[Tx_flip]

IMHO...I've heard both sets this year from judging a couple of soundoffs. I don't look for what type of drivers a vehicle is using, I just listen, that's what you're supposed to do, afterwards I'll ask or simply just look at the driver if visible.

This past TX Heatwave I judged a Renault SQ car from Mexico. Imaging wise, the car had some holes and staging was off, however, tonally, the vehicle sounded great. Afterwards, I looked at the kick and saw that they were DLS drivers. I don't know how much they cost, but from personally hearing them, they're not that bad at all. Diamond speakers are great and very affordable and I ran them in a couple of my previous team mates cars. Very easy to get them to sound good but we didn't use their passives.

I tell this to everyone who are shopping for drivers. Yes, there are some component sets or speakers that sound good right out of the box. I've heard a pair of cheap Alphasonik components in a Hyundai kick panel out perform most higher end drivers. I'm not saying to go that way, he did have an optimal size dash and speaker placement plus a lot of tuning. I've also heard Focal Utopia drivers (which I like) installed run off a Zapco amp sound absolutely like sh*t. As stated already by another member.Installation is critical and tuning is a must for full potential. Go with what will work best in yourself and your system. Keep some of these things in mind to help sway your decision if you're going to buy unseen/unheard:
- Price - (bang for the buck)
- Crossover Design (bi-ampable, materials used, ex. mylar)
- Adjustability - (attentuation, phasing)
- Driver depth - (how deep)
- Tweeter material - (silk vs. ribbon vs. metal)
- Sensitivity - (efficiency)

There are a lot more factors, it just really sucks that you can't find a shop near you so you can just hear them out.