This may have been covered, but I can't find it anywhere...
sooo...

I need to work out which splits to get.

I have 2 in mind.

Really I wanted to spend about $500 on splits...but I can make an exception if it's really worthwhile.

So theres the 6.5" Hertz HSK1600 Competition 2 Way Splits. They are at $833 or so.

And there's also the Hertz HSK-163 which is the 3 way splits set, which WebAudioDirect use to sell at around $500.

Anyway, obviously the more expensive one seems better...but which would give me a better SQ system? I like the sound of 3 ways, coz when I heard a car with 6" 4" and 1" tweeter, it sounded very ... hmmm ... nice!

But I kind of want to decide, so I don't regret purchasing stuff. Only issue, is that the 6.5" will be easier to fit on my doors, than the 3 way set...but I'm more after SQ.

So keep in mind my initial budget was $500 for splits. Of course I can pay more...but then it'll be never ending.

So which one will have better SQ?

i don't think there's a good, easy answer.

one approach, and probably what i'd favour, is to get the best speakers you can now. in which case i'd be looking at 2-way splits, the best you can afford.

later on, you can upgrade by adding a midrange and suitable xover, if not go fully active.

however, it's not always economical either. coz going with something like dynaudio makes adding midranges and 3-way passives xovers an expensive upgrade (ie: ~$700 for that lot separately).

so the 3-way hertz set may be ideal. but the quality of the individual drivers will not be quite so good. and installation will definitely be an issue; poor installation may not yield the potential benefits of the improved midrange reproduction.

it's a compromise obviously. so a decision you have to make, and i'd be basing it upon:
*ease of installation: i'd prefer a properly installed 2-way setup to a compromised 3-way
*active vs passive setup: if the potential for an active setup is there, then upgrading from 2 to 3-way may be easier (not having to buy a new passive xover)
*matching speaker quality with remainder of system
*what sounds good to you
*budget

i figure it may be difficult to find a retailer that has these splits on a demo board, let alone in a car, to audition.

and of course you needn't stick with hertz, but consider boston, focal, dls, morel, or spend more for dynaudio.

good luck

[ January 08, 2003, 10:25: Message edited by: shiny_car ]

without trying to sound lame, the speakers with the best SQ in that price bracket are those your ears find the most engaging and enjoyable and realistic if you take other peoples verbal advice regarding sound quality of speakers, do not take them seriously unless they describe in a detailed manner its sonic performance. its your half-a-grand so its very important you are happy with the speakers before you buy them

You should also consider MB Quart, although I don't know what they have in your price range.

There is a growing number of people here in Australia joining the many happy MB Quart users in USA and Europe.

Well, my deciding factor isn't really the brands or anything, but more if a 3 way setup will sound better than a 2 way or vice versa?

It will be easier for me to fit 6.5" in the doors. Fitting 4" in the doors will require me to make or get someone to make me pods down the bottom of the door aiming towards me. Doing something like that may cost around $200 - $300 (paying someone is easier).

So really, for front stage I might end up paying around $800 anyway.

So really my question is will a 3 way system be better than a 2 way or not? Will it be better to get midrange components to have a 3 way setup or will it be better to spend $800 - $100 on 6.5" splits and fit them myself in factory location?

I can't fit anything bigger than a 6.5" in the doors. Maybe 7" but they'd have to be shallow to clear the window. So imo, I think a good 6.5" with better magnet structure will sound better. I don't know.

While the thought of an upgrade may sound good...this is pretty much going to be my last setup. I want to start saving for land etc...so I want this one to be good while being cost effective also.

Regarding spending money. This can range...if spending $1000 is better than spending $800 for splits, I'll just wait another week...but I said $500, just so I don't go overboard and keep on waiting to eventually buy $2000 splits.

But I think $1000 is realistic although I dont 'want' to spend that much.

Also I'm going to do this slowly. So it'll be headunit and splits - with the splits run off the head unit. When an amp comes up I'll buy one and get the stuff to run an amp. Or I will buy subs and when Bones gets the chance, he'll finish my box. And I'll pay him for that...then I'll get amps or amp to run those...and yeh, eventually it'll be done. I just want to plan it right.

