111 replies to this topic

[MR SPL]

SUSWGN, on 31 October 2010 - 12:51 PM, said:

Yeah, DIY drivers such as high end home theater drivers, e.g. scanspeak, peerless, vifa etc etc... Can be had for quite a reasonable price, only problem is you usually have to go active (not a bad thing, just a lot of work) unless you can build some high end crossovers....

Just some food for thought....

Active isnt really a problem going active as i have the amp with all the power and required controls etc So im semi active now anyway till my gets back

And yeah i thought about using home audio and maybe the vifa stuff from work. . But people tell me the vifa that we sell is nowhere near as good as the vifa available elsewhere Looks like it has potential though for a stupidly low price tag. .

Im not afraid of some hard work lol eally have to redo my car properly when the new equipment is in

[KSR]

While I haven't any personal experience with the Vifa range you sell at work, I have heard that the company has sold out and that those drivers really aren't that flash, though someone may correct me.

If you do want to go 3-way (+sub) active, you will most likely have to grab an external processor (or a head unit that can cater for this HX-D2 etc), unless you go tweeters + mids off a crossover.

Personally I think if you really do like a challenge (fabrication and tuning) then a 3-way front stage with DIY drivers can work out really well, plus a lot cheaper than off the shelf kits. Ultimately, with the kind of components/kits you are looking at, provided they are installed correctly, you are going to be very happy...

[MR SPL]

SUSWGN, on 31 October 2010 - 03:06 PM, said:

While I haven't any personal experience with the Vifa range you sell at work, I have heard that the company has sold out and that those drivers really aren't that flash, though someone may correct me.

If you do want to go 3-way (+sub) active, you will most likely have to grab an external processor (or a head unit that can cater for this HX-D2 etc), unless you go tweeters + mids off a crossover.

Personally I think if you really do like a challenge (fabrication and tuning) then a 3-way front stage with DIY drivers can work out really well, plus a lot cheaper than off the shelf kits. Ultimately, with the kind of components/kits you are looking at, provided they are installed correctly, you are going to be very happy...

Yeah i knew they sold out thats why im concerned. But options still keep popping up for me lol And i cant listen to a single bloody set of them! Damn SA someone should open a high end audio place here. . hint hint

[KSR]

I know, SA doesn't have a massive selection, and most stores are a good 1hr drive for you and me... Might have to make a road trip to VIC for an SQ comp in the near future

[MR SPL]

SUSWGN, on 31 October 2010 - 03:17 PM, said:

I know, SA doesn't have a massive selection, and most stores are a good 1hr drive for you and me... Might have to make a road trip to VIC for an SQ comp in the near future

Im up for that And im sure with ludichris trying as hard as he is for SQ he will be aswell lol

[Surefire]

MR SPL, on 31 October 2010 - 11:50 AM, said:

Just looked into the SEAS sets. They look like a very very nice set actually as anyone else heard much of these?

Love them. If I was going 2-way I'd prefer the Seas over the Morel Supremos, but again, if you haven't heard them, it's hard to make a call on them.

[MR SPL]

Surefire, on 31 October 2010 - 05:55 PM, said:

Love them. If I was going 2-way I'd prefer the Seas over the Morel Supremos, but again, if you haven't heard them, it's hard to make a call on them.

They have less power handling but they will keep up with the bass amps yeah? They are only 100rms thats my concern Sure they sound really really nice though!

[muzzy66]

MR SPL, on 31 October 2010 - 02:34 PM, said:

Active isnt really a problem going active as i have the amp with all the power and required controls etc So im semi active now anyway till my gets back

And yeah i thought about using home audio and maybe the vifa stuff from work. . But people tell me the vifa that we sell is nowhere near as good as the vifa available elsewhere Looks like it has potential though for a stupidly low price tag. .

Im not afraid of some hard work lol eally have to redo my car properly when the new equipment is in

Vifa sold out quite a while ago I think. They definately still make some pretty solid gear, but with the type of budget you have I'd be skipping Vifa and going straight to the likes of:
* Peerless
* Scan-Speak
* SB Acoustics
* Seas
* Fountek
* Tangband

Between these 6 or so brands you have such a great range of components that you can seriously contruct a combination to suit pretty much any configuration and budget. The best part is that in the DIY market the most expensive component isn't always the best...there are some very affordable components (such as the Peerless HDS tweeters, SB Acoustics mids, Peerless XXLS subs) which absolutely kick anus.

Regardless of whether you have a budget of $600 or $2,000 and whether you are going 2-way or 3-way, whether you need a 5" or an 8", there is always going to be a combination that will give fantastic results if you're willing to do some research and spend a good amount of time tuning and playing around with them.

Plus some of the components are so cheap (I'm talking $50/pair mids in some cases) that you can afford to buy 2 or 3 different sets of components and experiment. I'd probably recommend against this, as I have done this before and it's led to me not having a complete system in about...3 year? lol

It definatley isn't the easy road and surely takes a lot more effort and patience, but if you get it right it can really pay off in a massive way.

