Boston Acoustics Or Infinity Kappa
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Instructor
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 100
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From: San Jose California
Boston Acoustics Or Infinity Kappa
What speaker would you guys/gals suggest for 3.5" replacements? Cost is not really important. The most important fidility improvments. The only requirement it must be a drop in replacement... I am open to other suggestions (for replacement) but they must be drop in, no amp or head unit changes.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
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Both are good. The Infinity kappas are more efficient (95 db sensitivity) versus the BAs (92db), but the BAs at 4 ohms are a closer match to the removed Bose speakers(about 3.5 ohms). The Kappas are 2 ohm speakers. I would recommend listening to both at a local car audio shop. It comes down to a personnal decision on what sounds better to you.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 100
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From: San Jose California
I agree in princable with listening to them first. However, when listening to speakers in a sound board at an audio shop you will never know what they sound like in your car. I have been decieved before this way. I was hoping that someone with a lot of experience might chime in with an opinion. I also am considering the MB Quart DKE-108 from http://www.woofersetc.com/index.cfm?...roduct_ID=3700. They are a great price however, just becasue the brand is good again does not mean they will sound worth a shiz in the car. In any case I hope for some more suggestion/opinions. I am stuck in Porkland working at Intel and I was hoping to do some online shopping ;-)
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,250
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From: Honolulu HI
i did the infinity's not the kappa's (2 Ohms) though i used the reference (4 Ohms - matched the stock ohms)
speaker install info
speaker install info
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Team Owner
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St. Jude Donor '08-'09
I agree in princable with listening to them first. However, when listening to speakers in a sound board at an audio shop you will never know what they sound like in your car. I have been decieved before this way. I was hoping that someone with a lot of experience might chime in with an opinion. I also am considering the MB Quart DKE-108 from http://www.woofersetc.com/index.cfm?...roduct_ID=3700. They are a great price however, just becasue the brand is good again does not mean they will sound worth a shiz in the car. In any case I hope for some more suggestion/opinions. I am stuck in Porkland working at Intel and I was hoping to do some online shopping ;-)
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 921
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From: Fairfax VA
Quick question, are we talking the Nav Stereo or the base Stereo? Does it matter? Has anyone had any problems with the headunit after replacing the speakers? I'd assume at 4 ohms there shouldn't be a problem but just wanted to make sure.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2005
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From: San Jose California
This thread is in relation to the Bose system, however, it may or not be relevent for the base system... I don't know. I am still looking for opinions, in case someone else would like to put in their two cents.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 417
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From: Just another gray haired old fart in a Corvette.
I just purchased the BA’s for my doors and dash. Crutchfield recommended that I buy and install base blockers to block the base going to the 3 ½ tweeters. Is this a money making sales pitch or is this a good idea?
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,250
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From: Honolulu HI
if you are only changing the speakers and not the amp you don't need them.... (the amp has a built in crossover)
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,250
Likes: 3
From: Honolulu HI
the difference (as far as i understand it) between the two are....
BOSE rear speakers are mono (not stereo like base)
BOSE have a extra amp on door woofer speakers also speaker is a little bigger (i believe closer to 10 inch - 8 inch on base)
of course the wiring colors are a little different also....
i may have forgotten something....
BOSE rear speakers are mono (not stereo like base)
BOSE have a extra amp on door woofer speakers also speaker is a little bigger (i believe closer to 10 inch - 8 inch on base)
of course the wiring colors are a little different also....
i may have forgotten something....
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
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Jimmybobby,
Yes, I replaced the rears with BA S55s. The improvement in sound quality is minor, but it is noticeable (at least to my ears). This may be because the BAs are more efficient than the stock Bose paper speakers. If you are on a tight budget and own a 2005 or 2006, then don't replace the rears. If your budget is not so tight, I would replace the rears. If you own a 2007, I would definitely replace the rears. Bose redid the amp programming in 2007 to allow a little wider frequency and a little more volume to be sent to the rear speakers. The improvement in sound quality will be a little greater in 2007 models.