And unless I find a briefcase with a billion dollars in it, there's gonna be no ps2, tv screen or anything like that. I dont need it.

So yeh, Hertz was the brand that came up, simply because I want to support CAA and WAD.

Thanks for reading guys and helping me out!

Buy 2 way split!!pay $500 for a 3 way and pay another 300+ fpr installation for it. u can afford a pair of dynaudio 2way split! I think both of them will sound very good(won't be a BIG different) but u can upgrade them if u are not happy with them anymore after a period(u WILL if u got $$ in yr pocket ) As u mention u got no amp at the moment, u better pay less for the speaker and keep $$ to buy yr amp.
Hertz sell a pair of split for $3XX as i remeber, pay the rest on installation and deadening(sealed the door) u will be supprise. good luck!

A 2-way system won't necessarily sound worse (or better) than a three way system, however, a poorly installed 3-way system will certaintly sound worse than a properly installed 2-way.

My advice would be to buy a good quality pair of 2-way splits. Take the time to seal and deaden your doors and make sure the mounts are good and solid. This will enable you to get the best performance from your speakers.

However, I STRONGLY suggest that, if you get a good pair of splits, that you get an amp to match them ASAP. Good splits usually require a clean, undistorted, powerful signal to drive them, they will sound poor run off a HU, in fact, they'll probably sound worse than a cheaper pair of splits run from the HU...

I have also heard mentioned that a distorted signal from a HU or poor quality amp can damage your speakers, so it will be important to not try to run the speakers too hard using the HU.

Thanks for the suggestions...I think I'll get an amp down the line and I'll live running splits off a head unit for like 2 months, I'm sure! I've been driving with a big hole in my dash since August, so yeh, amp or no amp, I'll live.

But yeh, I dont exactly want to skimp out on splits due to thinking about amplifiers.

Amps later...and I'll get ones that match the rest of the system.

Thanks for the suggestions!

i guess i can't comment fairly, coz i have not auditioned an entry level (in terms of cost, not quality) 3-way setup. i see the attraction, and no doubt the hertz setup could be excellent with the required installation.

the 'hi-energy' series 2-ways (HSK165) are very, very good; so i could only expect the 163's to be better with the addition of the midrange. my only comment is that i find the 165's to provide a nice 'listenable', warm sound, but slightly 'bloomy'; meaning the midbass is a little unnatural for my personal tastes...not the same clarity or detail as higher quality speakers. however, for everyday listening, they are excellent, cos they're so easy to listen too. whereas, audiophile splits tend to be much more revealing, which to some people, sounds too 'thin'; but the soundstaging and imaging can be superb.

what i can say, is that an audiophile set of 2-way splits can be excellent, and are within your budget. i think most people are impressed with the likes of dynaudio (in your case, you'd want to consider the system240GT set, which uses a smaller woofer basket for easier installation). equally popular are the likes of boston pros, focal utopia, etc. and the midrange will be excellent, despite lacking a dedicated midrange speaker; arguably better because of their higher overall quality (incl xover).

but as i mentioned, the sound will be different between these and the hertz hi-energy. so would be very much worth your while auditioning all your options.

good luck

Thanks Shiny!

I think the HSK 163 has the HSK165 woofer and a 4" version of it plus the tweeter, so if you say the HSK165 is good, then the 163 model will be the same + a 4" woofer.

Anyway, I'm also considering MB Quart comps...they are older, but I can get them for $500, so if they are good, I'll consider those. They are 6.5" 4" and 1" set. How are 6.5" Morel Dotechs for SQ?

Tough decisions

[ January 09, 2003, 00:16: Message edited by: Rattlehead ]

exactly! so they will be good. i used to have boston rally's, and i think they sound similar to the hertz HSK splits, with their very 'listenable' sound that would suit most peoples' taste and overall setups.

QUOTE

How are 6.5" Morel Dotechs for SQ?

i've not heard a set of dotech's, only hybrid's. but i expect the SQ to be very, very similar, which was excellent too.

none of these splits discussed are in any way bad, they are all great. so indeed the decision is difficult!