Are Focal's supposed to be played loud?

I went into my local shop which sells the focal 165K2P and also the Diamond Audio S600's. Now I know I'm not that different from everybody else in the fact that I listen to my system really loud more than half the time I'm in the car. I told the salesman what I'm running which is a 100 x 2 amp up front. I asked to listen to the focal's and he suggested I not get those do to the fact that they aren't meant to listened to alot at high volumes. He recomended the Diamond's which he said are designed for that type of listening. I the Diamond's sounded great, but I liked the Focal's better. He also said that most people can't tell the point where the speaker starts distorting so that's probably why my current set of 165v Focal's tinsel leads on the mids have a short in them. He said that I have over driven them. I have them crossed over at 120hz with gain at 25%. I know that they aren't distorting. I've been listening to car audio since I was 15 and am now 28. Anybody out there heard if Focal's aren't supposed to be driven hard? Pioneer DEH-P980BT, Zapco DCREF1000.4,Pioneer TS-C520PRS, Adire Extremis, MTX TA91002, TC Sounds TC-3000 15"

Anybody??Pioneer DEH-P980BT, Zapco DCREF1000.4,Pioneer TS-C520PRS, Adire Extremis, MTX TA91002, TC Sounds TC-3000 15"

well if you liked the focals then get them .That is one of the craziest things i heard it sounds to me like he was smoking something the day he told you that,i have never heard such a thing nor do i believe it.

Thanks for the replies guys. I haven't ever seen this saleperson in question before that day so I'm not sure if he's new or not. The system I am swapping out with my current one has a JBL PX 600.2 driving a set of Focal 165 K2P's with a Eclipse CD8053 running the show. Will the Focal's be alright as long as the JBL isn't turned up past 25-35%? I'll be taking full advantage of the balanced line output from the Eclipse.Pioneer DEH-P980BT, Zapco DCREF1000.4,Pioneer TS-C520PRS, Adire Extremis, MTX TA91002, TC Sounds TC-3000 15"

Sure they can be played loud. You should however take caution, make sure they don't get any distortion or clipping. They are kinda expensive and that is probably be why the salesman said what he said.Certified Security Specialist

Always check info with a digital multimeter.

I promise to be good.

Tell Darwin I sent you.

I've been sick lately, sorry I won't be on much.

Thanks auex for the reply. Does anybody know if the Focal 165 K2P's will handle the output of the JBL PX 600.2 as long as the gain isn't turned up? The focal's are rated at 100w rms and JBL puts out 150x2 at 4ohms.Pioneer DEH-P980BT, Zapco DCREF1000.4,Pioneer TS-C520PRS, Adire Extremis, MTX TA91002, TC Sounds TC-3000 15"

As long as you send the focals a clean and undistorted signal they will take the extra power without any problems, but once clipping occurs the speakers will get damaged. So make sure not to keep the gains to high.

Thanks 2002. That's what I was thinking. Then again I my break down and buy some Dynaudio, but right now I'm going with the Focal's.Pioneer DEH-P980BT, Zapco DCREF1000.4,Pioneer TS-C520PRS, Adire Extremis, MTX TA91002, TC Sounds TC-3000 15"