CDT..DLS..or Rainbow Audio...Who to choose??

[orangeblast 10+ year member]

SO I can get CDT ES620s for about 275 shipped and taxed. Which is a good deal of course.

I've been out of the loop with car audio for roughly 5 years now...and I'm getting my new suv and I want something nice in it.

After browsing around a bit here on the forums....I came across a company called DLS. I also noticed alot of people comparing the CDT ES620s to the DLS Iridiums....

in a nut shell...how is DLS?

If it helps out at all...this would be my HU and amp for the speakers:

Clarion DRZ9255

Amp = US Amp AX600.... 190x2@4OHMS

what do you think?

also..how expesive is the Raindow Reference series usualy go for....I was checking out the CS 360.30 and the CS 260.30.

thanks!

Click to read more...

 

[stevcha 10+ year member]

If you're interested I have a set of Rainbow Profis Vans for sale:

http://forums.caraudio.com/vb/showthread.php?t=128697

 

[Beat_Dominator 5,000+ posts]

As I have not heard a set of Rainbows yet I cannot attest to their quality though what I see looks pretty nice.

The DLS tweeters are supposed to be less bright than CDT's and the midrange is fairly close between the two. The HU and amp choice are a good match for either.

 

[3.5Max6spd 10+ year member]

Official 2005 Rainbow MSRP prices

http://www.caraudio.com/vb/showthread.php?t=99393&highlight=Official+Rainbow+price

I would compare the ES and Iridiums to the Profi line

 

[orangeblast 10+ year member]

Anyone hear the CDT ES620's?? They have a higher RMS than the HD series if that matters much.

I guess in the long run....to only have to pay around 275 to get ES620s...that would probably be my best bet. what do you think?

 

[flakko 5,000+ posts]

yea 275 is a freakin good price for the ES's

 

[3.5Max6spd 10+ year member]

Anyone hear the CDT ES620's?? They have a higher RMS than the HD series if that matters much.
I guess in the long run....to only have to pay around 275 to get ES620s...that would probably be my best bet. what do you think?

your best bet would be to hear them first, rather than use price as a deciding factor- its been quite a long time since ES commanded anywhere near their supposed price tag- that is because you can buy the vifa drivers and build your own set for a fraction of even that price you are paying

 

[orangeblast 10+ year member]

I've never ever come across component speakers that expensive before. Those reference speakers are soooooooooo much money from Raindbow. Good lord! Anyone hear those before? What do they sound like?

 

[orangeblast 10+ year member]

your best bet would be to hear them first, rather than use price as a deciding factor- its been quite a long time since ES commanded anywhere near their supposed price tag- that is because you can buy the vifa drivers and build your own set for a fraction of even that price you are paying

What exactly do you mean by buying the vifa drivers and building my own set?

 

[3.5Max6spd 10+ year member]

What exactly do you mean by buying the vifa drivers and building my own set?

http://www.madisound.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi?cart_id=3101677.25613&pid=1373

http://www.cdtaudio.com/eurosport_drivers.htm

Its no secret CDT uses Vifa drivers

 

[orangeblast 10+ year member]

Well that kind of lame. but at http://www.madisound.com I found no 6 1/2 inch vifa driver. whys that?

Also just to clarify...its not the CDT ES Z series I can get its the regular ES series.... NO Z. just what are the differences anyways....cdt doesn't really make it clear what it is between the regualr ES series and the ES Z series.

 

[DiamondFanatic 10+ year member]

If you are getting a DRZ9255 I would consider getting enough amp channels to go active on your speakers... Like a 4 channel instead of a 2 for your front speakers. Then you could just buy the raw drivers, not need the crossovers.

 

[3.5Max6spd 10+ year member]

Well that kind of lame. but at http://www.madisound.com I found no 6 1/2 inch vifa driver. whys that?
Also just to clarify...its not the CDT ES Z series I can get its the regular ES series.... NO Z. just what are the differences anyways....cdt doesn't really make it clear what it is between the regualr ES series and the ES Z series.

I believe its only a xover difference...CDT makes lots of $$ selling upgrade passives that 'promise' a SQ difference, kinda retarded IMO. If one xover is better than another for a set of drivers, why offer both? kinda stingy way of making money selling the same product

Unless you are doing 3way active fronstage + sub, you dont 'need' a DRZ9255, and could put that $$ difference where it counts the most, better speakers. You can run a passive fronstage, with about any deck these days- plenty of 24 bit decks out there. And plenty of 2way active fronstage + sub capable deck choices.

 

[orangeblast 10+ year member]

so....in a way. I could get the ES620s and just buy their high end xovers? and then technically have a Z series?

also...what is active? what do you mean buy that?

 

[DiamondFanatic 10+ year member]

You wire the woofers directly to the amp, and the tweeters directly to the amp. Then you adjust the crossover points for the drivers on the amplifier itself, or with the DRZ9255. That way you can keep independent time alignment and EQ curves with the DRZ.