My current setup is alpine 7998, jl 300/4 and stock speakers

I am going to destroy the stockers any day now. What do you guys recommend? I know that alot of people like the focals, rainbows and crystals, but I want a speaker that is a little easier to find than those. It is difficult finding a car audio shop where I can listen to these. So what non gourmet speaker has the best SQ. I don't have subs yet so the stronger the midbass the better.

I know Pheonix's friend has a shop in pasadena, I may consider visiting to listen to the crystals. I am looking to spend 300 on the component set. I would also like to purchase a pair of mids for the rear. I know it destroys front staging, but I have always had rear speakers so back seat passengers don't get bored Most of the time they will probably not be run.

Lastly, what do you guys think of kickpanel installation? Is it practical? I have wanted to try it for years, but I always feel that it screams I have stuff to steal when parked somewhere.

PS. If there is a good place in the LA area where I can listen to the focals, I would like to hear what I am missing before I buy anything.

 

Listen to a set of Bostons. They sound pretty good and I would expect there's a shop near you so you could listen to them.

 

I always forget about BA I need to check them out.

 

Good Guys carries Bostons. My personal favorite.

 

If your looking for good sound on a budget, your amp should push some infinitys quite nicely. (Perferably kappas but the refrence aren't bad)

 

If your not going crazy with the system try Pioneer Premier, I have them and I like them alot.

link: http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/Pi...020800,00.html

 

if you want crisp clean sound try out some component speakers

 

I just realized I may have left out some stuff. I want components. The 300 I said I would spend is for the fronts only. I am willing to go up 500. I was trying to keep my complete system under 2500 but, I don't think that will happen anymore Since the focal polykevlar can be had for about 300, I may go with them. I still need to find a place to listen to them
Are the focal mids available seperately?

 

The focal mid is not available seperately

What do you guys think about MB Quart QM 218.61Q and BA proseries 6.5. The mids on both are purchaseable seperately.

The mid on the mb's has 2 inch mounting depth because of the neodynium magnets. Are they really serious about this 90-170 watts recommended range?

Judging my carsound's review http://www.carsound.com/reviews/amps/jl_3004_chts.html I should be able to get 100 watts at 1%thd.

 

wassup vteg, if ur gonna get focals, get the utopias or no focal at all. i dont know any shops around here that might have them for u to listen to. my friend has them in his civic if u wanna listen to them. ur money, ur call.

 

Go with BA if you can, they sound very nice. Personally I'm broke so I have Infinity in the front 5 1/4's and in the back 6X9's. I'm still looking at subs right now, but I'm probably shooting for a Polk Momo system, just unsure about right ampage.

Dave

 

Personally I say look at Focal or Diamond Audio but that is just me give ID a look also. Your call and best of luck and all.

 

MB Quarts are okay but I don't like the tweeters. I was in the same perdicament not too long ago and I took a chance with some DEI's. I didn't get to listen to them, but I found them for a great price, so i jumped on them. I have the 3065 set, which you can find here. I was throughly impressed, nice tweeter and awsome bass response.

 

I have always been really happy with the Boston Pros. I don't know if those clasify as 'gourmet' but they are worth the money IMHO.

Mike

 

Right now I am seriously considering the diamonds. Everything that I have read about them seems really good. I just need to listen to them.

 

Quarts tweeters are bright, until you equalize them, why not buy the 218 components (the coaxials are true components, the tweeter is on a bridge not integrated into the woofer cone) and spend the $$$ you save on something you didn't mention that you will want later.............sound deadening material
if you want a steal of a deal check out http://www.zalytron.com and see if he still has focal components left
he had the OLD SCHOOL components but they can hold their own against anything out there today.

 

Get a set of CDT components. I have a set of the HD-642's (3-Ways) on the way which only ran me $279. What size do you need?