Best speakers for the money?

[Chowder Head]

What's the best speakers I can get for around 150-160 a pair, tops?

I was looking at these at they don't seem too shabby.
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-3lWbBwHgUOH/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=52200&I=158XSV6841
What really stands out is the fact that they are 4-way.  And the RMS is pretty up there too.

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-3lWbBwHgUOH/cgi-bin/ProdGroup.asp?v=9252&a=1&g=52200&l=C
This is the list of speakers that could fit my car, do you guys see something else that looks really good?  Better then the one I orginally posted a link for?




Thanks everyone.

[BetterDays]

What kind of music do you listen to?
Manilow or Metallica?
Sinatra or Snoop Dogg?

all or none of the above?

[Chowder Head]

I listen to everything, but I do find myself listening to music that is loud and has bass more often then not.

[BetterDays]

I listen to everything, but I do find myself listening to music that is loud and has bass more often then not.

Define Loud (metal, rock) and define bass (bass guitar, drum bass, bass tracks from Rap)

[Chowder Head]

I listen to everything, but I do find myself listening to music that is loud and has bass more often then not.

Define Loud (metal, rock) and define bass (bass guitar, drum bass, bass tracks from Rap)

Loud - Rock
Bass - All of the above

[BetterDays]

Are you planning to run any amps or subs?

[Chowder Head]

Are you planning to run any amps or subs?

Yes, later on though.

[BetterDays]

Based on this...

Nice 3-4 way up front, 3 way in the back.

Polk and Infinity have great high's for the front.
For the backs, I would say check out your local shops (best buy, circuit city, car audio shops) and listen to speakers.

Get a better speaker so that you can add an amp later on...

My last set up was 4 x 100 for the interior speakers, 2 x 450 for the subs.  Nothing too major.

[Chowder Head]

Nice 3-4 way up front, 3 way in the back.

Polk and Infinity have great high's for the front.

Now is there a specific reason there should be a 3 way in the back?  I don't doubt what you're saying, it's just I don't really understand why.

But what do you think of the speakers I suggested?  And is there a major differnece between 3 and 4 way speakers?  I know the 4-way has an additional midrange or an additional tweeter, but is there really a sound difference?

Thanks for the help so far man, I appreciate it.

[BetterDays]

What kind of car is this going in?

Personally, I would normally just run a 2way in back, but you seemed hesitant so I mentioned a 3way.

Sony's aren't bad, just never been a huge fan of them.
Pioneer are good in my opinion, but I also like the Infinity and Polk set ups.  Even with they basic 2 way, they normally sound great.

Check out some stores and take a listen.  Also, check out the local shops that do stereo installs.  Normally, they can give you a good price installed, in case you don't want to screw with the install.

[Chowder Head]

What kind of car is this going in?

Personally, I would normally just run a 2way in back, but you seemed hesitant so I mentioned a 3way.

Sony's aren't bad, just never been a huge fan of them.
Pioneer are good in my opinion, but I also like the Infinity and Polk set ups.  Even with they basic 2 way, they normally sound great.

Check out some stores and take a listen.  Also, check out the local shops that do stereo installs.  Normally, they can give you a good price installed, in case you don't want to screw with the install.

My 95 Gt, which has the Mach 460 unit.

And I heard that you have to use the same brand of speakers for the front and back or else they will sound lilke crap.  Is that true?

And which frgures are the ones to look at performance wise?  Sensitivity, Frequency Response and RMS Power Range?

[BetterDays]

I have always used different front and back to get different frequency responses.  Some highs are better, some mids are better, some lows are better.

RMS is for when you add an amp (how much power it can handle)


Sensitivity is measured in decibels. The higher the number, the louder it is.   Every 3 decibels is twice the volume per the same wattage.
So, a 4 ohm 100 watt speaker 93 decibel speaker is twice as loud as a 4 ohm 100 watt 90 decibel speaker.

Frequency response is what range the speaker can simulate.  Low is bass, high is, well, highs.

With the Mach 460, it should already be amplified.  Based on that, I would go with a speaker that has a good RMS rating.  Next, would be the sensitivity.

[Bwhitty799]

i've used rockford fosgate on mine and i think they sound great

[quake101]

I like these....
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-QkzsXMIT2pn/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=52200&I=130TSA6880

[Chowder Head]

Alright, I found something odd.

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-RMl1ujUJkuK/cgi-bin/Prodview.asp?g=51900&i=1086827CF
It says these speakers are 5X7/6X8 and it doesn't "fit" my car.  What gives?
 

And quake, have you heard those speakers you suggested in person?  Any problemes with them?

[Chowder Head]

One more thing.

What does "3/4" Dome" mean?  It's 75% a dome?  And what about speakers that have "Dome X 2" Does that mean they have 2 domes?

[Blown 89]

4 way speakers are a marketing joke, don't waste your money
Get a 6.5"  component set and use an adapter, they'll blow 6x8's and any #-way speaker out of the water
Those speakers might not fit because they are to deep
If you buy from crutchfield I will kick you square in the nuts
Components are expensive as hell so you need to be patient and wait for a good deal
Listen to the speaker before you buy them.  Audio preferences are very subjective.
Don't be afraid to look off the beaten brand name path for speakers.  CDT, Rainbow, Focal, Canton, etc make very good speakers at reasonable prices.
Hit the car audio forums and look for deals, prices, and oppinions on stuff.  When I want performace advice I hit car forums, computer advice to computer forums, and audio advice to audio forums. 