Yes, I replaced the rears with BA S55s. The improvement in sound quality is minor, but it is noticeable (at least to my ears). This may be because the BAs are more efficient than the stock Bose paper speakers. If you are on a tight budget and own a 2005 or 2006, then don't replace the rears. If your budget is not so tight, I would replace the rears. If you own a 2007, I would definitely replace the rears. Bose redid the amp programming in 2007 to allow a little wider frequency and a little more volume to be sent to the rear speakers. The improvement in sound quality will be a little greater in 2007 models.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,416
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From: Fairview TX
Richard Bak,
Thanks for the info! I have an 07 and it has XM. We have never had XM or Sirius and I didn't realize how poor the quality of satellite radio is. I won't renew at the end of my 3 months. So, I need to order 2 sets of BA S35s and I'll have on left over and one set of BA S55s. So the door has the 10" powered woofers and the 3.5" and that's all? The dash has the other 3.5" and (2) 5.25"s in the rear? The guy at Circuit City said if I brought them in that they would swap them out and the price was relatively cheap. I don't want to pump a lot of money into the system and I'm somewhat leary about letting CC do the swap but I went to higher end stereo place here in Plano and the price I was quoted would have paid for the salesperson's retirement. No thanks. I don't care how good they are. Do I need to order any other parts or will the BAs hook up directly to the factory wiring? I wouldn't mind doing it myself, but I have no idea what to do and I don't want to ruin anything on my brand new dream car. It's worth it to me to pay someone to do it.
Thanks for the info! I have an 07 and it has XM. We have never had XM or Sirius and I didn't realize how poor the quality of satellite radio is. I won't renew at the end of my 3 months. So, I need to order 2 sets of BA S35s and I'll have on left over and one set of BA S55s. So the door has the 10" powered woofers and the 3.5" and that's all? The dash has the other 3.5" and (2) 5.25"s in the rear? The guy at Circuit City said if I brought them in that they would swap them out and the price was relatively cheap. I don't want to pump a lot of money into the system and I'm somewhat leary about letting CC do the swap but I went to higher end stereo place here in Plano and the price I was quoted would have paid for the salesperson's retirement. No thanks. I don't care how good they are. Do I need to order any other parts or will the BAs hook up directly to the factory wiring? I wouldn't mind doing it myself, but I have no idea what to do and I don't want to ruin anything on my brand new dream car. It's worth it to me to pay someone to do it.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 121
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Jimmybobby,
You do not need to purchase anything else besides the 3 3.5 BAs, and 2 5.25 BAs. Leave the 10'' thumpers as is, but turn the base setting and treble settings to 65%-75% of full scale after the speakers have been installed. Put the midrange about 60% fulllscale or whatever sounds good to you.
This won't be a high end system, but for $350 to $400 bucks, you will have a much improved system and it will look stock. Post an email after you make the swap and let me, and other forum members know your impressions.
Rich
You do not need to purchase anything else besides the 3 3.5 BAs, and 2 5.25 BAs. Leave the 10'' thumpers as is, but turn the base setting and treble settings to 65%-75% of full scale after the speakers have been installed. Put the midrange about 60% fulllscale or whatever sounds good to you.
This won't be a high end system, but for $350 to $400 bucks, you will have a much improved system and it will look stock. Post an email after you make the swap and let me, and other forum members know your impressions.
Rich
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,416
Likes: 0
From: Fairview TX
Jimmybobby,
You do not need to purchase anything else besides the 3 3.5 BAs, and 2 5.25 BAs. Leave the 10'' thumpers as is, but turn the base setting and treble settings to 65%-75% of full scale after the speakers have been installed. Put the midrange about 60% fulllscale or whatever sounds good to you.
This won't be a high end system, but for $350 to $400 bucks, you will have a much improved system and it will look stock. Post an email after you make the swap and let me, and other forum members know your impressions.
Rich
You do not need to purchase anything else besides the 3 3.5 BAs, and 2 5.25 BAs. Leave the 10'' thumpers as is, but turn the base setting and treble settings to 65%-75% of full scale after the speakers have been installed. Put the midrange about 60% fulllscale or whatever sounds good to you.
This won't be a high end system, but for $350 to $400 bucks, you will have a much improved system and it will look stock. Post an email after you make the swap and let me, and other forum members know your impressions.
Rich