I'm officially insane Rainbow vs. Focal

[FoxPro5 5,000+ posts]

I came to the same crossroads.... I decided on the Focals because I could actually audition them at a local dealer and they sound great. If I have problems, I go back to them ETC. I went with 6.5 K2P midbass, 4" K2P mid and K2P tweeter.
Joe

Now that's the idea. Trust your ears.

Love to hear that Focal-Audison set up you have there //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/yumyum.gif.0556df42231b304b9c995aefd13928a8.gif

 

[kublkmax 10+ year member]

I have ran both Rainbow and Focal and I take my Rainbows all day everyday. But no matter what this guy picks please don't run them off of deck power that is such a let down.

 

[flakko 5,000+ posts]

Indeed rainbow ftw. i hate the K2P or whatevers tweeter....it burns my ears.

although focals mids are very nice.

 

[Theride 10+ year member]

I think it depends on the type of music you listen to. I listen to dancehall/reggae/rap R&B and I think the SLC tweeter is too "thinny" . my GF dont like them at all. I had the focal 6x9 in another car and they sounded great to me. They got loud and clear. The SLC dont get that loud to me and if I do turn them up they distort. I have an alpine and an eclips deck which i go back and forth to get the best sound.

Dont get me wrong the slc sounds really good on certain music. but not the hardcore stuff i listen to.

 

[flakko 5,000+ posts]

I think it depends on the type of music you listen to. I listen to dancehall/reggae/rap R&B and I think the SLC tweeter is too "thinny" . my GF dont like them at all. I had the focal 6x9 in another car and they sounded great to me. They got loud and clear. The SLC dont get that loud to me and if I do turn them up they distort. I have an alpine and an eclips deck which i go back and forth to get the best sound.
Dont get me wrong the slc sounds really good on certain music. but not the hardcore stuff i listen to.

how much power are you sending to the slcs? they seem to like a lot of power as well as headroom. i had a set of 150w on tap and it got pretty loud with the crappy kicks i have hehe

 

[ksauers 10+ year member]

I think it depends on the type of music you listen to. I listen to dancehall/reggae/rap R&B and I think the SLC tweeter is too "thinny" . my GF dont like them at all. I had the focal 6x9 in another car and they sounded great to me. They got loud and clear. The SLC dont get that loud to me and if I do turn them up they distort. I have an alpine and an eclips deck which i go back and forth to get the best sound.
Dont get me wrong the slc sounds really good on certain music. but not the hardcore stuff i listen to.

WHAT TYPE OF MUSIC DOES THE SLC SOUND BEST WITH?

 

[Theride 10+ year member]

I think they sound better when youare playing R&B type music or like Country music.

I am giving them 60 per channel and the amp is not even turned all the way up.

 

[da_tank 10+ year member]

not r&b and rap, id kameleons are better for that!..... the rainbows are a good drop and play speaker, but if fine tuned get amazing!!! i've heard the focals alot, after all thats what tweeter and them carry, but if you want to blow your mind just buy the rainbows, you wont be dissapointed. Also the exclusivity is good. Everybody runs the same stuff, a little difference sets you apart sometimes. Also do some research on phd, the actual detail a little better than the rainbow, which have a tendency to run warmer.

 

[headless 10+ year member]

I think they sound better when youare playing R&B type music or like Country music.
I am giving them 60 per channel and the amp is not even turned all the way up.

60 per channel, passive? 2 channels? That may be why you don't think they get loud enough + sound bad when they do (clipped signal). All reports i've read indicate the SLC's want 120w(x2) or more to shine...