Sasha

iTrader: (10)

You will not be disappointed at all by either. Bang for the buck, if you go through Ross on here, CDT is the cheapest, and sounds on par with rest. Most people prefer regular(not upgraded) HD to regular ES, cause the mid on HD is very sensitive, ES mid can take more power, but how much power does one want to use. Efficiency is important. However, ES-07 is incredible, and is the best mid from CDT, but very costly. Focal K2P needs no introductions, almost flawless with TN-52 tweeter. Hybrid is new kid, and is making a big name for itself. All sets are bright. Hybrid and CDT is better on the midbass and a bit mellower on the upper midrange. Focal seems to be strongest on the upper midrange, and just a bit weaker on the midbass. I do not think I can say which is best, cause they are all great. Hybrid however, when highpassed low at around 60hz is the least boomy mid. All sets can sound incredible, and take loud sessions with ease. Hybrids require least tuning to sound their best, Focals take most tuning, which means placement is most important. I think Hybrids sound best in stock locations, then CDT, then Focal. Out of all the tweeters CDT needs more toning down(except HD), Focal the least to match up with mids.

Honestly, Focal and Hybrid have the best service, which is actually amazing, Ross from CDT is a great guy, but he seems very busy, and it may take more time to get a hold of him, I also spoke with CDT America direct, and was not overly impressed. All speakers have very good build quality.

Muskokaman

HD might be the way to go. I will drop Ross a line shortly as I hope to get moving on this in January or early Feb. What's the difference between the regular HD and "upgraded"? What do I have to keep an eye out for? Do you mean the Upstage second set of tweeters?

I've also sent a note to the Hybrid people a few days ago, hopefully they will get back to me with prices.

One last question. Do you have your tweets mounted close to the mid-bass, or do you have them up high on the dash or A-pillars?

Sasha

iTrader: (10)

If you pay for the upgrade, you get a more expensive crossover, and more expensive tweeters, and pay more. No real upgrade, if you ask me, just stick to the regular set. With upstage, you need a more expensive crossover, and more tweeters. Up to you on that, just make sure the tweets are same. I have mids by my feet, and tweets up top. My car looks stock, and speakers are in factory locations.

TragicMagic

I've been listening a pair of Hertz HSK 165's at a shop here in Brantford. Which sells them at $400. I've been told that I could find them for less. They're beautiful sounding speakers. Getting 60W each off a Hertz EP4 amplifier on the soundboard they're set up on.

I currently have 6.5" MB Quart Reference series components in my Elantra. I can't remember what I paid for them 5 years ago. I love them. They're receiving 80W off a Memphis 5 channel amp. I wouldn't say that the HSK's sound a lot better, but I'd give them a small margin. It might be due to the higher grade amplifier they're being powered by...

East Hamilton Radio, where I purchased my MBQ speakers, no longer carries that brand. They brought in Hertz/Audison to replace it. Perhaps that tells you something.

I too, prefer a sound that isn't too bright. In my opinion the HSK 165's weren't too 'in your face' - but that was in comparison to other non-high-end speakers. I might like the other brands more, but I've never had the opportunity to hear them.

I'd also suggest listening to 5.25 and 6.5 of the same speaker. You might find that getting the larger driver in a less expensive line, will produce as well or better than a smaller driver in a more expensive line. Then, with the money saved on the component, would go towards the surgery needed to have them installed.

My Elantra's stock speakers were 5.25. I opted for the 6.5's with surgery simply because the improvement in the mid-bass was worth the investment.

MR2NR

iTrader: (66)

"East Hamilton Radio, where I purchased my MBQ speakers, no longer carries that brand. They brought in Hertz/Audison to replace it. Perhaps that tells you something."

Tells me that they did not deal with the CDN distributor that carried the MB Quart line or they were quite happy with the service and support from the existing distributor that they bought from. I was a dealer of the line before and after they changed the distributor. MB Quart changed from Trends in Vancouver (the Audison importer for Canada) to Automobility in Quebec (a company waaaay bigger than Trends will ever be).

Trends wanted to expand the Electromedia empire when Hertz came on line with them. They dropped MB Quart and it was picked up by a large CDN importer, Automobility. I still deal with both companies after almost 15 years.

Trends is a great company to deal with, in the case of most of the existing dealers they had that sold MB Quart, the dealers stayed on board with Trends and moved into the products they were carrying. This was all about business is all. MB Quart pricing in Canada has gone waaaaaay down now that it is under the way larger Maxxsonics umbrella and is brought in by a huge importer of car audio in Canada. MB Quart is still a solid line and the products are great.

TragicMagic

Thanks for the insight MR2NR.

So instead of EHR dealing with two distributors to keep the MBQ line, they simply stuck with a distributor they felt comfortable with and took on their new products. Hertz and Audison in this case.

How does a distributor become a distributor for a brand? I guess Hertz would have contacted Trends...? But if Automobility is a much larger distributor, why would they not choose to go with them instead? Probably a business decision on Hertz's part. If Trends has proven itself to be a reputable distributor, and they do it for less than the larger Automobility, then the opted to go with them.

Are there any high quality, Canadian made, amplifiers readily available? I'm kinda in a new kick to keep my money in our economy to the fullest extent possible.