Tweeter, JL, and Focal - Your thoughts...

[Barknard]

I recently went to Tweeter audio, I'm an East coasty , to look at some new audio stuffs for my car. I have the stock Bose system right now and i'm looking to start replacing / upgrading it in the very near future. )The first step is some subs) While at Tweeter the audio guy showed me around what he thought was good and bad. I specifically asked to look at RF stuff, but they don't carry. I was a little pissed cause they come so highly recommended here! Though they will do install from outside parts... Anyway, they did have JL subs. They sounded pretty good! But then again, they were the best they had to offer, so i had nothing better to compare. The guy also suggested two subs instead of one to get those quick hard beats. Is this accurate and are JL worth the time and money? Also, the best speakers they had were Focal. I was looking at the ones that were $300 and component. They were awesome when compared to what i was used to hearing. I could hear the highs sooooo well! What are y'alls opinion on Focal?

Also, anyone used Tweeter before? How did you like their install, service, etc...

I really appreciate any thoughts or comments. You guys know your stuff really well! I grovel at your knees!

Thanks!

[Infantry1327]

I really like JL, they hit really well and are well made. The w6's are amazing, but what I have been hearing from some of the experts on hear is that they are over priced. I have been having kind of the same delema as you exept a little more in depth. I dont really know anything about focal, sorry.

Check out this thread and maybe it will help, also post some sub and amp questions on there, they really know there stuff. Just be specific on what exactly you are looking for, and research some audio forums and get some models that you like.

[AppleBonker]

I recently went to Tweeter audio, I'm an East coasty , to look at some new audio stuffs for my car. I have the stock Bose system right now and i'm looking to start replacing / upgrading it in the very near future. )The first step is some subs) While at Tweeter the audio guy showed me around what he thought was good and bad. I specifically asked to look at RF stuff, but they don't carry. I was a little pissed cause they come so highly recommended here! Though they will do install from outside parts... Anyway, they did have JL subs. They sounded pretty good! But then again, they were the best they had to offer, so i had nothing better to compare. The guy also suggested two subs instead of one to get those quick hard beats. Is this accurate and are JL worth the time and money? Also, the best speakers they had were Focal. I was looking at the ones that were $300 and component. They were awesome when compared to what i was used to hearing. I could hear the highs sooooo well! What are y'alls opinion on Focal?

Also, anyone used Tweeter before? How did you like their install, service, etc...

I really appreciate any thoughts or comments. You guys know your stuff really well! I grovel at your knees!

Thanks!

Ok, lots of questions here. First, Tweeter is similar to a number of other big box stores. They tend to only carry names that the average person would know (Focal is a stretch). JL is very well know in the mobile audio community and somewhat respected. They make a quality product, but most would argue that it is overpriced. It's not overpriced in terms of what the market will bear (since they obviously sell quite well), but it is overpriced in terms of what you get for you money. For easily less money, you could end up with an equivalent or better product. It all depends on what you're looking for. If you want to impress your friends with how much money you spent, JL is good. If you want good audio and to save a buck or two, something else is probably better.

Now, two subs versus one. Interesting opinion from the dealer. I can't think of a situation where two subs would sound cleaner than one sub (assuming we're talking about all the same subs here). If you're looking for quick response and clean/tight bass, a 10" sub will be better than a 12" or 15" (you'd have to work hard to fit a 15 in our car). The benefit of going with two subs is doubling up the cone area, so volume increases dramatically. I like my music (and bass) loud, but I didn't want to sacrifice my whole trunk. That's why I chose the sub I did. It cost a lot, but it hits loud and is ridiculously clean. I could've easily gotten as loud on less money with two lesser subs (might not have been as clean) and I would've lost my whole trunk. So, this really depends on what you're looking for. Do you want insanely loud, or clean bass?

As far as install goes, you'd have to check reviews from your area. The tweeter that I've used before used to have an awesome fiberglass specialist. So it really all depends on the particular store. Some will be good, and some will likely be bad. And I believe Infantry didn't post the link, but the discussion about his system is here.