Surefire, on 31 October 2010 - 05:55 PM, said:

Love them. If I was going 2-way I'd prefer the Seas over the Morel Supremos, but again, if you haven't heard them, it's hard to make a call on them.

I agree

[wazzab4]

2Loud2old is using home audio drivers and does very well with them his whole 3 way active front stage only cost him $400 delivered and the sound is great, It does still need a lot of tuning.
We have found axis is a big factor in his home audio drivers and big prepared to have some big A pillar pods to get them on the right axis. Talk to James (2loud2old) about which ones he is using he has done a lot of research in this area.

Some question i have is,

Do you have the Processing power for active that is the big thing?
What type of car do you have and do you have the room for big A pillar pods on the dash?

[jas]

for the prices you are looking at you could also aford the alpine f1 status scanspeak 3way set of mine too

scanspeak alpine set is a fully modified scanspeak revelator set designed for the car. All the drivers are customised for alpine by scanspeak in denmark. Definitely up there with Focal BE sets.

just hard to install but ONE of the best passive x-overs you have EVER seen...yes as good or better than the BE x-over.

Note they are new and cheaper than the raw non car audio scanspeak drivers and come with mounting kits, x-overs and grills....unlike all the home audio drivers. The drivers are also coated to prevent issues with mosture soak. \

However if you are looking at 2 way i would defintely go the seas reference set.

Edited by jas, 01 November 2010 - 07:10 AM.

[muzzy66]

The F1 status is a great set, however sticking with that passive set does remove the flexiblity of an active setup.

Also worth considering that the Alpine drivers are modified to suit Alpine's specifications - they are quite as good performers as the original ScanSpeak models are. That said, they are still fantastic.

Going three-way active with DIY drivers also allows you to mix and match brands, so you can get comparable (or even better) performance for much less money.

For example:
* Scan-Speak Illuminator tweeter - $300
* Fountek FR88 Midrange - $50
* Scan-Speak 18W/8535 - $450
Total: $800

Oh and yes, the $50 3" Fountek is on par with the $600 4" Revelator.

That said, if you did decide to stick to passive for te sake of practicality (I wouldn't blame you!) then the F1 Status is about as good as you can get as far as factory passive sets go.

Edited by muzzy66, 01 November 2010 - 11:20 AM.

[s4turn]

you guys in Aus are very lucky currently with the u.s dollar, so many options locally and oversea's options to pick from!

should take advantage of it!

[jas]

my vote even though i would like to sell my alpine F1 status set would be to go 2way front stage....and use seas lotus reference. I just think for the compromise between a Focal BE and morel its the best. Cleaner midrange than either focal or morel less harmonic distortion coupled with a soft dome tweeter to give it a sweet less clinical top end and also less dynamic than a hard-dome tweeter...which means an A pillar mounting would be a great idea with mids in the doors...simple easy and great sound. A loss of upper midrange is still not bad considdering the upsides.

why go 2way front stage???

1) easier to install

2) can sound absolutely amazing. Ive heard phass 2way install (WCES 2001 Vegas) still my fav install out of EVERYTHING i have heard in car YES EVERYTHING...dispite lack of upper midrange and sheer dynamics of a horn or 3way front stage can give you. A pillar tweeters and lower door pod 6.5inch midbass....just so simple and sweet. Magic.

3) less chance of stuffing up install.

4) cheaper install....cheaper compenent set...compared to equivalent 3ways.

5) reduction in the number of point sources just gives you a more integrated sound..KISS is right i think (this is dispite upper midrange loss and higher distortion from your tweeters due to cross-over point issues).

6) 3way very very very hard to get right....just ask andrew about his HAT 3way vs his focal 2way. The focal 2way i thought was a lot more integrated sound...not as loud not as clean, not as effort less, better upper mids...but in the end the focals were an easier install and worked well straight away. His 3way is still a work in progress.

Edited by jas, 01 November 2010 - 01:42 PM.

[HEKYEH]

jas, on 01 November 2010 - 01:30 PM, said:

6) 3way very very very hard to get right....just ask andrew about his HAT 3way vs his focal 2way. The focal 2way i thought was a lot more integrated sound...not as loud not as clean, not as effort less, better upper mids...but in the end the focals were an easier install and worked well straight away. His 3way is still a work in progress.

3 way can definitely be rewarding...but definitely a lot harder to get right. I think my current setup with the HAT 3 ways is now better than the Focal 2ways...but I know there is still improvement in there!

I think with either the Morels or Focals u will not be unhappy...choice is up to you though in the end...

Good luck!

[jas]

HEKYEH, on 01 November 2010 - 02:33 PM, said:

3 way can definitely be rewarding...but definitely a lot harder to get right. I think my current setup with the HAT 3 ways is now better than the Focal 2ways...but I know there is still improvement in there!

I think with either the Morels or Focals u will not be unhappy...choice is up to you though in the end...

Good luck!

well done andrew, i know you have put so much effort into the new install. Its definitely worth the time and effort

3ways are not for the novice or someone whom doesnt like to keep playing around with their setup.

note also that the seas can be converted to a 3way setup....they do make a dedicated midrange driver that you can add later on...so its like a convertible set...start off 2 way end up 3way