Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Audio Cheap Component System Update

I've gone and done a little bit of a switcharoo. I'll be putting the Focals in my Tour, and I've already got the Partsexpress components installed in my wife's Miata.

I must say for a ~$58 component system, I'm amazed by how good it sounds (and with only a Sony HU pushing them at present).

The Attitude woofers are great with the bass and midrange, and the Ultimate tweets cover the upper frequencies well (possibly a little bright for some people, but perfect in a convertible).

I'm looking forward to getting the amp hooked up on them and cutting the low bass at 60Hz or so. The single 8" sub will take care of the low frequencies.

If anyone is interested, here are the part #s:

299-100 Attitude 6.5" Woofer - 2 @ $15
265-342 Ultimate 1/5" Titanium Tweets - $18
269-668 Ultimate 2-way X-over - @ @ $5

I forgot what you had installed before in the Tour, but wondered how you thought the cheap components compared to say the Pioneer 6x8's.

Glad to hear your happy with the sound. Like Aaron, I'd be interested in any comparisons you can make to other systems.

Well, I've got the Pioneer 6x8 plate component speakers in my truck.

The components sound a bit brighter due to the Titanium tweeters as opposed to the soft domes on the Pioneers.

There's no comparison at all with bass response. The Attitude woofers trounce the Pioneers (even though they're hooked up to a HU while the Pioneers are being pushed by an MTX amp).

From what my ears can tell, mids are roughly the same. But, I haven't got equipment which lets me adjust the mids on either system.

I'd rate the components about the same as or maybe a bit better than some of the mid level components (Polk EX's - not dB/dX's, Pioneers, KW's, Infiniti - not Kappa's).

They're definately better than any coaxial 6x8/5x7 I've heard.

Hopefully, I can get the Focals installed in my Tour (the "cheap" components are in my wife's Miata) and get the amp installed in the Miata sometime this week/weekend. Then, I can make some comparisons to the Focals.

Anyways, it's all just my own opinion. I'm sure that other ears might disagree. Maybe APT can get the woofers and put 'em in his Tour? You're running the same tweet and x-over with the stock speak as the woofer, right?

I did have some cheaper tweeters with stock speakers at first when Dave listened to the system, but here is what I've got now:

265-344 tweeters on front defrost vents that I'd like to flush mount there soon.
Same 269-668 crossovers.
I think I have 296-160 Audax for the front, or something very similar. Yes, they are 8ohm.
Rear speakers are stock playing 100Hz or so and up.
And like you I have an 8" driver in the rear deck for my bass that works quite well (when you cut out the insulation in the deck cover ). Oh, 295-160 .
I'm using a cheap Legacy amp to drive everything 265-106 .

There is an inductor on the 8" and caps on the rest. The exact frequencies they are allowing to pass, I don't know. It was stock of my brother and actually sounds quite good.

About the only thing I'd change now is the rear speakers. I'd probably buy the Vifa 299-248 and put them in the front and move the Audax to the rear and have no tweeters in the back. Active adjustable 2-way crossovers would be very nice for the bass vs rest, but I'm too cheap. Regardless, without measurements it sounds really good to me.

The tweet I have is similar to the ones you got and agree that with the windows up, can be very loud and piercing. I think in a Miata, they'd rock.

Can you tell I like PE ?


Aaron
-PE freak
-Zaino freak

You guys have got me hooked on PE too! I've ordered from them 3 times in the past month!

Maybe the tweeters seem so bright is because they're quite a bit more efficient than the Audax woofers?

The only problem with a nice stereo in a Miata is that everyone within a stone's throw can hear your stereo too, even at modest volumes. I guess I'll just have to drive the SVTour...

Don't you just love putting together a really nice sounding stereo system for just a few hundred bones???

I just bought a 93 Escort and that is my plan. spend less than 500.00 and see how it sounds.

thanks for the review on the driver. the bass doesn't surprise me but the good midrange does.

Throw an L-pad on the tweeter and dial it in. You should be able to calm down the brightness to tolerable levels.

I know that my tweeters are very efficient and I'm sure that has a lot to do with it. I've got the treble turned almost all the way down on my deck and amp. It's perfect for everything except extremely loud windows up driving (i.e. winter). I know I could improve it, but I think I already said how cheap I am.

Another update:

I've finally got the amp installed and am pushing the components with 40x2.

It sounds very good. Clear highs, nice mids, and tons of mid-bass thump.

I've got to get that sub installed, so I can cut them at 100Hz. I need to some tweeking too. I finished installing the amp at 10pm last night and didn't have any time to experiment.

So, did the woofers actually fit in the door of the tour?

Patrick