here I'asked already.
https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...ml#post4314578

 

Where is the easiest/cheapest place to source the focals and subs.

Seems like the rear subs are cheapestHere at $20 each: Link

The focal 4" from crutchfield are 149.99 for the ISC100 model here

Same with 8" ISS 200 at Crutchfield at $320.

Any other sites recommended? Amazon has it for sale from one seller but with reviews stating they are fake.

 

Parts-express.com for the subwoofers.

WoofersEtc.com for speakers
$190 IS200: http://www.woofersetc.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=IS200
$100 IC100: http://www.woofersetc.com/c-172-spea...-speakers.html

Extra tweeter pair if you want to do the single center channel speaker:
$100 TI 1.5: http://www.woofersetc.com/c-172-spea...rs-tni-15.html

 

Anyone else besides woofers etc? Multiple negative reviews online, especially in regards to focals.

 

I am still amazed at my setup guys and my thanks to ryem3. I think the Bose subs just need breaking in. I am happy with the bass and the clarity. I did fill up the rear speakers with the foam though. It sounded bad before so I removed those gazillion screws to properly lay the foam pad inside. That tightened the sound a bit.
My only diff is the rear side speakers are not focal but polyplanar 3" speakers which bolted on quite nicely....

 

Woofersetc is okay, I've used them many times before. For Focal speakers in this price range, you probably won't be getting fakes. Check to make sure serial numbers are intact, though.

 

Do we actually have evidence of the fake focals? Where are they usually sold?

 

Just google WoofersETC reviews. Enough popped up to make me ask here about them. No personal experience. Would rather buy local and ensure real. But no one seems to carry the 8" components.

 

If you want to ensure you're getting a genuine car stereo product, then purchase from an authorized dealer and pay the MAP. If you want the very best online customer service, buy from Crutchfield (and pay MAP). Simple. If you know exactly what you want, and you want a big discount, and you don't need to call someone up and say "hey, where do I hook up the ground wire?" then buy from WoofersEtc or SonicElectronix, etc.

 

Agree. I've purchased most stuff from Crutchfield simply because if i didn't know if it would fit, I could simply return it. Parts express is great for the same reason.

For the 8" Focal sets, I think Shane at Al and Eds in MDR may have some still.

 

Hi all, was just lurking, decide to sign up because of this thread and maybe clear some things up.

First, impedance (Bose vs 4ohm AM) it is correct that adding aftermarket speakers (4ohm) to a factory (2ohm) amp will NOT damage the amp.
However, driving factory (2ohm) speakers with aftermarket equipment rated for 4ohm will.
IE: trying to drive the factory speakers with an aftemarket NON-2ohm stable amp will in most cases end in failure of the amp. That being said there are plenty of aftermarket amps that will run 2ohm (stereo) stable.

Let's move on to the more important problems you may not know you have, distortion is a killer.
The problem with your factory amp and aftermarket speakers, you loose nearly half the volume at 4ohm vs 2ohm.
Almost all (especially factory) head units distort 2/3 volume even as low as 1/2 volume and up, see where I am going.
To achieve the same DB or volume level you had with your factory system your adding more distortion which is the number 1 killers of speakers.
Honestly, I've been doing this a long time, I'd junk the Bose amp all together.
BTW I've been a custom installer for over 15years, with a lot more experience then most on high end autos.
Mobridge (I think mentioned early) makes a DA, if you really care, Use the Audison bit1, you'll be so happy you did!
The Audison will strip out all the garbage Bose put in there and leave you with nothing but flat accurate EQ.
The JL audio clean sweep and the Rockford 360 series also work.
I'd spend the extra money on the Bit 1, kept the factory head unit, use a nice amp (mayb a 5ch digital installed in factory location) and be happy!
Also check at NAVTV for equipping your factory headunits with options.
Cheers.

 

Indeed distortion can be a killer. But I would argue, distortion WITH power is a killer. You could run distorted sound through high quality speakers all day with low power.

