46 replies to this topic

[HBD]

Hey guys, first of all yes I've used the search and yes I've been auditioning my little butt off lately trying to find a set of splits I like. I'm a metal head so I need plenty of attack, stupid amounts of KICK in my midbass, and not too much harsh treble (I hate the tsssss RnB treble sound). I'm no SQ judge and lack the technical terms to give good reviews, however I've listed what I think of the speakers I've tried. Im aware that how speakers sound in a board are nothing like what they sound in a car, though that being said so far, the only ones I've been able to audition so far are as follows (for arguments sake when I say 6" I mean 6.5" etc.):

RAINBOW:
- Germanium 6": Meh, nothing special. Very shallow gutless sound. Not impressed.
- Power Line 6": Better than the above, but didn't have that mid-bass KICK I'm after.

ALPINE:
- Type S 6": Not bad however a little tinny and distorted too soon for my tastes
- Type R 6": Very similar to the Type S' however seemed to have less midbass but didnt distort as early

BOSTON:
- SL60 6": Made for RnB, a lot of trebly and clarity but no guts down low. Beautiful for classical i imagine.
- S60 6": Not as much treble and clarity as the SL's and slightly more midbass, but still reasonably gutless.

ROCKFORD FOSGATE:
- P162S 6": Wow, talk about kick. Not the best I've heard but definately snappy and tight. It didnt have the treble and clarity that some other speakers did, but for heavy metal these speakers rock.
- T162S 6": Sounded a lot like the SL60's to me just not as clear.

SOUNDSTREAM:
- XSC.6: None too shabby especially for the money. A nice combination of clarity and punch, however not what Im looking for as I didnt feel like I'd been kicked in the chest when I was in front of them
- Van Gough: The most painful experience thus far in listening to car audio. I felt like my ear drums were being gouged with a screwdriver. So much treble and screech it was like nails on a chalkboard. ARGH!

ECLIPSE:
- SC8264: One of my faves. Beautiufl and clear yet plenty of punch. When I cranked these I could actually feel the midbass in my chest, and that was in a board. The only thing I didnt like was that the bass and treble didnt seem a distinct and separate as it does in other speakers. If it wasnt for that, they'd be on par with K2P's. Mind you, theyre also $300 cheaper.

FOCAL:
- K2P: Beautiful, and powerful. Plenty of kick and ultra clear. A lot clearer than the eclipse, however didn't have their rib cracking midbass. So far I'd say these and the eclipse are the most serious contenders for my cash.
- Polyglass V2: Nice for the money, however nowhere near as clear and punchy as the K2P's.

And thats it. Im yet to hear anything that completely blows me away. Im still in search of the elusive mid bass kick that feels like my spleen is rupturing. Judging by my above comments and the brands I've liked and havent liked, can anyone recommend some speakers that I should audition, and where to audition them? So far I've had pretty ordinary luck in auditioning speakers. Everywhere is remodelling or 'putting new stuff in the boards'. Im planning to head to FHRX on Tuesday (have to talk to Marty about this yet), so that might give me some ideas. Aside from whatever Marty says though, any words of wisdom or guidance you audio gods could throw my way? If so I'd be very appreciative.

Cheers, Blake

[Pulse-R]

I get lovely deep midbass with kick from my Pioneer 160R's - in a properly deadened door, they are just really nice, play well down to 50Hz, I have them crossed to my mids at 500Hz or so.

[zion187reigneth]

if im gonna pay $1500 for splits , i would like to audition them at full crank with a SQ dude that takes them to their limit with Gain/HPfilter adjustments and 100wrms channels ,,, is that the only way?

edit#pulse wat are the Pioneer 160R's? i was looking in google but couldnt find them

Edited by zion187reigneth, 16 April 2006 - 08:26 PM.

[fuddbutter]

i like my OZ, damn loud and now with SD there is plenty of midbass

the old MBQ's i was running diddent go as lound but the midbass was to die for (untill i changed something and i had no midbass )

[HBD]

Well I'm hanging off making any decisions until I spend the day with Marty at FHRX, perhaps a brand I've never heard like Hertz etc. will do the trick for me.
As for Pioneers I have to be honest, I've never heard Pioneer splits ... or kicker for that matter.

