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! :thumbsup:

 

[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.