Rainbow vs Hertz vs Focal louder, brighter??

[jeeper2269 10+ year member]

I have a set of Rainbow Germanium components and love them. They are going to be installed in our truck and I am wondering what to install in our new car. It is a 2015 Lexus IS 350 F Sport with Mark Levinson stereo. I am fairly sure I won't be happy with the stock stereo,since I have had high end components most of my life.

I loved the old Boston Pro Series comps I had years ago. What I am looking for is input on some options that are best fitting for my taste. The Rainbows are amazing clear and I have been very impressed after swapping my amp out to an Arc.

I plan on getting another ARC amp, maybe a little more watts, and running a set of 6.5 components. I want them as clear and bright as the Germabiums, however, I would like them a little bit louder. The tweeters on my Germaniums go into protection mode some times at high volumes.

What do you guys think? Of course, the mentioned brands are just what came to mind. I am open to all suggestions. Thanks guys.

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[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

Somebody put a ms-8 on a stock ML setup and took it pretty far at finals. Can't remember who or when it happened. Maybe somebody else does here.

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

Somebody put a ms-8 on a stock ML setup and took it pretty far at finals. Can't remember who or when it happened. Maybe somebody else does here.

Pretty sure he replaced everything with infinity kappa perfect comps and a 10 inch sub along with adding an ms-8

 

[mylows10 5,000+ posts]

All are good can't go wrong with any of them. If you spend the cash

 

[jeeper2269 10+ year member]

"MS-8" ??? Who makes this? I actually had infinity kappa components years ago. And, do you guys have any idea what kind of ten they had? Thanks.

I forgot to mention, I like Focal, but they never seemed to like power and didn't get loud enough for me. Of course it's preference. Just figured I would ask.

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

"MS-8" ??? Who makes this? I actually had infinity kappa components years ago. And, do you guys have any idea what kind of ten they had? Thanks.
I forgot to mention, I like Focal, but they never seemed to like power and didn't get loud enough for me. Of course it's preference. Just figured I would ask.

Let me google that for you

 

[bradl79 10+ year member]

"MS-8" ??? Who makes this? I actually had infinity kappa components years ago. And, do you guys have any idea what kind of ten they had? Thanks.
I forgot to mention, I like Focal, but they never seemed to like power and didn't get loud enough for me. Of course it's preference. Just figured I would ask.

JBL its a DSP

 

[CSCStang]

Let me google that for you

Lol

 

[jeeper2269 10+ year member]

Interesting. I have no idea what kind of quality (vs aftermarket components) the Mark Levinson speakers are. May b worth looking into that upgrade alone to the ML speakers, along with my FI Q in a new ported enclosure

 

[CSCStang]

Interesting. I have no idea what kind of quality (vs aftermarket components) the Mark Levinson speakers are. May b worth looking into that upgrade alone to the ML speakers, along with my FI Q in a new ported enclosure

Definitely ported and not a prefab pos. Get a custom one built.

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

Interesting. I have no idea what kind of quality (vs aftermarket components) the Mark Levinson speakers are. May b worth looking into that upgrade alone to the ML speakers, along with my FI Q in a new ported enclosure ��

Definitely a good option since its a newer car and you dont want to switch out all that factory integration etc.. The quality of a source makes the biggest difference especially with a 31 bit floating point DSP that does time alignment and auto eqs everything for you along with an internal amp. A lot of stock setups sound great right after the addition of an MS-8, wouldnt believe it myself until I heard it in action on a stock 2014 accord system that sounds like completely @ss with the processor off and amazing when it was on, better than most aftermarket setups in my city.

 

[jeeper2269 10+ year member]

Which option would be louder?

I'm looking at the hertz ESK 165.5 Energy series or HSK 165

Not sure which one will be comparable to the Rainbow Germanium being ran on an ARC FD 2200 2x Channel 370 watt rms each channel amp

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

I've had about every line ok hertz components. The HSKs are a huge step up. But if you don't override the factory EQ they won't sound right if you know what you're listening for. If you don't you will love it.

Also where are you getting that 370 from?

 

[jeeper2269 10+ year member]

I guess it's 100 x2 @4ohm and 185 x 2 at 2ohm.

How would I override the factory eq? On the new lexus with Mark Leminson system??

 

[blazian87 10+ year member]

I have a set of Rainbow Germanium components and love them. They are going to be installed in our truck and I am wondering what to install in our new car. It is a 2015 Lexus IS 350 F Sport with Mark Levinson stereo. I am fairly sure I won't be happy with the stock stereo,since I have had high end components most of my life.
I loved the old Boston Pro Series comps I had years ago. What I am looking for is input on some options that are best fitting for my taste. The Rainbows are amazing clear and I have been very impressed after swapping my amp out to an Arc.

I plan on getting another ARC amp, maybe a little more watts, and running a set of 6.5 components. I want them as clear and bright as the Germabiums, however, I would like them a little bit louder. The tweeters on my Germaniums go into protection mode some times at high volumes.

What do you guys think? Of course, the mentioned brands are just what came to mind. I am open to all suggestions. Thanks guys.

Love my Germanium set as well. Hertz is worth trying if you have the money. Critics rave about Mark Levinson stock stereo but I agree with you, you'll find more satisfaction with aftermarket speakers. Definitely look into a DSP like mentioned above to get the most out of your expensive comp set. If you're gonna spend all this money, might as well treat the doors while you're at it.