Hey all you audio gurus. I am looking at redoing my 6th gen system and I am trying to decide if I should go with the Focal K2s again or should I jump ship and get some Rainbows that I here everyone talking about? I don't know which of the rainbows that would be equivilant to the K2s and where to buy them becasue no one here sells them and there is only one place that sells Focal. I have bought from them before. I just would like a little guidance from someone who may have some insight on both these brands.

 

Whats your budget if you were to go with Rainbows?

The moderator here, Pearl96Max, is a Rainbow dealer. Not sure what he's allowed to sell via internet these days, being that he is the only Rainbow dealer left in the US with any product, but he'd be the go-to guy.

 

Rainbow hands down. Especially when theyre next up from beginner level competes (and wins) againt the infamous Utopias in an IASCA sanctioned event.

Of course overall decision is subjective to your ears.

 

Ok so which line of rainbow do you recommend. I don't compete anymore but I love my music to sound as if the band is the car with me playing. I have had the Focal K2's before and if the Rainbows are that tight that they smoke the utopias then I feel that rainbows are the way to go. How much are the rainbows and where can I get them?

 

You might want to contact an authorized dealer. As far as I know, the only authorized rainbow dealer in the US is the guy that posted right above you...might want to send him a PM or something.

 

If you want some real speakers, something cleaner and more dynamic than both the focal utopias, morel elates, and on par with the dynaudios, you need to go with some zapco's.

 

LMAO, at double the cost of some of the above listed. Not too mention the not so great reviews theyve already received. I bet Rob Zeff is still laughing at it...

 

Well, haven't heard the reviews, but I've done them in several cars, both the zapco reds and the blacks, and they were phenominal. It's all in the install.

 

If they are more dynamic than Focal Utopias and the Tn51 tweeter you can have them...

Tn51= premature hearloss

There are smooth, yet high detail compact tweeters out there that dont stress listening fatigue...they just happen to be in the Rainbow lineup

The Dyns/Morels are on the warmer, laid back side. Which makes for great listening, just wouldn't call them 'dynamic'.

 

focal all the way

 

Don't get me wrong, Focals are great sounding speakers, so are rainbows, but there's better to be had. Just had too many bad experiences with focal. Just about any high end speaker you buy will sound great, just depends on what you prefer in a speaker.

 

Like what?

 

Care to elaborate? Like which ones? I think it takes a bit of ***** to post such a reply being as its subjective to each persons ears.

 

I like my edi 6500's. Sound fantastic and don't really hurt the wallet. They are an absolute STEAL at 250 bucks. The compete with comps costing much more. In fact they are almost twins of the CDT HD series. Very detailed and have a great midbass. Not to mention that they don't give up at high volumes. They are the first set not to give up before my hearing. I feed them 200 wpc from a nice soundstream amp and they absolutely love it

 

Title=Rainbow or Focal

 

I would have liked to have him elabo..right on this part.

 

Maybe he got some of those fake focals off ebay...

 

I have experience with both rainbow and focal. Both companies make some of the best speakers PERIOD. I really like both rainbow and focal mids. For midrange both sound good in there own way but for midbass I like the focals (comparing 7w2 to pro van kick 6.5") a lil better because they get a lil louder. I don't like the metal tweeters that I've heard from either company because I don't really like metal tweeters to begin with.

Currently I'm using scan speak revelator tweets, rainbow pro van 4" mids, and focal 7w2's (7" midbass).

If I were you I'd get a set of rainbow's that come with soft dome tweeters.

As with any high end audio, it's all personal preference....

 

Sounds like a beautiful active setup!

 

Since when can't a guy chime in with a suggestion? Just trying to help. SHEESH

 

he's referring to how ED should never be mentioned in the same thread as the brands in the title.

 

Yes, it is indeed! None of it is installed in my car yet though because I just bought another maxima that I'll be installing it my whole setup in soon. All I need is a stinger powermax battery and a 200 amp alternator.

A few months ago I built some home tower enclosures (for the 7's, 4's, and the tweets), bought a 90 amp IOTA power supply, and hooked up an active 3-way setup (no sub) in my house using the P9 combo and a few us amps. It's all just for testing purposes.

I finally bought my flatline subs last week! They should arrive tomarrow or the next day!

You setup sounds killer too! I wish you guys were on the west coast so I could hear those rainbow tweets you have.

 

I want a full report on those flatlines...

 

Earth-shakingly insane.

 

dont take any offense-glad you like your speakers.....just trying to stay on topic

 

Well, i've melted 2 sets of utopias personally , seen several sets the K2 and access series melted/blown. I have yet to have a set of zapco's come back, and my return rate on morel's is less than 2%. It's all about what you like in a speaker, to each his own.

 

The Zapcos havent even been on the shelves long enough to fairly compare a comeback rate.

Im not a p-ersonal fan of Focal, but they do in fact build damn good products. Midbass is up to par with a ton of other desireables. Tweets are just too harsh and direct. Although I cant see that Ive seen too many of them come back.

 

I agree that their good speakers, just not reliable.

 

Morels and their 3" vc's take some punishment on the other hand....

Man all these brands and the one thing in common is how different the listening experience each offers..

 

what the hell were you doing to melt em? Ive truthfully never seen anyone run anything outide of the polys and they were alright, i preferred my diamonds and made my mind up on my next setup this week.
personally i cant see seizing the things (most high end lines) unless your just being obnoxious or intentional.

 

Do tell Doug, do tell.

 

I am trying to make up my mind right now, fired or not .

 

My Focal 7w2's have bottomed out a few times. Most of the time I play them right before their mechanical limit. They definitely produce ALOT of midbass but the reason I play them so hard is because the HP filter is set a little lower/shallower slope. I'm playing them lower than I normally would because I don't have a sub hooked up and it's in a large room in my house. All I'm saying is that you can beat the HELL out of them as long as they're given adequate, clean power and as long as you correctly tune them (x-over), as with most any speaker (i've used). I truely find it VERY hard to believe that focals are unreliable..........

 

Will do.

Do you have some flatlines also or are you refering to Don's car?

 

Well guys we have so good dialog going on here. I have never melted a set of K2's and I was runing 150w a side so I am not sure were the reliabilty issue comes into play at least not from me. I think that I want to roll with the rainbows. I have not ever had rainbows and I willing to try something new. I am not sure which line I should get though. Pearl that is were you come into play I believe. I want something that will price like the K2's did not want to spend 1500 bucks on speakers. the K2's cost me 750 what is compafible price wise or do I have to spend more?

 

Focal All the way... I've had 2 sets of 165k Poly Kevlars in my car. taking 125 per side.
I'd go with the K3P's

 

You can actually spend substantially less and Be Very satisfied. No need to spend all that much if less can get you just as happy.

 

Hey less is always good. which line are we talking about here. I am ready to get going. How good are the subs or should I look at something else or just keep the infinity perfect 12 that I have now?

 

I've always loved the whole Focal line. I have a set of 165K2P's getting ready to replace the 3-way set up in my Max now. I already put the 165CV in the rear, and am running 2 10W6V2's with an Xtant X603. I'm also getting ready to upgrade the sub amp to the Audison VRX 500X1. The Rainbows that I've heard never seem to have the detail of the Focals.

 

I guess theres a first for everything as Ive Always heard the exact opposite. especially with those ear bleeding tweets, then again to each their own I suppose.