i need some input on which manufacturer you guys would prefer...i plan on gettin two sets of 6.5 components for my p5 replacing my fosgate fanatic p's...im either considering mb quarts psd 216 or the q series or the diamond audio m6 series or hex series...thanks

 

I'am a little bias to the Diamond Audio. Although MB Quart do make some of the best speakers in the market. I currently have a set of Diamond Hex with the titanium tweeters. The reason I went for this is because this midrange can really pound the upper midbass frequencies, compared to the Quart that is really a good midrange speaker. On the rear I have a set of Diamond M3 coaxials. All driven by a Diamond 7056 6/ch amplifier. Sorry, no pics.

 

if you go with the diamond audio you'll get a lot better midrange response and alot smoother tweeter. If you like to listen you your music with tweeters that will bleed your ears go with the mb quarts. I personaly like the diamonds,it's probably cause i work in a car stereo shop that sells em. Buy the diamonds.

 

Although Mb quart make some good components Diamond is about the best in the market right now. My cousin has diamonds and the sound amazing. Ive never heard a better sounding pair of speakers. Pricey but well worth it.

 

I was actualy advised by a diamond dealer to aviod them. He mentioned the cones of the mids will actualy spider crack if they bottom out or something hits them. Also I never liked diamonds sound, they are way to dull. They don't express any detail or ambiance and have basicly no highs. Quart is definitly the way to go.

 

depends on which u like

u really should audition speakers before u spend that much

if not the specific models, then at least go audition some various speakers to see if u like warmth more or harsh highs...see if u like silk or titanium tweets, etc


both of those speakers are good, but most find the mb quarts too harsh...the diamonds are more laid back but still detailed

other brands to look at/audition if u can are focal, rainbow, cdt, a/d/s, crystal, adire kodas (especially if mounting in door, not kicks, cause they are made for the off-axis response u get from door speakers not aimed at you), cadence neos, and jl xrs

if u know of some speakers u've heard and u can tell us the speakers and ur preferences between em or what u liked/didn't like about different speakers, maybe we can help guide u to which models u'll most likely like/not like

i don't think u'd be disappointed with the quality of any of the speakers i mentioned, but u may prefer some's sounds over others

btw, u are getting 6.5" comps, right? u don't wanna go with any smaller, as they'll lack the midbass....u really want ur comps to be able to be xovered at 50-60hz so that ur sub only has to do sub-60hz frequencies...cause after around 60hz, music is localizable to ur ears, so it'll start to sound like the bass is coming from the trunk, not in front of u


and u only need one set....rear speakers are redundant and hurt ur sound quality

 

thanks for your guys' inputs...ive had mb quarts coaxials with their 1.5 inch tweeters and i liked em, but that was like 5 years ago when i really wanted high highs...right now i think im lookin at detail and just overall good sound, i know with the mb's ill get good sound, but ill get the piercing highs...i have never heard of diamonds and everyone i talk to, recommends diamonds...i work at best buy car fi dept and asked the installers...also, my two buddies that have very high end cars (sick *** 01 mbz c and an 03 bmw m3) and they both have mb quart q series, very nice but i wasnt impressed for the how much those mb's are goin for...as for the other you guys mentioned, ive only heard of focal or a/d/s, jl xrs...

 

Focal didn't impess me at all and are alot like quart but I only hear the 6.5"s Utopia, polykevlar and poly glass. I liked the polyglass alot at low volume but they broke up quickly when pussed. ADS and the JL VR series speakers have silk tweeters so its a much milder sound. Jl in general is much milder then quart.

 

I have the opposite opinions! I love the sound of focals, and have them in both of my cars, and will install in the new mazdaspeed. Quart and diamond are excellent products. It this for listening or competition? Just curious, as these are argued to be the "big three" of SQ competition. I would as always suggest you take the time to audition the sound of each, and then decide which your ears like the best. Judges may have opinions of what they think are the best, but you will be living with the car, so make your ears happy!

 

And thus the problems with speakers are revealed. No 2 people will always like the same speakers.

Dave I unfortunily only had a long time to listen to focals on a sound board in which there were 3sets of 6.5" components. I have auditioned them in cars before but they were backed up by 1/3 octive EQs and some bitchin crossovers so it wasn't exactly the focals I was hearing. When you chose the focal how did you compare them. I loved the polyglass but they distorted way to early. The kevlars lacked smoothness, seemed to be good lows, especialy midbass and highs but the middle was lacking like they were muffled. The Utopias were harsh highs and nice mids but not enough midbass but they did hold up the best under hard intense music.

I used Janet Jackson's Velvet rope for the first set of testing. Then I moved to fear factory. Next up was Slipknot. Lastly I used Some reference material. The above was my final results of the auditioning.

