HISTORY OF STEREO DIMENSIONAL ARRAY (SDA)

The original SDA technology targets a phenomenon known as Inter-aural Crosstalk. It’s a fundamental problem not only for stereo reproduction, but also for any system with more than one speaker. Polk Audio was the first to think of dealing with the problem acoustically in the listening space. By positioning additional drivers to deliver a precisely derived cancellation signal to your ears, SDA enables you to hear the sonic image just as the recording captured it. Individual instruments appear across a wide stage, as if the performance were in front of you at that very moment.

SDA TODAY

We’ve ushered our patented SDA technology into a new era, fitting it into a smaller form factor found in the MagniFi Mini and MagniFi Max sound bars. Instead of using the passive crossovers in our towers-originally designed for a two channel audio signal-we use digital signal processors (DSPs) in the sound bar to drive the SDA experience in your home. In addition to processing two channel audio, it also provides the listener with 5.1 surround sound and is compatible with our modern decoding technologies, Dolby® and DTS®.

EXPLORE THE LATEST IN SDA (2019)

L800 FLOORSTANDING TOWER WITH SDA-PRO

 

For the first time in nearly 25 years, Polk is introducing a new SDA speaker – the Polk Legend L800. The Legend L800 floorstanding speaker features new patents that build on the original SDA mission of maintaining full stereo separation all the way from the source to your ears. As a result, L800 renders the most lifelike detailed, stereo imaging you have ever heard from Polk. The speakers seem to disappear as the sonic images fill your listening room with startling realism. It does this by minimizing the inherent distortion found in all stereo speakers known as interaural crosstalk (IAC) by utilizing a second column of transducers called a dimensional array. Conventional speakers restrict what you hear due to their failure to maintain complete stereo separation from the source to the speaker to your ears.

Polk Legend In-Store Listening Events 

Certain Polk Select dealers will be hosting Legend listening parties at their store. Come join other Polk enthusiasts to listen, learn more about the new Legend series line, and to witness TRUE stereo with the new L800 SDA-PRO floorstanding speaker. We think you’ll be amazed to discover this is how your music was always meant to be heard. 

Next Generation 

Patented SDA-PRO Technology

SDA PRO, the next evolution of SDA, features a 15-degree baffle that angles both the stereo and dimensional arrays. By angling the baffle, Polk Audio has enhanced the quality of the stereo arrays by aiming them more precisely towards the listener (similar to toeing a pair of speakers). It also allows for a narrower speaker (reduces the width by 25%) while still maintaining the correct width and positioning of the dimensional array. To improve interaural crosstalk (IAC) cancellation, we have enhanced the bandwidth of the dimensional array to more completely match the relevant frequencies of the IAC through the use of paired tweeters in addition to paired mid-woofers. In addition, L800 employs special “Head Shadow” filters in the Dimensional array to more exactly match (and hence cancel) the IAC.