As I am sure you are aware, Pioneer, the largest OEM manufacturer of speakers in the world, has different levels of products. Most people are familiar with the lower end offerings at the big box stores such as Best Buy.What people are not familiar with are how many other manufacturers source their products from Pioneer.

Above the standard line up wouldbe the PRS series which are not found at the big box stores.

To suggest that the Pioneer TS-C720PRS are a “slight upgrade over factory” would be personal opinion and not based upon factual information. Here is a review of them from Car Audio & Electronics:

http://www.caraudiomag.com/testreports/0612_caep_pioneer_premier_ts_c720prs/index.html

The next step up would be the Pioneer ODR Carrozzeria which is not even imported into the US. What many manufacturers have discovered is that the market for high end car audio products in the US is incredibly small compared to Europe and Asia so they no longer import many of their products. Unfortunately the masses buy based upon name recognition over actual performance. Pioneer displayed their new ODR line up at CES a couple of months ago. It was some of the most impressive equipment I have seen in all my years of attending CES.

Here is a small sampling of ODR Pioneer:

http://stores.ebay.com/w707857

The $2,600 price tag for just a pair of T1 tweeters and M1 series mids makes the offerings from JL appear inexpensive. A good amp for an entire set up would be the Pioneer RS-A9X&RS-A7X amplifier for only $8,400. In other parts of the world, and to the select few in the US who are running ODR, it is clear that Pioneer is in a very prestigious group of esoteric car audio manufacturers. I realize no one on here is looking to spend $10,000 on a pair of speakers and an amp plus another $5,000 for a head unit and processor but Pioneer clearlymakes products which are certainly an upgrade over factory.

 

I'm about to upgrade my truck, thought I'd stick with Infinity to match the badges on the interior. OK, not really why, but I do like the Kappa series. I got mine off of Amazon, from a company called Globazar that sells through there. I'm very happy with the service, even happier with the prices. The 693.7i 6x9's cost $200 through Crutchfield, about $95 through Globazar. I've finished it out with Infinity Kappa 32.7cf 3-1/2"s for the dash ($49), and Kappa 60.7cs 6-1/2"'s for the rear door ($118). That's under $270 for all three sets, as opposed to $550 through Crutchfield. I like Crutchfield, but so much to pay twice the price.

I'll be mating these with the new Kenwood 8120 in a week or so; I'll take lots of pics and post a DIY. You can get the 8120, a top of the line double DIN Nav unit with DVD, Bluetooth, iPod integration and more for $1400 from WickedCAS.com. That, the speakers, and decent amp will run you a bit over $2K. I'm like most of the rest of you, I'm not spending $10K+ for a car stereo. That $10K setup won't sound that much better than mine for what I'll do with it.... I'm not planning on blasting the entire neighborhood with it.

 

I just ordered the Infinity Kappa 6x9 3-ways for the front and the Infinity Reference shallow mount 6 1/2 for the rear. They will be here Thursday. I will let you know how they sound.

 

every one says there truck has 6x9's in the front and 6.5's in the back. my 04 has 6.5's in the front and5.25's in the back. why are my truck's speakers different?

 

pete sorry to burst ur bubble but I was talking about the pioneers he was looking at getting which I believe were either tsg or tsa series which are definately only slight factory upgrades. and yes I do know that there are different levels of speakers from pioneer but I don't believe anyone in this thread was talking about them. but thnx for trying to get technical lol.

 

anybody know if the infinity system runs only lows to the 6x9 door speakers?

 

has anybody just replaced the infinity 6x9 with another and had full sound? thanks again

 

just wondering about the guys who have replaced their 6x9's. I want to replace, but want full sound! thanks
Tyler

 

yes if u have the infinity system then the 6x9 in the front are nuthin but bass maybe a little voice but that is why we have tweeters in the dash but yeah if u were to replace those it would make a big improvment.

 

So if you replace with a 2 or 3 way speaker isnt that kind of a waste? Will the tweeters/midrange on the new speakers even work? thanks
Tyler