Are component speakers worth it?

I am looking to buy some new speakers and I was going to buy some component ones, but after testing them in the store (which I know is not the ideal place to test speakers) I found that they didn't sound as great as I thought they would. What is your experience with component speakers?

Yes, definitely. Go with components. They are pricier but well worth it. I've had both types and component speakers just sound more full. I'd get a decent pair though. I've had great experience with the Boston Acoustics Pro Series. Diamonds are very nice as well.

How about the infinity ones? those are the ones I have been looking at...

I can't tell you much about infinity speakers. I remember hearing them once when I was looking for components but don't really remember what they sounded like. I had an infinity Kappa amp a while back and it worked great.

I had infinity components and they were cack, I don't think they're suited to rock/metal music. Can't remember exactly what ones they were, although they're sitting up in my loft all boxed up!

I've got Infinity Kapa 6.5" and a Kapa Perfect 12" sub. I think it sounds great except the 6.5" door speakers should be able to handle lower frequencies than they do, IMO.

I thought I saw somewhere some little mounts for the tweeters on component speakers that would enable you to mount it in different areas in the car. It wasn't something that came with the speakers, but you had to buy it separate. Has anyone seen that before?

Component tweeters usually include enough parts for flush mounting and can also include some bits for a more extended surface mount.

Whatever you do however, do not place tweeters at ear level. They sholuld be relatively close to the mids if you want to preserve any type of functional/realistic sound-stage. Some auto-makers mount their component tweeters too high as well. This causes a much shorter path to the ear from the speakers on your side of the car and makes everything sound horrible.

In my experience Infinity have a very bright sound which can give a fantastic clarity - but also gets quite wearing after a while.

In general though, well installed component speakers are worth the effort.

I would think that the closer to ear level they are, the better (for the tweeters).... What have other people found?

Quote:

Whatever you do however, do not place tweeters at ear level.

That may be an over-generalization...

I have component speakers in my dash, facing upwards and firing into the windshield. In the left/right corners of the dash are 4.5" / 1" separates; and in the center is a 4" / .625" co-axial speaker. The .625" tweeter is titanium; the 1" tweeters are silk. During the installation we had to remove the windshield in order to mount the dash speakers.

The corner speakers have their own dedicated amplifier, as does the center channel. (The remaining speaker pairs: Doors, Subwoofers, and Roof (station wagon, way in the back)) also each have their own amplifiers. See attached) and the input gain of each amplifier is controlled individually by motorized voltage splitters controlled by rocker switches in the center arm rest.

Now, if this next part sounds like I'm bragging, it's because I am. Nearly everybody that I have ever demoed the stero for has said that it without question the best sounding car stereo they have ever heard. My staging and imaging is fantastic, and the silk-dome tweeters are not at all tiring. All of the sound seems to be emanating from about halfway up the windshield, even the sound from the subwoofers and roof speakers in the back of the car. If I want to brighten the sound, I just increase the gain on the center channel with the titanium tweeter, and I can make it like ice picks in your ears. (I don't do that except as a demonstration)

With the proper components and a lot attention paid to mounting position and vehicle acoustics, you can indeed put your tweeters near ear level.

tanstaafl.