Help, New Components for the front

[jrodhotrod]

After installing a system in the B4000 we just got for my wife I got the itch to work on my system again. The Arc Audio components that I have up front are growing old and I want something nicer.

Here is what is at my disposal right now:

Arc Audio 6.5" components
Arc Audio 6.5" coaxials
Infinity Kappa 6.5" coaxials 62i (about 5 or 6 years old)

Amp: JL Audio 300/4

My deck pushes 22watts RMS, so my plan is:

Bridge the JL Audio 300/4 to run only the front doors giving me 150 watts RMS, run the rear doors off the deck.

I can keep the Arcs in the rears or swap them out in favor of the Arc components or Infinity Kappas.

I find MB Quarts to be too harsh, had a set of JL Audio XR comps before and they were just "ok", my Arc Audios were very smooth sounding when I first got them, but the more time I have spent the more they sound muddy and not smooth.

I am open to any brand. Let's cap the price at $400-$500 tops. (now, if I can find something I am happy with for less, then even better!)

Things I have been looking at:

Diamond D6 series
Boston Acoustics Pro60

Any other suggestions?



Part 2:

Right now my tweeters are in the factory sail panels. When I re-do the front doors I am not opposed to moving the location of the tweeters, suggestions?

 

[1sty]

take a listen to the focal kp's

 

[jrodhotrod]

And by KP you mean the K2 165? I'll see if I can find it around here to listen to.

1sty, while you are here, I'll be heading down south next weekend where there is a Tweeter, any specials or sales I should know about that will be in effect next weekend (Sunday the 18th in all likelyhood)

 

[SP33D]

DLS Iridiums are amazing... and the new Zapco speakers are really good also

 

[Poseur]

as for tweetlocations, when I've run 2way I've generally liked having the tweeter inthe kick area. Never got around to finding a way to do it cleanly, but surface mounting on the flat dip between the door and wher ethe kick sort of bubbles out worked alright for me.

 

[1sty]

And by KP you mean the K2 165? I'll see if I can find it around here to listen to.

1sty, while you are here, I'll be heading down south next weekend where there is a Tweeter, any specials or sales I should know about that will be in effect next weekend (Sunday the 18th in all likelyhood)

Sorry I ment 165 KF

The 165K2P are a bit out of your budget.

Unfortunitly, there are no sales on the horizon I am aware of. However there is a Focal/audison contest amung the sales guys so someone might be willing to drop the price for you. Most other zones don't have the restrictions with price that we do.

 

[RyanJayG]

I <3 Focal... and the 165 KP might be right up your alley price wise. its just a small step down from the 165K2P's I have

http://www.woofersetc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=1164

but yeah, the Boston's are a good choice as well, the Diamond's I've heard good things about, Image Dynamics, and also the high end Kicker compnenets (believe it or not, since I hate Kicker). all roughly in your price range

but as always, its better if you go listen to the speakers yourself.. and as a side benefit, you might find that the one that sounds best to you costs half as much.

 

[jrodhotrod]

Today I was successful in listening to the Boston Pro 60s and the Focal K2P. Those were the only Focals any dealers had available to demo.

At one shop the only speakers I was interested in were the Bostons and they blew everything else on the board away (lower end Boston, Alpine Type R was all I listened to)

Second place I went had ADS (not sure which one) the Boston Pro 60s, and Focal K2Ps up on the board. I fell in love with the K2P. I thought the Boston Pro 60s sounded decent before, but next to the Focals, what a difference! The K2P is the best speaker I have heard in person hands down. Bright, natural, smooth, without being overly harsh or muddy. It's just right.

The best price I got on the K2P from a dealer around here was $600 and he said he would throw in installation for free (at this point though I would rather do it myself)

Is there a huge difference between the K2P and the K2?

And the 165KF, how would it compare soundwise to the K2P? Do they share a tweeter in common?

 

[jrodhotrod]

Second question,

Power handling on the KPs is 80watts RMS and 160max. Is pushing 150watts RMS with the Jl 300/4 going to be a problem with these?

 

[1sty]

Today I was successful in listening to the Boston Pro 60s and the Focal K2P. Those were the only Focals any dealers had available to demo.

