Choosing speakers (what to look for?)

[traindriver]

Pretty simple here.

I am a dyed in the wool, one eyed Pioneer fan from the home AV world.

I have a VK that is audio challanged and I dont want 6 x 9's to make it worse.

Been reading the threads and have since learnt a great deal about speaker choice (spilts and cones etc) but my burning question is:

They all advertise peak rating power of xxx watts, but what specs make a good speaker from a bad one?

I want a nice, quality sound without the cheesy rice of 6 x 9's, neons and all the other crap that comes with the current car audio scene.

When choosing my new Pioneer 6 inch speakers for the rear shelf and splits for the front, what should look for?

Cheers

AndrewOfNZ

[StoneX]

Specs don't make one better from another one... Listening with your own ears determines that

When sticking with one brand, usually the price will show which are the better speakers. The TS-C160R's cost more and sound alot better than the TS-C1625's. Then TS-D161S sound alot better than all the other 6's they make.

You really should listen to other brands though, there is alot of brands who specialise in speakers and do a better job than the mainstream guys. I have a few personal favourites in Boston Acoustics, Dynaudio, Morel, Focal, but you should listen to everything to see what you like. There's no point buying car speakers from them because they make good home AV recievers, etc

[garfa]

converted nakamichi man here.
if i had the money i would be running only nak.
might be hard to find a showroom that stocks the only splits nak make (ie: one model only)

[traindriver]

Thanks guys,

I think I'll have to sniff out a dedicated car audio shop. The only things I have heard are the display racks at Repco (Kenwood, Pioneer, Sony, Fusion, Lanzar) and the exotics sound intruiging.

Cheers
AndrewOfNZ

[semi]

really, you want speakers that suit you and your taste in music. Go to a few shops and take a CD with some of your songs on it and have a listen to what you like. eg if you like really 'kicky' speakers if you listen to rock, etc etc

[garfa]

really, you want speakers that suit you and your taste in music. Go to a few shops and take a CD with some of your songs on it and have a listen to what you like. eg if you like really 'kicky' speakers if you listen to rock, etc etc

true that but remember to set a budget, no point in looking at nak amd the "exotics" if you cant afford them because you might spend more on a set of speakers than you planned and be left with a half complete system!

[PaRaDoX]

if your looking for speakers im running a set of Responce Splits in mine $150 for a set with crossovers and they sound mint, kevlar cones...

however not very bassy, i run a sub but if your looking for bass then get yourself a sub...

umm installed some pioneer (silver) 3 ways in my mates car and they packed a bit of punch, set him back like $150 or something..

decide what kind of setup you want first

Front
Rear
Sub???

for instance heres my setup and why i chose what i did

Fronts - responce splits amped @ 80W rms each
Rear - Pioneer 2 ways (cheapish speakers as who cares, i dont hear them just the people in the back do)
Boot - 12" pioneer sub @ 400W rms

i cant stress this enough, a GOOD tune can make all the diffrence, if you dont know what your doing get someone to do it for you, or just ask for help, they'res more to it than just turning everything up