I wasn't expecting magical change but I was expecting some which is what they are stating. I played some music back to back, exact same music with the same volume level and hardly noticed any difference.
I did ordered the Alpine version. How can I tell if they are the Alpine version or not.
Good to know. I'm still on the waiting list but I'm not sure I can justify $250 on these speakers after a few reviews like your own. I just hate how the factory speakers really don't get any louder after about 25 on the volume meter. Probably the worst audio system of any vehicle I've owned.
I have the alpine system as well, and replaced my front speakers with Terra a week ago. Happy to report that the speakers are a massive improvement over the alpine high-end sound, and helped fill the mids sound as well. Super easy install, definitely worth it.
I have a completely opposite experience, lol. It was such a drastic difference in the quality of sound coming out that I had to re-listen again to make sure it wasn't a placebo effect. I had a much lower expectation and thought there might be a chance I'd retain the set. I am more than happy to pay the $250 and probably more the change. The soundstage was lifted and more focused. There's much more range and presence, to the vocals especially. I'm really pleasantly surprised. The TA really make the soundbar speakers stand out as subpar. It's glaringly bad now in comparison to the TA. Distractingly bad. I'm going to have to look at some substitutes. I didn't want to go full bore like last truck with Focals and JLs. This is just my opinion. Maybe taste in music has something to do with it. They definitely don't get louder, but because they are clearer and fuller, I don't feel the need to have the volume quite as high. Just another data point.
I wonder if there is some sort of quality control issue with these. I’ve been playing music for decades, sometimes professionally, and these seem like a noticeable improvement to me over the alpine speakers. But I‘be heard multiple people across different forums absolutely confident that theirs sound worse. I’d love to get a few sets side by side and see if there’s a difference.
So, I've been into home theater for 20+ years so believe me, I went into this knowing no car stereo can actually sound good, and ALSO tempered with the fact that I knew their claims of an actual "soundstage" in an environment as terrible as a car interior was BS (although my Audi S5's Bang & Olufsen system was genuinely amazing and to this day makes me want to spend the rest of my life tracing VAG electronics with a multimeter just to get that stereo back). But, I figured for $250 and a quick bolt in it's not a big loss. I'm also NOT a basshead and I like clean, clear, crisp highs, so I figured the separate tweeter HAD to be better. And, while obviously not that wonderful B&O system, I do think the Alpine system is pretty darn good.
Overall, they should have at least accepted the return, that’s kinda shitty that they stuck you with them like that.
It's funny how differently we all hear and appreciate audio. I suspect a lot of us who upgrade our car stereo have a history with audio. I had low expectations with the TA but was pleasantly surprised by the very apparent improvement in the sound. Also surprisingly for me, it was the midrange and upper midrange that stood out to me. I'm not comparing this to my home theater system. That wouldn't come close. But just the difference between TA and stock Alpine. Just like in my previously life, some people just don't like the sound of a speaker while others do. Maybe try rolling some other speakers into the dash and see if you like them better. I'm sure you can sell these pretty quickly.
