Right now i have Diamond Audio HEX 6.5's components in my 99 Civic Si. THey are supposed to be the **** but i hate them. They sound REALLY flat and mono. Im thinking about a few options now. First off i realized that i dont want to spend THAT much money. I want good sound but not top of the line. Here's what ive narrowed it down to...

MB Quart PCE216
Infinity Kappa Perfect
JL Audio XR Series
Fanatic Q's
Focal Polyglass 165V2

These are all around $300-350 shipped from OnlineCarStereo.com

What is coaxial components? And last... do kickpanels really make it sound THAT much better? Wouldnt you have an empty sound being that the tweeters arent at the mirror anymore?

 

kickpanels do make a difference if they are built correctly.

you will not have an empty sound.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 1SlowSi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Right now i have Diamond Audio HEX 6.5's components in my 99 Civic Si. THey are supposed to be the **** but i hate them. They sound REALLY flat and mono. Im thinking about a few options now. First off i realized that i dont want to spend THAT much money. I want good sound but not top of the line. Here's what ive narrowed it down to...

MB Quart PCE216
Infinity Kappa Perfect
JL Audio XR Series
Fanatic Q's
Focal Polyglass 165V2

These are all around $300-350 shipped from OnlineCarStereo.com

What is coaxial components? And last... do kickpanels really make it sound THAT much better? Wouldnt you have an empty sound being that the tweeters arent at the mirror anymore?</TD></TR></TABLE> All the sets are good ones, I like the JLs, then the MBs, then the Focals, and the Infinitys, in that order, havn't heard the Fanatics.

A coaxial component is the same as a component set, with the tweet mounted, [ with a bridge or post ] to the woofer, both will have an offboard x-over, although can be onboard, but more then just a cap. for the tweet.

Yes, properly made kick pods can make a big diff. in imaging, as it both places the speakers farther away from you and lets you place the tweet and the woofer closer together on the same plane, it also lets you point the speakers towards you insted of each other 94

 

I previously had a set of MB Quart QM series and found them to be too harsh for my liking. I now have and highly recommend the JL Audio XRs. I have the 5.25" XR525-CSi comps and the sound is very detailed without being too "bright." They were actually a little "dull" before I upgraded my head unit from an Alpine 9811 to a 9835.

You may want to look through the forum below for more opinions to guide you in your decision...
http://forum.sounddomain.com/u...m;f=4

 

Forget the MB quart set unless you want to shell out some money for the outdated Q series.

From your list I would say Focal's are deffinatly first and I wont rank the rest since I would never look into them.

To me listening to infinity then Focal makes the infinity set sound like its missing a tweeter.

The first thing I recommend you to do is deaden your doors a lot. Make sure the speakers have a nice dead panel to vibrate off of which should help focus the midbass they make and not rattle at all. If you still don't like the diamonds after that check into either adire koda's or image dynamics chameleons. Very good sets for the pricerange you mentioned and in this price a better choice than the focals.

I put some polyglass focals into my buddies stock location on a 99 jimmy and they hit pretty damn nice for no deadener and sitting in the stock speaker spot.

 

those kappa are super sharp

 

So you say to run the PolyglassV2's or Utopias? I heard the Q series and damn they sounded nice. As for my flat/mono sound of my Diamond's, maybe thats because the tweeter and mid are seperated a little too much? It seems like it would sound a hell of alot better with the tweeter next to it in a kickpanel. Im going to try severeal things before i just get rid of these. Ive only used them for 2 weeks!!! The deadening i already had in mind. I doubt ill run the Kappas. More into the JL's, Focals, and MB's.

My setup - Alpine9815 head unit, all 12guage wiring, JL 300/4 amp

 

Well ive narrowed it down sorta. Utopias and the MB Q series. Anyone know if the Kappas or JL XRs sound anywhere near those two? yeah i know theres like a $1000 difference, but sometimes money isnt everything.

 

If your Diamonds sound horrible and flat, I would question the settings on your amp and/or head unit. You may want to have a reputable shop check out all your settings. My personal preference are Boston Acoustics z6s.

 

Mb's are my choice

 

I'd choose the Focals. I like the bright tweeter, and I was never really impressed with the midrange of the Quarts.

 

The only MBs that ive heard are the Q's and DAMN they sound great. Perfect balance, tweeter isnt too bright either. But i dont wanna spend that $600 when i can get close to that sound for half the price.

 

DLS Iridiums or CDT-62Z's. The best you can get unless you buy the multi-thousand dollar Rainbows or Dynaudio.

 

You should do what they said and check your install/set up. Diamond Audios kick *** if you ask me, one of the best ive ever heard, i prefer them way over any of the other ones you listed. Focals is the bandwagon and over price IMO, Ive nvr heard JL comp. even though i hear good things about them from big audiophile guys.

 

well now that im home and got listen to it, i guess it isnt so bad. Im not gonna worry about playing with it. As far as my new vehicle i think im gonna go with the new Boston Pro 60's. I compared them to the MB Q'S q and wow they almost the same. The Q's still dominate on all. I compared them to the PCE's, JL XR's, Boston Pro 60, Boston Z's. Yeah no comparison. Beautiful. So Why spend $600 more for Q's for just a slight difference? Boston definately has my vote this time.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 1SlowSi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">well now that im home and got listen to it, i guess it isnt so bad. Im not gonna worry about playing with it. As far as my new vehicle i think im gonna go with the new Boston Pro 60's. I compared them to the MB Q'S q and wow they almost the same. The Q's still dominate on all. I compared them to the PCE's, JL XR's, Boston Pro 60, Boston Z's. Yeah no comparison. Beautiful. So Why spend $600 more for Q's for just a slight difference? Boston definately has my vote this time.</TD></TR></TABLE> Have you listened to the DLS Iridium 3-ways or CDT62HD-Z's? I think they will outshine those listed. I listened to the Boston's, JL's and Q's this weekend. The JL's sounded about as good as the Q's. Neither I think compare to the CDT's.

 

hell no! the JL's sounded NOTHING like the Q's. NIght and Day Difference. The ONLY components that sounded like them were the BOston Pro 60's. Are you talking about the new JL ZR's?

 

I think they were XR JL's. They were $350.00 for the setup compared to $1000.00 for the Q's at Tweeter.

 

yeah thats it. I was at Sound Advice which i guess is the same thing. The JL's sounded NOTHING like it. I have an ear for things though. MOst likely im going to go with the Q's. Im thinking about the BOstons too though. They sound soooo close.