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  Review: Polk Audio SDA-2 Speaker
Purchased these speakers new in 1983 and they remain in one of my systems today. I had orginally planned to purchase the SDA 1 and I had auditioned them a couple of weeks earlier and have decided to spend the $1,700.00 for them.

When I arrived to pick them up,the owner advised Polk just had released the SDA 2 and I would be wise to listen to them before a final decision was made. So a side by side comparison was made for me. At the onset the difference was readily apparent. The SDA 2 clearly was more musical than the SDA 1. All of us standing around listening to the comparison were just scratching our heads. Here was a new speaker from Polk which was just under their flagship model,that just plainly sounded better for some reason.

One said well maybe the SDA system is not working on the SDA 1. So checked this out,SDA was working,checked the fuses,no problem there. The SDA 2 was clearly out performing the SDA 1.

So here I took a deep breath and ask the price on the SDA 2. They were $450.00 less than the SDA 1. My wife, now we are 32 years married,like them as well,but wanted to know if they could be had in a oak finish as opposed to the Walnut. So the owner checked has dealer form and said that oak wasnt available,but he would call to check out. Polk advised him oak was not available,but that if I wanted oak,they would make the cabinents for me in oak. Would take about 3 weeks to get done. All I can say,what a dealer this was and what a company Polk was at that time. So paid the money and in three weeks the Polk SDA 2 were delivered to my door and set up for me.

There is clearly a reason I have kept these all these years. And that reason is performance. After all these years they continue to impress. the sonics,the dept,clarity are just magical. With the SDA system the soundstage is indeed large,and one can literally pick each instrument in a symphonic orchestra. These speakers perform well with all types of music,from Rock N Roll,to Jazz and Classical. I have never found them lacking in any way.

Now some 20 years plus since they were new,I find this is the ultimate validation of this product. Have several sets of speakers over the years and have many now,but the Polk SDA 2 continues to impress. Matthew Polk got it all very right with the SDA 2.

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by Ferrari on 09-29-02 



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  Follow ups
Click title to read one, or click date to read all below it.

01-19-04   I too have a pair of the sda-2 speakers. however i am ...   Valhallak

05-30-06   I've owned my sda-2 speakers since 1984. they continue ...   williamtweed@

05-30-06   A benchmark speaker......as good or better than most in ...   Jaybo

06-30-06   Valhallak - you could sell them to me and get a pair of ...   Utahsaint

06-30-06   Others in the realm of polk sda. alon model 1br ...   Ferrari

07-25-06   Bought a pair of sda-1b's about 1 1/2 years ago for $15 ...   Italian

01-16-07   Can anyone tell me what amps work really well with polk ...   Halbrian

01-16-07   Basically you can use any solid state or tube preamp. t ...   Ferrari

07-23-07   Thx vey much for your input....sorry for delay in respo ...   Halbrian

11-12-07   Even with all the polk bashing in the late 80s and earl ...   Texas42

04-20-08   As far as the amps go for sda speakers stay far away fr ...   Jstropp

Review: Polk Audio SDA-2 Speaker
i just picked up a pair of sda2b, found this thread and like others was fairly amazed at how "modern" (and quite exceptional) they sound--as stated above, airy highs and very deep and tight low end. i'm left wondering why many current speakers can't reproduce bass as effectively. i didn't find the soundstage to be quite as large as others have opined--they definitely have a dead-center sweet spot, but otherwise sound almost flawless. like alot of older speakers, they seem to sound best with older gear (i tried 'em with 80s kyocera and tandberg receivers). at their current used price, the polks are a ridiculous bargain.
Loomisjohnson 05-25-11


05-25-11   I had a pair of sda-2s for about a week many years ago ...   Hifiman5

11-03-11   Try legacy audio classic, signature iii, or focus and i ...   Tommytom

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