Factory vs. Focal Aftermarket Car Speakers Blind Listening Test | Crutchfield Video

[@Jellybeantiger]

Should have compared non blown factory speakers .

[@rickc2222]

Exactly....what a stupid test.

[@danielgosden7207]

Plus the focal had a tweeter installed so unfair

[@JinxCanada]

good grief. i'm a customer of yours...and i love your products and service but come on....you can't use a blown 40 year old speaker against a new speaker and expect anything else. you could have used a brand new stock speaker and had the same results with some credibility

[@oslozoya1]

lmao marketing these day's..

[@ThinkDifferentish]

Probably because if they used new stock speakers or even low end Jensen or Pioneer speakers, half the people would prefer the cheap ones and NOT the Focal!!!

[@timothymitchell2831]

@@ThinkDifferentish Is there something wrong with you or have you never listened to a proper set of speakers or headphones. the difference is definitely there.

[@armandol1826]

Ivan Übermensch what's wrong w focal?

[@6footdirtnap]

Blow the focals then try

[@crutchfield]

Fair enough, Anthony - those were definitely two speakers on opposite ends of the spectrum. And obviously, a pretty extreme example of a blown factory speaker. Our intention with this little test was to have a little fun with some of our co-workers, and we had the blown speaker mounted already from a different project. Sadly, while that speaker is indeed quite old, it was only recently pulled from a car. So it's kind of amazing what some folks can put up with, huh?

[@Durosai]

bruh thats a terrible excuse. You dont need a video to prove that. Should have done a blind comparison with another pair speakers in its range or atleast ones that werent blown.

[@ChrisMartinScruffy]

It seems that almost everyone has missed the point of the vid. Statement was that when your factory speakers were new they sounded ok but over time they turn to crap and your ears have adjusted to this over time. The point was to take that crap sound to people who weren't "ear adjusted" listen to that and then hear what a fantastic speaker sounds like. If they wanted the sounds to be close, by replacing stock with a robust sounding speaker, that would the exact opposite point of this video. They WANTED dog poo vz pizza. EDIT and I just spent way too much time on a video from 2012 haha.

[@THEDANCINDJTRIVIAL]

lol i think the video is a joke considering the factory speaker was actually blown and the cone was torn, no proper condition for a comparison, and focals are like the cream of the crop car speakers

[@hawaiiguykailua6928]

+Josh Kushner Yeah it must have been "dumb idea of the week" week. I have K2's and am confident I could discern them from most average after market speakers. They just have an amazing clarity through power scale that is hard to fake with anything under $300 or so.

[@StanDaManReviews]

Poor testing. You should compare apples to apples. Not a blown mid bass OEM speaker with a brand new 2 way component Focal Speakers.

[@JoshuasRecordings]

Use a factory speaker in good condition and compare to a aftermarket speaker in good condition. After market are better, but really, that speaker was very blown.

[@charlesjacques750]

I totally get it. I had blown front speakers in my otherwise well kept and perfect '03 Honda Element EX. Focals were the best speakers the dealer had & auditioning made it a clear choice.

[@crutchfield]

Sure. If you get ones that have a low minimum power requirement (2-6 watts RMS) and a high sensitivity rating, they will work well off the wattage of the factory system. Any aftermarket speakers should be able to handle the additional wattage of an aftermarket stereo when you upgrade. If you plan to go with a high wattage amplifier to power the door speakers, you may want to wait on new speakers until you can get the amp. Feel free to call for additional assistance: 800.315.0030--Crutchfield

[@dufonrafal]

The amount of people that don't get the joke is incredible...

[@crutchfield]

While you may be able to custom mount a 6” or 6.5” midbass driver in your vehicle, the Ford factory 6x8” speaker mounts will make it difficult. If you prefer to use a round speaker and do not want to customize the factory mount, we do offer adapter plates for securing aftermarket 5.25” speakers in the factory locations. Feel free to call for additional assistance: 800.315.0030--Crutchfield

[@henrikaleksandernilsen6388]

A blown speaker where it looks like a 5 year old had been using a hammer on it.... I say it's pretty obvious and you don't need a blind test to know that you can pretty much find a better sounding speaker on the side of the road. I recently changed the headunit in my 2000 Toyota Corolla with a Pioneer, and they sound quite good even with the factory speakers. But I'm planning to change them anyway.

[@jamesjensen5226]

I have 2019 mkz with the upgraded system sounds amazing just wanted to know if focal would be better

[@crutchfield]

With the right speaker and amp combo, yes definitely.

