Fake Focals?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 878
Likes: 0
From: Santa Clara CA
Fake Focals?
I ordered a set of Focal 165 KPS (UV) from woofersetc. They came in a box that said 165 KP with a red sticker on the front that said "165 KPS Upgraded Version". Here's the link to the cheaper 165 KP model.
My speakers were shipped in a 2-piece fitted styrofoam container inside the box. Also, the x-overs have zip-ties holding the round copperish pieces. This looks "normal" from the pic on Focal's site:
I've just never seen zip ties used in a professional/commercial product. The serial numbers are intact and look correct. Everything else "looks" fine to my very untrained eye. I've never seen a set of unmounted focals before. (obviously:p) The picture from the focal website also sayd "165 KP" on it, but it's linked from the 165KPS site.
I'm wondering if maybe I was shipped the 165 KPs and not the KPSs... or possibly a fake completely :o Does anyone know a good way to tell?
Update:
Thanks Delirium. I read that that thread last night. So here's the info on mine. The back of the woofers say:
6KPS - SN25A00(sticker) Both are exactly the same.
The tweeters say:
TN52
07100015
Here are some pictures:
My speakers were shipped in a 2-piece fitted styrofoam container inside the box. Also, the x-overs have zip-ties holding the round copperish pieces. This looks "normal" from the pic on Focal's site:
I've just never seen zip ties used in a professional/commercial product. The serial numbers are intact and look correct. Everything else "looks" fine to my very untrained eye. I've never seen a set of unmounted focals before. (obviously:p) The picture from the focal website also sayd "165 KP" on it, but it's linked from the 165KPS site.
I'm wondering if maybe I was shipped the 165 KPs and not the KPSs... or possibly a fake completely :o Does anyone know a good way to tell?
Update:
Thanks Delirium. I read that that thread last night. So here's the info on mine. The back of the woofers say:
6KPS - SN25A00(sticker) Both are exactly the same.
The tweeters say:
TN52
07100015
Here are some pictures:
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 51,504
Likes: 6
From: Sacramento CA
Zip ties are not uncommon in car audio crossovers.
I would be very surprised if Woofersetc focals were fake.
Your best bet is to contact Focal and ask them if this is a legitimate serial number. They dont like woofersetc sales, so if you want, you can say its a used set you are looking at, or something like that.]
Serial number stamped or engraved?
I would be very surprised if Woofersetc focals were fake.
Your best bet is to contact Focal and ask them if this is a legitimate serial number. They dont like woofersetc sales, so if you want, you can say its a used set you are looking at, or something like that.]
Serial number stamped or engraved?
Last edited by Kale; Jun 6, 2008 at 01:44 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 878
Likes: 0
From: Santa Clara CA
Hard to tell if it's stamped or engraved. It's made with series of little dots. However it looks the same as "known good" focals.
Re. calling focal. Since the back half of the serial number is covered by a sticker (and probably ground off underneath) I'm not sure they could be much help?
Re. calling focal. Since the back half of the serial number is covered by a sticker (and probably ground off underneath) I'm not sure they could be much help?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 9,289
Likes: 16
From: Skippack PA
St Jude Donor '13
Hard to tell if it's stamped or engraved. It's made with series of little dots. However it looks the same as "known good" focals.
Re. calling focal. Since the back half of the serial number is covered by a sticker (and probably ground off underneath) I'm not sure they could be much help?
Re. calling focal. Since the back half of the serial number is covered by a sticker (and probably ground off underneath) I'm not sure they could be much help?
Somewhere out there in the Internet land is a site you can enter your serial numbers into and they'll tell you whether or not they're legit. Since you bought from Woofers Etc I'd be pretty confident they're the real deal. From an eBay seller they could be fakes, but considering the level of replication I've seen from fakes I think they're fake in name only. Odds are the company in China Focal is having make the speakers is selling unauthorized production to other people and all of those tend to have the same serial #.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 878
Likes: 0
From: Santa Clara CA
Kale, is that the phone number for Focal America?
Komoman, I googled for Focal "serial number" check and came up with nothing useful. Any idea where that check app might be hiding?
Thanks for reaffirming Woofersetc's reputation. I spoke with them preorder and they seemed legit, but then again who isn't during pre-sale.
Komoman, I googled for Focal "serial number" check and came up with nothing useful. Any idea where that check app might be hiding?
Thanks for reaffirming Woofersetc's reputation. I spoke with them preorder and they seemed legit, but then again who isn't during pre-sale.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 878
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From: Santa Clara CA
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Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix AZ
The Focals I have in stock here have a credit card like card with the serial number on them that would match the speakers. This is like an authenticity card for them.
Here are some pics of a set of K2P's from my store stock. These came directly from Focal so I kow they are the real deal.
Note: The dust cap will look different due to the model. But look at the upgraded sticker and the crossovers.
Here are some pics of a set of K2P's from my store stock. These came directly from Focal so I kow they are the real deal.
Note: The dust cap will look different due to the model. But look at the upgraded sticker and the crossovers.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 878
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From: Santa Clara CA
Well the x-overs look spot on. The sticker looks different, but a local dealer (listed on Focal's website as authorized) has the KPSs in stock and his box had the same sticker. If he'll let me unbox his set I may try to do a side by side comparison this weekend.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 391
Likes: 1
From: Florence Al
When you compare your driver photo to the supporting vendors photo look at the material the center of the driver cone is composed of. yours looks like the center is paper where the other is a tin or metal material. But when you go to Focal website the cone looks similar to yours but the focal logo seems to be inprinted more on the 165 KBE:
Last edited by mitch.smith; Jun 6, 2008 at 06:24 PM.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix AZ
When you compare your driver photo to the supporting vendors photo look at the material the center of the driver cone is composed of. yours looks like the center is paper where the other is a tin or metal material. But when you go to Focal website the cone looks similar to yours but the focal logo seems to be inprinted more on the 165 KBE:
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 878
Likes: 0
From: Santa Clara CA
I peeled back one of the stickers, and I guess I shold have expected it, the last 2-3 digits of the serial number were removed. Almost like the tap of a dremel and only enough to mar the numbers.
That said, at this point I'm pretty confident they're real.
That said, at this point I'm pretty confident they're real.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 786
Likes: 58
From: New Paltz NY
