I think I am giving up on the idea of going active until I become a bit more knowledgeable about the sound I would like and mounting locations that best suit me.

So anyway, I am going to purchase a new component set instead. I have a 2004 Tahoe, listen to mostly rock, hip hop, and trance. This is a daily driver and I am going to drop my focus from purely SQ. Instead, I would like to just go loud but at the same time I like quality in my music, low distortion, as well as good imaging and staging. I tend to have others riding with me and since I no longer am going for SQ I was wondering if a rear stage would be acceptable now or if that would still take away from the total sound. The budget will be less than 2,000, and I plan on looking for some lightly used equipment if I need too. I would like to use kicks and or my lower doors for the mounting locations.

I looked around for the past few days at different sets (deviated away from PE) and found a couple that I liked. I was thinking about the Focal 165K3Ps and bi amping them with a Zapco REF1000.4, the Dyn Esotec 342 with a ZED Kronos, Morel Elate 6 2Ws also with the Kronos, and the CDT HD 642 Golds, which I guess I would also power with the ZED. The HAT L61-2 PROs looked good but I couldn't find any specs on the passives that fit them.

So that's my new plan and just wondering what you guys think of going passive instead of active (think I need to learn a bit more) and whether its a good decision or not. Thanks.

$2k for a passive setup is a HUGE waste of money. If you are going that route just buy some $250 components and a cheap amp and call it a day. All those boutique brands you listed will just rob your pocketbook as the install will be the limiting factor. Conversely if you are really into spending $2k, pay someone $1500 to do the install...just make sure you pick your installer wisely. And yes, rear fill is still a waste of money even with your change of plans.

Look at the Image Dynamic sets.

I had a set of the low end CTX and they sounded very nice. I would bet the higher end would be great.

$2k for a passive setup is a HUGE waste of money. If you are going that route just buy some $250 components and a cheap amp and call it a day. All those boutique brands you listed will just rob your pocketbook as the install will be the limiting factor. Conversely if you are really into spending $2k, pay someone $1500 to do the install...just make sure you pick your installer wisely. And yes, rear fill is still a waste of money even with your change of plans.

If my goal is more output though how would that help? I saw that those sets had pretty high sensitivities and high power handling. Will the install make a difference in output, I guess from deadening and such?

$2k for a passive setup is a HUGE waste of money. If you are going that route just buy some $250 components and a cheap amp and call it a day. All those boutique brands you listed will just rob your pocketbook as the install will be the limiting factor. Conversely if you are really into spending $2k, pay someone $1500 to do the install...just make sure you pick your installer wisely. And yes, rear fill is still a waste of money even with your change of plans.

If my goal is more output though how would that help? I saw that those sets had pretty high sensitivities and high power handling. Will the install make a difference in output, I guess from deadening and such?

This statement is not at all similar to the first post in your thread:

This is a daily driver and I am going to drop my focus from purely SQ. Instead, I would like to just go loud but at the same time I like quality in my music, low distortion, as well as good imaging and staging.

Pick one or the other. Quality, imaging, & staging REQUIRE that you have only one driver playing each frequency. If you need that AND loud you MUST go active, you have no choice. If you are willing to give one thing or the other up then fine there may be a solution, but that solution will not be just doubling up on component sets.

Go active with horns & 8" mids if you want loud sound quality.

Aside from that, I agree with M5......$1k+ passives are generally a waste. A lot of money spent on something that still won't be optimal for the installation or vehicle.

If you want to stay passive, that's understandable. But I wouldn't spend near that much money doing it.

Go active with horns & 8" mids if you want loud sound quality.

Aside from that, I agree with M5......$1k+ passives are generally a waste. A lot of money spent on something that still won't be optimal for the installation or vehicle.

If you want to stay passive, that's understandable. But I wouldn't spend near that much money doing it.

That is what im going with after talking to ///M5 on my listening taste and preferences, that setup would fits my goals well.