[@joshkane6227]

Thats a great idea lets compare a $700 plus set of component speakers to a destroyed factory speaker... How about using a new factory speaker at least? and maybe even a set of jensens as they will still sound better then factory. Almost all your videos have bad reviews.

[@rc1pro]

Agreed with the comparison a little off set..being able to hear the blown speaker through even the computer must have meant it was much more obvious in person. I cant argue though that the focals would've still sounded better in general even to a well working factory full range/2 way/3 way..You cant beat component speakers for sound quality..Much lower cost sets would sound better also however

[@crutchfield]

We found 5.25” round speakers in the front doors for both the factory 4 speaker & factory 8 speaker sound systems. If you plan to power the new speakers from the stock radio/amplifier, you’ll want to select models with a low minimum power requirement and a high sensitivity rating. Feel free to call for additional assistance: 800.315.0030--Crutchfield

[@cyberguy7741]

why are the focal speakers playing louder? level matching is essential for A/B listening tests

[@ThinkDifferentish]

I disagree. It is a great indicator of sensitivity. Most people will be using this with a headunit or factory stereo/amp. But this "test" was otherwise seriously flawed.

[@Rendergears]

Indeed it is quite amazing. Most entry-level and mid-range vehicles tend to have fairly basic speakers that are invariably bland. The whole point of aftermarket speakers is that they provide the driver that sweet spot in bass and clarity at high volumes. Overall I think that your video provides a fair argument which is to say that an aftermarket speaker can provide a better experience than factory ones but better use a functional speaker next time round ;)

[@07wrxtr1]

Agreed, and once you do go with aftermarket speakers, you really need an aftermarket amp to control them properly. In this case I don't see how it's even in the same league comparison wise. I went from 15watts to 600 (824 watts on the RF sheet) watts bi amped pushing some hertz hsk165's, ditched the passive networks, so they are getting the power. Not the loudest setup, but there's just no comparison to the stock deck that most likely clipped at 8-10 watts!!! I did attempt to simply "drop in" new speakers using the stock deck, it was a complete waste of time.

[@Hometheaterguy1]

If an aftermarket amp is used, as well.

[@Nathan_Jay]

Thinking about upgrading the JBL door speakers in my Toyota Avalon to Focal Flax Evo...worth the $900 upgrade for door speakers?

[@crutchfield]

That's always the question one must ask themselves when weighing the options and the changes the upgrade makes to the sound. We have advisors that can discuss your goals and preferences to get a personal recommendation on if these speakers will meet them. Here's how to reach us for this help: www.crutchfield.com/I-rYTVc227/support/ContactUs.aspx

[@idioty33]

I have a Euro spec MKII Ford Focus, and when i bought the car (7 years old when i got it) i was quite impressed with the sound system in the car, however it still is nothing to brag about, so i am planning to get a whole new sound system installed when i get the money together, but yesterday my left front speaker blew, just wondering whether it would be worth getting some nice aftermarket speakers and running them of the factory sound system for a couple of months until i can get a head unit/amp

[@crutchfield]

Not supposed to be - just having a little fun.

[@crutchfield]

We used the Focal K2 Power 165KR speakers--Crutchfield

[@manitobamanitoba1796]

Why would you not compare it to non-blown factory speakers and or say Alpine Type r's Infinity reference or Infinity Kappa speakers etc etc etc

[@crutchfield]

This comparison was a bit more extreme for sure!

[@jimbrausky]

This is the same video they use for the audiofrog speakers and who knows which others. It doesn't say nothing but that the factory speakers sound bad. I see this video is older than ice age

[@stevelang26]

I change all speakers to Focal in my new 2021 mustang gt premium

[@TRFDVB45CS]

This is like... a blind taste test. item 1 is a 5 week old salmon. item 2 is fresh salmon. No shit when the subject can tell the difference!

[@anarchist393]

come on man that was a stupid test, the "factory speaker" was in pieces. not slightly cracked/torn that shit was put through a blender. that test was like saying can you feel the difference between a bat across the face and a twig

[@paulinap9739]

What speakers can you recommend for Audi TT mk2 convertible. I have non bose ones and one is rattling which is pretty annoying. Don’t know anything about car speakers so any advice would be great.

[@crutchfield]

We have researched a couple of those cars and have replacements for some of the drivers in it. We recommend contacting an advisor to discuss your vehicle and its system to check if we have replacements for it. We have a few choices, we can help recommend the best for your preferences. Here's how to reach us for this help: www.crutchfield.com/I-rYTVc227/support/ContactUs.aspx

[@bierlichen1]

If they're having a little fun with co workers why is everyone saying it's a poor comparison? I'm not a Crutchfield fanboy but I'm sure they know it's a poor comparison.

