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Speaker info - Which ones

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=41054
Printed Date: May 14, 2025 at 5:03 AM


Topic: Speaker info - Which ones

Posted By: stresspuppy
Subject: Speaker info - Which ones
Date Posted: October 17, 2004 at 10:58 AM

I have been out of the car audio scene for some time and I do not know who is making good stuff and who is making crap these days.  I need some input on speakers, if you are willing to help.

I am in the process of upgrading the system in my 97 Toyota Landcruiser. It presents many "fun" opportunities in and of itself. Seeing that I would prefer to use the factory grilles, I am quite limited. If I decide to go with using the new speaker grilles, I have a little more variety to choose from. I will be putting in a sub, but I am hoping to put something in the space where the current "sub" is. This would limit me to an 8" sub in a custom sealed box. 

WIth this all said, I am trying to determine the best setup for the front doors (6 1/2") and the rear doors (4"). I would like to stick with the same manufacturer for front and rear to better "match" the sound (is this the right approach?). I am also considering coaxial speakers because I want to do the least amount of mods possible. I am up for separates in the front, but need a compelling reason, and need to figure out where to mount the tweeter.

Below are the things I have been looking at. Please give me your input, and any other options you might have. (Keep in mind that for the front, if I keep the factory grilles, mounting depth cannot be more than 2" max, and using the speaker grilles, I might be able to go to 2 1/2 if I squeeze things.)

Infinity Kappa 62.5i (front)
Infinity Kappa 42.5i (rear)

Alpine SPS-170A (front)
Alpine SPS-100A (rear)

Boston Accoustic FX6 (or NX67) (front)
Boston Accoustic FX4 (rear)

JL Audio TR650 CXi (front)
JL Audio TR400 Cxi (rear)

Kenwood Excelon KFC-XR601 (front)
Kenwood Excelon KFC-XR401 (rear)

Eclipse.....

MB Quart......

This have become a longer list than I thought. But the main purpose here it to figure out to make this all happen using the smaller 8" sub from JL Audio.

Any and all comments are GREATLY appreciated!




Replies:

Posted By: kfr01
Date Posted: October 17, 2004 at 11:32 AM

I would not replace the factory speakers in back (your passengers will be the only ones hearing those) and put the money you would have spent there into the best 6.5" component set you can afford.  You really need to listen to all those speakers to decide.  When I've demoed speakers I've found that Infinity and Boston make top notch products for the price.  I have not been impressed with JL speakers other than subs.  I have no experience with Alpine or Kenwood other than to say that Kenwood doesn't have the best reputation.  Eclipse and Quart make excellent speakers.  You should consider their offerings as well. 

If I had to buy some component speakers fresh right now at the top of my list would be the Adire Audio Koda Component set:  https://www.adireaudio.com/ and either of the 2 sets from Resonant Engineering https://www.respl.com/    (I just noticed their site was down.  You can look at their products here too:  https://www.bladeice.com/ )



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New Project: 2003 Pathfinder




Posted By: stresspuppy
Date Posted: October 17, 2004 at 1:02 PM

Good input.

I was thinking NOT going separates so I could minimize (or eliminate) any permanent mods I might have to make. I know that I give up a little that way, but that is why I was thinking about the Infinity Kappas that have a seperate crossover to help keep things where they are supposed to be.

Any thoughts in the coax world....





Posted By: kfr01
Date Posted: October 17, 2004 at 2:19 PM
I hear you with that concern.  One of the reasons I picked the quart components is because you can mount the tweeter in the coax position.  Good thinking re: the quality crossover, that way they are closer to component quality with the installation ease of coax.  Check out the Memphis MClass Series for another coax convertible component. 

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New Project: 2003 Pathfinder




Posted By: stresspuppy
Date Posted: October 17, 2004 at 6:36 PM

That's right. Add more to confuse things!!!!

I do like the way the specs and such on the Memphis speakers look. But I don't know much about them.  I'll do some reading and research on the MB Quarts and Memphis.

Boy, just when I thought I was starting to figure this out!





Posted By: kfr01
Date Posted: October 17, 2004 at 6:44 PM
Memphis is known for quality stuff.  I'd consider taking a listen to them if you have a dealer in your area.  I've a/b tested the memphis against similarly priced offerings from JL and Quart.  I liked the quarts slightly more but felt that Memphis had much better sound quality than the JL series.

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New Project: 2003 Pathfinder




Posted By: stresspuppy
Date Posted: October 17, 2004 at 8:29 PM

Thanks.  I found a place locally that is on the Memphis dealer list. Heading there tomorrow at lunch hoping it wasn't a typo........

Wish I could find a place that had both the JL, MB Quart and Memphis....... so I could a/b/c....... posted_image

What is the history and such of Memphis?  They are unknown to me. 

I appreciate all your input. It has helped. Even if I am a bit more confused than before!!!





Posted By: stresspuppy
Date Posted: October 18, 2004 at 10:07 PM

Went and listened to the Memphis, and the dealer had Diamond as well. Good stuff.  Then I went and listened to the MB Quarts. OH NO.  I'm screwed. So much for the easy way. The PCE216 components were absolutely amazing!!!  I think I will have to figure out how to save up for them and then MAKE them fit in the Landcruiser.

Oh, my wife is gonna kill me............





Posted By: boxmaker85
Date Posted: October 18, 2004 at 10:19 PM
Boys and toys.  We've gotta have them.  Yeah JL is more on amps and subs then component/coaxial speakers.  MB Quart and Memphis are good.  Polk MOMO's are also some nice speakers too.  I've compared them agianst some JL and basic MB Quarts,  I'd take the MOMO's over any of the other two.  But that's just my opinion.




Posted By: boxmaker85
Date Posted: October 18, 2004 at 10:20 PM
BTW Infinity makes some nice suff for the price that they offer it at.  I've got infinity speakers and a 10" sub and i love it.  Coudn't be happier (concidering the money I spent of course).




Posted By: kfr01
Date Posted: October 19, 2004 at 12:42 PM

The quarts are nice and crisp, aren't they?  Not to convince you not to support your local dealer, but the quart pce's are all over ebay new + shipped for under $300.  Risky, but so are conflicts with women.  ;-)  - More than 9 times out of 10 there will be nothing wrong with an ebay purchase.  I don't know about you but I'm batting about 0.000 hiding expensive purchases on my woman.  lol



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New Project: 2003 Pathfinder




Posted By: stresspuppy
Date Posted: October 19, 2004 at 6:37 PM

Don't I know it!!!!   I am trying to "bribe" her with a chunk of mad money for her to spend on herself.  We'll see.

How would you recommend I power these?  What I am looking to do is put the MBs up front, something (not sure yet) in the rear doors - 4" and then a sub of some sort.  Trying to figure out the right amount of power on the right budget. I can't afford to go the route you have.

I was thinking of the Alpine 5 channel, then I was thinking of a good 4 channel with 2 channels up front, 2 bridged to the subs and the HU powering the rear door just for filler.

I am pulling my hair out with so many different things, I need some good input.  Can you help guide me here?  Thanks!






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