Rainbow or Focal
01-21-2006, 02:57 PM
#1
Rainbow or Focal
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.
01-21-2006, 04:37 PM
#2
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.
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.
01-21-2006, 06:26 PM
#3
I tend to get a bit irritable
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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.
Of course overall decision is subjective to your ears.
01-22-2006, 11:38 AM
#4
Originally Posted by Pearl96Max
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.
Of course overall decision is subjective to your ears.
01-22-2006, 12:39 PM
#5
Originally Posted by KUBLKMAX
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.
01-23-2006, 09:47 PM
#7
I tend to get a bit irritable
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Originally Posted by Montypup
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.
01-24-2006, 06:54 AM
#9
Originally Posted by Montypup
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.
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'.
01-24-2006, 07:45 AM
#11
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.
01-24-2006, 08:12 AM
#14
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
01-24-2006, 08:40 AM
#15
Originally Posted by FormorAccordMan
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
01-24-2006, 09:53 AM
#16
Originally Posted by Montypup
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.
01-24-2006, 03:05 PM
#18
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....
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....
Originally Posted by Pearl96Max
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.
01-24-2006, 06:03 PM
#22
Originally Posted by MannyNJ2k2max
Sounds like a beautiful active setup!
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.
01-24-2006, 06:54 PM
#25
Originally Posted by FormorAccordMan
Since when can't a guy chime in with a suggestion? Just trying to help. SHEESH
01-24-2006, 07:01 PM
#26
Originally Posted by Cant_Get_Ryte
I would have liked to have him elabo..right on this part.
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.
01-24-2006, 07:18 PM
#27
I tend to get a bit irritable
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Originally Posted by Montypup
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.
01-24-2006, 07:33 PM
#29
Originally Posted by Montypup
I agree that their good speakers, just not reliable.
Man all these brands and the one thing in common is how different the listening experience each offers..
01-24-2006, 07:34 PM
#30
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.
personally i cant see seizing the things (most high end lines) unless your just being obnoxious or intentional.
01-24-2006, 07:55 PM
#33
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..........
01-24-2006, 08:02 PM
#34
Originally Posted by slickrick
I want a full report on those flatlines...
Originally Posted by Metal Maxima
Earth-shakingly insane. 
01-25-2006, 09:05 AM
#35
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?
01-25-2006, 11:05 AM
#37
I tend to get a bit irritable
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Originally Posted by KUBLKMAX
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?
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.
01-25-2006, 06:15 PM
#38
Originally Posted by Pearl96Max
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.
01-25-2006, 07:01 PM
#39
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.
01-25-2006, 08:48 PM
#40
I tend to get a bit irritable
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Originally Posted by TAPOUT
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.