[@ThinkDifferentish]

Why don't they do actual blind comparisons between their products and see which one was most beloved? I would bet it would be something NOT many hundreds/thousands of dollars.

[@MegaBillWood]

I can here the difference, I guess my 5 year old factory speakers are good. Thanks!

[@Jvilleman400]

Kicker qs 60.2? Or 65.2? Ina ford focus lx, 2000

[@rickyc874]

I want to hear the focal icu compared to k2s

[@crutchfield]

Hi Ricky! You may want to check our our Speaker Simulator tool on our site! You can audition numerous car and home audio speakers, and perform a comparison study of the different lines of Focal speakers! www.crutchfield.com/I-rYTVc164/speakercompare/

[@iAmHexos]

You keep your disintegrated speakers in your 1998 Toyota corolla. Sit in a real nice car with factory speakers, see if it sounds good.

[@Rendergears]

It would have been better if you had used a factory speaker that was still in respectable condition. Comparing a decrepit factory speaker with a new aftermarket one is a completely unfair comparison in the first place. Any factory speaker in that condition would be reason to switch it on the spot and any newly installed speaker would sound better. Plus how many years of usage would it take for a speaker to reach that level of degradation. 10 years?

[@Bhartiya969]

I have installed 4 speakers the one which has a Twitter, 3 years ago on my Blaupunkt car stereo and I am not happy at all with the sound.... I am thinking of throw away those speakers and like to install pioneer. Please Let me know what I did wrong?

[@smoketheartist9501]

Might have something to do with only one having a tweeter?

[@Bhartiya969]

@@smoketheartist9501 Thanks for your reply.. All the speakers has built in tweeter

[@4xoverland]

Now I know why so many down thumbs, A completely pointless test. Was thinking of buy FOCAL. Maybe not now because you had to use totally blown speakers as a comparison test? Seriously? They must sound really shit when compared to say Sony or Alpine new?

[@doublebubleguy12]

I am upgrading from my Alpine SPS speakers which imo sound very good for the money but I once heard some Focal AS3s at a show not to long ago and they sounded beautiful which is what I will be getting. I also considered Sundown neopros which surprisingly were nice and crisp sounding and at one point almost went with Crescendo UNs until I heard them in person, My first impression was that they scream very loud but in terms of sq are lacking.

[@Eazyebnk]

The size of a car door or rear mount isn't as big as that box the speakers are in...

[@rc1pro]

Doesn't matter what box they are in or what car they are in...the difference in sound quality would still be apparent...even if the stock speaker was in perfect working condition.

[@carlose9468]

Michael Hitt I understand what you mean, but i disagree. I'm a big car audio fanatic, not professional or anything i just enjoy it. It is true the sound quality would be apparent compared to the crap off brand they're using. Focal is a very good brand & im familiar with their products. a friend got some of the cheaper 99$ ones & my moms stock audio system in her hyundai blew them away, and he had all aftermarket equipment. so the car does matter. the fact that they have them in a big box compared to just a car door mount does make a difference just like car audio brands recommend a certain amount of cubic feet for subwoofer enclosures, to make them louder.

[@luffararnesugerkuk]

Doing a real disservice to everyone involved and not involved in the "experiment", truly bad example if ever saw one and no "but it is this or that" in the world can save this train wreak of a infomercial. Now let's do a double blind test instead where you cannot smile and hint, to make it interesting and genuine let's put a competitor in same class in there, say a Morel competitor? Then add 2-3 factory systems from cheapest KIA China made crap to a decent higher end factory from Mercedes, Audi, BMW or other premium car where it's the upgrade system tested. Do that and create same jaw dropping and no hint of looking confused trying to understand the situation and I'll be impressed, now that is a test blind test and not a destroyed cone.

[@Alikhan78611]

Sorry, what exactly was the point of this vdo? If you have a busted speaker isn't it obvious to replace it!! won't it be fair to compare new with a used and not a busted speaker (same make and everything) to compare the quality difference over time

[@djrez2107]

cmon went from spam to lobster not a fair fight

[@davidniquot6423]

If you need to blow away the factory speaker to make your listeners to see the difference .. simply mean your Focal aftermarket suck.

[@amanipani6623]

"Jaguar XF Vs Mitsubishi Mirage"

[@BilboCameron]

Absolutely worthless and absurd test. Crutchfield, a company that I have purchased from before, must think we are stupid. Wow.

[@Deke1]

I have some breaking news for you, every company thinks you're stupid!

