Question about focals and components?

[AlienInv8r]

Well, I can never seem to keep my attention in one area of the car (i.e.-buy performance parts that just sit in my room), so lately I've been wanting to get some nice components for my front speakers in my car. So my questions are as follows:
1) I've been hearing Focals all over the place as some crazy nice speakers, but I can't afford their utopia line. How does their access and lower end lines sound? Are they still really good quality, or is there something better for the price? I'm aiming to spend around $150-200, but just pricing around for now. And also, what's the cheapest place for focals? eBay?
2) Will I need an amp for the speakers, or will the headunit suffice for powering them? I have a Sony CDX-M670 HU that has a 52x4 output. I currently have some off-brand sub and amp. I think the sub is a 10" Zeuz sub(400w) and a 600w amp (can't remember the brand).

Anyhow, I guess I'm just lookin for some more quality sound from the front and one of my tweeters is also broken so I may as well go for the whole front set up. Thanks guys!

[LARRYfireBIRD33]

Focal makes quality speakers all the way down their lines. Right now their 165 V2 is on ebay for $204.00 and their 165 A (access line) is there for $164.00 . The thing with Focal is that their speakers/tweeters are very bright. If you don't like to here a 'class' sound like 'classsssssss', then these are not for you. You may want to look on thezeb.com at their deal on CDT components. Their classic line is only $149.99 right now, which is a steal from $309. These are much more laid back but still sound really good. Neither one will require an outboard amp, but will sound better with one.

[AlienInv8r]

Cool deal, I saw the link to the CDT's a few posts down and looked at them too. They were actually second on my list after those reccomendations. A friend of mine told me to look into Type-R's also, are they in the same level as the CDT's and lower Focal's? I guess I'm just weighing my options right now, as I just want something that isn't so blah sounding up front.

[LARRYfireBIRD33]

The type R's are good speakers, but IMO they are 1/2 step to 1 step down from the other options.

[Freeser]

I will second Larry's opinion on the alpine's...yes they are a nice speaker but definiatly a step down IMHO. as for those CDT's :eek: that's a hell of a deal for some nice components (just cause the red wasn't bright enough :rolleyes: ) Also the entry level Focals do have very bright tweeters but the upper end ones are actually real nice sounding IMO.

Matt

[AlienInv8r]

Based on all of your reactions lately, I think y'all are really talkin me into those CDT's. How much would it cost to have the proper amp for those? Like what brand and wattage/ohm stuff would I need? I know nothing when it comes to matching stereo stuff, so I really appreciate your all's input.

[MrCoffee]

go to fbodyaudio.com they can answer all your focal questions. There's like 3 or 4 top guys over there that are die hard focal fans. I've never heard them but I'm with you, they're a little too rich for my blood. I've been thinking about some of the Memphis line. MAS right off Rt 1 (near opitz blvd, across from the taco bell and checkers) sells them.

[LARRYfireBIRD33]

One of my friends has the CDT classics (CL-61a's) and he's running them off a Clarion APX 201.2. It's only 50x2, but they sound terrific. You could go with a bigger amp, maybe a 75x2 b/c CDTs website says they can handle 90 watts continuous. The 201.2 should run about $140 shipped on ebay.

[AlienInv8r]

I briefly browsed thru the fbodyaudio forum. Didnt get to go in depth on it yet though. I wish I was still back home, then I would just hop over to MAS or a few shops out in manassas. Down here at VT we've got like nothing, so I'm stuck doing everything without actually hearing them.
You're saying go with a 50x2, 70x2, etc amp; Could I get a 4-channel amp so that maybe sometime in the future if I want new backseat speakers too I'll be able to? Like don't people put a midbass or something back there? Sorry for all the randomness in the questions. I keep reading about people doing this and that with their systems, but never really know the specs behind any of it.

[black cali v6]

i have focal polykevlars (165K's) and LOVE them. utopia's arent really worth the money unless your in competition (and then you'd probably get rainbows). on my equalizer i bump the tweets down a couple dbs tho because they are very sharp

zack