M500t mkll & polk SDA-SRS-2 speakers

[Lauren 3]

I have Polk SDA-SRS-2 speakers and just purchased 2-Carver M500t amplifiers, they are currently at Nelion for their MKll upgrade. My intent was to use these amplifiers to bi amp these speakers. One for the left channel and one for the right channel. The back of the speakers say to use common ground amplifiers only. I have heard that the M-500t amps are not common ground, but I have also heard that some Carver amps are. Can I still use these speakers. Do I need to use different amps. Hope someone here has done what I am trying to do.

[Daddyjt 8,522]

The M500(t) is NOT a common ground amplifier.  In order to power your Polks safely with the those amplifiers, you will either need to NOT use the interconnect cable, OR use a “Dreadnaught” (an isolation transformer that goes in-line with the interconnect).  More information on the Dreadnaught can be found on the Polk forum…

[Lauren 3]

Thank you for your help 

[jeffs 2,103]

I don't own any Polk speakers, but I have tried many Carver amps with SDA-1A speakers owned by my brother. This includes a m500t with the interconnect cable removed.

We preferred the m.10t above all other options. I say this even thought the m1.0t is not my favorite amp, I have not owned one in years. I built him a m1.0t mkII and it's a very nice system. Early m1.0t had an inverting channel (not common ground), so this only applies to later model m1.0t.

 

In addition to the "dreadnaught" or elimination of the interconnect, I believe there is another option for you.

You have 2 amps. You should be able to use just the left channel of each amp, one for each speaker, and keep the interconnect cable connected.

In other words, one amp gets the preamp L signal connected to its L input, the other amp gets the preamp R signal connected to its L input.  The R channel amplifier will be unused in each case. 

 

 

[Scrappy 259]

I have a set of SDA CRS’s that are going to get refurbished and modded … I plan to use the TFM45MKII with them.