Are boutique car audio brands like Focal and JL Audio worth the price? That depends........ if you want the best, I think the JL Audio W7 series (if that's what they still call it), is still a benchmark subwoofer. (But do you really need the best?)
I bought a set of Focal Utopia component speakers that retailed for around $900.00 back in the early 2000's because, at the time, I just did not know of any value priced speakers that would measure up. After they blew in a few years and I had time to research and hear more Chinese made stuff, I found a couple of component sets that trumped them for less than half the price. Today, I buy comparable speakers for a fraction of what I paid for the Focals.
I say this - if you really have the money to spend, buy those brands - money aside, you can't go wrong.
However, you can find comparable products from other brands in most cases for half the price or less.