Kappa vs reference

Topic: Kappa vs reference (Read 2002 times) previous topic - next topic

Kappa vs reference

April 16, 2006, 01:13:46 AM

I swapped some Infinity Kappa 693.5i's (last 4ohm Kappas) in place of the Reference 6913i's I had in there before. Quite noticeably, the lows increased in both sound quality and power, while the mids to highs seem almost non existent. The Kappas come with the external crossovers. Plugging in the tweeter side I can hear a little of something, but not much - while plugging in the woofer fills the thing with sound - lacking much highs. Using the EQ in the car, there's a noticeable increase or decrease in sound when adjusting any frequency except 12KHz.

The Reference speakers, they played highs much better and comparing the two running side by side, the Kappas just seem led. Hooking the speaker wire directly to the woofer terminals on the Kappas, the mids and highs come out much louder. I'd test the tweeters themselves, but afraid my amp won't be able to run a high pass that high.

Is this quality difference on highs typical, or may I have some bad crossovers and/or tweeters? Both speakers and both crossovers act the same. Reversing the polarity does nothing.

edit:
Hooked up a coax alpine 5¼" speaker to the tweeter output on a crossover and got the same little sound that the Kappas would put out. There IS sound, just not enough compared to the amount of low/mid volume

Kappa vs reference

Reply #1 – April 16, 2006, 02:54:32 AM

the 693.5i's have 18db crossovers.. the 6913i's may have 6 or 12db crossovers.. but i can't seem to find full specs on the crossovers for 6913i's..

Nick

Kappa vs reference

Reply #2 – April 16, 2006, 12:58:35 PM

I like the reference. Definitely better than my old Pioneers!

Kappa vs reference

Reply #3 – April 16, 2006, 02:22:40 PM

So thats what all that crossover stuff means...thanks for stating it. Looked it up and it makes sense

I don't like the basket/mounting design of the 6913 reference speakers...it bends easily when mounting and screws up the woofer's movement. Looking at pictures, I think the 9613's have the same type as these Kappas. Definitely more clear though, from what I'm hearing.

...looks like my 6 1/2's also share the same crossover as these 6x9's. Will arrive on Tuesday. Not as worried though because the front still has the 3.5's in the dash to make up for it.

Kappa vs reference

Reply #4 – April 20, 2006, 12:29:11 PM

I had the 2way version of those kappas(before I crackedthe cone in one and blew the tweeter in the other)(I had the 6.5's as well) and I never had any problem with highs or mids. I think the high's in mine were actually too bright. I had to use my eq to turn them down a little. My old roomate went with the reference and the highs are there a bit more but the kappa is disigned to be a speaker of natural sound. The reference series boost the highs more than the bass causing the sound to be unbalanced. Truthfully, most people like unbalanced music better. But the kappa series is designed to play the music as it was recorded. And that is why it is a matter of taste. I went with the kappa's cause they can take abuse. Mine lasted 2 years running 140 rms to each 6x9. my 6.5's I ended up giving to my bro. I 've got Polk Momo compnents and 6x9's now. long story short, I'd use kapp's again any day. Shame they went to 2 ohms. I was gonna buy the new ones but competitions frown on less than 4 ohms. Get a good amp you'll see the full potential of those speakrs.

Kappa vs reference

Reply #5 – April 21, 2006, 02:31:06 AM

My amps put out 75x4 and 100x4 into 4 ohms so power or sound quality isn't much of a concern. I'll see about the highs once my 6.5's arrive...compare them to the 6x9's. Either way, it still sounds good with the majority of the highs coming from the front.