Question about difference between component and coaxial speakers
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 10,455
Likes: 371
From: MI
Question about difference between component and coaxial speakers
I'm a little confused about this. Two speakers from Alpine...SPS-171A and SPS-17C2. Identical speakers, same frequency response, same power handling, speakers and tweets made out of the same materials, etc. The only difference is one is a two-way component (171A) and the other is a two-way coax. Price difference between the two is double for the component ($100 vs $200). With the only difference being an external crossover, doesn't that seem a little excessive? What else am I missing?
I'm probably going to go with the coax. I'm only replacing the speakers because I want a different HU and just doing it for ease of replacement. I figure anything will sound better than the stock system anyway. The fronts will get 100w to each side and the rears (a matching 5 1/4") will get radio power.
I'm probably going to go with the coax. I'm only replacing the speakers because I want a different HU and just doing it for ease of replacement. I figure anything will sound better than the stock system anyway. The fronts will get 100w to each side and the rears (a matching 5 1/4") will get radio power.
Last edited by Ruz; Apr 21, 2006 at 10:05 AM.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 10,455
Likes: 371
From: MI
Originally Posted by JazyJeff13
Components give you the ability to place each speaker in the right place for better imaging.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 212
Likes: 1
I have the Alpine co-ax installed and asked this same question. The reason people go with seperates is so the woofer response cannot effect the tweeter response- since they are intended to vibrate at different frequencies. In laymens terms it gives you better highs.
The sales person also said the seperates are not worth the money since Alpine does such a good job of isolating the tweeter in the co-ax model. I have to say- mine sounds FANTASTIC.
The sales person also said the seperates are not worth the money since Alpine does such a good job of isolating the tweeter in the co-ax model. I have to say- mine sounds FANTASTIC.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,394
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area CA
There is a bit more to it than that, but basically it is mainly for sound quality purposes. The woofers vibration can affect the tweeter, and the tweeters position will affect the woofers playback (deflection/blocking by tweeter). Imaging is also more easily obtained through seperates, and is the reason most better quality coaxials have an aimable tweeter pod.
Coaxials really came about for ease of installs in vehicles in general. You won't see a coaxial in a home unit. Space considerations/single point mounting locations are the main reasons most cars have coaxials in them (especially pre 1990 or so). Nowadays manufacturers know that stereos are important to the consumer and most cars will come coaxial in the rear and some sort of components in the front, because they just sound better with identical set ups. So manufacturers throw some $5 tweets in the a pillars and some paper cone driver in the door panel and charge you for the "upgraded" stereo package
By no means am I implying that coaxials cannot sound good, but more often than not a set of components will be better.
Fej
Coaxials really came about for ease of installs in vehicles in general. You won't see a coaxial in a home unit. Space considerations/single point mounting locations are the main reasons most cars have coaxials in them (especially pre 1990 or so). Nowadays manufacturers know that stereos are important to the consumer and most cars will come coaxial in the rear and some sort of components in the front, because they just sound better with identical set ups. So manufacturers throw some $5 tweets in the a pillars and some paper cone driver in the door panel and charge you for the "upgraded" stereo package
By no means am I implying that coaxials cannot sound good, but more often than not a set of components will be better.
Fej
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 5,572
Likes: 4
From: Los Angeles Ca
components give you mounting freedom. it's a lot easier to angle a tweeter rather then the whole 6.5" basket. the x-overs are also more sophisticated...probably where you're seeing most of the price difference. you can not have a 3rd or 4th order x-over built into a coax speaker. The external x-overs are also (usually) made with better components. And there is also the freedom for a bi-amped system, where you have a seperate amp for each speaker. and if you're into tech (not always the best solution...placement is always the best solution) but you can even time align each speaker in a bi-amped component setup.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,752
Likes: 3
From: Bethlehem PA
Originally Posted by scott_fx
jeez fej... i think all of our posts are about 5 mins apart..max
" sign on your guys' posts. Scott
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
oh, come'n now... you all know you just want that sweet set of Jensen Tri-axial 6x9s... admit it... just admit it... with the pioneer supertuner III!
man... that was a trip down memory lane...
man... that was a trip down memory lane...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,752
Likes: 3
From: Bethlehem PA
Originally Posted by bogus
oh, come'n now... you all know you just want that sweet set of Jensen Tri-axial 6x9s... admit it... just admit it... with the pioneer supertuner III!
man... that was a trip down memory lane...
man... that was a trip down memory lane...