[SlimLim]

hey blake. great write up, now whack it in here for me

http://www.caraudioaustralia.com/forums/in...opic=65530&st=0

Edited by SlimLim, 16 April 2006 - 10:38 PM.

[stazed]

BlakeyBoyR, on Apr 16 2006, 10:33 PM, said:

Well I'm hanging off making any decisions until I spend the day with Marty at FHRX, perhaps a brand I've never heard like Hertz etc. will do the trick for me.
As for Pioneers I have to be honest, I've never heard Pioneer splits ... or kicker for that matter.

Where in NSW are you mate?

What speakers have you heard IN-CAR with proper sound deadening btw?

[HBD]

To be honest with you stazed ... none.

EDIT: Forgot to add, I'm in the Parramatta area in Sydney.

I'd really appreciate any advice or suggestions guys, I'm obviously prepared to put in the effort to get the sound I want, I just need a push in the right direction

Edited by BlakeyBoyR, 16 April 2006 - 11:13 PM.

[muzzy66]

If a good midbass is what you are after, then check out rainbows kickbass splits.

I know stazed has a set in his car, and I have heard they sound increadible for the money.

Their kickbass lines are specifically designed with a powerful midbass in mind, hence why they recommend crossing them at higher frequencues due to the extra bass response..

I did hear a kickbass version of the Profi vanadiums, and the the midbass was very strong.

I also have a set of Rainbow CS275 Power (not the set you heard, the higher up power set). Thees babies have more midbass then anything I have heard, and possibly anythign ont he market period. Admittedly though they are probably outside of your price range (rrp is aroudn the $1,500 mark).

Eton also have a kick bass set from memory, but I belive these are also a fairly highly priced set.

Alot about midbass is determined by the install also, remember this. This means that a speaker which souds full of midbass may sound think once installed in your car, and vice versa, depending on how they are isntalled and the accoustics of the car environment.

Can I also ask, were the rainbows installed in a car? Because you cant really compare what you hear in a emo board, as you have no idea how they are isntalled, if they are in individual enclosures, how much power they have drivign them, where they are crossed over, and a million other factors.

Edited by muzzy66, 16 April 2006 - 11:37 PM.

[stazed]

The Eton A2's, RRP $1089. http://www.cesarenterprise.com.au

[HBD]

Nopers, I've never heard splits installed in a car.

[muzzy66]

[quote name='BlakeyBoyR' post='642864' date='Apr 16 2006, 02:09 PM']Nopers, I've never heard splits installed in a car.[/quote]

This would explain the results.

[quote name='BlakeyBoyR' date='Apr 16 2006, 01:15 PM' post='642836']

Also, a very likely reason for such a strong 'midbass' from the eclipse is that they probably were runnning along with a subwoofer. I can assure you, the ability to 'feel' the midbass in your chest in a building off a demo board from a set of 6" splits is very, very unlikely. Especially from a $300 set of splits.

Did you specifically ask them turn the subwoofer off?

It would also explain the issues with the sound quality.

I'd also say to check the same for rockford, as they are not typically known for making audiophille speakers.

[HBD]

I can guarantee you mate there was no sub, I turned it off myself. And the splits were $500. With just the splits alone I could without a word of a lie FEEL the kick a little bit in my chest, something I've never had off a board. I had to put some volume behind them to feel it, but I felt it thats for sure. It's an impressive feeling.
As for being an audiophile, a lot of the higher range splits are made for easy listening and jazz etc., my music is more like getting constantly slapped across the face with a steel glove. Im not into clarity so much as good treble/bass separation, and massive amounts of KICK.

[Pulse-R]

zion187reigneth, on Apr 16 2006, 08:24 PM, said:

if im gonna pay $1500 for splits , i would like to audition them at full crank with a SQ dude that takes them to their limit with Gain/HPfilter adjustments and 100wrms channels ,,, is that the only way?

edit#pulse wat are the Pioneer 160R's? i was looking in google but couldnt find them

Pioneer TS-C160R - I just use the woofers, then I have other mids and tweets for a 3-way active.

[Reza]

Well i can tell u that Eton A1 mid really rocks in a door that has not been properly treated