Focal speaker question
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,062
Likes: 4
From: Boca Raton, FL
Over $600 for a pair of speakers for a bike? My Polk MM651s have greater sensitivity, greater power handling, play lower, weigh less, and cost way, way less. Do the Focals sound better, who knows, sound is very subjective. I do think that flying down the highway on a bike will cancel out any advantage in sound quality, if it is there at all. If you have the cash and like to buy top of the line then go for it, but the law of diminishing returns kicks in real soon with bike speakers.
To me they were
Over $600 for a pair of speakers for a bike? My Polk MM651s have greater sensitivity, greater power handling, play lower, weigh less, and cost way, way less. Do the Focals sound better, who knows, sound is very subjective. I do think that flying down the highway on a bike will cancel out any advantage in sound quality, if it is there at all. If you have the cash and like to buy top of the line then go for it, but the law of diminishing returns kicks in real soon with bike speakers.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,092
Likes: 35
From: Fl
I've heard the PC165s, my riding pal blew 2 pairs in the last 6 months! Also, they didn't sound any better to me than my Polks. You are correct, I've never heard the high end Focals, doesn't mean I can't have an opinion on the merits of dropping over 6 bills on a pair of bike speakers. Some people don't care about money, have at at then. I seriously doubt anyone would discern any possible sound quality advantage at 75mph, but to each their own. Best of luck with the audio upgrade.
I'm really not trying to Focal bash, they may indeed be the greatest thing since sliced bread. Problem is, the only way to test them is on the bike in question. Here's a plan, order both from somewhere with a money back guarantee, Crutchfield for one offers 60 days. Mount up one pair and live with them for a few days, then try the other pair. Keep the ones you like best, you never know until you try.
I'm really not trying to Focal bash, they may indeed be the greatest thing since sliced bread. Problem is, the only way to test them is on the bike in question. Here's a plan, order both from somewhere with a money back guarantee, Crutchfield for one offers 60 days. Mount up one pair and live with them for a few days, then try the other pair. Keep the ones you like best, you never know until you try.
Last edited by floridapoolboy; Jan 16, 2013 at 08:04 PM.
Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 734
Likes: 3
From: NE Ohio
I don't want to do it 3 times, so I'm gonna go strait to the best. Just trying to decide on what model. I have the J&M rockers now and am less than impressed with their performance.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,092
Likes: 35
From: Fl
Good luck, but like I said above, unless you try you'll never know. You don't really think more expensive = better, do you?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,062
Likes: 4
From: Boca Raton, FL
I also run them in the lowers
There is a real nice rounding out of the sound system with all 4 speakers up front.
And the amount of wind that is knocked down by the lowers at highway speeds is really a nice bonus also
[quote=floridapoolboy;10784141]I've heard the PC165s, my riding pal blew 2 pairs in the last 6 months! Also, they didn't sound any better to me than my Polks. quote]
Have your riding buddy take his bike to a Focal Authorized dealer for a professional tune. Tuned and matched correctly, and not playing over or under powered, OR distorted music no speaker should ever blow. For this very reason Focal triples their warranty from one year to three years if the amp is tuned by a certified professional. This may also be why they didn't sound all that impressive.
High power systems are not designed to just hook up the wires, disregard the crossover, pump the gains to max and cruise. We have found many a customer that has come to us, leaves happier with what he came in with by simply doing a proper tune on the amplifier with an oscilloscope.
Have your riding buddy take his bike to a Focal Authorized dealer for a professional tune. Tuned and matched correctly, and not playing over or under powered, OR distorted music no speaker should ever blow. For this very reason Focal triples their warranty from one year to three years if the amp is tuned by a certified professional. This may also be why they didn't sound all that impressive.
High power systems are not designed to just hook up the wires, disregard the crossover, pump the gains to max and cruise. We have found many a customer that has come to us, leaves happier with what he came in with by simply doing a proper tune on the amplifier with an oscilloscope.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,930
Likes: 4
From: OHIO......UGH !!
I'm glad you only said most !! Might give a pair of Focals a shot. Gonna go to Akron to hear some HAT's, before I decide. Gonna give my systems a bump and add lower fairing speakers, to make it 10 speakers.
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 200
Likes: 1
From: West Bend, WI
My opinion is you do get what you pay for. I am running the Focal PC 165 in fairing and in lowers. I also have the PC line in the 5.25 in the pods that are running off the head unit for the time being. I listened to a couple dozen speakers sitting still and these things rock. That being said the Polk's, Alpine, etc are also good speakers. I will again say that sitting in your garage listening to your music higher end is way better. Going down the road at 70 mph is a different story. I love my Focal's and they are quality built. I think more than anything it is personal choice and budget. Most here will agree that an amp and inexpensive lower end speaker will be much better than stock. Take a look at variour posts and see what people are running. Hertz and Focals are the popular high end while Polks and alpine seem to be popular lower end. Just my opinion though.