I know this may sound like a slanted playing field putting a $1200 component set against a $350 component set but i'd like some evaluations anyway. my eventual plan is to have a 3-way tri-amped component set for my fronts I've heard great things about the utopias, but at the same time i see in adire a strong innovative company. Amps for the 3-way would be as follows... -US Amps TU-600 for the midbass' TU-600 Two Channel Class A Amplifier Direct Tube Input Oversized MOSFET Power Supply Total Power Output: 600 Watts RMS THD at Rated Power: <0.05% Signal/Noise Ratio: >100dBA Frequency Response: 15Hz-50KHz +/-0dB Fuse Rating: 60 Amps Dimensions: (Including Terminals) 62mm / 2.44in High 229mm / 9.0in Wide 368mm / 14.50in Long Weight: 3.63kg / 8.00lb MSRP: $619 USD Two Ohm Stable 150 Watts x 2 into 4 Ohms 300 Watts x 2 into 2 Ohms -US Amps TU-4360 for the comps TU-4360 Four Channel Class A Amplifier Direct Tube Input Oversized MOSFET Power Supply Total Power Output: 360 Watts RMS THD at Rated Power: <0.05% Signal/Noise Ratio: >100dBA Frequency Response: 15Hz-50KHz +/-0dB Fuse Rating: 40 Amps Dimensions: (Including Terminals) 62mm / 2.44in High 229mm / 9.0in Wide 368mm / 14.50in Long Weight: 3.63kg / 8.00lb MSRP: $599 USD Two Ohm Stable 75 Watts x 4 into 4 Ohms 90 Watts x 4 into 2 Ohms - US Amps US-X3 x-over to manage the signals Three-Way Active Electronic Crossover Four Channel Input with Six Channel Output Selectable Three-Way or Two-Way Operation Nine Volt Outputs with Separate Gain Controls 50Hz-500Hz Variable Low-Pass Output Variable Mid Range Output with 50Hz-500Hz High-Pass and 500Hz-5KHz Low-Pass 500Hz-5KHz Variable High-Pass Output Mid Range Phase Inversion Switch Delayed Amplifier Turn-On Output Fuse Rating: 3 Amps Dimensions: (Including Terminals) 32mm / 1.25in High 241mm / 9.5in Wide 165mm / 6.5in Deep Weight: 0.91kg / 2.0lb MSRP: $379 USD In my projected budget this is the best i can afford and should give a strong foundation for the speakers. If i go with focal these will be my speakers. I'd either go with the... 136 W http://www.focal-audio.com/gb/car/utopia/136w.htm in combination with the audiom 6w http://www.focal-audio.com/gb/car/utopia/6w.htm or just get the 165W3 3-way set http://www.focal-audio.com/gb/car/utopia/165w3.htm With Adire i'd be using a pair of Extremis' and a Koda 6.1 (smaller if they ever make them available) Keeping in mind that i can get the utopia's for around 800 from an authorized dealer (need to check on exact pricing) what do you guys think about the pro's and con's of these setups? also if Adire were to release the Koda's with a smaller driver option and XBL^2 motor structure would that alter your opinion? P.S. Adire reps, you're more than welcome to put in your .02 as well cause who knows your products better than you
I don't have any experience with the Focal speakers. But I will say that I swaped out some $650 a/d/s components with the Koda's. Let's just say that the a/d/s/ speakers are still in the closet. Steven Kephart Adire Audio
Think Dan's played with some Focals? Joelsbass, you seem to be able to afford both sets of components... why do you try them out and then come back to us with your findings?
Since you can afford the more expensive alternative why not just the kodas and review them yourself. If they do what you need keep them. If not you can sell them and get the focals. The small amount you would lose seems worth it if you plan on spending that much cash on the focals.
I agree with Fugyaself, in a sense, that you won't lose much by selling them... but you'll gain the experience of trying them out first. It's unfortunate, but true, that it's likely to be the only way you'll get to hear them anytime soon. Whereas the Focals can be heard at good shops or any IASCA event (at least theres always some present at any SQ event i've been to) Having said that, i'll add that i'm very budget oriented, so i say, try to find something seriously good for seriously cheap. If the Kodas please you, you've saved alot of cash... it's worth that effort... and risking the $50 resale loss when you are already considering, spending much more than that for the Focal setup. Having enjoyed the Focal Utopia 3-ways, myself many times now, i do believe you're going to be hard pressed to find something that good... at any price... but alot of it has to do with install, i believe a superior install could make less-than-stellar drivers sound extremely good.
Yes it is an interesting point of view no matter how you look at it. I personally own a 3way Utopia set. I cant comment on the kodas as I have not heard them. But that aside I would look at these specifics when choosing your front stage. 1. What is your budget 2. What is your end goal If your end goal is pure SQ then you have these things to consider 1. What is the range of each speaker in the set 2. What is the off-axis responce of each compared to on-axis 3. How is their tonality compared to the other drivers i have listened to 4. Does these speakers fit my space requirements Now going back to SQ #2 if you can have a speaker that still has a nice linear responce in a quite off-axis mount then it will be more forgiving on your install. Install unfortunately is the key piece of the puzzle and can make or break a system no matter how good the components are. As for a 3way set if you are going active you have a few things to consider there as well. Especially in install can you make your pathlengths for all speakers equidistant. This includes even just the right or left speakers by themselves. By having all speakers arrive at the proper time to the listening spot is something that must be taken really great care in accomplishing. But all in all try the Kodas if they are for you then you have your solution, if not then sell them and upgrade
