Audiophiles - Opinions and Advice Wanted on Speakers

[Sandi_k]

So Dh and I spent some time in local audio shops yesterday. I think I've narrowed my choices down, and wanted some opinions. The two finalists are both 6.5" component rounds, with 1" tweeters in the dash.

Finalist #1: MB Quart PCE-216. Very "live" sound, not too harsh on the highs, slightly more bass sound. Available online for $270, retail is $489.

Specs and Description:
? Set Includes Pair of Midranges, Pair of Tweeters and Pair of Crossovers.
? Impedance: 4 Ohms
? Frequency Response: 38 32.000
? Sensitivity: 2,0dB
? Power Range: 60-130 Watts
? Crossover Frequency: 2.500Hz
MB QUART pioneered the use of the wet powder coating (WPC) in the Q-Line mobile loudspeakers. This technique was developed by the Atomic Research facility in Germany. It is a deposition process that applies a thin coating of metal to another surface. In our application of this technology, extremely fine and absolutely pure titanium powder is applied to our polypropylene cones. This results in an increase to the cone's strength-to-weight-ratio as well as in the reduction of unwanted out-of-bandwidth harmonics and acoustical distortion.

The new Premium coaxial tweeter support allows for rapid conversion of the component speaker elements into a coaxial system. Fashioned from zinc alloy, the metal coaxial tweeter support represents a new application of our BTT technology. When inserted into the center of the driver, it effectively reduces the excess energy produced within the voice coil assembly. This new tweeter support system also offers adjustable positioning of the tweeter. Three different angles, each 45degrees apart, allows for the tweeter to be positioned for the best acoustical reflection angle based upon your specific installation needs.

Using a combination of polyamide ABS composite reinforced with extremely short glass fibers, our Premium and Reference Line baskets withstand temperature and humidity extremes with little, if any, reaction.

Finalist #2: JL Audio XR650CSi - $259 online, retail is $429
The sound on these is a little "brighter" to me. DH thinks there's some sort of boost in the 1-2Khz range that pumps it a little. Which may be good in a car stereo environment. Also has adjustable tweeter and midrange gains.

6.5" Component Speakers
2-way System:
6.5-inch (160 mm) Woofer,
1-inch (25 mm) Aluminum Dome Tweeter
70W Continuous Power Handling
Rec. Amp Power: 25 - 150 Watts
89.5 dB Efficiency @ 1W/1m
FR: 48 Hz - 25 KHz @ 3 dB

I am considering an amp, but the shop is willing to do it without one, as we used both of these speakers driven from a HU only in the shop, and they were very efficient speakers.

Which would you pick, and why?

TIA,

Sandi

[Landrover]

MB's. I'm not down with "bright" highs. Smooth, and extended, but not bright. I think that is one reason alot of people don't like the MB's as well, but they just seem more accurate to me. Not so much tizz and boom.

Besides, MB's come with a multitude of mounting opitons that makes the installation just that much easier like the coaxial mounting option that you spoke of.

[haulin79]

Out of those two choices, I would pick the JL Audio. Mainly because of their corporate stability. MB has been going through tons of changes and I don't have confidence in their quality this decade.

I recommend http://www.mpyreaudio.com/652c1.htm over both 1 and 2. It uses these http://www.mpyreaudio.com/65m0.htm midbass drivers. They use uses XBL2 motor technology.

[OneFormerTexan]

haulin79 previously said:

Out of those two choices, I would pick the JL Audio. Mainly because of their corporate stability. MB has been going through tons of changes and I don't have confidence in their quality this decade.

I recommend http://www.mpyreaudio.com/652c1.htm over both 1 and 2. It uses these http://www.mpyreaudio.com/65m0.htm midbass drivers. They use uses XBL2 motor technology.

Mpyre Audio? These look very promising... have you heard these yet? They don't have much to offer but the bang for the buck looks high...

[Sandi_k]

Landrover previously said:

MB's. I'm not down with "bright" highs. Smooth, and extended, but not bright. I think that is one reason alot of people don't like the MB's as well, but they just seem more accurate to me. Not so much tizz and boom.

Besides, MB's come with a multitude of mounting opitons that makes the installation just that much easier like the coaxial mounting option that you spoke of.

My Dh agrees with you that they're more accurate. But I like the brightness of the JL, I have to say.

What do you mean about MB having more mounting options? They're both 6.5" round, with a 1" tweeter to go in the dash. And actually, both have external crossovers that are adjustable. But the nod goes to JL, in the BOTH the tweeter and the midrange speakers have adjustability, whereas with MBQ only the tweeter does.

Am I missing something?

TIA,

Sandi

[RubiconSS]

Both speakers I have owned and enjoyed - can't go wrong. I probably respected the "Old MBQuarts"( made in Germany) vs the new iteration. Still great speakers.

[mungk]

MB's are nice but if you want real audiophile quality i'd go with some Rainbow Profi or CDT eurosports.

[Landrover]

Sandi_k previously said:

My Dh agrees with you that they're more accurate. But I like the brightness of the JL, I have to say.

What do you mean about MB having more mounting options? They're both 6.5" round, with a 1" tweeter to go in the dash. And actually, both have external crossovers that are adjustable. But the nod goes to JL, in the BOTH the tweeter and the midrange speakers have adjustability, whereas with MBQ only the tweeter does.

Am I missing something?

TIA,

Sandi

If you look at pages 5, 7, and 8 of the installation PDF you'll notice many different mounting options for both the woofer and tweeter.

http://www.mbquart.de/all/downloads/...ngen/q_216.pdf

You can also turn this two way into a three way system at any time with the addition of another driver to use as the midrange as the crossover will accept another speaker.

When it comes right down to it, specs be damed and you have to let your ear be the judge. Score one for JL.

Me....well we can all dream can't we?

Focal

[jt's cruiser]

An amp would make a day and night difference. I mean HUGE, did you listend to the 2 speakers with and without an amp?
The power coming off of the factory radio, or any radio will really not do those speakers justice.
I ran the PCE216 in my previous vehicle, and and the QSC216/PCE216 now. They are a little bright for some people. I do think that the PCEs, depsite not being cheap, are probably the best all around "value" speakers out there. You get more performance/$ out of those than pretty much any speaker.
The crossover will have a setting to reduce the brightness of the tweeter by as much as 6db i believe, and you will probably want to tune the tweeters down if you don't like them brigther. I find the JL to be a little flatter, but that's just my opinion.

But again, not sure about budget etc.... but i think that to a certain degree you are doing a disservice by not getting an amp, even something like a little Alpine mrpf250 will make a significant diference in headroom and in dynamic range.

[Sandi_k]

I listened to these speakers without any more than the head unit in the store. The one flaw I noticed (if you can call it that) was that in older analog recordings from the 60's, there was some noise. However, I'm old enough to find the noise a little charming. They sounded awesome w/o an amp, and we cranked up Nirvana to levels I'm unlikely to ever use on the road.

People keep saying I *need* an amp to "do them justice." But if I never turn it up over 30 on the current HU, and I'm happy with the brightness, power and clarity with the stock HU, why WOULDN'T I do the initial install with just the HU? It's not like I can't add it after the fact, for no real penalty.

But if I'm OK with unamped, I save $500. What's the downside, other than 2 possible weeks where I say "d*mn! SHould have added the amp up front?!"

Sandi