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Focal VS. MB Quart


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lcplklyons 
Member - Posts: 3
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Joined: November 01, 2006
Location: United States
Posted: November 01, 2006 at 6:55 PM / IP Logged  

I'm looking to upgrade my stock speakers with some 6.5in components. Being ignorant to all things car audio I've been doing alot of research before making a purchase. The speakers that I have yet to hear anything but good things about are the Focal and MB Quart brands, and have decided I will probably go with one of the two. This is where I have questions. 1) I listen to mostly electronic music, does this need to be a consideration when purchasing non-sub speakers? 2) If I'm looking to go with a less expensive model of these brands, for instance the Focal Access lIne vs. the MB Quart Reference line or even the Focal Polyglass line vs. the MB Quart Premium line, are there discrepancies making one a better choice than the other? 3) How would you rate these four lines? 4) Am I overlooking a brand or line offering similiar quality for a comparable or reduced price?

boulderguy 
Silver - Posts: 510
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Joined: April 17, 2005
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Posted: November 01, 2006 at 7:34 PM / IP Logged  
Bottom line, your ears WILL have a favorite of all those choices, there's no substitute for listening before you buy.
That said,
1. Absolutely. I've had both Focals & Quarts, the Focals have a bit smoother vocals which won't be important for Techno if that's what you mean by electronic. The tweeters are pretty similiar with both, bright & active, Focals again get the edge. I found the quarts had a bit better midbass, good for techno also.
2. If you get the cheaper, get quart Ref, very little difference between ref & premium IMO. If you spend more, I'd choose the Focals. With the Focals, the more you spend the better they sound.
3. Both are excellent speakers.
4. Lots of good speakers out there - check CDT, Rainbow, DLS among others. They'll all be hard to find on a dealer's soundboard tho & they all cost money, like any good speaker will. Lots of threads about speaker choices, do a search.
Last thought - the single most important choice you'll make in designing a system (apart from the overall design & install) is the speakers. Spend your money there, the amps, cables, EQ's, headunits all combined will have less impact on the overall sound.
vbel 
Copper - Posts: 246
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Joined: July 15, 2004
Location: Canada
Posted: November 01, 2006 at 8:49 PM / IP Logged  
Well, after testing 2 different amps in my system, I will have to disagree that they have little impact. After all, they are what give your speakers sound. If you gonna buy good speakers, then you either buy a good amp to go with it, or you just wasted money.
mike12volt 
Copper - Posts: 98
Copper spacespace
Joined: September 17, 2006
Location: United States
Posted: November 01, 2006 at 9:50 PM / IP Logged  
Well said, the system is as good as weakest link.
boulderguy 
Silver - Posts: 510
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Joined: April 17, 2005
Location: United States
Posted: November 01, 2006 at 9:55 PM / IP Logged  
First off he's only asking about speakers. Of course he should get a good amp but that's not the issue.
Second, power is pretty much power. Pound for pound amps are pretty much interchangeable as long as their power & capability suit the application.
[flame proof undies on]
jvillefinest 
Copper - Posts: 255
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Joined: December 29, 2003
Location: Florida, United States
Posted: November 02, 2006 at 12:32 PM / IP Logged  

well...i think i understand where your coming from boulderguy, but still disagree with ya in the fact that not all power is the same. if you compare an Alpine MRPF450 (75x4) and a Audison LRX4300 (75x4) your saying that they are the same...and in fact that is not true i can guarrantee you that they are not and are very far from being the same. like i said i see where your coming from but there is just too many variables in your statement. In my opinion the amp is just as important if not more important than the speakers you are running. I dont care how much money you have in a speaker or how good it is, if your sending it a crap signal your going to get a crap sound out of it.

with that said i have had customers have the HIGHEST end quartz ($1200+), come in and want an "upgrade" i show them our focals and be skeptical. We put in a pair of 165KF (598.99 retail) in his 2006 WRX ran off of a JL 500/5 and he was blown away! he couldnt understand how a speaker that cost half as much as the pair he had could sound so much better. So in my opinion Focal vs. Quartz, Focal wins hands down....and if you could i would spring for the Polyglass or Higher lines, very nice...and can handle some power.

2007 Acura TSX
SQ setup in the works
killer sonata 
Silver - Posts: 718
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Joined: May 17, 2006
Posted: November 02, 2006 at 1:03 PM / IP Logged  
having owned focals my whole car audio life obviously im a focal fan. My buddy has the quarts in his car. I'll take my focals over his quarts any day. Ofcourse I do have the better install so im sure his quarts could sound a little better. But I dont think they could ever sound as good as my speakers. Recently ive spent a lot of time comparing all the focals against each other. Ive found that the polyglass 3 way components are much better than the KFs and the K2Ps.
mike12volt 
Copper - Posts: 98
Copper spacespace
Joined: September 17, 2006
Location: United States
Posted: November 05, 2006 at 3:34 PM / IP Logged  
Please tell me if I am wrong killer sonata, that 3 way Focal comps. are K2Ps with another set added?
killer sonata 
Silver - Posts: 718
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Joined: May 17, 2006
Posted: November 05, 2006 at 3:38 PM / IP Logged  
the k2ps are not 3 ways. the polyglass series is not the same as the kevlar series. focal makes several sets of 3 ways. check out www.focal-america.com for more info. I own the 165V3Es
mike12volt 
Copper - Posts: 98
Copper spacespace
Joined: September 17, 2006
Location: United States
Posted: November 05, 2006 at 3:39 PM / IP Logged  
If I was going to do it again, I would buy 3 way and use mid-high front, mid-low rear + sub.
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