[@bassebassesen2254]

How to get fired, it's that bad. in fact, this is a good proof that we cant take audio tests seriously

[@millerscrazy17]

this is not a fair comparison

[@jeffalan6339]

Test speaker B sounds like the bose system in my Cadillac. It is true disappointment. Hardly any bass yet has 12 inch sub, the speakers have little clarity,yet deafening at 425 watts. I work as band manager and in music production from simple peavy systems to jbl yorkville to high end rcf mains and 2x18 subs I want natural sons as if a real band was before you. Focal like many audio engineers prefer L Acoustic that maybe the french can make a excellent speaker.

[@turning007anime]

I have that same CD Tuner! 😊

[@louisvl10]

The factory don't have tweeters, they're obviously going to sound worse.

[@rickyc874]

Should've played to blown ones first lol

[@Hometheaterguy1]

Which were Bose lol

[@Mixtapemusix1]

This is one fucked up test it's not fair

[@ThinkDifferentish]

DO THIS TEST WITH ALL YOUR SPEAKERS AGAINST ONE ANOTHER!!! BE HONEST AND NOT MISLEADING! LETS GET TO THE TRUTH!

[@bbaird197]

The truth is, Focal's are bad ass. So are Hertz and Alpine R. You get what you pay for.

[@ThinkDifferentish]

@@bbaird197 What exactly do they do that every other speaker does not? Most bass? No. Loudness? No. Accuracy/flatness? Nobody likes that.

[@ThinkDifferentish]

@@bbaird197 There is good reason that there are ZERO blind comparisons of car speakers against one another on KZbin or really anywhere. It does not sell. Most people don't want to know the truth.

[@geekstar2937]

Is it me, or was this completely pointless? :)

[@kapilso]

no fair. compete with our neighbors China !

[@jackmehoffer1395]

>focal nice rich clean bass you mean DYNAUDIO? focal s are annoying high DYN's DO have nice natural soft rich and nice bass.

[@lillnemo1]

I havent heard dynaudio before, but I can tell you Focal's can sound sweet too, even the bass. SOMETIMES the tweeters can be a bit high, but appearently only to ones with "sensitive" ears like you and me. In my volvo, some didnt believe the sound (and bass) came from only the compo in the front doors. No rear speakers and no sub. When I plugged in the sub, only the SUBbass was more impressive, but the kickbass was all due to the sweet and cheap 165V1's... I only activite the sub for dubstep and deep body shaking bass. Quality music like dire straits, violins, etc ... I only need the composet.... Focals arent too expensive here in europe and are one of THE BEST BANG FOR BUCK speakers you can get for you car.

[@seankiesling2054]

Lol this had potential to be a good idea but this might have been the dumbest thing I've ever seen lol was this for real?

[@SMUVEG]

They should be ashamed. This is as close to false advertising as you can get. He describes the sound as warm and the first word that comes out of the first ladies mouth is warm. Not a lot of lay people know how to describe music and very few would know warm as a music description. You could make a video of that alone. I smell fraud.

[@LogenNineFingers43]

Normally i would agree, but he said they were bringing in some of their experts, being people who deal with sound on a daily basis. so warm would be a very common word in their vocabulary to describe that

[@akilghosh]

How stupid can people get ?

[@bassebassesen2254]

I have seen MANY idiotic tests on youtube. But this is so bad that it gets hysterical. Almost as bad as the so-called tests on their website. Totally useless, loud reading of a toothpaste tube is just as helpful. How to get fired, it's that bad

[@ricko9879]

Fowcal lol

[@Topsiekku]

a little bit stupid test

[@thetiagomatos]

What's the point of this video tho hahahah

[@lillnemo1]

like soooo many said, this was a SHIT video. you should have compared a hardly ever used factory set with a new focal set. THAN you had something interesting going on. NO ONE will ever contest that blown speakers sound rubbish and YES YOU WILL NOTICE they start going bad!!!!!! I had focal 165V1's in my volvo and after thrashing HARD for over TEN years, they only now started to sound a bit daft. BUT DAMN they still sounded at least twice as good as the new factory 16.5cm speakers in my new KIA... And those dont sound BAD....

[@Patsbrady0345]

that was a terrible video. U didn't show them listening to one and then the other and then u cut the video before anyone gives an opinion.If this was to get people to buy focal It did the opposite for me.I would just redo the video or take it down. Its confusing and makes focal look like a shitty brand.

[@TreesOnTheBeach]

This is a funny video. .>

[@K4g4m1]

This is just about the most useless blind test I have ever seen.