New Front Speaker Selection Help

[Deutscher]

Hi All,
I'm currently looking to buy some new front splits.
I've got the latest In-car entertainment mag with the 2009 awards for products.
I want to spend <$1000 and according to In-Car the best speakers in the market currently is the Focal 165KR.

I was wondering if there was anything else that you would recommend?

Do these focals live up to their cost?

I'm kind of looking for loudness but still have nice sound. How do the focals compare to Alpine Type R splits (110rms)? the reason I ask is because my girlfriend has just got a pair of them in her car powered by a MB Quart 480 (bridged) so I'm trying to compare to them because going to a store and listening to them will sound different than if they were in my car etc.

Would the focals produce same amount of volume as the Type R's?

Maybe some useless info but I mainly listen to Trance/Dance, Hip Hop/Rap, and occasional crap like Black Eyed Peas/MJ etc.

[holdenboy]

Focals wont produce the same amount of volume, theyre more about clarity and sound quality rather than volume.

Maybe look at alternative brands like Boston Acoustics, JBL or even Soundstream....ive heard these splits in cars and was impressed with the volume output, which i think youre after

Boston Acoustics Pro 60 SE 6 1/2"Component Speakers - eBay Speakers, Audio, Video, Car Parts, Accessories, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 16-Aug-09 22:54:57 AEST)

Ryda Car Audio - JBL C608GTi 6" Component Speakers($569.95)

Ryda Car Audio - Soundstream RF-60C Reference - 6.5" Component Speakers

[Deutscher]

Focals wont produce the same amount of volume, theyre more about clarity and sound quality rather than volume.

Maybe look at alternative brands like Boston Acoustics, JBL or even Soundstream....ive heard these splits in cars and was impressed with the volume output, which i think youre after

Boston Acoustics Pro 60 SE 6 1/2"Component Speakers - eBay Speakers, Audio, Video, Car Parts, Accessories, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 16-Aug-09 22:54:57 AEST)

Ryda Car Audio - JBL C608GTi 6" Component Speakers($569.95)

Ryda Car Audio - Soundstream RF-60C Reference - 6.5" Component Speakers

Thx Holdenboy.
I'll have a look at these and read some reviews and try to get a demo.
How would the soundstream ones compare to the Alpine Type R's? Think soundstream would be more volume while Boston is more quality again.

[holdenboy]

The Bostons suprised me actually, they had alot more volume then i expected. Hard to say whether they are "louder" than the Type Rs. Different cars, different power given etc etc.

[Vg-ute-mad]

Focals wont produce the same amount of volume, theyre more about clarity and sound quality rather than volume.

Maybe look at alternative brands like Boston Acoustics, JBL or even Soundstream....ive heard these splits in cars and was impressed with the volume output, which i think youre after

Boston Acoustics Pro 60 SE 6 1/2"Component Speakers - eBay Speakers, Audio, Video, Car Parts, Accessories, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 16-Aug-09 22:54:57 AEST)

Ryda Car Audio - JBL C608GTi 6" Component Speakers($569.95)

Ryda Car Audio - Soundstream RF-60C Reference - 6.5" Component Speakers

I agree with holdenboy, the Focals are really nice for SQ.

Bostons Pro 60 SE are a very nice component set up. Good pick!

[2LOUD2OLD]

first off i would never base my purchase off a magazine review especially if you consider the fact that their opinion will be based both on their personal preference and the limited speakers they are testing against.
Now that isnt to say Focal arent good but they may not suit you, personally I dont like Focal
then again comparing Focal to Alpine is hardly a fair comparison. IMO Alpine do not build good speakers, I have yet to hear a set to impress me. I have however heard Focal used in some fantastic setups.

Now as for the "loud" part, any speaker can go loud it might just depend on how much power it takes to do so and what you call loud. Anyway at the end of the day you can only listen to your music so loud

All I can suggest is that you go to as many specialist stores and compare as many speakers in your price range as you can and chose what sounds best to you.
For a $1k budget you should be looking at speakers from the likes of DD, Boston, Focal, DLS, Rainbow, Morel, Dynaudio, Diamond Audio, Hertz, Seas,........ to name a few

Cheers

[Vg-ute-mad]

^^^ So true!

We can all suggest, but it's your ears that decide at the end of the day!

