Image Dynamics XS-65

[slim142 9]

I want to get rid of my factory speakers, at least the front ones for now (in the future, ill get another pair for the rear).

I originally intended to go for the alpine type X, but then started digging more choices and ended up with a few recommendations. These included image dynamics, diamond audio, and the alpine type x themselves.

Now, I have heard the Image dynamics are REALLY GOOD. Easy choice over the type X. And the diamond audio are just too much ($650 for a pair of speakers are not attractive to me, sorry thats just way over the line).

So basically I have narrowed it down to image dynamics. They will run passive (for now), but later I will be using a SAX-100.4 to run them active. Headunit is either gonna be P800PRS or CDA-9887 (havent decided yet).

Are these components, Image dynamics XS-65 good? Could you consider them some of the best in the market? I want to go straight to top-of-the-line here. I dont know Image dynamics as much as I do know pioneer or Alpine so I want to make sure Im going to be surprised with the quality and be satisfied.

Let me know your opinions about image dynamics and the XS-65 set itself.

[Sir-Lancelot 216]

Best is subjective, as people want to hear different things. what is best to you may not be best to someone else.

Yes, they are a nice component set and running them active would make them even better.

[slim142 9]

Yep, I understand components is more about a personal taste, but just want to make sure Im going the right way at least.

Like I said I didnt really know this brand til I came to this forums so giving them a try wont be cheap, but want some feedback from the ones who have experienced them.

So far, I like them a lot and will most likely go for them

[Sir-Lancelot 216]

I think they are a great set personally. Nice, smooth tweeter, just make sure to deaden and seal the doors and you will have some very nice midbass too.

You could also look in to the Bravox sets in the SSA store. Nice reviews on them and I believe they still have a group buy going on.

[stevemead08 752]

The "group" buy is over, but still incredible prices for them!

[slim142 9]

Whats the deal with this Bravox components?

A lot of people in the forums seem to like them. Now Im interested...

The problem is that the CS603CF is $999 and thats way out of my range. Then we have the CS60CF which seems more reasonable.

Oh god I dont want to be in that confusion circle again, I wont know what to buy

[stevemead08 752]

Whats the deal with this Bravox components?

A lot of people in the forums seem to like them. Now Im interested...

The problem is that the CS603CF is $999 and thats way out of my range. Then we have the CS60CF which seems more reasonable.

Oh god I dont want to be in that confusion circle again, I wont know what to buy

Read this!

My link

[jcarter1885 995]

what is your budget?

[slim142 9]

Read this!

My link

Yep, read that a min before you posted the link while searching the forums and thats what got me into "whats up with this brand that I never heard of???"

what is your budget?

I dont really have a "specific" budget, but let me just say that the Diamond Audio speakers for $650 are just out of the range for me so I havent even researched them. Lets not talk about the $999 Bravox... (but they just went for $509, at that price I could have thought about them)

The more I read about these XS-65, the more I like them. They seem to have great midbass response and with just 100watts RMS (which is what Im planning with the SAX-100.4) they seem like they are going to be a great set of components.

[stevemead08 752]

I would say the XS-65s on a sax100.4 sound like a great plan to me

[Impious 1,476]

I've heard nothing but good things about the new XS series from ID.

I'd really like to hear a pair some time.

[slim142 9]

Thanks

Yeah, for now I will only replace the front speakers. Leave the factory 6x8 in the back for now (hopefully it wont sound bad) and if anything, Ill put the fader to the front only. I just hope if I have to do that, the two XS65 are louder or at least as loud as the car is right now with four factory 6x8 speakers.

Im not sure how I will react without the rear speakers since Ive always had something in the rear doors LOL

[Impious 1,476]

Im not sure how I will react without the rear speakers since Ive always had something in the rear doors LOL

It will be something like this

[Nirvalica 0]

Make sure you have the mounting depth in the doors for those speakers. They are 3" deep, which is on the larger side.

[slim142 9]

Im not sure how I will react without the rear speakers since Ive always had something in the rear doors LOL

It will be something like this

Really??? so with that answer i assume you are saying that i dont really need speakers in the back at all? not even one pair?

I know most people dont worry about the back, but even the guy from the tahoe has at least 1 pair in the rear doors

Make sure you have the mounting depth in the doors for those speakers. They are 3" deep, which is on the larger side.

Its a ford expedition so it should be fine

[Frostedflakejake 148]

All this is from experience, not knowledge:

In my car, '04 explorer, I've replaced my front door speakers with a component set and am currently running them at around 50 watts a piece. At any volume level, I can't hear my rears which are being powered off the head unit. More experienced members on the board (M5 especially) seem to consistently say that you should spend all your money on one set for the front doors. That's what i did and i don't regret it. I've also haven't had any complaints about people in the back not being able to hear music well. If i were you, i would get one set for the front and not worry about the back

[slim142 9]

Frostedflake

Thats all I needed to hear. You have a really contributive post, specially when considering its actual experience.

Thank you very much sir

Now time to go bankrupt

If anybody knows if there is any deal for image dyanmics, please post it here

hey frostedflake, btw, which components are you running? just out of curiosity...

Edited September 7, 2010 by slim142

[Warbleed 1]

Frostedflake

Thats all I needed to hear. You have a really contributive post, specially when considering its actual experience.

Thank you very much sir

Now time to go bankrupt

If anybody knows if there is any deal for image dyanmics, please post it here

hey frostedflake, btw, which components are you running? just out of curiosity...

I own the XS-65s. I like them a lot, although I did replace the mids with the AA 6.5s because they have a lot more throw. Good set overall.

[Frostedflakejake 148]

No problem man! I try to help but it's hard because i don't know half as much as half the people here! If you want a more technical reason, try the search function. It will take a long time but i've read multiple threads of M5 explaining the advantages so these threads are out there! I run a boston acoustic pro60se set that I got for a tad shy of $300 at sonicelectronix. They are the first set I've seriously listened to and I'm satisfied. Of course, I need to deaden my doors and get a proper amp on them before I'm done with them, but as of right now, i'm fully contempt with them!

[slim142 9]

I didnt know AA was into mids.

What sizes do they have? from what I searched and found, it looks like they only have 7inch midbass speakers?

[Impious 1,476]

Yes, 7" mids only. And they don't sell complete "component sets", only the midbass (and I think they might offer outsourced tweeters, I really don't know off hand). But they do not offer any passive crossovers, so you would have to run active if you wanted to go that route.

As for rear speakers.....my kids have no problem hearing the music in the back of my full size sedan without any rear speakers, even at moderate volume levels.

[Kanaworm$ 292]

ID has always made quality products. I think you will be impressed with the SQ of the ID's.

AA has the 7" Carbon Mids and 1" textile soft dome tweeters that are sold as a set or seperate. Must be run active.

Ditch the rear speakers, you don't sit in the back seat when you drive!

[slim142 9]

Yep, even Eric from iD told me that with one pair in the front will be more than enough (after I upgrade to an aftermarket HU of course)

As for the AA mids, interesting. For a moment I thought it could have been a better idea to get them instead of iD BUT

Im not going active for now and I dont have space and/or time for a 7inch midbass (at least not now)

I could just get the iD XS-65 and then later on add the AA 7inch for midbass? Then make something like this AA 7" (80-200Hz), iD woofer (200-3,500hz), iD tweeter (3,500-22,000hz)

I have never mixed different brands tho, dont know how that would work out.

I wonder why AA doesnt promote this 7inch in their website...