Sometime ago I swapped most of the speakers in the HIFI system with Infinity Kappas and relocated the 6x9s to a custom made cabinet.

Front:
Infinity Kappa 60.7cs 6-1/2" component speaker system
Infinity Kappa 42.7i 4" 2-way car speakers

Rear:
Infinity Kappa 693.7i 6"x9" 3-way speakers

I chose these based on the compatibility of their specs with the HIFI system, and on user reviews at Crutchfield. Based on some info I got from a Crutchfield tech, I thought it best to bypass the Infinity crossovers that came with the 693.7i and connect the MINI 6x9 wires to the woofer input and the tweeter wires to the midrange & tweeter input. Since then I've learned more about things and decided to try connecting the crossover to the 6x9 wires and ignoring the tweeter wires. I like it better this way. I think that filtering the highs out of the woofer input has helped.

Initially, I didn't get around to tackling the A pillar tweeters and left the stock tweeters in place. I finally replaced them with the tweeters that came with the 60.7cs (component system has separate tweeters). It took a little tinkering to fit the tweeters in the stock housing (they were slightly smaller dia. than the plastic housing for the stock tweeters), but it wasn't too difficult.

With these two changes, I'm very happy with the system. The stock tweeters were playing at a higher volume than the other front speakers, so made required cutting trebble back. Also, the Kappa tweeters sound much smoother.

I have the fader set towards the front for a balanced sound, because of the location of the 6x9s, and it works well.

Due to the lack of bass sent to the rears, the system could benefit from a sub, but otherwise, it sounds quite good.

I don't know how it would compare to other speaker brands, such as Focal, Boston, etc. because I haven't heard those. All I can say is that they have excellent clarity and sound good to me -- a major improvement over the stock HIFI for around $400. Add the $500 for the HIFI upgrade, and I think it is a pretty good system for $900.

 

I've been getting infinity reference or infinity kappa for
my cars (and from crutchfield) for a long time.

I have not heard the other brands that you have mentioned
in person but I can also say they are usually beyond my budget.

I think the infinity is a really good value for the money.

I just put a replacement set of reference in my CRX they sound great.

I plan to get the kappas for the mini next year.

I'm not sure what to do about no bass being sent to the
rear speakers.

 

the bostons will be heavier on the bass end, the Focals will be disgusting. they are by far one of the sickest speaker makers out there. i sell high end A/V and they are fantastic. they have tight Bass, dynamic highs, great imaging, and fantastic clarity. i would highly recommend Focal. for people who don't know it is pronounced (faux- Caal).

 

Can I ask a stupid question? Is that a kleenex box behind the passenger seat?

 

I think it's an automated toilet paper dispenser, for those famed turns....

 

So then, by "disgusting" you mean fantastic??

 

I had to read that twice myself.

I pride myself in learning new vocabulary/terms.

I'll be incorporating disgusting == fantastic into a conversation.

Coincidentally that is the second thing I've learned today!

On a roll!

 

Yup, I have allergies. I've always had a Kleenex box kicking around my car with no good place for it.

 

I took Robin's advice on speaker selection and replaced my fronts about a month ago with the Kappas. I found everything I needed on Amazon for slightly under 200.00 not bad for a much better sounding set. I have not done anything with the rears yet.

 

Did you replace the tweeters in the A pillars?

How do you like it without changing the rears? Do you fade then out so you just hear the front?

 

Got the Kappas in the rear, and Ref in the front-LOVE THEM!

 

I did the fronts only including the A pillars, I'm not really feeling ambitious enough to do the rears just yet, and really I'm quite happy with the sound, so why bother, I don't sit in the back seat anyway. I do have the sound faded to the front a litte bit (I think it's set to about 3 IIRC) I really do like the sound of these, I honestly have no complaints at all considering how little I paid for such a nice upgrade. I'm not super picky about my audio, but the stock speakers definitely had to go! I would much rather spend 1500 on a turbo back exhaust then a stereo upgrade.

I wish I could say that the install was strait forward and easy, but really I had to get a little creative with the componenets, the 4" speakers were by far the easiest to do.

I am curious Robin, did you use one of the supplied adapter pieces for mounting the lower woofer? I actually just used some sheet metel screws I had on hand to mount the speaker directly to the door, so no adapter plate, but I do have concerns about them loosening up over time, considering that plastic isn't very think. I think I may go back and redo it this summer on a nice day.

 

[quote=Robin Casady;2053297]Sometime ago I swapped most of the speakers in the HIFI system with Infinity Kappas and relocated the 6x9s to a custom made cabinet.

Front:
Infinity Kappa 60.7cs 6-1/2" component speaker system
Infinity Kappa 42.7i 4" 2-way car speakers

Rear:
Infinity Kappa 693.7i 6"x9" 3-way speakers

I chose these based on the compatibility of their specs with the HIFI system, and on user reviews at Crutchfield. Based on some info I got from a Crutchfield tech, I thought it best to bypass the Infinity crossovers that came with the 693.7i and connect the MINI 6x9 wires to the woofer input and the tweeter wires to the midrange & tweeter input. Since then I've learned more about things and decided to try connecting the crossover to the 6x9 wires and ignoring the tweeter wires. I like it better this way. I think that filtering the highs out of the woofer input has helped."

Robin, just found this post after I posted about this subject in another board...sounds like this is starting to get at my question about the highs/lows with the rear 6x9's. Since there are 4 total sets of wires (1 pair for tweeters and 1 pair for woofers) and only 1 input on the Kappas, how is this problem best resolved to ensure you get highs and lows out of the 6x9's? (I have the 2 way Kappa 6x9)...from reading infinity material it was my understanding that the infinity cross-overs are really not supposed to be removed, but I may be mistaken.

Thanks for your help!!!!!
Mike

 

There are several ways you can go. I'm not really sure, but I suspect #1 is best. IIRC, when k6rtm tested my car the woofer wires had the high frequency ranges. The only part missing was the lows. However, my memory could be off on that, and it could have changed since 2007.

1. Use the woofer wires into the Infinity crossovers, and connect the crossover to the four connections on the speaker.

2. Don't use the crossover and connect the woofer wires to the woofer connections, and the tweeter leads to the tweeter connnections on the speaker.

 

Robin,

Your set up looks really nice. You appear to be a talented woodworker (especially after seeing your shift *****).

Are you going to MOTD, or will there be any of your ***** there on display?

 

Thanks. I wont be going, but Dustin will have a few *****, ebrake handles, and my black plex iCup Platforms* at his AutoXCooper stand. If you would like to pick up anything specific (and save shipping) let me know soon.

*for holding iPod or iPhone Dock.

 

I'll be seeing Dustin - he's going to fit my "Just-a-cooper" with a JSart Wing Tip to see if I like it. If I do, I'll probably have to wait on a shift ****/brake handle set. But I'd still like to see them in person. I really like the burl/blackwood sets.