Focal es165KX2 real world testing

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I purchased a set of the Focal es165k2 component sets and put them in the Audi yesterday. Factory head unit into Mosconi aero8/12 active LWR 24db/octave 3500 on tweeters, 72-3500 LWR bandpass, 24db/octave into the D'amore 700.4.

[@ryanb8736]

Focal KX2/3 are some of the best speakers. Especially for the price. After they break in, they get even better. If one is super picky on music, Focal is the one to impress. Especially K2’s.

[@nathangardner772]

I have those in my van doors. But I bought the es 100k set also. So my 3 way is the kx2 2 ohm 6.5s in the doors. Then I put the es100s as a midrange along with the tkmx tweets in custom a pillar trims. As on axis as I could get them. 8w7 in a center console. 3 amps and a Zapco 8 channel dsp. They sound great. Nice work.

[@christiandshatto7765]

Thanks for sharing!!!

[@daveroski]

FYI, for those thinking of switching to FraC version, I guess they are only good ON-AXIS

[@ryanb8736]

When people call them too bright, it means there’s lots of full detail in the sound that some people are sensitive too. They are not for sensitive ears. It’s all about the tuning is dsp. You will hear details you’ve never heard before. KX2 are spectacular for that. Plus the louder they play, they stay clean and sound better.

[@tretruelove1287]

Thanks for doing this review. Now you have me wondering if the Focal’s will sound any different hooked up to Mosconi amps instead of the clean Amore amps! LOL

[@christiandshatto7765]

Atm, there hooked up to the D'amore, and sound incredible. I wonder how they will sound on a good class AB. Time will tell. 😁

[@masonhackler2883]

Wait til they break in and come alive…

[@ryan72350]

how do you like the d'amore amps ? do they have enough power to push the focal speaker? what do u consider your set up spl, sq or sql ? im looking into the d'amore amps myself and would appreciate some feed back on them.

[@christiandshatto7765]

If you want power, with SQ, buy the D'amore 700.4, & yes it's more than enough power to push the focals. The 400.4 is nice too, but it's not enough power for me. D'amore amps are on sale at a great deal and thanks for asking. Tony has a lot of videos showing you not only the power, but the harmonics on his amps. The sound is extremely clean, only class d I've heard this clean till D'amore were alpine pdx👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@Lordvoldemore]

Did you gain match to the rms of each speaker or the full 100w on the tweeter? I’ve never ran active but I want to.

[@christiandshatto7765]

No, just crossovered at the dsp, and no gain on the Amp. Tweeters don't need a lot of power. And, if I remember, about-4db before the tweeter, speaker outputs, and 180' out of phase to the mid bass drivers. ( the Mosconi aero 8/12 dsp always puts them out of phase, and they do blend best with mid that way. Thanks for commenting. Just make sure you have your tweeter brand crossed at the correct Xover point, and remember, less is more with tweeters, and trust your ears too, aside from equipment.

[@Sparky_94]

How do these compare to the morel hybrids? What are you crossing the tweeters at? Also did you try them on axis at all?

[@christiandshatto7765]

These are closer to elates. Imo, and I've owned 2 sets of hybrids, and they're nice, but the kx2s have more output, espicially on the midbass (2ohm mids). 2 completly different speaker sets.

[@ryanb8736]

How are you getting a signal to amps? Is your car a B&O system?

[@christiandshatto7765]

@@ryanb8736 non amplified mmi to mosconi aero 8/12

[@vetteman0071]

How did these compare to the Morel carbon's? Midbass better about the same?

[@christiandshatto7765]

@@vetteman0071 I believe the focal midbass is better. I sold my elate carbons so I never got a chance to try them on the mosconi pro 430. The morel hybrids are my favorite because they have a higher sensitivity & sound wonderful

[@daveroski]

Was thinking about switching to these from audiofrog for just a change, However, not sure I want to give up GP60s, my helix pushes 120 each, but 280 each at 2ohms. I am hoping voices sound super natural and airy, that is what I am going for...do you think k2s do that or something else? Remember K2 are 2 ohm, so it kind of trumps sensitivity of 4 ohm speakers if your amp gives it more power. oh and I was thinking of getting those same sneakers~ what do you think of those?Thanks! Did you sell the k2s? maybe trade?haha

[@christiandshatto7765]

@@daveroski it's a difficult question to answer to be fair bc I've only heard the audiofrogs in jacobs(?) , Andy's son's volvo over a year ago. My K2s measure between 2.8- 3.1ohms, even though they are rated 2. I typically run morel, preferably hybrids, and I've used the elate carbons before too. As I'm getting older, and experiencing 'hearing loss', I purchased the K2s for a few reasons. #1, I want a bright tweeter, as they've been described by many. To my ears they do not seem 'bright', rather more detailed, and present. Secondly, I was able to get this set with about $500 off the normal msrp. So, I figured why not give them a try as the are a reputable brand. I have been running these since January, and haven't switched them out. I run them active from a mosconi aero 8/12 dsp, to a mosconi pro430 amp. ( I may be trying the morel 8" integration comps. in the near future.) There just never seems to be enough output, imo. Hence the possible hearing loss, and the inability to replace my factory head unit. If you try the K2s, let me know what you think, and thanks for watching/commenting👍🏼

[@daveroski]

@@christiandshatto7765 Do they see open and airy? Now that you broke them in more, are they getting better? Did you do a good tune on them?

[@christiandshatto7765]

They are broken in, and sound wonderful for my front stage. I don't use that word "airy". I think I know what you are asking. Are they full, and fill the space for the sound stage? Yes, yes they do. So much so, that even though I installed the newer km3 for my center, I've turned that off now, as I was losing detail. (Previously, I had the center 3" at a minus 6db, & I was running the audison apf8. 9bit amp, which helped to make the front stage fuller. There are so many factors that effect this.) With the pro430 I continued to listen with/without that center speaker, and to me it currently sounds better without it.

[@daveroski]

@@christiandshatto7765 awesome. Thank you ! Happy 4th!

[@daveroski]

@@christiandshatto7765 I think I’m trying to say wide sound stage for airy. Not like it’s playing in a closet but a wide open area

[@henrythompson5624]

Where did you purchase them from for the discounted price

[@christiandshatto7765]

Open box from Crutchfield= brand new. The tweeters were definitely brand new, no mounting marks on the basket of the 6.5s, & passive Xovers hadn't been pulled out of the protective/sleeve. Crutchfield has them on sale though, bc focal introduced a newer version with a new tweeter called "frak". That new tweeter can play low, I believe as low as 1700kHz

[@henrythompson5624]

@christiandshatto7765 oh wow I'm going to go on they site now thanks for your help in the information on video

[@joegarcia6276]

Nice what amps u powering them with

[@christiandshatto7765]

Rn, the d'amore 700.4

[@joegarcia6276]

@@christiandshatto7765 oh ok