I would also agree with most factory radios that at modest volumes, factory amps start to clip. And also, the basic rule is that going from 2ohm speakers to 4 ohm speakers will reduce your output volume.

Quit simply, the Bose amp is better than you might think. It has no problem driving 4 ohm speakers to very satisfying volume levels. Ask people that have done the conversion. I listen to music loud and I listen to a lot of rock. Honestly, I've not driven the amp into clipping. And even if I did, the current Focals could easily handle the power even with some distortion.

Throwing away the Bose amp is much easier said than done. I addressed this here. It is not a cheap option. The head unit interface is optical, so you need to convert from optical to line level. The conversion harness is $600, last I heard. Then you add the amp. Then you're going to run high amplification through crappy Bose speakers? That is an alternative that's going to cost you $1000.

I was the guinea pig. Indeed, one would think that greatly reduced volume would be the unsatisfying result from the speaker conversion. Buy a $2000 head unit instead, everyone said. Check out a car with the speaker conversion alone first. The results are surprising.

 

Ive done the install plenty of times, distrotion is always present.
I would agree that some improvement is better then none, the comparison though is dial up vs fiber.
Ive dealt with bose forever, and while just replacing the speakers may be good enough for some, my ears hate it.
I say, dont nibble on the barrel, pull the trigger.
Honestly, you could use a bit tenD wich is not a cabel (cheaper then the bit 1) and have full control over your sound, butterworth crosovers and all the goodies the bit 1 has, id still go with the bit 1.
You could spend less then 2k and have an awesome system, when youre comparing 1k difference in 90k car, its priorities you are comparing and not sound.
basically, you keep the factory head, add a prossesor that handles summing, optical connection and nomalizing all inputs.
add even cheaper speakers a 5ch amp and sub and you are 100% better then just replacing factory speakers.
infact, if I used a couple pair of cheaper speakers, a mid level sub a good amp and a bit 10 youd be amazed in the difference.
if I did the install (and I have done many) id have no problem making you think it was a $6000+ system.

Its education on the probuct that most sales guys are lacking, actual knowledge of how things work lacks evenmore.

While I've heard these speaker replacment systems plenty of times in the past, I have installed them and watched people foolishly spend their money on them. Its not the way to go, you probaly could just take those focal crossovers and through them in with tge factory bose speakers and get a better result.

 

This is the budget install thread, my friend! And yes, I hear you on the doing a $300 sound upgrade on a $100k car.

 

My apologies, not trying to sound too stanch, I should simplify this a little.
The problem isnt as much in the speakers or amp as it is in the mapping of the audio it self.
Basically your left with what one engineer thinks sounds good, obviously that one engineer is the only one who thinks it sounds good.
collectivley reading through the responses most people have spent alot more then $300 on their upgrades, not to mention time.
You really could use just a summing agent (any of the ones ive listed) and an amp and be miles ahead.

The focals, the amount of power coming from the factory equipment isnt that much, your only changing the SQ by crossovers mainly and db/frequency response of those speakers.

The bose speakers may even perform better in those scenarios based on the fact they are paper cones that have a faster rise time, EQ'd properly and the fact that their sensitvity is greater then the focals, they are more efficent.

The point I am making, is that the budget is being spent more on a poor fix rather then spending a little more on the right fix.

You say budget, I see wasted money, please dont think I am being a dick, ive refused jobs based on these senarios.
I am just trying to give a professional opinion, if it where honda then everything would be different and alot less exspencive.
all of your options are shrouded by the car its self, ive always advised all of my clients (repeat audiophile) to get the absolute **** bottom system offered when buying/ordering their new cars.
Its inevitable they'll end up calling me at some point.

I hope nobody takes offence to my opinion or thinks that I am being a dick, I am just trying to be helpful.

Again something is better then nothing, everyone has their own taste, if just replacing the speakers does it for you then by all means do it!

Cheerz