KAPPA KAPPA KAPPA !!! (a review of the 693.3i)
Written: Nov 27 '01 (Updated Nov 27 '01)
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Pros: Outstanding bass, magnificently clear highs, unfazed by high power, looks great in my trunk
Cons: None. Period.
The Bottom Line: An incredible set of speakers.
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| AVaddict's Full Review: Infinity Kappa 60.2cs Car Speaker |
Please Note
This is the fourth part in my overall car stereo review. These speakers are just one of the many components that work together to make this stereo one of the best I have ever listened to. This system is set up for fidelity, not massive sound pressure levels, though it's certainly able to provide rapid hearing loss. This review is of the Infinity Kappa 693.3i, NOT the 60.2cs. This product, though its been on the market a while is not featured by epins, I will move this review when it is added. These were installed in the rear deck of my 1995 Accord 4 door.
As mentioned in the previous "Please Note", it is important to understand that this isn't a slap dash job. The whole car including the trunk was lined with premium sound damping material. The rear deck as well as the entire trunk was layered with high-end sound damping material. This makes a big difference in the overall performance of these speakers. I will soon write a short article explaining this difference in great detail, I need to find a place to put it first though. Enjoy.
Opening The Box (the music swells...)
The box itself was not really a whole lot larger than any other 6x9 box, but it was dramatically heavier. I was wondering what else they had loaded the box with to make so weighty. I realized once I had unpacked everything it was simply the gargantuan magnet structures! I have seen some big mags on 6x9s, especially on my old JBLs, but this was ridiculous! It wasn't because of some decorative plastic cover/shroud over the magnet, it was open to see and it was huge. Imagine Homer Simpson "giggling like a schoolgirl", you with me? I had goose bumps.
The cones are a pleasant silver color that seems to sparkle a little in light and contrasts well against the black of the rubber surrounds. This is all a little moot for most people simply because, like mine, they will be covered by a grille of some type, too bad. The packing was adequate for shipping. A label was simply strapped to the outside of a brown box that the Infinity box fit very snuggly into. Fortunately it wasn't pierced anywhere, but had I known about how meager the packing would be, I would have ordered elsewhere for $7 more.
Construction
The baskets are large and intimidating. There is no doubt in my mind that they are as strong and rigid as anything else on the market short of carved marble. It meets the magnet structure almost seamlessly as it does the surround which seems better adhered/manufactured than the previous generation. The surrounds themselves seem thicker yet more pliable. At the point where the surround meets the cone, the rubber is noticeably compacted. This is confidence inspiring considering how many earlier Kappas I had seen that separated quickly.
Not to harp on it more than I already have...the magnets are HUGE! Anyone can make a big (read cheap) magnet, but in the case of an Infinity product, there is no doubt in my mind it is superior. Mmmm, the promise of randy power handling! The cones are not aluminum as are the 6.1 and 12.1 cones, they are a polymer/ceramic matrix design (CMMD), but still seem thicker and stiffer than the previous generation. All of the seams and edges of the cone are clean and well finished.
The tweeter tower is solid and a good distance from the cone. Were it not for the spacers that I got with my old JBLs, I could not have installed them at all. The tweeters themselves seemed a little cheapy in appearance, but you'd never guess it from the sound. In tribute to the frame rigidity these speakers boast, when they were installed, I noticed zero flex in the frame as I tightened the screws. Most speakers will flex and bend when installed tightly; there is only so much you can expect from pressed steel.
Sound
The clarity of the music these speakers produced is unmatched in my opinion, short of a friends $3800 Boston Acoustics install. I tested these speakers (in conjunction w/ the 6.1s) w/o the sub at length simply to see what their realistic low end would be. I was astonished to find that the sub was almost unnecessary at average volumes. The level of bass I got from these in tandem with the fronts was very surprising to me. It illustrated quite clearly (for me at least) where most of what we consider bass to reside. I in no way got the PUNCH I get when using my sub, but these speakers are amply capable in their own right.
I found that these speakers did much better when I cut everything below 100hz as opposed to giving them a full signal. I could certainly make these speakers distort if I wanted to by weighting the proper frequencies and then pushing the power, but the point is that when any manipulation was kept flat, these speakers produced amazingly full sound with the full signal at approaching very loud volumes. I initially cut the signal at 100hz simply to see the results and though they can be a little tinny (I now cut my treble a bit), they can play louder without detectable distortion. I ended up setting the X-over at what I believe to be about 120hz-130hz to better work w/ the sub and to lightly load the other speaker bass input.
Speaking voices are clearer, warmer, and seem closer and more personal. I listen to fair amount of NPR and talk radio, so this is a big benefit for me. Signing voices are a real treat, especially some of my favorite female vocalists. There is a feel to the music that is hard to describe, it's like they are less studio tracks and more a song to me. Rap seems harder, rock seems rougher, even classical seems more realistic, like you were in the fifth row at the amphitheatre. Drums seems more taught and severe, bass guitar more guttural and vibratory (a word?). These speakers sound nothing short of hearing the master tape at the studio.
These speakers also feature something not found in coaxials, crossovers. A simple concept, well executed and why not? Its a cheap way for the mfr to make their speakers even better. Bravo Infinity! Though I feel that the wire gauge is too small, they serve their purpose, none the less. Infinity has pre-crimped some connections onto the back end of the crossover for easy connection to the speaker. The lead is bare, so I soldered and wrapped that. BTW, soldering irons and solder wire are cheap, $20 or less for a starter set.
Install
The install for these speakers was very simple. It is very straightforward for any car that is designed for or can be upgraded to (by removing factory plates) 6x9 speakers. These are speakers generally designed for the back of a sedan, truck, or SUV. You could put them in your front doors, for example, but the mod cost would make it totally not worth it. Stick with what the factory set, and use them in back.
As I mentioned earlier, I used spacers that came with my JBLs to mount the Infinity 693.3i set. These speakers are far too tall to fit even bottom mount in my Accord, the spacers and a set of good self tapping screws from Home Depot made it possible. One hour and an aching back later, they were in. The wiring was not a big issue since the amps were only 16" away. I used standard Monster Cable to wire them to the amp. Though it is intended for home use, it works excellently on the road and generally runs $1.39 to $2.50 per foot, depending where you buy it. All the connectors I used were purchased from Radio Shack.
Well?
Well nothing. Get some of these speakers if you want to upgrade your current 6x9 set. For about $150, these are absolutely the best speakers out there. If you follow my reviews, you will know I like Infinity, but there is a reason. Buy a set or two and you too will understand.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 160
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