I think the only thing better would be the old Pioneer 4x10 coaxs.
I'll bet they only played down to about 150Hz.
I once had a pair of Sansui 6x9 triaxs that didn't sound too bad for their time. (circa 1987)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,394
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area CA
My first "system" in my 67 mustang was 2 Infinity Kappa 3 way 6x9's on the back deck with a fosgate punch 40x2 amp with a Pioneer ST III deck 
Man I thought that was cool back then. Ahh my first install ...
Fej
Man I thought that was cool back then. Ahh my first install ...
Fej
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 5,572
Likes: 4
From: Los Angeles Ca
hmm..my first system...
kenwood cd player ($150) and alpine paper cone speakers. then added rockford sub and kenwood amp, then switch for a clarion pro-audio cassette deck with 6 disk changer, then switched the amp for a ppi art series amp. later tossed the paper cones for some mb-quart components. then got a nice kenwood excelon 'mask' deck. after 2 months got a pioneer deh-p1r (which was one of my favorite head units). then i tossed the punch sub and got a jl 10w1. Hmmm...think i'll ever grow out of constantly changing my system?
kenwood cd player ($150) and alpine paper cone speakers. then added rockford sub and kenwood amp, then switch for a clarion pro-audio cassette deck with 6 disk changer, then switched the amp for a ppi art series amp. later tossed the paper cones for some mb-quart components. then got a nice kenwood excelon 'mask' deck. after 2 months got a pioneer deh-p1r (which was one of my favorite head units). then i tossed the punch sub and got a jl 10w1. Hmmm...think i'll ever grow out of constantly changing my system?
Pro
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 606
Likes: 0
From: Wernersville PA
Originally Posted by fej
There is a bit more to it than that, but basically it is mainly for sound quality purposes. The woofers vibration can affect the tweeter, and the tweeters position will affect the woofers playback (deflection/blocking by tweeter). Imaging is also more easily obtained through seperates, and is the reason most better quality coaxials have an aimable tweeter pod.
Coaxials really came about for ease of installs in vehicles in general. You won't see a coaxial in a home unit. Space considerations/single point mounting locations are the main reasons most cars have coaxials in them (especially pre 1990 or so). Nowadays manufacturers know that stereos are important to the consumer and most cars will come coaxial in the rear and some sort of components in the front, because they just sound better with identical set ups. So manufacturers throw some $5 tweets in the a pillars and some paper cone driver in the door panel and charge you for the "upgraded" stereo package
By no means am I implying that coaxials cannot sound good, but more often than not a set of components will be better.
Fej
Coaxials really came about for ease of installs in vehicles in general. You won't see a coaxial in a home unit. Space considerations/single point mounting locations are the main reasons most cars have coaxials in them (especially pre 1990 or so). Nowadays manufacturers know that stereos are important to the consumer and most cars will come coaxial in the rear and some sort of components in the front, because they just sound better with identical set ups. So manufacturers throw some $5 tweets in the a pillars and some paper cone driver in the door panel and charge you for the "upgraded" stereo package
By no means am I implying that coaxials cannot sound good, but more often than not a set of components will be better.
Fej
Couldn't have said it better myself!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,469
Likes: 4
Originally Posted by scott_fx
hmm..my first system...
kenwood cd player ($150) and alpine paper cone speakers. then added rockford sub and kenwood amp, then switch for a clarion pro-audio cassette deck with 6 disk changer, then switched the amp for a ppi art series amp. later tossed the paper cones for some mb-quart components. then got a nice kenwood excelon 'mask' deck. after 2 months got a pioneer deh-p1r (which was one of my favorite head units). then i tossed the punch sub and got a jl 10w1. Hmmm...think i'll ever grow out of constantly changing my system?
kenwood cd player ($150) and alpine paper cone speakers. then added rockford sub and kenwood amp, then switch for a clarion pro-audio cassette deck with 6 disk changer, then switched the amp for a ppi art series amp. later tossed the paper cones for some mb-quart components. then got a nice kenwood excelon 'mask' deck. after 2 months got a pioneer deh-p1r (which was one of my favorite head units). then i tossed the punch sub and got a jl 10w1. Hmmm...think i'll ever grow out of constantly changing my system?