[Chowder Head]

4 way speakers are a marketing joke, don't waste your money
Get a 6.5"  component set and use an adapter, they'll blow 6x8's and any #-way speaker out of the water
Those speakers might not fit because they are to deep
If you buy from crutchfield I will kick you square in the nuts
Components are expensive as hell so you need to be patient and wait for a good deal
Listen to the speaker before you buy them.  Audio preferences are very subjective.
Don't be afraid to look off the beaten brand name path for speakers.  CDT, Rainbow, Focal, Canton, etc make very good speakers at reasonable prices.
Hit the car audio forums and look for deals, prices, and oppinions on stuff.  When I want performace advice I hit car forums, computer advice to computer forums, and audio advice to audio forums. 

Not much of a sound differnence between 2 and 4 way speakers then?

About the component speaker, any one brand you reccomend?  How does this one look? http://www.crutchfield.com/S-zGN1rjqIeys/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=400&id=essential_info&i=108507CS

What other websites are out there that would aid me in my car audio quest?

Another thing I've heard around but not to sure if it's correct is that when you look at a speakers freq., the higher the first number, the better highs is plays.  Is that true or completely wrong?

Thanks all for the help, I really appreciate it.

[Blown 89]

Not much of a sound differnence between 2 and 4 way speakers then?

I don't think so.  4 and 5 way speaker are nothing more than a marketing tool toward noobs.  Like I said before, a good set of components will make
a good set coax's sound like a wet fart every time.  The thing to keep in mind though is that setup is everything.  If you hobnob the best speakers and amps together they will sound like ass but if you properly plan out mediocre parts they will sound awesome.  Take the time to plan ahead a little bit and you'll be much more satisfied in the long run.

About the component speaker, any one brand you reccomend? How does this one look? http://www.crutchfield.com/S-zGN1rjqIeys/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=400&id=essential_info&i=108507CS

I've never heard those so I couldn't say one thing or another about them.  You need to listen to each speaker to find out what sounds best to you.  Brands?  CDT, Focal, Rainbow, A/D/S, DLS.....there are a lot of "off the beaten path" brands that sound much better than Sony, Pioneer, Kenwood, etc. 

What other websites are out there that would aid me in my car audio quest?

www.sounddomain.com has some forums (don't buy from them) that have links to resalers on the net and some good info from time to time.  www.carstereo.com www.caraudioforums.com  Just hit google and see what comes up.  I really can't point you in one direction or another here because I got forumed out a long time ago.....audio forums tend to be really really repetative.

Another thing I've heard around but not to sure if it's correct is that when you look at a speakers freq., the higher the first number, the better highs is plays. Is that true or completely wrong?

http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/34579/131062.html

[Chowder Head]

Now is a 6.5" component set the only size that will fit in my car?  And should I get components for the front and the back? 
And ths adapter you were talking about.  Is this is?  http://www.crutchfield.com/S-b2SoB55wvYW/cgi-bin/prodview.asp?i=142C4FDK5

Would you happen to have specific part numbers to speakers that are worth checking out? 
I'm still somewhat new to this audio thing, as you can see.  Thanks for all the help.

[Bwhitty799]

yeah mike that is the adapter you need

[Chowder Head]

I'd like to thank you John for steering me in the right direction.

I'm now strongly considering a pair of DLS Iridium 6.5" component speakers.  I've heard multiple people say that it is the best sounding speaker they ever heard and I can get a set for only 475 shipped.

Just need to find a high end amp to make these speakers oh so sweet.

[Bwhitty799]

I'd like to thank you John for steering me in the right direction.

I'm now strongly considering a pair of DLS Iridium 6.5" component speakers. I've heard multiple people say that it is the best sounding speaker they ever heard and I can get a set for only 475 shipped.

Just need to find a high end amp to make these speakers oh so sweet.

475 for speakers, is this 2???

[Chowder Head]

Yep, 2 speakers.

[Bwhitty799]

Yep, 2 speakers.

i would invest 500 in something else other than speakers

i personally think my car sound good, and my friends say so with rockford fosgate speakers, i think i spent a total for 6 speaker 300

[Blown 89]

DLS' are supposed to be pretty nice but that's a lot of money IMO.  If you were to set up a cheaper system properly I don't think you'd notice the difference.  I got my components and amp for $500 with a little bit of shopping.  As an entry level system that's a tad overkill IMO.

[Chowder Head]

What components and amps do you use?

And could you list any cons?
Thanks man.

[87cobra]

look into alpline type s just installed them in my other car they cost me 100$ canadian and have amazing clarity..i am also amplified but they work well with stock systems too ..rockford is not too bad but does not tend to stand up for a large amount of time..infinity is ok a bit overrated ...sony is garbage though they will blow in a few months and the power ratings are no where close to what they actually handle which is a fraction of what they say it is

[Mr. White]

Check out the Craig line at Wal Mart.

Anything named Craig will be of the highest imaginable quality.

[Arrgorndenethor]

I use alpine type R compents in my 96 gt powered by a 320 4 channel kenwood amp, it sounds great, but i'm just lacking bass.  i spend about 300 dollars for the speakers, the amp was and X-mas present from a few years ago, and i just replaced my head unit with an Alpine CDA 9883 unit.  the clarity is very high, sounds great, now i just need a sub. Any of you know where i can get a box for a single 12 inch woofer or dual 10s?  i got a rockford punch 1001 bd amp just sitting in my house along with 2 10 in woofers, but i can't seem to locate a box for the mustang.