true-high-fidelity auto speaker manufactures?

[Buford]

My name is Timothy, and I would like to introduce my self, I'm a older (58 ) guy and I would grateful for some help.

I own a 2007 Tundra CrewMax with factory JBL system, and I intend to keep the vehicle as long as possible. For that reason I am willing to put some money in to an audio upgrade.

I mostly listen to blues, jazz, gospel. I'm interested in clarity, fidelity in reproduction, and acoustic detail, certainly not in excess bass.

My general plan is to replace the factory JBL speakers, including subwoofer and add a power amp. Last time I went car speaker shopping 20 years ago I fell in love with MB Quart.

My home speakers are Dahlquist DQ-10s (recently rebuilt) I love their clarity, fidelity, detail and depth of field.

My initial plan was to keep the head unit, replace the 6x9 and tweeters in F&R doors. Replace the factory subwoofer with a Sound Ordnance B-8PT. Add a modest JL Audio XD400/4 power amp. Unplug the factory dash tweeters and center channel.

Because I liked Infinity Reference home speakers 35 years ago my first instinct was look at their car speakers. I'm told that MB Quart has been sold and no longer what they once were.

A few local car audio shops near me have anything you want as long as you want Rockford Fosgate. They don't carry what I would consider the good stuff. It is tough for me to listen and shop at those places.

If I wanted a short list of very high quality, true-high-fidelity auto speaker manufactures that I should consider, who would be on that list?

My tentative parts list would look like 2 pair Infinity Kappa 60.9cs, Sound Ordnance B-8PT, and a JL Audio XD400/4.

Thank you in advance,

Timothy

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[quackhead 10+ year member]

I would suggest replacing the 6x9's with 6.5" components using fabricated baffles. Getting good sound out of aftermarket speakers mounted to a metal door full of holes requires some additional treatments such as sound deadening material to not only improve the actual driver response but lower the overall interior noise floor as well.

Hybrid Audio Technologies - IMO, some of the smoothest and detailed components I have ever heard.

Home - The Home of the World's Finest Loudspeakers, and World Championship Car Audio Speaker Systems.

Hybrid Audio Technologies - 12v Electronics

German Maestro (products still manufactured at the old MB Quart manufacturing facility in Obreigheim, Germany by the old MB Quart personnel)

GermanMAESTRO - Powered by MAESTRO Badenia

Bico Stereo

If you are interested in the Maestro, here is a dealer in my area, if you have a problem finding one. The pricing can be flexible, because they do not sell German Maestro online direct, it would take a fone call to order...they offer other high end lines as well.

Just a couple of my personal favs that I have experienced, there more opinions to be had here as well, I am sure.

 

[trumpet 5,000+ posts]

Someone on a different forum(DIYMA) asked almost the same question recently: How possible for true to life vocals in sm SUV?

http://www.diymobileaudio.com/forum/1740485-post63.html

One opinion written by someone I really respect in the industry:

Man, I suggest saving a little money on the speakers and buying some kind of a DSP EQ. No matter which speakers you buy, the car has a much bigger effect on what you hear than the difference between a $100 set of speakers and a $1000 set of speakers. Seriously...

Choose a processor. Then decide how loud you want the car to play. Choose either big or small amplifiers but remember that the difference between 50 watts and 100 watts is only 3dB. Then, choose speakers from a reputable company that will handle the power that you intend to use. Look for components with a 1" tweeter if you'll use a 2-way. If it's a 3-way, then a smaller tweeter is OK.

Don't mount the tweeter or the midrange in the dash--doors are better, so long as you have a processor.

Please take my advice. It'll save you lots of money and will sound much better than spending over half your budget on some super-high-end speakers. If this was a home audio system, the advice to buy the best speakers you can afford would be more applicable.

Not coincidentally, this man was the project manager for the JBL MS-8 digital signal processor. It can work with your factory sound system to greatly improve the sound quality. It would make perfect use of your center channel speaker and it helps make good quality recordings sound like you're sitting in front of the bad on stage.

If you ignore DSP you'll be chasing an unobtainable goal by simply dropping in aftermarket speakers, an amplifier and a subwoofer.

 

[Buford]

I would be interested in contact info for a German Maestro dealer, there is nothing in my area.

I'm also taking a look at:

Focal FPP 4100 - amp

FOCAL K2 Power 130KR- speakers

and if it exists a FOCAL Intergration IBUS 20 - subwoofer

It difference between an Infinity and a Focal systwm is the difference between $680 and $1,600 not counting labor.

My head unit has a equalizer.

I have a DBX 20/20 for my home system. It costs $1,100 and I took it out of the system once I confirmed that my speakers already had a flat response.

Thank you gents for the help.

 

[quackhead 10+ year member]

(281) 298-8827

..that store I linked you to earlier.

I would be interested in contact info for a German Maestro dealer, there is nothing in my area.
I'm also taking a look at:

Focal FPP 4100 - amp

FOCAL K2 Power 130KR- speakers

and if it exists a FOCAL Intergration IBUS 20 - subwoofer

It difference between an Infinity and a Focal systwm is the difference between $680 and $1,600 not counting labor.

My head unit has a equalizer.

I have a DBX 20/20 for my home system. It costs $1,100 and I took it out of the system once I confirmed that my speakers already had a flat response.

Thank you gents for the help.

 

[zako 10+ year member]

If I wanted a short list of very high quality, true-high-fidelity auto speaker manufactures that I should consider, who would be on that list?

My tentative parts list would look like 2 pair Infinity Kappa 60.9cs, Sound Ordnance B-8PT, and a JL Audio XD400/4.

Thank you in advance,

Timothy

These are some of the better known names:

Focal

Hertz

Hybrid Audio

Dynaudio

German Maestro

Scanspeak (makes home audio drivers, but they can work great in cars)

Also some of higher end speakers from companies like JL (the C5 set), Polk (SR series) or JBL (MS series, GTI) tend to be pretty good.

Infinity is more of an entry level brand. It's not what it used to be IMO. I like their Infinity Kappa subwoofer, but this is it.

In my opinion the key is to have a very good sound processor that can adjust crossovers, equalization, levels, and time alignment of all speakers. A external popular processor is JBL MS-8. There are many others (Alpine, Arc audio, Bit One), but this one has a good reputation for being able to tune itself. If you can replace the head unit, I'd recommend to get Pioneer DEH-80PRS as it has some of JBLs capabilities at a much lower price. Past some point throwing money at expensive speakers will not result in significant payoffs without good tuning.

 

[mahc 10+ year member]

Diamond Hex are pretty hard to beat for the $$ but the break-in takes a while.