Crunch time is getting closer since I'll probably be getting a car this week.

Sub and sub amp is decided and bought (see sig), so now I'm looking at a front stage. Since its a 2 seater car I'm focusing purely on the front stage.

I'm considering 2-way splits, but I'm worried that I won't have a full range of sound. The sub enclosure is tuned to 35Hz. Should I aim for some 3-ways? Basically I just want a pretty balanced set-up (I know the output of the sub is far from balanced) with good SQ, but something fairly loud. I don't want to spend anymore than $1000 on the front speakers. I'm considering a CDA-9855R or DVA-9861E, using the cross-overs from these and amplifying the speakers with seperate amp. Do these two HU's have the same tunability options?

Any feedback would be sweet.

Cheers,
Luke.

1. 9861E doesn't have bass engine pro, If you buy that head unit, you will need to buy the PXA-H701 processor for it. Go for the 9855R if your on a budget.

at $1000, you most likely better off to look for $900-1200 Splits,
they will be cheaper and easier to Fit, and make sound good, you'll also get
better quality Tweeter and Crossover for the same money in splits
than in 3 ways.

Yes if done properly the 3 ways will most likely be superior, but the chances of them being able to be
installed that way is minimal.

$1000 would be the minimum you'd want to spend on a set of 3 ways, if not upwards to $2k.

A properly installed set of 2 ways should do the Job.

Personally I love my 3 ways though.

Juls

I've heard some 3 way systems with proper installs that sounded great, but i've heard some other 3 ways with really poor install and sounded alot worse than their 2 way counterparts

As Juls said a properly setup 2 way system will do the job

Did you have any speakers in mind that your looking at or still deciding whether to go 2 or 3 way?

polk signature reference, i pick mine up tommorrow,

will keep you posted...

RRP. 1500

u can get em for much cheaper though..

Thanks for the feedback guys.

Although I haven't demo'd any of these (or any others), I'm considering:

Morel Elate 6
Dyn 242 GT (if the budget allows at the time)
Focal 165K2P

I guess I won't really know until I've demo'd them all.

finally someone will own a pair, and can tell me how they sound

i like the polk too

Dyn Esotec 242

has anyone got a set of the new esotecs they wouldnt mind letting me hear???

or, any stores in melb that have them on demo???

simply, the most amazing speakers i hjave ever heard...

the tweeters, IMO are better than the original xt25's, and much smaller at that, and the woofers are incredible on midbass and such a smooth midrange,

they are real, nothing more, nothing less...

and the crossover must be seen and heard to be believed..

I'd have to suggest adding Rainbow to that list as well.

Rainbow profi vanadium kicks will be about the best u can get for 1k or a lil less and they sound stunning

I heard these on a demo board the other day. I havent heard many speakers, but these are the best Ive heard so far.

Are you going to the Christmas party tomorrow? I'd like to hear them in a car too if thats ok with you

Dave

I do believe Ram was highly competitive with his Morel speakers in the CAASQ comp. Probably the best recommendation I could make would be Elate 6 with CDM54 and MT23 - Supremo or Supremo Piccolo would not be a bad upgrade and not that far from your budget

Ram's car did sound awesome from what i have been told, but it did take alot of money (all new amps twice) changes in positioning of all the gear and processors and some sexy as hell custom passives to help fix up the morels's down falls. he did a damn good job and it finaly paid off.

The morels are a damn fine speaker and for 99% of the comunity would love them and never have an issue. but for that 1% of us that want the works i think there is to much to do to get them up there.
i saw the extent of work that went into the xover desing for Ram's car and no way in hell i could be bothered doing that!
Luckly Ram loves that stuff hehe.

where as myself i run a basic xover and pretty much no EQ. simple 2 way front stage and old amps.
equipment was around $3000 in total and well the results speak for themselves.