[rjdmmfl1]

First, FOCAL makes great speakers.... top notch A quality... but so is the price! Their top of the line stuff runs like $3000

Second, JL is good... for what you want, I would ay two W3's would be nice. Also, what Applebonker didn't tell you is that if you want tight bass, you need a 10" in a SEALED BOX... sealed boxes give you tighter bass... ported boxes give you more boom!

TWEETER IS WAAAYYYY OVERPRICED..... trhey went out of business here on the West coast, and with the economy like it is, they will soon be going out of business on the east coast. Everything there is overpriced!

[AppleBonker]

Second, JL is good... for what you want, I would ay two W3's would be nice. Also, what Applebonker didn't tell you is that if you want tight bass, you need a 10" in a SEALED BOX... sealed boxes give you tighter bass... ported boxes give you more boom!

The w6 also has good sound quality output. The w7s tend to be a bit louder and sloppier. And Doc caught me on this one, not sure how I missed it. If you want audio quality, sealed is the way to go. As mentioned above, ported can get a whole bunch louder and boomier, but sealed will keep it clean and tight. All a matter of personal preference with that one...

[Barknard]

Thanks for all the great information guys! I'm glad to hear that 2 subs really doesn't make a difference. To answer your questions, i'm def. looking for a clean bass response. Having my car crazy loud is not something i am looking into, just a nice clean thump. So, i'm taking I need a sealed box? Ideally, i'd like to use RF subs and amps for this, but can't find a shop that has them, i gotta listen before purchase.

Applebonker, i really like the location of your sub; I think i am going to copy you on that. Any special notes?

Also, could anyone recommend a respectable installer here on the east coast; preferably around North Carolina, as that's where i live. I'd love to do it myself, but i'm very clumsy when it comes to car audio. I really f'ed up my last cars install and i'm not about to make that mistake again on my new baby.

I'm glad to hear the FOCAL are good speakers, they will be the upgrade after subs and amp, only if i can't find the Doc recommended Infinity Kappas!

[AppleBonker]

Two subs will definitely get louder, but it wont make them cleaner. So if you're looking for clean, one great sub will perform better than two ok subs (at the same cost).

Sealed is definitely the way to go. When you talk to the shop you end up going with, they will understand and know the difference between the enclosure types (if not, run out the front door and don't ever look back).

As far as where my sub is at, there was only one problem with it. The bluetooth and XM boxes were right where the sub was. I completely removed the XM (since there's no way to make it work with my aftermarket setup that I know of), but I had to keep the bluetooth box connected so the steering wheel controls still work. Make sure you're shop doesn't completely remove this or you will lose that functionality (assuming you're going to get a PAC jack to control the aftermarket head unit).

Also, my trunk is a completely custom floor. Everything is mounted under the floor where a stock A/C has styrofoam. If you're not going to remove the original floor and have the shop build a completely new one, the previous paragraph is not an issue. Without removing the false floor, however, the size of the enclosure (and shape) would need to be altered from my general layout.

In terms of installers, I will be of no help on that one. I don't even know any good installers in my area (besides me of course). Read as many reviews and research as much as you can before testing out a shop. The last thing you want is someone to hurt your baby.

[rjdmmfl1]

For everyday, name brand speakers... if you don't want it really loud, but want tight clean bass in a sealed box... I say two good choices are the Rockford P3, or the JL W3... those two are pretty comparable in terms of power handling!

There are plenty of other subwoofers out there, but they are either too expensive (like Applebonker's Critcal Mass UL12) or I don't know enough about them to receommend them.. but for what you are looking for, I think two sealed W3's would be nice, or you can go with one sealed W6, and it would be really nice....

I just heard two Alpine type R subs at my custom shop yesterday and I was like...

[AppleBonker]

I just heard two Alpine type R subs at my custom shop yesterday and I was like...

Haha. But with the money you and I are willing to invest in equipment, a lot of stuff would disappoint us. The Type-R is a good sub in it's price range (much more so for SPL than SQ).

Speaking of being disappointed, I've had someone demo their "high end" stereo. It sounded... different. Then they popped the back and I saw two Alpine Type-E 12's running off a RF punch amp. It all made sense.