How much different do you find focals to sound in cars in kick panels as compared to on sound boards. Obviously every speaker sounds different but some have definite increases. For example BA Pro components lack midbass on boards but they smack like crazy in a car.

 

Hey how are you tonight? My daugther has a freind over and they are watching christmas movies, and I actually have some internet time

I agree with you quite a bit- I have always found boards to be a less than ideal way to listen to speakers, they always end up sounding different when actually intalled. Home audio is much easier to audition, as the box (speaker cabinet is a controled enviorment, and you can modify a room at home by moving stuff around to get closer to the sound of the system at the store. The best audio stores will have an audition at home policy anyway, where you can take speakers home and try them in your enviorment to see how they sound. Within limits you can return them (no keg parties and then returns allowed) No such luck with a car interior or car speakers though eh?
I have used quite a few focals in the past four years, zephers, boras, and now the kevlars and the utopias. My choice of them is based a good deal on what I heard when judging car systems. I heard a lot of set ups, but the focal based systems appealed to my own sense of hearing the most. To my ears, quarts have nice lower end and mids, but I found the highs to be lacking. I have been lucky to get the opprotunity to hear a lot of other folks sound systems after they have worked hard to tune them for competition.
I also have the luxury of having that spare car around- the Sentra is my car audio testbed. I know you are aware, I have a pretty nice shop behind the house, and I trade hardware in and out as part of my hobby of car audio. Right now I have six head units setting out there, five different subs, nine sets of speakers, and more amps than I can recall off the top of my head! I will play with one, and then sell it to a friend when we do a nice install on their car. I don't do any commercial work, although I have a friend with a shop who uses my shop when his bays are overflowing. The shop is just the place for me and my daughter to do our hobby.
The Sentra we use as our audio car has a set of kickpanels that can be taken out in about five minutes each, and I have more than one set of kicks built for the car (I am giving away my secrets now!) that allow me to mount up different speakers and test them them out pretty quickly. If you ever do yourself a good set of kicks, do at least two pair if not more, you won't be sorry!
Our taste in music varies a bit. I like jazz, classical, classic rock and acoustic sets. I do have some tracks I use on a regular basis, some Alan Parsons, some Bonnie Raitt, and a couple of classical pieces with a emphsis on strings. I focus on higher frequency sounds as they are much more directional and play a vital aspect in SQ setups. I am looking for the paltform of sound, from outside the windows on eash side (acoustically anyway ) clear across the interior at at least dash height with a sense of distinct left right center and depth. All of that lends itself to emphsis on mids and highs, which is the strong point imho of focals.
I would also agree with you on another point- how the signals are processed on a board can be night and day from the real install itself. I find most all car passive crossovers to be pretty simple devices, and a active crossover of some nature will allow you to modify the sound closer to what you want. I like the old P1R and the new DEQ P-9 units for the crossover systems in them just for that reason.
MP3, I don't know if I have even answered your question!
Soundboards- BAD!! Test in a car- GOOD!!
I really feel the sound of speakers is tremendoulsy subjective. What I might like is not what others will like. In the home theater here in the house I have Klipsch speakers, the classic series with straight horns. While I feel they are ideal for movie sound, folks seem to either love or hate the sound of a compression horn! It is what you like to hear.
Quarts would not be the big seller they are if everyone hear them the way I do, and I figure that is good for them, and me!
Sorry to drag on so long- as I said, I just got a rare chance to do so this evening!

 

Your music choices actualy seem to favor most high level speakers desing. Mine music is of coarse some what condradictory of what high line speakers are all about.

I need a set that can absolutely slam through most of the frequency range. THats why I am most likely doing the dual 6.5" drivers in each door for just midbass. I need something to play loud and handle distortion. Kind of an odd task to desire form a speaker, especialy someon that likes SQ. THe problem is I like SQ but with really loud angry music. I still have yet to hea the new Alpine flagsips which I hear can take a beating. Also my buddy that just bought my 4 8W3 subs has BA PRos and they are nuts! I haven't heard them before like that. Now I am thinking BA Z6's if I can get on the BA tour.

I think we need a new sound arena. SPL-Q. It has to hit 135 db and sound as clear as possible the whole way. Instead of Cheffield Labs we'll use Mudvayne.

 

if u want speakers that won't break up with volume, then try out the crystals...these speakers will not distort, and they sound crystal clear all the way throughout...i can play 50hz test tones with em at insane volumes and not distort

they also have mountin rings that adjust so u can aim the mid up in door applications...this means no off-axis response like 99% of in-door installs

 

What series are the crystals you are talking about and what is the retail price?

 

csc60t or csc60s depending on if u want silk or titanium

they retail for 375ish, but sounddomain.com, an authorized dealer, usually carries em for around 150-200...they were 130 when i got em last summer, tho