I've got Quarts in the Z and Focals in the Denali. No comparison. Quarts are way nice but Focals are so much better

 

Yea., It makes it even more difficult if you don't know what amp they have driving them. They'll always sound different in the car no matter what though.

Now I don't know what the best amp is for the Focals but I do know I'm driving the fronts with a JL 300/2 and it sounds unbelievable. you could push more power to them but I'm not certain that would make them any clearer. I listen to them louder than most could stand and they remain perfectly clear.

The rears (Focal Coaxals) plus sub are pushed by a 300/4. You rarely even notice the rears are their but I just felt the need to replace them. And since I was so impressed by the 165k2p's I stuck with the brand.

The Focal Utopia's do have a sligtly noticeable edge over the 165's as they should since they're a few more dollars. The difference wasn't significant enough for me to spend the extra $$.

 

I listened to some Focal K2P's right next to some MB Quart QSD's, powered by a JL 300/2, and....WOW....the MB Quarts blew them out of the water. I know you are talking about the PCE's, but just figured I'd thrown that in. The QSD's are SOOO natural sounding.

 

Was a JL 300/2 being used to drive both the focals and the MB's?

 

Yes. It was at Tweeter. We were using the same HU, same amp (300/2) and switching back and forth between the MB Quarts and the Focals. I guess Tweeter is discontinuing the MBQ line at their stores, and Focal is taking over. It was amazing how different they sounded, but even the sales guy said that he liked the MB's better. Also, They had the Boston Pro's, which I thought sounded awful compared to the other two. But that is my opinion. I really wanted to hear the Diamond Hex's compared, but they don't sell them.

 

I too, went to Tweeter and listened. Mostly to the Boston Z and the Focal 165K2P. IMO the Focal's sound was much deeper. I came away favoring them. I am leaning heavily that way.

 

LOL. It's actually fun to read everyones comments here. Everyone is different in what they like. My wife loves mid's & highs & to much bass just drives her nuts. The focals allow me to keep it pleasing to both our ears. I can even just turn off the Sub and still get some really good sound reproduction just with the focals.I can't compare to the MB's since I've not listened to them but I've heard they're very nice. I love BA and had them in my cars for years and actually wanted them for the 350 until I heard the Focals.

It's extremely difficult to make a decission listining to them out of the car. I've actually purchaced speakers (years ago) that seemed to sound best in the store but when I got them in my car they sounded like total crap. I doubt that is a problem with any of the speakers mentioned here but they will sound "different" once they're in the car.

 

That is why when I went to the shop & they mentioned that they do a custom install that sounds great in the Z with a Boston Accoustic 10" Sub in the factory location & the Focal speakers I was like ok....so I started looking arounf b/c I was kinda skeptical.

I started another thread asking about who has what subs in there car but from the sound of it, like another member stated it, is all in the "acoustic formula". I think I might have him do the Custon install with that Boston Acoustic 10"

I have a 50x4 channel Rockford pushing the MBQuarts if anyone was interested.

I had never head of Focal until I started looking into it on here....Boston Accoustic is not going to be too much bass you think....I was to hear the words when the bass hits...ya know.

 

Whatever you do, do yourself a favor and DO NOT have the sub in the stock location facing stock direction.

Nazar

 

+1 Rear facing under the rear strut brace is best in our cars.

 

what about the roadster i dont have alot of trunk space to sacrifice.....

 

With the roadster, you have to put the sub in the stock location. The trunk is too far seperated from the passenger compartment. I used a 10" JL W3v2 in a custom fiberglass enclosure that retained the factory metal mounting plate. Running 250 watt JL amp to the sub. Sounds great, fits perfectly, and not a single rattle. The bass is substantial and adequate for me. It is definitely not "monster" bass however.

 

thx thats a whole load off my back

 

I have Quarts in my Dodge Durango and am putting them in my Z. I think the Focals are good, but lack some treble. If the Quarts are too "bright", you can tone the treble down by using the three settings available on the x-over. I have the treble on the highest setting in the Dodge and at high volumes it can "hurt". In the Z, I set them to the middle setting and sounded very good when I listened to them today for the first time. You can get some excellent deals on Quarts on the internet too.