Anyone using Focal components in factory locations??... and a mini rant.

I am seriously thinkig about going with Focal components in the factory location due to the lack of alternatives I can listen to. I have considered everything from going full active 3 way with A pillar pods to just components with passives in the doors. I do NOT want kick pods. Passengers will ruin them. FWIW I am cosidering the 165K (old) or 165 KR (new). Anyone happen have these and can give a review... better yet anyone have a set in Houston I can hear lol?

A few years ago Digital Designs was going to sell Kar Desgins A pillar pods with custom speakers installed but it seems like that never materialised and Kar Designs went out of business. They were only like $330 a set and I would have gone active to get that set up but I am not really willing to go with a 3 way active set and have to pay for custom pods, extra amps, buying speakers, etc. Just too much money and hassle. Those were cool looking though and cheap for what you were getting. Localy I am getting quotes of $400 for wrapped A pillar pods with NO speakers. Picks of the never to be had DD A pillars.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e104/VereChronicus/PICT0182.jpg
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e104/VereChronicus/PICT0184.jpg

I have a good deal on a JL HD900/5 from an authorised dealer so that is what I want to use for amplification. I wish there was somthing to listen to in Houston other than Focal or sub $200 components but it looks like the economy just killed the local car audio shops around here. Noone willing to put up any high dollar speakers because noone buys them.

 

Guess noone is using Focal. Auditioned the entire Polyglass series yesterday and they all sounded washed out at moderately high listening levels vs JL C5 components (which I found just OK). The entry level Focal is especially horrible. Upside the JL HD amps were fantastic and I finally know that a single HD 900/5 is an excellent sound quality amp. Got to audition the JL 13TW5 and it was VERY clear, not as loud as I thought it would be and did not do 20-40 HZ well at all but was VERY clear and amazing for such a small enclosure. Still need to go back and A/B JL C5 vs K2 series Focals again.

 

So what are you planning on going with now? The HD amps are great especially the 900/5. I am not a fan of the shallow subs. They sound aiight but subs needs room to breath.

 

I still dont know. Nothing jumps out at me. All I know for sure is the Kenwood DNX9960 and the JL HD900/5 everything else is up in the air. If I could actually HEAR things this whole process would be simple and take a day or two at the most. I have found READING about components is about 20X less usefull than LISTENING to them.

Id like to try all kinds of stuff... JL ZR components, Diamond, Rainbow, Dynaudio, Hertz, etc but I dont see it happening. Noone has these available to listen to in Houston. Everyone has Polk db components or coax and crap like that. Maybe some $100 Kenwod/Pioneer/Infinity generic bottom of the barrel crap. Yeah... noone needs to listen to that to know what it sounds like... it all sounds like garbage. Why even put it on the sound board? People buy that stuff based off price alone.

I have learned the RF Prime and Punch subs pretty much suck when pushed hard. They make all kinds of racket when pushed. They rattle, buffet, and generally sound like garbage.

 

focals are great no matter what price range your looking in. I know you said you don't want kicks but you get alot better sound of of them and q logics roll in around 150- a set which would save you 250- from the a-pillar pods. A pillars always seem to harsh for me, placement is too high for the tweeters and anything over 2.5" speakers looks hideous imho

 

I just purchased 6.5" Hertz Hi Energy components and coaxial. They sound solid. I've heard them all Focal access, Poly glass, Hybrid and Polk. Almost went with Focal Poly glass but was convinced other wise. Dealer told me not to bother with Focal unless u spend over 1500.00 which will get u the K2 anything lower then that Hertz hands down!!

 

Focal I have heard... soundboard but not in a truck. Access... all garbage. Polyglass, little harsh and washed out soundung, especially at high volume. I prefered JL C5 90% of the time. I preffered the K2 series to JL C5 most of the time. K2 is not $1500... more like $500-600 to get in on 2 way 6.5" component.

 

Just saw this... I am running a set of Focal components in the stock location. Not sound deadened at all right now, but needs to be done.

I can't remember what version of the Focals that I have as I bought them about 7-8 years ago. If I recall correctly though, I think they are the K2s. They are not the Polyglass one's and I think they are (were??) the mid-level Kevlar coned model.

I live in Pearland, but work over by Reliant Stadium. Let me know if you want more info, or to hear them.

 

this works realy well for me
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/audio-video/60944-heres-my-system.html

 

Been able to check out any of the Hybrid Audio stuff?