at the ceiling Now that is Imaging. What else can you say. These speakers are unbelievable.

Similar Products Used:

901s

Full soundstage with great depth and lots of imaging

On occassion, they lack in bass and can be a bit bright.

I have owned my SDAs since 1988 and I have never considered parting with them. I too added the Polks as part of my 2nd stereo setup. My first sets of speakers were Fishers and Pioneers. I used Pioneer recievers before graduating to my first set of separates...a Yamaha series. I bought the Polks at the same time.

Since that time I've learned the lessons...vary the quality of the source components, interconnects, cables, amps etc, and your speakers will sound entirely different.

In 1992 I started using an Adcom preamp(GFP565) that allowed your source equipment to drive up to 3 amps...and thus 3 sets of speakers...So I always ran 2 sets of speakers...and have since. Speakers came in and out of the house constantly...but the POLKs remained...they could never be bested by anything out there. I don't think POLK has really come up with anything to beat his SDA series...whether it be 1's or 2's... since the late 80's.
The only speaker that ever came close to the POLKS as far as imaging and soundstage was Magnepan.

They do lack a bit in the bass and can be a bit bright but have also found that varies with room location and acoustics. In my current home, the floors are all tile on a concrete slab so the bass gets lost a bit here, so I compensate with a very small sub. Previously on wood floors with a crawl space underneath, the bass was heavy. I think it can also vary how close the speakers are to a wall or window structure behind. They can also be a bit bright with the wrong combination of interconnects, or speaker cable.

AMP - 2 Adcom GFA 555 II
PreAmp - Adcom GFP 565
Power Cond - Tice
Transport - Cal Audio Labs Delta
DAC - Cal Audio Labs Alpha
Digital - Kimber Illuminations Orchid
Intercon - AudioQuest Coral
Speaker(s) - Polks SDA-2
- Mirage M-490
Sub - Velodyne CT80
Speaker Cables - Kimber 8TC & AudioQuest Slate
Isolation - Vibropods for speaker, stands and amps. Cones for the source equip.

Similar Products Used:

Vanderstein, Mirage, Magnepan, Definitive, Infinity

Great sound, superb imaging, well made with a beautiful finish.

SDA create a funky load which may require a high current amp. I have driven it with a Kenwood amp and a Denon amp and had some problems. It's easy to blow a tweeter if you use the wrong amp and force it to clip.

However, I am now using a high-current Threshold amp with a Perreaux pre-amp, and they mate very well.

I first heard the SDA-2s many years ago, and even though I couldn't really afford them at the time, I had to have them.

Well over 10 years later, I am still very happy with my purchase. I have gotten the "upgrade bug" with almost every electronic item I own, but not with these Polks. Of course, the reason is that they still sound great!

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I also own Paradigm speakers, which are an outstanding value.