I'm looking for some higher end components to replace the front speakers in my C6. I'm looking for some good recommendations in 2 different price ranges. Any good speakers in the $300-500 range or should I just focus on looking at speakers in the $500-750 price range?

Currently I have Focal Auditors 6.5" components in the front and 5.25 coaxial in the back, powered by a Kenwood Excelon 900 5-channel amp, and a Pioneer 8200 NEX head unit. As of now, I'm not happy with the results. I was more pleased with the Pioneer with the stock Bose system than I am now. I'm looking to start upgrading my system starting with the speakers and then working my way to the amp if necessary. I'm real reluctant to change my HU and I'm really hoping it does not come to that.

Any speakers that will work well wth my current amp? Speakers that I am considering or have been recommended so far:
Hertz MLK
Morel Hybrids 602
Focal PS 165fx
JL Audio C5-650 and/or ZR650

Anything else I should be looking at? Any suggestions are appreciated. Ideally I would be more comfortable in the less than $500 range, but I just don't want to get this wrong again. I've always had better luck in the past even with budget equipment compared to my system now. Thanks guys.

 

I am not necessarily a Focal advocate, but there are a couple models with a significant price drop at Crutchfield:
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_091165...R2.html?tp=106

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_091165...r-165KRX2.html

I am leaning towards Morels myself but these looked like a decent deal.

 

Thanks 02BlownZ06. I just put in an order for the Focal K2 KRX2's. I ordered a set of "scratch and dent" ones for $520 shipped. The guy on the phone said it might have a light scratch somewhere on it and if i'm not happy I can return it within 60 days. Crutchfield has a good return policy, so I figured I'll try them out and for any reason I'm not happy I'll send them back. I wish I could say that about the current speakers I just recently installed. Hopefully these KRX's blow me away and sound good. With a retail price of $1300 you would think they would be alright. I"ll let you know how it goes and if I end up keeping them.

 

Anyone have any experience with the Focal K2 165KRX2's that I ordered? I should get them tomorrow. Not sure when I'll get them installed. I also ordered some second skin sound deadener for the doors. My only concern is if I am going to like the tweeter, I've seen some reviews where guys said they were too bright. Also, the crossovers look huge in the pictures. I'm not sure where to put them. Any thoughts?

 

Wow you ordered them? Awesome! Please let us know how they sound. I checked on Amazon and Ebay and couldn't find a better price. I have heard that Focals can be a little bright but not auditioned them myself so really curious.

My crossovers for my front and rear components are right behind each of my seats on the sloping vertical face. I would rather have them hidden but they have a cool feature of lights that light up if you are driving the speakers too hard.

 

I received my scratch and dent speakers today but wasn't happy with their condition. They were obviously installed before and didn't appear new. Partly my fault for trying to save a few bucks. But anyway, I shipped them back and am exchanging them for an open box set. Hopefully these will arrive in better shape.

The speakers did seem to be nicely built and did have some nice weight to them. I am a little concerned about them being "a little bright" like you mentioned. I think the crossover offers some tweeter adjustments so hopefully I will be able to get them tuned and adjusted to my liking. I will keep you posted once I get them installed.

 

I have the JL C5-650s. Also have the Pioneer 8200 NEX. Sounds great. I paid right at $500.

 

Thanks Jim. Hopefully these Focal's work out or I will probably go with the JL's. Some say that the JL are a little overpriced but at the same time they are probably the safest choice.

 

have tried 3 of the 4 and the 4th wasn't bad in the showroom

hated the focals. the JL's were okay, tweeter was a bit lacking on the bottom end. not a bad sound though. the morel hybrid will rival the focal in SPL but sounds gobs better doing so. far more natural sound. the hertz are klipsch. live rock music sound. this may be harsh with some music but good with others

for $500 a set new via dynamic autosound the hybrid 602 is a no brainer. yes there is a way to get them at this price from an authorized dealer and i can show you how

the morel and jl are the most tame of these 4. the JL will break up if you give them much over 70w and they have to be crossed at 80hz+ on the woofer. high quality midwoofer though. tweeter crosses a bit high and it's a small 19mm dome.

