Diamond Audio S600a/S600s HEX

Price Paid:  $189.00 from Online

Year / Model Reviewed:
 HEX S600A

Summary:
One of the best 2-way component set under $500.00. Upgraded from Infinity Kappa Perfects. There are noticeable improvements, although the Kappa perfects did not fall too far back from this set. Door panels are sealed with Dynamat Xtreme. I'm pushing 100W rms to each channel. First impression were more presence in the midrange and midbass frequencies were stronger. Excellent tonal quality and high end accuracy. These speakers gives the impression that the sound is coming from a "bigger" set of speakers. Will not dissapoint even the critical audiophile. Comes with the choice of both silk and aluminum tweeters. I went with the hard dome tweeters even though I am a silk fan. The crossover setting on -2db helped to compensate "brightness", but opt for the silk tweeters if you're used to them.

Strengths:
Best sounding components for under $500. Clarity and tonal balance. Strong midrange presence and vocal representation. Excellent midrange.

Weaknesses:
Large crossovers difficult to mount behind door panels or conceal. Woofer inputs uses eyeglass size screwdriver terminals and won't hold 16ga wires or smaller in place very well.

Similar Products Used:
Infinity Kappa Perfect component. Polk DB components.

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $187.00 from Online.

Year / Model Reviewed:
2007 Diamond Aduio Hex 600S

Summary:
I just installed 2 pair and have only 1 word to describe them...WOW!!! I also dynamatted the doors so they even more amazing. The clarity of these speakers is phenomenal.

Strengths:
Handle Power with ease. Durable caskets. Crisp mids and highs

Weaknesses:
Only one I have is the massive size of the crossovers. I barely got them in my doors without the window glass touching. But with speakers this awesome you'd have to have a beefy crossover.

Similar Products Used:
Infinity Kappa Perfect,Boston Acoustics, ARC, Polk

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 2.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I must say these speakers are great but not the best. They may sound the best but there are other issues you must be aware of. And it may apply not to just these but any high end speakers. High speakers but be properly cared for or they will not last. The main issue I have with this is set is the tweeters blow constantly and they are way to expensive to replace. I have kept my DA hex 6 for about 5 years They have blown twice. When I finally get a new car and try to put them buy a professional they tell me they are blown. Yeah eventually I will have to spend a 100 bucks again for some new tweets. I love the speakers but to much headache for the price

Strengths:
Sound great. Very full, warm, smooth sound.

Weaknesses:
Can be blown very easily with lack of power and too much power. My infinity Kappa 4' are bulletproof. These DA are not eventhough they sound better. Too expensive to constantly replace tweeters and drivers. Find the right application and set your freq and dont touch it. Let a professional do it. or you will be sorry.

Similar Products Used:
infinity kappa, focal access, Phoenix Gold zero point amps, Soundtream reference 705s, Cadence wild Beast and txa amps, Diamond Audio motorsport, Diamond Audio D6

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Price Paid:  $649.00 from Audio Creations

Year / Model Reviewed:
2004 Lincoln Navigator

Summary:
I had the 5 X 7 Reference MB Quartz along with a JL double ten, two Alpine amps and a CDA-7894 Alpine head unit. Everything was sounding good. I stopped into the shop and listened to the Diamond S600A speakers. They were clear and handled mid bass. I upgraded the speakers as well as bi-amped the diamonds with the Eclipse XA4000. I have a lot of cabin space and the set-up now is really top shelf. If you want to really have a nice clean system the Diamonds and Eclipse pair does the trick. I have an Alpine mounted the the JL double ten that delivers 400 watts.

Strengths:
Crystal clear and handles the mid bass - tweeters look good in the slots.

Weaknesses:
None thus far

Similar Products Used:
MB Quartz

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Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 3.00 votes

Price Paid:  $1100.00 from San Diego's finest

Year / Model Reviewed:
1997 Diamond Audio Hex (original German made)

Summary:
I have heard all the mass marketed high end stuff, focal, boston, etc..., and here's what my experience dictates the truth to be:
The early hexes were a smooth consistent set with only mild issues with spider lead tap, but all in all beautiful. The frequency response map was actually legit back then (as opposed to the map that is the same for every model DAT sells now, from 4's to 6.5's) Crossovers were great back in the 90's too.
From 1999 or so to about 2003 the new hex and even M5 line was hands down the best woofer (tweets excluded) for the dollar available. Focal beat it for a flat frequency response, but not for good ole' fashion play em loud and sweet. These WOOFERS were tough and loud, still I say the BEST midbass speaker ever.
The tweets were too harsh and glassy (yes silk too) for my taste, and many folks I know agree. Many of those same folks chose to keep the tweets and use an active xover to solve this problem, but this made for too many inconsistencies.
For the past 5 years the only things that have kept DAT in business are the amazing TDX series, and now the D9's, but again the tweets will make your teeth crumble.
POINT: OLD SCHOOL DAT ROCKS, Peaked in early 00's and now...only a few strong products remain...:(

Strengths:
As of late the only product they make that compares with their legendary old school stuff are the TDX series and maybe the D9 comp's but only if your taste suits them.

Weaknesses:
Fell short with the tweets, too harsh and no solution in sight. Quality and consistency of recent is questionable.

Similar Products Used:
Focal Utopia, back in like '95; mb crap er.. I mean quart, and boston.