I have Fusion's Powerplant components in my ute. Some might say ewwww, but it's what my ears like. But with any speaker no matter how much you spend, if you don't do quality prep work, it's going to sound poo! I have made 10L sealed pods for mine, and they sound sweet.

[Deutscher]

According to Australian Incar Entertainment 2009 Incar awards.

Speaker of the year under $1000:
1st - Focal 165KR
2nd - Soundstream Tarantula TRC.6N & Pioneer TS-D1720C

Speaker of the year over $1000:
1st - Audison Thesis Orchestra
2nd - SEAS lotus reference & Focal Utopia Beryllium Kit 7

[calais_cruzin]

Id also have a listen to the Focal 165VB, was in listening to sum focals last week, these onse pumped out a nice stage they were running off one if there solid 4 amps.

Soundstreams werent too bad either not too sure wat they didnt sound as clean.

[gdunkley84]

I run the same focal splits in mine. Sounds awesome. Really clear. Same with comments from 2LOUD2OLD I would keep away from Alpine for the speakers, my mate traded his Type-R splits in for Rockford's cause they didn't sound right. But again like others it's all up to your ears.

And i'd like to add as for listening to the speakers on the soundboards in store you can tell some differences but as soon as you get them in the confines of the car they sound completely different again.

Noticed you were in Perth, If you want to hear what they sound like in a car you could have a listen to mine. I run them of Alpine PDX4.150 Amp.

[StoneX]

If you're willing to spend just under $1k and are buying from eBay, I'd go for the Boston SPZ60 top of the range splits . No point resorting to just the PRO60 model

I have the previous top of the range Boston Z6 and am pretty happy... I think I'm going deaf though because I'm considering another set or maybe just a set of the PRO60 for the parcel shelf.

[Deutscher]

If you're willing to spend just under $1k and are buying from eBay, I'd go for the Boston SPZ60 top of the range splits . No point resorting to just the PRO60 model

I have the previous top of the range Boston Z6 and am pretty happy... I think I'm going deaf though because I'm considering another set or maybe just a set of the PRO60 for the parcel shelf.

I was thinking off buying these from a store in perth. Apparently focal don't supply to online stores etc and hear too many fakes around. I went to Alberts to have a listen to the soundstream ones ... only to find out this particular store doesn't do soundstream
He showed me some other ones, RE XXX have some decent bass to them without a sub.. but I'll have a sub so thought not. Then showed me some DD but didn't like the sound on em at higher lvls.. he said he could order me in some CDT's which he recons are off the roof etc.

[Vg-ute-mad]

I was thinking off buying these from a store in perth. Apparently focal don't supply to online stores etc and hear too many fakes around. I went to Alberts to have a listen to the soundstream ones ... only to find out this particular store doesn't do soundstream
He showed me some other ones, RE XXX have some decent bass to them without a sub.. but I'll have a sub so thought not. Then showed me some DD but didn't like the sound on em at higher lvls.. he said he could order me in some CDT's which he recons are off the roof etc.

You're not obligated to pay, if he orders them in, just remember that!

Audition till you are happy!

[Deutscher]

I still haven't had a chance to listen to them soundstream ones.

But I have tried doing some research and looked on ebay for prices. On ebay I can get those speakers for $228.... which seems really cheap. I know price isn't everything but they seem cheap. Now I'm thinking that maybe the In-Car entertainment 2009 awards is rigged or something lol.

Hopefully tomorow I can have a listen to them.

I'm just having a look at the silver awards for <$1000 - the pioneer TS-D1720C .... ebay for $250... but they are rated for 60wrms!! don't think they are for me either... don't think they will be loud enough for my liking.

[bezz]

I have Boston Pro60s in my car, the previous model not the SE model. I highly recommend them, can't really fault them at all. The mids are absolutely awesome, should satisfy your craving for loud speakers. I'd say the tweeters are what sets the Pro60s and the Z6s apart, that being said the Pro60 tweeters are still fantastic. Definitely worth the coin.

[StoneX]

I had both the Z6s and Pro60s but never installed the Pros. The woofer basket is quite a bit larger on the Z6s, much heavier too. When I buy the Pro60's I'll fade from front to back to see how much difference I can hear from the woofers.

Also, those magazine reviews are biased towards whoever pays the most

[Deutscher]

I guess your right about that Stone X.