yes it's a youtube video which kills the SQ but there is a difference between the hybrid and c5 even at low volume. i made this video just going back and forth. hybrid in the left door and c5 in the right. i bought and tried both. returned the c5s. i was also able to borrow a focal k2 power set and my god....why are these popular? worst of the 4 by a considerable margin

 

Racebum, you are making me real nervous. I appreciate your input. I want to do this install one more time and I want to make sure I get it right. What was it about the K2's that you didn't like? Was it the KRX2's specifically? If I wanted to score a set of Morel Hybrid 602's for $500 locally what's the secret? I see Dynamic is out of stock. I don't have much or any experience with higher end audio components and it's hard to actually find them close by to get a comparative listen.

 

Ok, just received my second set of KRX2's. This time it was an "opened box" set. Someone please tell me if I'm over reacting, but I'm not happy with the condition of the speakers. Nothing inside is wrapped, except the crossovers, specs of styrofoam stuck to the speakers, damaged or torn speaker gaskets, etc. I know it is an opened box purchase, but it just doesn't give me a good feeling for my $550 when I see it this way. I'm leaning towards sending them back. Someone tell me if I'm expecting too much. Just for the record, no more opened box stuff for me.

 

What was mentioned for ad of the open box stuff? The gaskets would not bother me, but some of the other things would

When I bought my Headunit, I wired it on the bench to be sure everything worked

 

Will they still allow a return on open box? If so, I say slap them in, audition them, and if you love 'em, keep 'em, if you hate 'em, send 'em back.

One thing, everyone's ears are a little different, so they might sound great to you and not to someone else. Some people love the sound of Klipsch or Hertz, but obviously Racebum doesn't.

 

No real description was included, but when I called and asked about what they considered "opened box", basically they described it as "in new condition" except that someone may have bought it, opened the box, and returned it.

 

Yeah they will take them back within 60 days. Crutchfield does have a great return policy. I do want to hear them but I wish I didn't have to go through all the trouble to install them into the car. Once I put them in, I know I will be real reluctant to take them out again. I will see how the weekend goes and if I have time to put them in. If I don't do it this weekend, maybe I call them and try to twist their arm to send me a new unopened set as an equal trade.

 

That came like that from Crutchfield? Yeah then I am surprised!

 

dynamic isn't out of stock they just aren't advertising that deal. the secret is i can email you my invoice, you contact the owner directly and ask for the same deal as your buddy direct.

my gripe with the focal was the bottom of the tweeter is rough. midwoofer is pretty good. they take a lot of power but are very particular about the install and don't work as well in an infinite baffle as the hybrid does. the focal midwoofer changes a LOT in enclosures and the tweeter HAS to be off axis which is odd. on axis it was really really rough.

hook them up to your home stereo if you just want to hear their sound. you should know if you do or do not like the tweeter. don't 100% take what i'm saying. listen for awhile and form your own opinion.

would be nice if you could A + B those and the hybrid

 

How much do you think one could get the Elates for and have you heard them?

 

love them, no idea on the deals but the elates are great ! better tweeter and midrange over the hybrid. really fantastic speaker, BUT, you need the amplification to drive them. i heard them back to back on a thesis and they were amazing. however, on a little digital class D the difference between the elate and hybrid went away. they have kind of a similar sound but the elate is able to play higher frequencies and has a more balanced midrange. the hybrid starts to roll off around 16khz or so. not a huge deal as you don't hear above that in a car going down the road most the time but in the right setup. you hear it. elate tweeter is airy. very well balanced. the difference between the elate and supremo is actually pretty small

 

I am thinking if one could get a pair of Elates for up front for maybe around a grand and then put some hybrids in the rear would be a decent set up. I think then I would see how it sounds with my existing amps and if still not happy then proceed with a new class A/B amp and possibly a DSP. My thing is, do the JL Audio Slash amps have enough power or do I need to look at Audison or someone else? My system now is crisp, clean, loud as MF'ing hell but is slightly harsh for my ears and doesn't have the near audiophile sound I crave. Everyone who has listened is like geezuz christ that sounds good, even my original installer who thought it sounded bad azz with the putrid sounding Pioneer but I am so ridiculously picky that my system now is a stopgap. I am tolerating it until the next round of "mods", LOL.