BA, JL, or Focal for the $$$

[FoxPro5]

I'm working on my front sound stage for my P5. I will be mounting the tweeter in the stock location (sail pannel) and running 55 watts RMS to each.
I've got a good feel for these speakers after hearing them several times, but I would like your opinion on build quality, functionality, and range between different kinds of music (I listen to hard rock mostly). My favorite so far is the JL's but I'm not completely sold yet...

I've narrowed it down to these three. What's the "best" for the $$$..all are pretty similar in price and I can't spend more or I'll blow my budget.

1) JL audio XR650-CSi
2) Boston Acoustics Pro Series 6.5
3) Focal 165 Polyglass 6.5

 

[servoeyes]

All are exceptional quality and etc. If you have heard them all with the same test music than all you can do is choose the ones that sounded best.

The Bostons, ideally would like more power than 55W but I'm not sure about the Focals. For the XRs 55W is fine, but more wouldn't hurt. I've only heard two of those (JL & BA), but I liked the Bostons better personally. Again...all are good, so it's up to you and your ears!

 

[FoxPro5]

Thanks servo. I know, I know it's all my ears fault..The strange thing was I thought I would like the BA pro's the most, but they sounded like ass to me. I actually liked the Infinity Perfect 6.1's better which were right next to the pro's on the sound board as i was switching back and forth. Would you even put them in the same class as the others

 

[SpicyMchaggis]

mb quart premium 6.5's...the best there is.

 

[FoxPro5]

Please enlighten me SpicyM...why?????????????????????

 

[servoeyes]

because he's biased. I think they're way too barky and artificially midrangey...very harsh for me.

 

[FoxPro5]

Yea, they have to be clean and natural sounding with great seperation, I hate speakers that sound like a freakin bullhorn(pukey)

 

[AFaceInTheCrowd]

focal polykevlar is nice to me. also the utopia (obviously). i'm not a huge fan of boston. they are a good mainstream company, but you could do better for less money. some rainbow dreamline or peerless drives and tweeters would prolly outdo the bostons. to me, jl is a little overpriced. they're good speakers tho.

 

[parks853]

If you listen to heavy metal you want a metal tweet. for sure without a doubt hands down. and the XR's have that. they want 75Wrms and you have 55Wrms. this is all that needs to be said. JL JL JL JL XR XR XR XR

if you want the best get the focal utopia's and about 150 - 200Wrms. then you will sound sweet. clean amp to.

 

[parks853]

mb quart premium 6.5's...the best there is.

NO WAY
.. everyones ears are different.. and everyone has there own opinon. I listened to many different sets of speakers when I was getting ready to buy my componetns. I got in many different cars. turned off the sub. and listened my little heart to death. I have heard boston... koda's.. XR's.. utopias.. crystal mobilsound (some cheap stuff).. MB quart's and others... MB quart dont do it for me.. they sucked my ass..

forgot to mention in my other post.. that the XR's also have the tweet that swivels.. so if you mount them in teh sail panel then you can turn them a bit. and I will say again.. you want the metal tweet. metal tweets can be harsh.. but the JL has a surround and I think u need that sharpness for acurate sound. everyone thinks my utopia's are harsh at first till they hear them for awhile then listen to soemthing else. you want the metal tweet.. did I say that enough.. hope so.. I feel like that is a standard for hard rock.. but this is all just my 2 cents.. on other thing is that the koda's are in that price range and they do sound good off axis with the tweet mounted up high.. two of my buddies have them.. both there cars sounds really good.. better than most I have heard... just sounds like ass after getting out away from my utopias..

 

[servoeyes]

For me the Boston Zs and Pros were a ton better than the XRs...but that's on a board. i didn't like the VRs on a board, but they sounded really good in a car (1sty's)

 

[parks853]

Well one thing about the XR's is that they have like 15 settings in the crossover.. hard telling what they are set on in teh store.. they are usually very bassy in the stores because they want the people to beable to hear the bass.. they think people like bass cause they dont konw to look for anything other than bass..

 

[SpicyMchaggis]

agreed..i am very biased..bostons are too shrilly with artificial highs, jls..eh..just balky midrange speakers that don't really have any feel to them. focals..are amazing, but they are extremely particular about types of music..i like mb quarts because they have BY FAR the most warmth to their sound..tell ya what..roll into a tweeter..play an acoustic or any vocal track..the 6.5 premiums sound better than other speaker in the building. period.

 

[parks853]

into a tweeter.. music store.. speakers on a board.. nuf said..

 

[servoeyes]

hell no the prems didn't sound as good as the Zs. But apparently my sensitivity to mids is a lot different than yours, Kyle.

 

[SpicyMchaggis]

well, since i've listened to the Z's, the whole JL line, and MBs everyday for the last few months..I've a pretty sound opinion on them (no pun intended) I just don't like bostons..the lack mid-low warmth..They just sound too artificial. Its all about what kind of music you listen to. I listen to a lot of acoustic stuff and electronic..Z's..and their lame ass price tag, just don't do it for me.

 

[servoeyes]

Lemme know when you're working...one of these days I'll come down there and listen to some stuff. Maybe you can school me!

 

[parks853]

I dont need to listen to speakers on a board.. just get some focal utopia's.. they are the s***.. I listen to every kind of music.. the sound stage.. the highs.. the mids.. you can listen to those speakers that are on your board.. and you can compare them all you want.. but till you have heard some utopia's in a car.. you have not heard s***..

I admit the other series from focal are just ok.. and I can find stuff I dont like about them.. but tell me somethign that is wrong with the utopias'..

 

[SpicyMchaggis]

haha focal utopias..soooooooooooooo much money..i wanted those for so long..just soooooooo much money..i installed those in my friends clk430..they are real nice..just they don't last..(time wise) trust me, there are better speakers out there than focal, MB, BA, etc. It's all about how much money you have.

 

[Natey]

I listened to everything I could find before i settled on what I believe is the best for the money. I have 6.5" Focal Polykevlars in my P5 and they sound great. If I were you, I'd save a couple more bucks and get some Polykevs. It's worth the extra money, IMO.