sq guys.

Post by **GlassWolf** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 6:37 pm

PS what high end does offer you more times than not is superior R&D, and better longevity, more than anything.
If you want gear that'll outlast the car, you'll generally pay more for it, and get more user friendly, well thought out designs in the products as well.. as a general result. There are always exceptions of course.

mikechec9 · Post by **mikechec9** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 7:32 pm

well put. i've stated before that while the above link lists the "best of" equipment, world champs like g. biggs and eldridge have won with much much less because of phenomenal installs. but similarly, i'm curious as to how much better their installs would be (adjustments made accordingly, of course) with any of the equipment listed above.

MobileAudio219 · Post by **MobileAudio219** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 8:19 pm

They need to open the sq and spl forums back up. :)

Jonathan · Post by **Jonathan** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 9:37 pm

I think it's also important to note where the point of diminishing returns lies. Once you start spending over $400-500 on component speakers (sticking to MSRP of component systems, not DIY), the improvements that are made become more and more subtle. Take JL Audio XRs vs ZRs, for example. XRs represent an excellent value at the price point, and SQ-wise they compete with comps doubling their price. How do the ZRs improve on them? Think refinement, continuous improvement. They benefit primarily from extra attention to the motors in the drivers and the tolerances they are built to, also improved material quality in the drivers and crossovers. Do they sound better? Hell yes. Is it an extra $400 worth of better? Depends on how serious you are. If you have to sacrifice other parts of the system to get them, it isn't worth it. XRs give you 90% of that at half the cost.

FYI, this applies to any manufacturer out there, JL was just an example.

When you're on a budget, you are better off spending a bit less on the comps and more on the install opposed to plopping down all your dough on esoteric equipment and half-assing everything else. Install, install, install. Anyone that won't do a good install shouldn't waste money on good equipment, because you just aren't going to yield a lot of extra benefit from it. Every manufacturer has a different philosophy on how their speakers should sound, or what they should put the most emphasis upon, etc. It's up to the user to select what works best for his/her application, including selecting equipment that works with the specific vehicle in mind. Choose what you think sounds good for sure, but don't get them if you can't implement them well.

racerraul · Post by **racerraul** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 7:38 am

The guy just asked what was your fav equipment... So feel free to put your list of favs... it has no correlation to the meaning of highend.

Highend is so misunderstood now days, that it isn't highend if it isn't expensive. Or sports a catchy name brand... heck geographical regions may even prevent a good product from getting a fair share of use to see its potential... while a new online co, may get all sorts of hype without even a product out yet...

The irony of all this, is that when I have the chance to let someone listen to my setups (which sports HW no one would consider highend) & they agree that they have more $$$ in theirs & it doesn't sound good. They prefer to bash their equipment rather than realize they have more $$$ tied up in the equipment than on the installation.

I can't stress that enough... Installation will make or break your setups performance.

I'm not saying highend brands wont sound good... just that the cost that goes along with the highend brand isn't going to guarantee it.

MobileAudio219 · Post by **MobileAudio219** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 10:17 am

racerraul wrote:The guy just asked what was your fav equipment... So feel free to put your list of favs... it has no correlation to the meaning of highend.

With that being said you forgot to list some of your favorite equiment.

I'm here to learn, so go ahead and post anything sq related.

I'm still saying though, BRING BACK THE SQ & SPL FORUMS! :happy055:

racerraul · Post by **racerraul** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 10:24 am

I did? You sure about that?
or was my list not SQish enough I have to do it again

My post is on the 1st page...

MobileAudio219 · Post by **MobileAudio219** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 10:36 am

[quote="racerraul"]I did? You sure about that?
or was my list not SQish enough I have to do it again ]

In my best Jackie voice (from that 70's show).... SHUT UP!

Post by **GlassWolf** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 12:49 pm

in amps I consider high end to be products that use things like 1% tolerance milspec components, and very well designed, beefy power supplies. Generally products that are over-engineered. The thing is, doing that costs more, so the amps will cost more, too. The benefit is a closer tolerance between identical amplifiers, and longer lifespans. Don't think that means every expensive amp is built that way though. Many are more for the name than the internals anymore.
If you want an example of an old, overbuilt amp, look at Orion GS series amps, if you can find any.

MobileAudio219 · Post by **MobileAudio219** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 12:57 pm

Yeah, you always hear how good the older orion amps are. A few years back I was at an car show/swap meet and there was a grandpa there selling 4-5 older orion amps for like 50 bucks a pop, but I had no money....