Infinity Kappas or MB Quarts? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

mbtjc · #1 03-18-2003, 11:17 AM

Since I am mainly going for SQ, I think I have decided to run a Nak 45z....but I haven't yet decided on speakers. They are obviously 4s that are on the dash. I want the most high end 4" coaxials I can get. I know "high end 4" is somewhat of an oxymoron, but a 4 is the best I can do, so the best 4 is what I want. I have heard nothing but good things about the Quarts excpet for maybe that they have "bright" tweeters, but I have also heard that Infinity Kappas have awesome SQ. They also both have passive crossovers, which I suppose would make them a little better than most. Anyone have thoughts on these two speakers or any others that you think might be better??

I think I will leave the stock 5.25" rears (I'm pretty sure they are 5.25s), since they put out decent bass and it is the fronts that break up. I can always change them later if I feel the need.

I have read that since a Nak has such good SQ, that amping one will of course make it louder, but might even sacrifice a little SQ. Is this true?

Thanks for any help!

Gebhard · #2 03-18-2003, 11:47 AM

I have the 45z and MB Quarts. It sounds great, but a little bright for my taste. Not bright enough to swap them out, but I wouldn't buy them again. I have use the seperate eq I have installed to ease the highs down when playing songs very loud. Hope this helps.

mbtjc · #3 03-18-2003, 12:33 PM

Which Quarts do you have? If you were to buy different speakers, which ones would you buy? Do you think the Kappas might be a better choice? Is the EQ hard to add and where did you put it? Thanks!

#4 03-18-2003, 03:30 PM

German car, German speakers. I have DKD-146 4x6s in reaer and DKD 110 4 inch rounds in front. Highs are awesome, but speakers are small so not tons of bass. But I dont need that much bass. Definitely get the MB Quarts. Titanium Dome Tweeters, Butyl Rubber Surrounds. Very awesome. And cheap on ebay! I'd get DTC-169 Triaxial's if I had an amp to power them correctly. Those are awesome 6x9's

Gebhard · #5 03-18-2003, 04:18 PM

I have Referenz series 3 ways with silk tweeters in the doors and 5 1/4" coax's in the dash. (They fit, but you have to be willing to cut ALOT, I wouldn't do it again.) I have a W124 wagon as well and will be going with the Rainbow dash drop ins he sells.

If I were to do this system again, I'd use Focal speakers. Ideally Utopias, although Infinitys have a excellent reputation and many people like them. Boston Acoustics are also very nice. I haven't heard the Kappas, but they've got to be less bright than the Quarts. I really would NOT buy the Quarts again.

I added the Arc Audio PEQ-7 between the deck and the amps. I originally had it mounted to the inside top of the glove box, but it was hard to reach, so I moved it under the radio, sacrificing the ashtray.

Hope this helps.

Gebhard

Imatation · #6 03-18-2003, 05:24 PM

I have 4 kappa 42.5i's and 4 kappa 10.5t tweeters in my car and they sound awsome. Im not sure about the quarts as ive only heard them once and been able to look at a pair once, but the kappas are made really well. They have really big magnets and the C.M.M.D cones are really nice and do not flex and distort. The rubber surrounds are really thick and high quality, and i really like how infinity has seperate inputs for the tweeter and the speaker. The speakers sound amazingly clear, equal to my pair of klipsch at home. They do, however barely put out any bass, and for me with 4 tweeters in addition to the 42.5i's i really need my subs to even it out. I did have problems mounting them, I had to pretty much make custom brackets for all 4 of my speakers, and the large magnets somewhat make it difficult to mount in the front.

mbtjc · #7 03-18-2003, 09:12 PM

Well I found a new candidate! Focal 100 CV 4" coax. They have a rotating tweeter which I like since my speakers are on the dash and this would provide better imaging so they tweeters don't completely reflect off the windshield....I have heard that this makes for a tinnier sound. It also has a passive crossover. I haven't priced them yet...don't know if I want to!!

Another question: If I end up putting new speakers in the back, should I use a coax or just a midrange driver w/o a tweeter? I hear that the rear is just fill and I guess whatever bass you can get out of them and a tweeter is not really necessary and sometimes not even advisable for that might be "too much". Any thoughts on this?

MTI · #8 03-19-2003, 04:09 PM

Check to make sure those "rotating" tweeter are going to clear the dash speaker grill, because there isn't a lot of wiggle room under there.

mbtjc · #9 03-19-2003, 06:17 PM

Very true...and I will also have to make sure that mounting depth will suffice. If mounting depth works, I don't think I will let the tweeters stop me... those look like awesome speakers! I want them!

I think I could just put small spacers between the grill and the dash. It would stick up a little, but I doubt too much...not enough to be readily noticable. Another idea I had is to make custom grilles. Get ahold of some of that metal mesh that aftermarket grilles are commonly made out of and shape it to the shape of the factory grille, and make it taller or make a little hump in the middle. I would obviously try to make it as clean and "factory" as possible. I think it would give it a neat custom touch. Again, I would only try this if the stock grilles did not clear.