I'm thinking about upgrading my 5.25" JL VR coaxials to Rainbow CS230 Contour 2-way Component Speaker System 5.25 used for $160. Is this a decent deal?

This is what I have now:

http://mobile.jlaudio.com/products_components.php?comp_id=62

And this is what I want to uprade to:

http://www.soundsolutionsaudio.com/shop/in...637432689f1ae00

You get the added flexibility of tweeter placement.

But the biggest question is, are you happy with what you have?

I've been waiting for a nice pair of component speakers because my coaxials are installed in the door and the soundstage is definitely lacking. The silk tweets on the JL are actually really nice however if they end up being lost in my ankles, ...get my point? I've considered other products too around that price range. CDT and Focal would be brand new if I went with them. But I understand this set of rainbows is supposed to be amazing mainly because Contours incorporated the infamous CAL25 tweets.

install is the key. if your stage is around your ankles you need to play with different aimings and mountings. if that is your only problem with the current drivers I would spend the money on improving your install instead of buying new drivers.

Here are the pics!

install is the key. if your stage is around your ankles you need to play with different aimings and mountings. if that is your only problem with the current drivers I would spend the money on improving your install instead of buying new drivers.

Perhaps I can just trying to find an excuse to buy something haha. Valid point about the install however I don't want to spend around $100 for someone to fabricate pods for my mustang. I plan on selling the car or passing it down to my brother and I will be taking the car audio with me to my future bmw 3 series which is what I'm saving up for. Plus I heard my friends separates and they are far superior to my coaxials. Actually I think the JL's sound pretty good but I've heard a lot of hype around rainbow speakers and since a guy on craigslist is selling them for a decent price, I figure I'd give it a try. I have been told that the Contours in 6.5" form sound better than some JL Xr's and sounded better than CDT CL61's. The Xr's are higher than Vr bytheway.

Plus the Contours incorporated the infamous CAL25 tweets, for that price nowadays I wouldn't be able to buy the tweeters alone. You would be quite hard pressed to find a better performer within that range or even 50% higher. Maybe I'm just trying to justify the purchase.

If you can buy them, try them, see if you wanna keep them, then you are not out any money for the most part. If you find that they are not what you wanted, you could always just sell or trade them for something else.

Sweet the deal is closed. I got the Contours for $160. How I have to find time to install and then look around for an amp. Tweets should wow me as they have everyone else but I might end up upgrading the 5.25" drivers. At least the guy was kind enough to give me his mdf adapter 5.25" to 6.5".

You think 120rms to each is a bit overkill for a 80rms rated speaker components? I ever have problems overpowering my subs but to my JL's I'm only sending them 40rms and they are rated at 60rms.

This will be my first time installing a set of components so I'll be looking to you guys for guidance. I'll probably just drop them in with my current mtx amp until I get a replacement amp. Will need to cut a hole in my sail panels for the tweets. It's going to be a fun project =P

Looks like my JL's are going to be posted for sale real soon.

Those little rainbow 5 1/4's can be some mean suckers in large enough enclosures . I'm running mine actively with a 100w on the mids and 50w on the tweets.

Those little rainbow 5 1/4's can be some mean suckers in large enough enclosures . I'm running mine actively with a 100w on the mids and 50w on the tweets.

Do you have pictures? I'm curious what your install looks like. How much did you pay for your Contours and how long ago did you get them?

Bought them last year from user here named Flakko . Don't remeber what I paid for them off hand. I can get you some pics of my mismatched kicks I still need to wrap the drivers side in vinyl

Excuse the mess as it's still a work in progress.

Wow that's beautiful! I love the way you installed the tweets. How is the imaging on those? I don't suppose you have a build log, do you? =)

For the tweets I was going to install it in the sail panels because it seems easier to do. Plus if I mess up, I can always just buy another sail panel.

How is the imaging on those?

Very, very, very good. Believe me

I don't suppose you have a build log, do you? =)

I was under a strict "no cameras" rule for the past 10 months

I hadn't seen them wrapped yet, gorgeous.

ramos..we need a vinyl wrapping photo lesson. i suck at it!!

btw, nice install brother ramos!!

sorry about the minor topic theft....

wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Those little rainbow 5 1/4's can be some mean suckers in large enough enclosures . I'm running mine actively with a 100w on the mids and 50w on the tweets.

Firstly, sorry for the noob questions but that's how all of us learn right? =)

How did you run it actively? The crossovers that came with the contours only allow passive. What crossovers are you using?

And how is it that you can run 100w to mids and 50s to tweets? I take it you are running one amp to the tweets and another to the mids? Or is it a 4-channel amp, but in that case how would you allocate a certain amount of power to each speaker...

I'm confused lol

Edited May 12, 200718 yr by drwang84

Can someone answer my crosser question please? I'm curious...

Well as for him I donno but I know with a 4 channel you put the Mids on rear and tweets on front for example, and adjust the gains for ft. and rear accordningly. Only thing with this is you need bi-ampable crossover's.

J

Well as for him I donno but I know with a 4 channel you put the Mids on rear and tweets on front for example, and adjust the gains for ft. and rear accordningly. Only thing with this is you need bi-ampable crossover's.

J

Ahh that makes sense! Where can I get a bi-ampable crossover for the rainbows? I wonder if they sell crossovers by themselves.

Those little rainbow 5 1/4's can be some mean suckers in large enough enclosures . I'm running mine actively with a 100w on the mids and 50w on the tweets.

Firstly, sorry for the noob questions but that's how all of us learn right? =)

How did you run it actively? The crossovers that came with the contours only allow passive. What crossovers are you using?

And how is it that you can run 100w to mids and 50s to tweets? I take it you are running one amp to the tweets and another to the mids? Or is it a 4-channel amp, but in that case how would you allocate a certain amount of power to each speaker...

I'm confused lol

I'm running an alpine 9813 actively . It has a three way crossover built into it. Passive crossovers are in a drawer in the garage A two channel on the mids , seperate two channel on the tweets.

Those little rainbow 5 1/4's can be some mean suckers in large enough enclosures . I'm running mine actively with a 100w on the mids and 50w on the tweets.

Firstly, sorry for the noob questions but that's how all of us learn right? =)

How did you run it actively? The crossovers that came with the contours only allow passive. What crossovers are you using?

And how is it that you can run 100w to mids and 50s to tweets? I take it you are running one amp to the tweets and another to the mids? Or is it a 4-channel amp, but in that case how would you allocate a certain amount of power to each speaker...

I'm confused lol

I'm running an alpine 9813 actively . It has a three way crossover built into it. Passive crossovers are in a drawer in the garage A two channel on the mids , seperate two channel on the tweets.

Ah interesting, so you're using the deck as the crossover. I have a Pioneer Premier DEH-P780MP but no idea if it has that capability of yours. I can't wait to install mine. But I'm going to get some serious "peel and seal" so I can do it right and cost effectively lol.