Alpine SPX-17REF Review?

[prodgod 10+ year member]

I was looking at buying a pair of SPX-177R's before they got discontinued, but because of school, decided to put off buying new speakers until I get my tax return. But now that the new SPX-17REF's are out, I was wondering if anybody has gotten a chance to hear them and compare them to the 177R's. Are they about similar in sound quality?

Also, I was wondering (incase I didn't get the REF's) what 6.5" components you would recommend in the $150-$200 price range. I'm looking for a set that have a good amount of midbass, and have a smooth, natural highs. That's one reason I was looking at the X's, because of the silk tweeters. Any recommendations?

Thanks,

Swick

Edit - I will also be getting an amp with my taxes, which will put out 230w x 2 @ 4ohm.

Click to read more...

 

[prodgod 10+ year member]

I see on here that a lot of people are really liking the Phoenix Gold Rsd's. Has anybody heard both the X's and Rsd's and would be able to compare the two? Are they comperable in any way?

Swick

 

[prodgod 10+ year member]

Bump

Anyone?

 

[DejaWiz 5,000+ posts]

I have a set of SPX-177R's. I biamped them with 2x80wrms to the mids and 2x40wrms to the tweeters. The clarity is uncanny.

One drawback is that the mids are somewhat laid-back and non-aggressive unless you can feed them a good clean 150-200w rms. I probably wouldn't send that much power for the crossover to throw to the mids and tweets in single-amp mode, as I've read (albeit rare) about some occurrences of the tweeter protection circuit getting so hot that it will actually melt/warp the side of the crossover.

If you have that kind of power to work with in the first place and are looking for aggressive midbass, then the RSd's would be a great choice for the money.

 

[anaheim drew 10+ year member]

I have a set of SPX-177R's. I biamped them with 2x80wrms to the mids and 2x40wrms to the tweeters. The clarity is uncanny.
One drawback is that the mids are somewhat laid-back and non-aggressive unless you can feed them a good clean 150-200w rms. I probably wouldn't send that much power for the crossover to throw to the mids and tweets in single-amp mode, as I've read (albeit rare) about some occurrences of the tweeter protection circuit getting so hot that it will actually melt/warp the side of the crossover.

If you have that kind of power to work with in the first place and are looking for aggressive midbass, then the RSd's would be a great choice for the money.

DejaWiz,

Lets say that one of your tweeters blew along with the tweeter protection bulb/fuse (what is the correct name for this part?)

What would you do for a replacement?

 

[DejaWiz 5,000+ posts]

DejaWiz,Lets say that one of your tweeters blew along with the tweeter protection bulb/fuse (what is the correct name for this part?)

What would you do for a replacement?

Cry.

Then probably get some XT25's.

 

[~Magick_Man~ 10+ year member]

I actually have the SPX-17REF speakers.

But unfortunately no review yet.

One of the mids kicked the bucket less than 30 minutes after being installed //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crying.gif.ec0ebefe590df0251476573bc49e46d8.gif

So that one is being replaced right now.

So far I am pretty happy with them.

I have the tweeters mounted with the "bridge" on the mid.

With this the stage is a bit low, But that might be fixed with some TA from my deck.

I am actually considering getting another pair to do either rear fill, or dual mids/tweets up front //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wow.gif.23d729408e9177caa2a0ed6a2ba6588e.gif

The aluminum cone is pretty easy to dent though //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif

When I was installing the tweeter on one of them it slipped and hit the cone, Resulting in like 4 little dents on the dust cap.

I will try to give a decent review when I get the other mid back and a little tuning done.

~Magick_Man~

 

[prodgod 10+ year member]

I have a set of SPX-177R's. I biamped them with 2x80wrms to the mids and 2x40wrms to the tweeters. The clarity is uncanny.
One drawback is that the mids are somewhat laid-back and non-aggressive unless you can feed them a good clean 150-200w rms. I probably wouldn't send that much power for the crossover to throw to the mids and tweets in single-amp mode, as I've read (albeit rare) about some occurrences of the tweeter protection circuit getting so hot that it will actually melt/warp the side of the crossover.

If you have that kind of power to work with in the first place and are looking for aggressive midbass, then the RSd's would be a great choice for the money.

Thanks for that. But I'm still wondering, with the RSd's, do they have clarity comperable in anyway to the X's? I want a really clear and natural sound, which I've heard from tons of people that the X's have, but the RSd's have sound comperable, with more aggressive midbass, I'll probably go with those. Can the RSd's take 230 per side?

Swick

 

[Rich B 5,000+ posts]

You're in luck theres a BNIB (I think) SPX-177R set in the for sale section by a very reputable seller.

http://www.caraudio.com/forum/showthread.php?t=266057

It sounds like tonight may be your last chance on them.

 

[prodgod 10+ year member]

You're in luck theres a BNIB (I think) SPX-177R set in the for sale section by a very reputable seller.
http://www.caraudio.com/forum/showthread.php?t=266057

It sounds like tonight may be your last chance on them.

What sucks, is that I won't have the money for new speakers till tax return time. I'm saving every penny that I can get right now for college.

Thanks though,

Swick

 

[DejaWiz 5,000+ posts]

Thanks for that.

1. But I'm still wondering, with the RSd's, do they have clarity comparable in anyway to the X's? I want a really clear and natural sound, which I've heard from tons of people that the X's have, but the RSd's have sound comperable, with more aggressive midbass, I'll probably go with those.

2. Can the RSd's take 230 per side?

1. I've read numerous reviews regarding the RSd tweeters being a diamond in the rough. As for the mids, I'm not sure how they would directly compare to the X's, but I wouldn't be afraid to run them at $90-130 shipped.

2. I'd say that would be a smidge too much for them. The sweet spot seems to be 120-150w rms per side from all the reviews.

 

[tcguy85 10+ year member]

i have a set of rsd's on a kicker zx550.2. i set the gains with a -3db tone to 150 watts per side. they aren't actually seeing anywhere near that 150 watts though. on my DMM i was seeing mid to high teens on the a/c voltage at really high volume levels.(150 watts @4 ohms is 24.5 volts ac). so they seems to get loud on what is far less than 100 actual watts per side.

they sound absolutely amaaaazzzing though. i can't compare them to the alpines because i have never heard them before but the rsd's sound really sweet. they have a TON of mid-bass, and the mids and highs are also loud but also smooth sounding. even with my subwoofer off the mid-bass makes all three mirrors in my car shake pretty nicely and they still sound clean doing it.

i do recommend the rsd's but i have not heard the alpines so i cannot really say the rsd's are better. but i do love my rsd's and plan on keeping them for as long as i can.

 

[maloy013 10+ year member]

what abt the ppi's 356cs? would that be comparable to the x's or the rsd?

 

[prodgod 10+ year member]

1. I've read numerous reviews regarding the RSd tweeters being a diamond in the rough. As for the mids, I'm not sure how they would directly compare to the X's, but I wouldn't be afraid to run them at $90-130 shipped.
2. I'd say that would be a smidge too much for them. The sweet spot seems to be 120-150w rms per side from all the reviews.

What exactly do you mean by the tweeters being "a diamond in the rough"? I don't quite understand that.

I think I'm going to look into the RSd's a lot closer now. Since I'll be saving money getting these instead of the X's, I'll use that to get some more deadening and do more of my car. Thanks a lot.

Swick

 

[DejaWiz 5,000+ posts]

What exactly do you mean by the tweeters being "a diamond in the rough"? I don't quite understand that.

They're level of performance goes well above any preconceived notions that new owners have for a comp set at this price point.