Focal question

[trooper]

Looking to upgrade the standard speakers in the car.

Forgive me if this sounds a daft question but I've seen Focal speakers highly reccommended on this forum. The general consensus seems that 16.5cm (6.5" in proper money) units will fit well in the existing spaces. The Focal speakers most talked about are the Access 165CA (coaxial) in the rear and Access 165A (component) in the front.

The existing tweeters look like they're a right royal pain to get to so my question is what detriment would there be if I fitted coaxial front and back and disable the existing tweeters. Otherwise do people leave the existing tweeters and not use the Focal tweeters or what?

Also having not listened to the Focal range, is it worth going for the Polyglass 165CV/165V over the Access ones seeing as they cost twice as much. Couldn't find a price for Utopias but I guess they're more again.

Long post, sorry.

[SkyJawa]

I left the current tweeters working and they do ok, though get drowned out a bit by the better focal co-ax ones in the back. When the weather gets better I'm going to mount the focal ones in the kickplates like Matt H did. I'll prob still leave the standard tweeters enabled though, just in case I remove it all!

Edit to add I have the Focal components up front and co-ax in rear!

[Patrick_Devlin]

I've put some component speakers in the front and left the original tweeters in place, I also wired in the other tweeters. Its not over powering.

[trooper]

So you guys will have, or already have six tweeters! Two in the back from the coaxial, two in the front from the component and the original Toyota ones.

Has anyone installed coaxials all round? If yes, are the results as good as component/coaxials? If no, what were your reasons?

Cheers

[SimonB]

Personally I would disable them. Not much point in having high quality speakers and leaving the stock crap ones connected! IT's a bit like buying high quality hifi speakers at home and having some crap mini system ones wired in sat next to them.

I dug mine out and replaced them, but I wouldn't recommend doing that really because it was a complete pain in the arse and I really wished I hadn't started doing it half way through!

[Scooter]

I have the polyglass ones in the front only (stock rears) and i'm well impressed. I should say that i have no real quality ICE experience to say its better than xyz....

I'm pretty sure i would benefit from a set of Access ones for the rear to stop distortion from the crappy stock units at high volume, but i've been told quality rears are not worth the money really.

Polyglass ones i 'think' only come in component packages and my tweeters are mounted in the kick panels? and the originals disconnected.

All advice and fitting from Matty H (and crew)

[trooper]

Thanks for the advice guys.

I'm pretty confident then that I shall go for coaxial rears and component fronts with separate mounted front tweeters and disable the stock tweeters.

Next question! Are you happy with the bass this generates or do you have (or wish you had) a separate sub?

Chris

[SkyJawa]

The focals are very good with the bass/low notes, I was hugely impressed with the range of sound from them. I really don't need a sub, though as I have one sitting around and an amp, I'll plop one in when Matt H comes up with his aerotop box (hint hint matt ;) :p)

[trooper]

Niel,

do you have the Access Focals or the Polyglass (or even the Utopias)?

[Matt Harwood]

mumblemumble, Time, mumble, Soon, mumble, John,mumble,Whinging, mumble,earbashing, mumble, bloody aero's mumble, :D

A-hem, Not long now :thumbs:

As for the Focals, everyones pretty much said what I was going to say... Don't spend a fortune on rears, some decent coaxials will do the job, spend the money on a decent set of fronts.

You can get Polyglass coaxials with off-board crossovers, if you don't want separate tweeters.

I'd definatly disconnect the stock tweeters, but some people do like them left on... Personal preference...

[SkyJawa]

Originally posted by Matt Harwood
mumblemumble, Time, mumble, Soon, mumble, John,mumble,Whinging, mumble,earbashing, mumble, bloody aero's mumble, :D

A-hem, Not long now :thumbs:


LMFAO!!! :D

trooper - I have the access in mine, supplied by Matt for a very good price - no one on the internet was close!

[chuck_legend]

these focal speakers sound good then, i really need to change mine aswell, have been looking on net at few companies i have used b4 but cant find any who stock focal

ne one kno where i can get them and how much approx?

also i take it the rear are same size as fronts and i can go for 6.25??

[Matt Harwood]

I can supply you with Focal speakers.

You can get 6.5" speakers in the front if you mount them to the door cards, or make up a wooden panel for them to mount in the original location behind the card.
The rears a 6.5" as standard

[SkyJawa]

Matt Harwood on this BBS for supply (Sextons Maidstone). I couldn't get close to his prices on the net, and top service too :D

The front speakers are actually 4" but if you remove the holders you can fit the larger size directly onto the door card, which is what I, and many others, have done. Better sound too :D

If you search back a bit, theres a fair bit of info on how to do it!

[@lpher]

Originally posted by SimonB
Personally I would disable them. Not much point in having high quality speakers and leaving the stock crap ones connected! IT's a bit like buying high quality hifi speakers at home and having some crap mini system ones wired in sat next to them.

Thank you! :D


Originally posted by SimonB
I dug mine out and replaced them, but I wouldn't recommend doing that really because it was a complete pain in the arse and I really wished I hadn't started doing it half way through!

In my opinion it...wasnt that hard....but the most annoying part was getting the larger speakerwires into the original cable-rubbergrommet thingy that goes between the door and the carbody itself... ;)

@lpher

[SkyJawa]

Originally posted by Matt Harwood
I can supply you with Focal speakers.

You can get 6.5" speakers in the front if you mount them to the door cards, or make up a wooden panel for them to mount in the original location behind the card.
The rears a 6.5" as standard

Damn you beating me by a minute - and me bigging you up and everything :p :devil: :innocent: :D

[Matt Harwood]

Originally posted by HISUPE
Damn you beating me by a minute - and me bigging you up and everything :p :devil: :innocent: :D

Thanks... Aint you lovely! ;)

[SkyJawa]

Oo-er :blink:

[chuck_legend]

Originally posted by Matt Harwood
I can supply you with Focal speakers.

You can get 6.5" speakers in the front if you mount them to the door cards, or make up a wooden panel for them to mount in the original location behind the card.
The rears a 6.5" as standard


Sweet m8, u fancy rustling me up a cheeky price for front and rears then sir? best go for components in front and disconnect my standard tweeters and use the new ones?

thanks

[Matt Harwood]

They do quite a few variants in the range... What sort of quality are you after/how much do you want to spend? ;)

[chuck_legend]

i had a wee look on the net at the focal stuff and for front and backs it gonna cost atleast a couple hundred squid.

Give me your recommended install for quality/cost and we go from there m8 if that ok....

jon