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Boston Acoustics SL80 2 way plate speaker for 5X7/6X8 openings
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Reviews
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Views
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Date of last review
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2
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2364
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Thu December 18, 2008
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Recommended By
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Average Price
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Average Rating
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100% of reviewers
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$150.00
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9.5
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Description:
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Boston's premier high performance 2-way car coaxial speaker
5 x 7" copolymer cone woofer with butyl rubber surround
Woofer's neodymium motor structue offers extrodinary power-to-weight ratio
1" Kortec® dome tweeters
Contoured tweeter plane greatly improves on- and off-axis tweeter response
Model Specific integrated muti-element crossovers
Nominal Size
5 x 7-inch
Recommended Amplifier Power
60watts RMS-200 watts peak
Nominal Impedance
4 ohm
Frequency Response (±3dB in car)
45Hz-20kHz
Sensitivity [1 watt (2.83v) at 1m]
90dB
Mounting Depth
2-3/8" (59.5mm)
System Type
2-way
www.bostonacoustics.com
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Keywords:
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Boston Acoustics 5X7 6X8 plate speakers
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Author
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celly
Not a wannabe
Registered: July 2004
Posts: 3232
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Review Date: Fri June 8, 2007
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $150.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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They're BA, sweet sound is assured! Well made.
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Cons:
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none
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The battle rages on between those who want a simple drop-in replacement for the horrible OEM speakers Ford puts in their vehicles (yes, I include the so called "premium" sound systems in that category), and the "purists" that feel you have to go with high priced separarates for the best sound. I'm one of the former. I like to be able to drop a set of speakers into the stock holes and be done with it. I've tried JL Audio, Kicker, Alpine (R and S), Infinity, Hertz (a little known Italian brand) and most recently Boston Acoustics SX85 5X7 (those are in the rear and are subject to another review). Until I went with BA, I was never truly satisfied with the sound I got from 5X7/6X8 speakers. Those "purists" will tell you that you need to go with round speakers in the 5-6" range for the best sound.
BA seems to have come out with a great compromise. They're a 2 way "plate speaker". Instead of the coaxial design like every other 5X7 out there, BA mounted a round woofer/mid, a high quality tweeter and a beefy crossover in a "plate" which mounts directly into the stock holes on your Explorer (or another other Ford/Mazda vehicle with the same format).
I read a few reviews around the web, but these speakers seem to be a bit obscure. I was surprised that more people didn't have them on this site. I can say with certainty that these speakers are a well kept secret. My system has been transformed from one that was very good, to one heckuva sound system. I am reasonably discriminating with respect to sound, both home and in the car, but I gave up a LONG time ago overspending on car audio. You just never get the money back if you try and sell a vehicle. I'm much more for a great sounding system without breaking the bank to do so.
The SL80s certainly fit the bill. They have beautiful highs that seemed a tad bright to me at first, but only because my previous long line of 5X7 speakers were not cutting it. My ears have adjusted and I tweaked my head unit a bit and I cannot get enough of these speakers. As before, I've got SX85 in the rear and I can say with certainty that the system I have in my car now is the best sounding I've ever owned, and I've owned some stupidly expensive custom systems through the years. I can't comment on the bass response because I have a 10" sub mounted in the rear pocket. Like any system without a sub, no two way speaker is going to satisfy your appetite for good bass anyhow. The highs and mids the SL80 puts out are exemplary.
These things list for $299/pair on Crutchfield so their retail pricing rivals many separates, but we all know that Cruthfield's retail prices are pretty much MSRP. I scored mine from an eBay seller, brand new in the box for $150+shipping. I should have scored two sets because when I factor in exchange (the USD:CAD rate is very favourable to Canadians as at the date of review), shipping, handling etc, I paid the same for the SL80 that I did for the SX85 locally here in Calgary. I'm not saying the SX85 is a bad speaker. It's not. But the SL80 is that much better. The SX85 are nice speakers in their own right and are doing a great job providing rear fill.
I've liked BA home audio products for a lot of years (although I don't own any). I am very pleased to finally have some in my ride. 
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED upgrade to your car audio system. 
------------------------------
 1999 Eddie Bauer, 5.0L V8, AWD-> click here for my registry
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greyphox
Elite Explorer
Registered: November 2007
Posts: 94
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Review Date: Thu December 18, 2008
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $150.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Excellent sound quality
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Cons:
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Price
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These are some great speakers. They have excellent sound quality, and the frequency response is great as well. They have really good bass for door speakers, and make an excellent compliment to my 10" Infinity sub in the back. Since these speakers can reproduce low frequencies very well, I have them set so that crossovers of the sub and the SL80's overlap, creating an excellent blend between mids and lows.
The only downside was the price. Most places online were in the range of $250-300 a pair. I was lucky enough to find some on ebay for $150 + shipping. Still expensive for a set of door speakers, but I believe they are well worth it.
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