I will most probably be powering the speakers off a JBL PX300.4 600-Watt 4-Channel (other 2 channels for a single 12 inch sub)

123.5 watts RMS x 4 channels at 4 ohms and ¡Ü 1% THD + N
358 watts RMS x 2 channels at 4 ohms, 14.4V supply and ¡Ü 1% THD + N

Alpine CDA-9833 HU

Looking at:

1. Infinity Kappa Perfect 6.1 $216 Shipped
2. JL Audio XR650-CSi $225 Shipped
3. Boston Acoustics RC620 6.5'' 2-Way Rally Series (275 w) $201 shipped (Added)
4. Focal 165V2 Polyglass Component 6.5" $226 shipped (Added)

Please give me some other recommendations


Modified by xero-cool at 8:21 PM 5/1/2004


Modified by xero-cool at 8:28 AM 5/2/2004

 

CDT CL-61As from http://www.thezeb.com - $150

Boston Acoustics (check EBay, Rally series and their entry level series should be ~$200)

I believe there is a Focal set around the $200 range..

I'm going to be running a component set of BAs once I raise the money.. I love the sound and the midbass is spot on (to my ears, anyways).

 

Added the rally series to my list...thanks!

 

Focal all the way. Super good speakers that can take a pounding and well they sound great if set up properly.

 

Yeah go with focal. we sell alpine, JL, infinity, eclipse and focal where i work and focals are hands down the best. be careful though some models don't like to fit in honda's. always have to cut out factory basket.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CarAudioPro &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> always have to cut out factory basket. </TD></TR></TABLE>
doesnt that go for 80% of the speakers out there?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CarAudioPro &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yeah go with focal. we sell alpine, JL, infinity, eclipse and focal where i work and focals are hands down the best. be careful though some models don't like to fit in honda's. always have to cut out factory basket. </TD></TR></TABLE>

CarAudioPro,

Did you have a chance comparing the Focals and the Infinitys powered by a 75x4 sub? Does the infinity's sound very metallic because of the aluminum silk dome tweeters? Does the Focals sounds better in that respect? Both give good mid base response I assume?

Also How much better is the Focal 165KP (US 360++) compared to the 165V2?

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ATF Kuk &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
doesnt that go for 80% of the speakers out there?</TD></TR></TABLE>

ATK Kuk I notice you are very knowledgeable also, would you like to recommend me a speaker also?


Modified by xero-cool at 11:24 PM 4/29/2004

 

I just installed my Focal 165k2's and i think they sound great compared to the Infinity Reference set I had in before. Right now they are running off deck power, but my amp should go in this weekend if I can get to it. As far as install problems, i just had to make a 3\4" mdf spacer ring and the fit in great.

I listened to the Focal Utopias, 165k2p, Polyglass, and the Access line. I found the 165k2p's to be more to my liking. But the K2P's are pretty pricey ($750 i think)

But if you are interested, my Focal's are always for sale for the right price
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=826430

 

bump...nobody has anymore input?

 

bump #2 Somebody Please Comment

 

Over the past couple of weeks I took a listen to a number of $200-$400 6.5" components, from Alpine, Eclispe, Focal, Infinity, Boston, MB Quart, and Pioneer. Using an audiophile-grade test CD, not just some rock music with a lot of bass, to test for clarity and resolution, I liked the Focals the best. The MB Quarts were close, but were a bit too bright for my taste. The Alpines were decent too, but the opposite of the Quarts in that they were more laidback than I liked.

The Focal 165A should fit in an Integra with a 3/4" spacer. According to Focal, the 6.5" mid/woofer needs approx 2.6" and the standard Teg mounting system provides 1.875". A number of Integra owners have reported being able to fit a 3/4" spacer under the door grill.

The Focal 165V mid/woofer needs an additional .125" so that might be a very tight fit unless you remove the back of the speaker enclosement.

Oh, I also made the mistake of listening to a set of K2 Focal components with a list price around $900. Wow! These were wonderful.

 

are the CDT-CL61a's http://www.thezeb.com/detail.aspx?ID=1083 any good?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Bombadil &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Over the past couple of weeks I took a listen to a number of $200-$400 6.5" components, from Alpine, Eclispe, Focal, Infinity, Boston, MB Quart, and Pioneer. Using an audiophile-grade test CD, not just some rock music with a lot of bass, to test for clarity and resolution, I liked the Focals the best. The MB Quarts were close, but were a bit too bright for my taste. The Alpines were decent too, but the opposite of the Quarts in that they were more laidback than I liked.

The Focal 165A should fit in an Integra with a 3/4" spacer. According to Focal, the 6.5" mid/woofer needs approx 2.6" and the standard Teg mounting system provides 1.875". A number of Integra owners have reported being able to fit a 3/4" spacer under the door grill.

The Focal 165V mid/woofer needs an additional .125" so that might be a very tight fit unless you remove the back of the speaker enclosement.

Oh, I also made the mistake of listening to a set of K2 Focal components with a list price around $900. Wow! These were wonderful.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Thanks for the detailed post. I am leaning towards Focal 165KPs. Any experience with these compared to the K2Ps?

 

Now that you mention it, I did take a quick listen to the 165KP, it was only for about a minute. There was a noticable improvement in the midrange vis a vis the 165A. Piano and voice were both cleaner and more natural sounding. These are even deeper than the 165A and 165V, being about .2" deeper than the 165A. If you cut out the back of the speaker basket it should fit.

They also need a little more power, but should be fine with any reasonable amp.

I listened to the 165K2P longer and was quite impressed. Didn't do a sufficient amount of direct comparison to the 165KP to say much definitively. I remember noting that the K2P speakers sounded like good quality home bookshelfs, something up in the $1000-$1500/pr region.

These are deeper yet, being about .5" deeper than the 165A. If I were to go with these, not only would I put in a spacer and cut out the basket, but I would look into improving the enclosure behind them ... not letting the back waves just bounce into the door frame. Perhaps cutting out more of the plastic speaker basket and creating a larger sealed enclosure, using a material like Cascade Deflex pads behind it to dampen the back waves.

Speakers using drivers like the 165K2P, and perhaps the 165KP, deserve some attention to the "box" they are mounted within.


Modified by Bombadil at 5:57 PM 5/24/2004

 

thanks so much again for your input

I will probably purchase the 165KP and see where to go from there. It will be powered by a JBL px300.4 70W RMS amp so it should be fine.

 

JL or Boston IMHO