Focal es165KX2 real world testing

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*Ben sound.com
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.

[@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!!!

[@peterdiaz2787]

Came across your channel, how do you like your demore amps...

[@christiandshatto7765]

They are extremely small, no floor noise- meaning they're quiet, no hiss, and the output is very clean. Distortion factory on facebook, and Tony D'amore, have posted videos showing how clean their output is, harmonics, etc.IMO, that's what's most important for any amplifier. Thanks for watching

[@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.

[@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. 😁

[@felixmedrano8208]

Just got these along with the KX3E midranges for $780 from an overseas authorized distributor. Well be getting those tweeters as well once they get the back in stock. Been running the flax 3-way for a few years, thought it was time for an upgrade.

[@christiandshatto7765]

@@felixmedrano8208 you'll enjoy them:) I prefer morel, but got a good deal on these 2way bc of the newer version that replaced them. ( I would never hesitate to run these or my morel:) People claim the tweeters are too bright, I think their more detailed because they are a lower ohm load than your typical soft dome I'm used too. Hope you enjoy them👍🏼

[@daveroski]

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

[@MrSupernova111]

Sounds very clean! What are your thoughts between those and the Flax? Also, maybe I missed it but did you install K2s in the rear as well or just the front? Thanks!

[@christiandshatto7765]

@@MrSupernova111 I always use an extra set of morel hybrids 6.5 for my rear fill, just the mid itself. I don't like coaxials for the rear. The flax are good speakers. I've never used them in my car.

[@MrSupernova111]

@@christiandshatto7765 . Thanks for the reply! Cheers!

[@jessewoodworth3888]

Hey Sir,Whats the differences in midbass between the Focal Kx2 2ohm 2ways vs focal K2 Kx3 4ohm? Im replacing my morel maximus comp set up but torn between these sets! Any recommendations on sugg wattage power best to put on the Focal Kx2's? Im located in N.O,La & AL's doing install & dsp tuning @ SMS Mobile solutions he is really great guy!

[@jessewoodworth3888]

Hey bud,Am lookin to doing a Focal build in mynew f150 soon..how would u describe the difference between the 4ohm focal es165k2 vs the es165kx2 2ohm? Which one has best strongest midbass.Is the higher price worth payin more for phase plug & 2ohms over dust cap 4ohms? Would really appreciate the advice!! Thankyou

[@christiandshatto7765]

@jessewoodworth3888 I've only used the 2ohm- Focal is a very reputable brand, so I do not believe you can go wrong with either set. If you haven't gotten amps yet, consider the mosconi pro series for lots of power👍🏻

[@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

[@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.

[@tomgarcia9200]

because they are bright, they can be fatiguing to listen to for extended periods. I do like the way they sound however, they have immense detail, just fatiguing. Morel is too warm, focal is too bright, I prefer DLS personally

[@MrSupernova111]

@@tomgarcia9200 . Can't you adjust the highs with the eq or a dsp amp?

[@jessewoodworth3888]

A highend helix or mosconi dsp can fix any brightness or warmness sound your wanting on these focal k2's.Ive 100% heard things in songs from my kx2 that I've never heard before after adding a good amp & the dsp tuned by a pro shop!!!

[@joegarcia6276]

Sound good

[@SenorReflex]

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👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@winchester5566]

Thats good bass right there, u didnt turn on your sub right? How do you treat your doors? I have the same car but without the B&O, I have tons of resonance in the doors.

[@christiandshatto7765]

@winchester5566 yeah we have the same car I have the non b&O as well. I like to use stinger ultimate sound deadening on the inside shell of the door on the door and some parts of the door panel itself. If you look at one of my newer videos where I added the morel hybrid component system you'll see my right door panel is off that's just the part of the panel that the speaker side goes in, but I also have the deadening on the other side which would be the outside door panel, if you go for that area as well I suggest putting some sort of a sleeve on your arms so you don't cut them

[@christiandshatto7765]

@larenngui8631 I've used a fiio DAC before but I just currently run the head unit front left front right factory output, which has a full range signal to my mosconi aero 812 DSP, becore the nosconi amps

[@winchester5566]

The factory head unit doesnt give full range to left right...unless u sum it with the sub input, or maybe im mistaken. Thanks

[@christiandshatto7765]

@winchester5566 mine on an RTA shows it being a flat signal except, a 2/3 DB increase @500 hertz, and a 2/3 DB increase at 5K hrtz, no bass roll off

[@winchester5566]

Mine is not, it rolls off from 160hz and below. Amazing sound system..looking forward to it.

[@joegarcia6276]

Nice what amps u powering them with

[@christiandshatto7765]

Rn, the d'amore 700.4

[@joegarcia6276]

@@christiandshatto7765 oh ok

[@jessewoodworth3888]

Hey Christian brother,I'm switching u my build soon I wanted know which amplifier would u suggests sound better for SQ using Focal Kx2 2ohm 6.5" comp set,OK...Between Focal Fpx4.400 SQ amp vs D'amore 4.400 amplifier? I'm currently using older blue/Silver Audison LRX 4.300 amp & love the sound quality it gives!.Added rearfill & need new amp for frnt stage speakers! Thanks Brother man

[@christiandshatto7765]

I have never heard the focal amp but it's supposed to be a good. The d'amore amps are one of the best class d, in my opinion.

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@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

[@neildeatherage2269]

Goodness those royalty free tracks are just, horrendous.. If you do another video like this Trap Nation has some royalty free hour long continuous mixes that even if not your style of music, are very dynamic and many tracks containing female vocals.. was unable to listen to any more than just a couple of seconds of whatever those were