JL or Focal?

[Jliao]

I'm in the market to get a new set of speakers to replace my stock ones. Now, I'm in the dilemma of either JL or Focal. Since I don't have the opportunity to hear them side to side, so I have to judge them based on you guys' opinions. I was leaning more towards JL until the audio shop gave me a good price. He quote me Front+Tweater & Back & Installation & Tax = 667, and he said JL would be about 50 bucks more. He also told me JL is decent, but not as good as the sound produced by Focal (in terms of Mid, Bass, and clearity). So now, I need you guys' opinion...which one??

thanks

 

[Protege5Gurly]

I have JL and LOVE them -- but it depends on what line you want to use

Pe@ce

 

[Jliao]

What line?

 

[got wake?]

you can never go wrong with focals

http://www.cbrstereo.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=50

they've got some pretty decent prices. i want the 165 w3's, but damn they are expensive

 

[RyanJayG]

K2Power!!!!

seriously... the Focal's are my all time favorates.
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_1690.html

 

[element.8]

focal is ******* incredible.


but personally...

i'd go with mb.quarts.

 

[RyanJayG]

for me MB quarts are WAAAAAAY too bright.

 

[MP5driva03]

In terms of those two, I would go with the JL Audio ones....I almost put them in my MP5, but chose some more expensive and I think better sounding Boston Acoustics speakers instead. They really are worth the price, and the sound clarity is great! From what I've seen and heard, the Focals and Bostons tend to produce a finer, smoother treble sound, for those who plan on installing a system with them. So if you plan on bumping your ride with some bass, go with the subs+Boston/Focal combo. However, if you don't plan on subs, then stick with the JL's, as they are great at producing a smooth full range of sounds. The JL's that I heard at the Tweeter Car Audio store in Fredericksburg sounded incredible, especially when it comes to bass/mid/treble reproduction, however the treble on the Focals and Bostons was much, much finer. Good luck!

 

[Jliao]

The reason I'm leaning towards JL in the beginning is because my best friend has it in his Mini and he said he loves it. Though, I can't hear them side to side so I can't judge the differences. Pretty much what I'm looking for is clarity with good bass, but not to bump so the whole street knows me. However, the price quote the guy offer me (is it good?) seems pretty good for Focal, thus I'm leaning towards Focal now...

 

[RyanJayG]

which model Focal's are they?.. they have a wide range.... but I would guess the polyglass at that price.

 

[Poseur]

Alot of this depends on specifics... FInd out what line of speakers they are (ie JL vr or XR, etc) and FOcal K's or Kv2's etc.... There is a huge difference between diff models.. Personally for a not too spendy setup I think JL vr's are VERY nice, but they should be less expensive than most anything else... I personally prefer them to the XR's

 

[Jliao]

For the Focal, it's Focal 155V (or 165V?) and JL is XR and he quotes me of 667.70 including installation. So, the price is pretty much the same now is just choosing between the sound quality of it.

 

[Poseur]

ANd this is for front components and rear coaxials then I'd assume? I'd honestly ditch the rears, and get a good amp to push the fronts, then consider either the JL vr's (one step down) or the focal K2p's (one step up)

 

[RyanJayG]

yes.... ditch the rears or just run the stockers off the HU, but certainly amp the fronts... step it up to the K2P's!!!!!!

you wont be dissapointed.. then add one 12" sub for the low frequencies.... SCORE!

 

[Jliao]

Eh, sorry I'm not too much of an audio person. I just told him I wanna replace my front and back speakers. So, I'm not sure what the front components(assuming it's the front speaker) and rear coasials are...

EDIT:
So, I should keep my stock rear speaker, then step it up on the front speakers and add an amp? What kind of amp do you guys recommend? (Sorry I'm so new to this)

 

[Jliao]

So...

 

[SpicyMchaggis]

focal K2's..amazing..everything else, just kind of..well...sucks.

 

[RyanJayG]

agreed

 

[Bass Addict]

Focal, hands down. There is no competition between JL and Focal, the JL's are just blown out of the water in my opinion. I have Polyglass' coax up front along with some JL tweeters, and the focals sound better by far. (At least in tweeter range)

 

[Poseur]

As for amps, you may ask your guy to see what he recommends and such, JL has some sweet amps, Also eclipse amps sound good for the $ If you go wiht Focal K2p's I'd shoot for atleast 100wrms per channel.