At one shop the only speakers I was interested in were the Bostons and they blew everything else on the board away (lower end Boston, Alpine Type R was all I listened to)

Second place I went had ADS (not sure which one) the Boston Pro 60s, and Focal K2Ps up on the board. I fell in love with the K2P. I thought the Boston Pro 60s sounded decent before, but next to the Focals, what a difference! The K2P is the best speaker I have heard in person hands down. Bright, natural, smooth, without being overly harsh or muddy. It's just right.

The best price I got on the K2P from a dealer around here was $600 and he said he would throw in installation for free (at this point though I would rather do it myself)

Is there a huge difference between the K2P and the K2?

And the 165KF, how would it compare soundwise to the K2P? Do they share a tweeter in common?

That price on the focals seem like either the deal of the century or somethings up. They list for $1000. We sell them for $950.

I am not sure of the commonality.

The Pro is out of its legue against the K2P. The Boston Z competes agaisnt them.

 

[1sty]

Second question,

Power handling on the KPs is 80watts RMS and 160max. Is pushing 150watts RMS with the Jl 300/4 going to be a problem with these?

No problem at all, I sell them with the Jl 300/2 all the time.

 

[jrodhotrod]

That price on the focals seem like either the deal of the century or somethings up. They list for $1000. We sell them for $950.

I am not sure of the commonality.

The Pro is out of its legue against the K2P. The Boston Z competes agaisnt them.

One place offered them to me $750 without me really saying anything, both mentioned the $1,000 list.

The second dealer (which is where I just got the alarm installed on the B4000 showed me his dealer cost using the Focal price book and then offered them $600. Lets just say, even at $600 he is still making a profit according to the dealer price book he showed me (it was published by Focal and looked legit to me). The boxes had everything sealed including the plastic warranty card, manual in french, and it listed the focal-fr web address on the side. Sound legit?

 

[RyanJayG]

the Kp's are similar to the K2P's in sound, just a notch down. I haven't heard the KF, but I think it has the newer 52mm tweater... but I could be wrong.

$600 for a K2P is a great deal, especially for a local store, only online prices can beat that. if you can swing the extra money go for the K2P, since you've actually heard it. I'd hate for you to spend $450 only to be unhappy with a speaker choice. but if your budget is absolutely constrained, then the other focal offereings are still pretty high on my list personally.

 

[Poseur]

K2P's where I've listened to them have been priced in the 750-800 range. I'd say snag up the deal if you can swingit. Last year's model of the boston pro's I personally thought gave the K2P's a bit of competition, but the new one's just aren't quite up to snuff IMHO. You'd likely be just fine with the KP, but settling with somethign that's a fair chunk of change in the first place is generally something I try to avoid. I haven't had a good head to head of K2's and K2p's oddly enough, but comparing each to boston z's, the K2P's could hang a bit better. The K2's seemed to muddy up a tad when cranked.

 

[jrodhotrod]

Sounds like I just might have to stretch my budget a little.

The next question, will the massive tweeter from the Focals fit in the factory sail panel or will I have to surface mount it up there?

(I didn't do the install on my current system, but I'll likely be doing the install this time around so I haven't actually seen what it looks like behind the sail panel)

 

[Poseur]

you could likely fit it there with some modifications, but before you go making that permanant, at least try putting it closer to the speaker. say kickpanel? perhaps coaxial, or *gasp* even cutting up your doorpanels. Best bet is to use 2-sided tape or use whatever method you can and move them aroudn and see where it sounds best.

 

[jrodhotrod]

yeah, I don't mind cutting up the door panel, I did it for the B4000 we just got, I just like the "stock" look. But if I need to put them elsewhere, I can.

 

[FoxPro5]

Did you look at Dynaudio? I always loved the way they sound...boring to some, but very accurate. Might give the Focal some competition at that price point.

 

[jrodhotrod]

Haven't been to a dealer that has the DynAudio on the board yet. Hoping to check out at least one other dealer today.

 

[jrodhotrod]

Today I stopped by a couple of shops on my way into the office and heard offerings from:

Dynaudio, Morel, Diamond, and was able to a-b my Arc Audios against those Morel and Dynaudio.

Of those, I liked teh Dynaudio the most, but not as much as the Focals. I think I am sold on the Focals and am going to try to do everything I can to swing the K2Ps. I fell in love with them and haven't heard something I like more. No place that I have been has offered DLS speakers and it's a drive to go to anyplace that has them.