Well I had Infinity Kappa 4x6 speakers in my dash...I was planning on purchasing possibly a PPI PC4400.2 amp soon (50x4) and well my left front speaker sounded all fuzzy and messed up on the way home today...checked all the wires...good....pulled the dash pad off...hmm the cones all cracked up and busted..thats not good.....the right one looks to be slightly cracked too but not as bad...so I need new 4x6s now (the old ones were being ran from the HU w/ bass blockers) any recommendations? I thought the infinitys were pretty good til it blew up what about boston acoustics? clarion? polk? what do you guys think of the amp? suggestions for something other than 4x6 speakers in front are welcome too
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Tom
Black '91 RS 305TBI
My Web Page


[This message has been edited by TwicK91 (edited October 12, 2000).]

 

Kicker Impulse I460........

 

The Infinity's are good speakers. I have had my kappas for a long time and they are in great shape. Since they are in the dash and have little grills over them, they take alot of abuse by the sun (UV is some nasty *** stuff) and dirt and dust can get on them. I have one of those carpet like dash covers. Helps keep the dash nice, but it does reduce some of the very high frequencies coming from the speaker. I suggest you goto a shop and listen to some of the high end speakers and decide for yourself which you like best. All the high end speakers will stand up fairly well to the elements, but none are indestructable. Over time the heat and everything will make them dry out and crack.

PPI makes some good ****. I'm am not familiar with the specifics of that perticular amp, but PPI is pretty good quality.

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-Justin-
T-Top '86 5.0L LG4 700R4 WS6 Now Bilstein equipped!
T-Top '92 5.0L TBI 700R4
My '86 Firebird Homepage
The F-body Model Kit Pictoral Archive (updated 9/18/00)

There can be only one!!

[This message has been edited by Justins86bird (edited October 12, 2000).]

 

Well how come my kappas blew up? was it from powering them with just a head unit and not an amp? I found MB Quarts RSB 215 for around $200...how hard is it to make custom kick panels for them?

 

There has been a LOT of people on this board complaining of the infinity cones breaking up. I would strongly consider running a search on this message board for infinity posts and reading up. I'm running Boston 746 plates in my dash, and I've been using the same pair since high school. They started in my firebird, then went to my IROC, then into my Cherokee and now in my 86. They still sound great, and I give 'em quite a workout. At work we sell them, and they are the best sounding small speakers in the board. They aren't cheap, but they are well worth the money.

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The IROC Homepage
<A HREF="http://www.rit.edu/~jli4307/camaro" TARGET=_blank>
View the restoration of an 85 IROC</A>
"I didn't know a bored out Ford could go so slow" -Shenandoah

 

Yea I have read a few posts here and on NEThirdgen about the Infinitys cracking...from what I remember most people had them crack fairly quick...I figured I had mine for 2 years and they are still fine I must have a good pair....and now they crack I guess mine weren't good either.....makes me wonder if I should still get the Infinity Perfect 12".......

 

From what little I know about polymers, that looks like the cones aren't UV stabilized, and the sun killed them. Maybe just the heat.

My kickers have held up well, I've had the impulse 4x6 coaxial, and the rs4.2 currently, and they sound awesome!

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Working on:
'84 Z28 LG4 305
Added dual elec fans.
145 MPH IROC Speedo
Building 430 HP 350
using primarily GMPP parts.
Block is in shop!

Starting to look like the Kicker poster child!

 

I was kinda thinking about that tonight...and I do have a black car/black interior that is not garage kept so it does get a bit warm in there thats why I was kinda thinkin off putting some speakers in the kick panels...atleast they'd be away from direct sunlight that way.

 

Well, dont the Kappas still carry a 3 year warranty? If so and yours are less then 3 years old, they may replace it if there is a design flaw. Cant hurt to find out.

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-Justin-
T-Top '86 5.0L LG4 700R4 WS6 Now Bilstein equipped!
T-Top '92 5.0L TBI 700R4
My '86 Firebird Homepage
The F-body Model Kit Pictoral Archive (updated 9/18/00)

There can be only one!!

[This message has been edited by Justins86bird (edited October 14, 2000).]

 

Hey Twick,

Its like deja vu. Sorry I didn't see this post sooner!!

I had Kappa rears and RS fronts, and guess what happened? The 6x9 Kappas warped, and the 4x6 plate RS's started to crack, and I was just like you...had bass blockers and was running them off my Eclipse head unit. I brought mine back to Circuit City, as they were 2 months old, and I had them substitute a pair of Polks I had a week and sold.

I agree with Jim...I swapped my Infinitys for Boston 746 fronts and RX 3 way 6x9 rears, and I am thrilled. Boston all the way!!

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Jason E
'89 Camaro RS 2.8
Hypertech chip/K&N filters/Accel 8.8 wires/RapidFires
Eclipse CD, 100x4 amp/Boston plates and 6x9s
Alpine Alarm w/ Keyless entry
IROC tailights/tinted windows

 

I attached a piece of black fabric under my dashboard across the speaker holes. It should help to keep some sun off the speakers and there's no reflection of the speaker in the windshield when I'm driving.

 

I'll also vote for the Boston Acoustics. Not a lot of money, fit right in (with a squeeze), and sound VERY clean - not too harsh, but nicely balanced and lots of clarity. Swapped a pair in, and have been very happy - nice imaging off the glass!