There's not too many reviews about the SoundStream TRC.6N, it's a shame because I'm at work and now eager to have a listen.

I was thinking of getting a MB Quart DSC480 to power them (bridged). Would this be alright??

Also wondering, I've got 2 pairs of Alpine Type R splits (older version ones, 70wrms) and a Alpine V12 75x4 amp to power them... I was just wondering what I would be able to sell these for?

[Deutscher]

Well ... I'm going to have a listen to the SoundStream TRC.6N on saturday hopefully in a car... so that will be the best I guess to listen to. Went to Alberts today and they wanted to sell me the SoundStream TRC.6N woofer with Pro Series SST-05 tweeters for $700 .... anyone heard of these SST-05's?? they showed me them ... they are HUGGE for tweeters and heavy aswell.

Some Specs for ya:

SOUNDSTREAM SST-05 BULLET TWEETERS SST05

Soundstream SST-05 1" Titanium Bullet Tweeters - Pair
100 Watts Max / 50 Watts RMS Power Handling
Gold Plated Trim
Titanium Diaphragm
1K - 20 KHz Freq. Response
109dB Sensitivity

[Deutscher]

It's taking forever for saturday to come!!!

I've been looking at different amps to get... obviously Alberts in Osborne Park have been brought by Soundstream so they are trying to sell me soundstream amp aswell.

To run the SoundStream TRC.6N components (200rms), they recommend the SoundStream Lil Wonder III LW4.500, which is weird... because its rated for 65x4 (4ohm) or 250x2 (4ohm bridged).

Or I was looking at the MB Quart DSC480 which is 80x4 or 320x2 (bridged). This would give more output power for the extra headroom, and not running the amp near max so that the amp stays cooler.

Does anyone have any opinions on the matter?

SoundStream LW4.500
• Power 4ohm: 65 x 4
• Power 2 ohm: 125 x 4
• Power 4ohm Bridged: 250 x 2
• Frequency Response 10Hz - 35kHz
• 105dB Signal-to-Noise Ratio (A/B models)

MB Quart DSC 480
• 4 ohms: 80 watts x 4 chan.
• 2 ohms: 160 watts x 4 chan.
• Bridged, 4 ohms: 320 watts x 2 chan
• Frequency response: 10Hz - 20KHz
• Variable high-pass filter (10-1200 Hz, 24 dB/octave)
• Variable low-pass filter (30-150 Hz, 24 dB/octave)

SoundStream TRC.6N
• Power Handling (Watts) 200
• Magnet Weight (Oz.) 30
--Crossover Frequencies--
• High-Pass (Hz) 3.8K
• Low-Pass (Hz) 60K
• Crossover Slope 18dB
• Sensitivity 91dB
• Frequency Response (Hz) 40 - 20K
• Voice Coil Size (Inches) 1.25
• Woofer Mounting De[th (Inches) 2.6

[StoneX]

Neither. Buy a high powered 2 channel amp, not a 4 channel amp to bridge to 2 channels.

[Deutscher]

Neither. Buy a high powered 2 channel amp, not a 4 channel amp to bridge to 2 channels.

Ok... Can you recommend a 2 channel? I can't seem to find one that will produce a high power.

[StoneX]

Did you look at the other Soundstream products? Their website lists a few that do 175 x 2 or more.

Most good brands will have a high powered 2 channel amp, you just need to look at their higher end gear.

[Deutscher]

Did you look at the other Soundstream products? Their website lists a few that do 175 x 2 or more.

Most good brands will have a high powered 2 channel amp, you just need to look at their higher end gear.

Stone X, why are you insisting on a 2 channel amp over a 4 channel amp? My reason for a 4 channel is because it is a lot cheaper .. because I can get a mid range 4 channel for cheaper than a high end 2 channel.

[Deutscher]

There's a soundstream amp.
250 x 2 (4ohm) - Soundstream Tarantula TRX 2.820 with a price tag of $610 though.

While the MB Quart Dsc 480 is $225

[StoneX]

If you just want a cheap system, go for the 4 channel and bridge it.

By running a 4 channel as a 2 channel you are basically running all 4 channels at 2 ohm, this reduces the specs of the amp, by increasing THD and damping. It's basically like turning a good 4 channel into an average high power 2 channel.