Component speaker questions

Hey all, I'm currently running Infinity Kappa 5 x 7 coaxials in all four doors of my Explorer. I'm currently running them off my Pioneer head unit. I'm looking to get an amp to power them, but I'm also thinking about replacing the front speakers with components. I have a few questions about this:

Will component speakers sound be better enough to make the switch worthwhile?

If I should switch, which components are the best? I think 5.25's will fit in my doors, but I'm not sure. I would probably have somewhere in the neighborhood of $250-300. to spend if I had to.   I want crisp clean highs, and very clean mid bass. I have been considering Boston Acoustics Pro 5.5's, MB Quart, etc. I would probably leave the kappa's in the rear for fill.

I don't have any experience with components....I'm assuming the tweeters and mid woofers of each set would individually be amped by a four channel amp? So, the four channel amp would be just for the fronts, and the head unit could power the rears. What would be a good clean amp to power high quality components?

Thanks all....

When using rear fill speakers, the fronts should be the same brand as the rears for tonal harmony.  What you're talking about is a revamping of your audio system.  It wouldn't do you any good to use components of one brand in the front and coaxials of another brand in the rear if their tonal qualities differed.  If you like the sound of the Infinities now, you should first look at Infinity components.  If, on the other hand, you are not impressed with the tonal quality of the treble sounds....look at replacing all the speakers.

Listening is the key when choosing speakers.  If you know other people with sound systems you admire the sound of, find out what component brands they use.  If that's not the case, go to dealers and listen to several lines.  The quality of the treble response should be pleasant to listen to over long periods of time.  We all have differing opinions on the sounds from different types of tweeter materials....some types make an immediate impact on us as being "precise" and "dynamic", but my be fatigueing to listen to for an hour.  Other types of materials may not be as noticeably "crisp", but are pleasant to listen to all day long.  I like the sound of silk or hardened fabric tweeters myself.

6.5's will almost always fit in a 5x7 opening by using an adaptor ring, but you will have to do some precise measuring both in depth and to the grill.  You want the largest mid woofer you can fit (6.5 is good) in the front for your midbass reproduction.

Of course, any upgrade to your speakers will necessitate the addition of a quality amplifier.  I would suggest using the four channel amp to power all of the speakers, and leave the head unit's power out of it.

When using rear fill speakers, the fronts should be the same brand as the rears for tonal harmony. Huh...?

I dont agree with this.....just my opinion...And I drive a truck...NO rear fill, so Ill just sit over hear in the corner and mind my own business......

See, now that's what forums are for.  Having 2000 posts on this forum doesn't qualify me as more expert than anyone else...it just means I have 2000 posts on this forum.  Please just give your opinions to the original author of the thread instead of singling me out for debate.  If you'd (sedate) just reply to the thread with your opinion without replying specifically to me, I wouldn't feel the need to add more to this.  I just offered up one opinion...I don't need to justify it to the community.

If you want another opinion, just add $20 to my usual fee....        ;)

Thanks for the replies everyone. To answer a few questions, I am DEFINITELY getting a four channel amp to power my satellites, whatever they end up becoming. I just got back from looking at four channel amps actually. I will be getting the amp before I replace any speakers, just to see what a difference it makes. I'm going to try and get an amp that puts out a clean 100 watts rms to each channel into four ohms.

I know the kappa's are good speakers. But they are also coaxials and I know that component speakers have to be better because I can place the tweeters wherever I want them, and the mid bass woofers are independent. There are probably much better crossover options available with components as well. Part of it is probably because I am just never willing to leave well enough alone ;-) Once I amp the kappa's, I will evaluate and see what happens....if they blow me away, I will keep them. I will be running the system with the kappas in the rear anyway at first, for budgetary reasons.

I see most on this forum so far have been against metal tweeters. I have been seriously considering the Boston Pro's, but don't they have metal tweeters? I would like to go with silk if possible.

Oh, and sedate........I am working on the ported box slowly. I decided to go with a slotted port and a 1.75 cubic foot box. I am cutting the pieces and should have it together pretty soon. I will throw it in as soon as it is sealed up and let you know how it sounds. I have been considering getting a second perfect and putting them both in slightly larger sealed enclosures as well, to increase the low end but retaining the tightness of the bass. So many things to do, so little time (and sometimes money).

One thing is for sure, I'm learning A LOT on this forum since I've been hanging around since January....I used to know nothing about car audio, and now I feel like I at least half way know what I'm talking about.  Thanks for the advice guys, I shudder to think that I would probably have to rely on the stooges at Best Buy or Circuit City for into without this forum.