Just got my '03 Protege5 in Black Mica! It is, by far, the best car I've owned! Ok, now that I've gotten that outta the way.

Question: I definitely want to upgrade the stereo. I have to do this steps at a time because I don't have all the funds, but first things first are the speakers. I'm planning on getting 6.5" comps up front with 6.5" coaxials in the back, and for now, running them off of a Kenwood KDC-MP922 head unit. I just don't know what to get.

In the past, I've had MB Quarts and Pioneer REVs. The Quarts were good, though the tweeters were a little harsh. My ears have grown a little sensitive to the metal tweeters out there. The Pioneer REVs were actually quite nice, but there was something about the sound...the only way I can put it is that it didn't have too many "natural" characteristics (am I making sense)? At times there would be a "synthesized" quality to it.

What I'm looking at now are the Infinity Kappa 60.5cs and the Polk EX3560. I've heard numerous accounts on how nice the Infinitys were, but have heard VERY little on the Polks. Anyone out there with any opinions? I can get great deals on the two I'm considering, and I don't want to spend too much.

How are Polks compared to Infinity Kappas? How's that Infinity tweeter? Any information would be greatly appreciated, and sorry for the long post...haha

 

I have now owned both Infinity Kappa speakers and Polk speakers. I did not care for the sound from the Infinity tweeters... to bright for my tastes.

 

I'm actually going do the same real soon.. I'll be using Infinity everywhere. The fronts will be Kappa 60.5's .. and the rears will be the 62.5 2-way coaxials... then a 12" or a 10" Kappa Perfect sub.

 

I have the Polk Audio EX3560's in my rears and I think you will like them. Polk knows what they are doing when it comes to speakers. The tweeters are nice and even (not to bright, but not dull). I think the Infinity Comp. have a little more midrange to them though but I agree on their tweeters being too bright. Either way though both companies make excellent speakers.

 

I would say that the Infinity 605cs is a GREAT comp set for the money. I owned the exact same set, and loved them. I damaged the woofers accidentally, and replaced them with something else - but now I am looking to get the originals again!

The 605cs set has a nice high efficiency rating - meaning that without an amp, you will still get decent volume from the using only deck power. And, they will take up to 90 watts RMS, so once you do get an amp, you won't need to swap speakers again - BIG plus, in my book.

I have no experience with the Polks - but I can speak very highly of the Infinity's. The Infinity tweeters can be toned down by using the -3dB output on the crossover, if you like. But I never found mine to be too bright - I luv 'em!

~HH