So the upgrade bug is eating at me pretty good
Right now I'm satisfied with the setup, but I know there's better and I have the money for it. The sub and both amps are staying for sure, it's the headunit or components that I'm thinking of switching out. More tuning features in the headunit would be nice, mixed with faster mp3 load times, etc. For components I'd be looking for something with a little more midbass clarity. These Focals have some good lowend punch to them, but sometimes it's hard to distinguish between different notes on the bass guitars and other similar sounds. These are what I'm thinking of upgrading to, keep in mind it's either one or the other, budget is somewhere around $400.

Headunit
Alpine CDA-9835 (http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/S-uyEos3B8cWw/ProdView.asp?s=0&c=3&g=300&I=500CDA9835&o=m&a=0&cc=01&avf=N) - this one isn't debatable, if I upgrade the headunit this is what it's going to be

Components
here is where I'm having more difficulty, here are my choices:
DIY - maybe a set of peerless or seas mids, custom xover, etc. I'd talk to a guy who does this as a hobby and is very good at it over at SIN if I decide to go this route
JL ZR650-CSi (http://www.jlaudio.com/press/ZR04.html)
RE XXX6.5 (http://www.bladeice.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=669)
Adire Koda 6.1 (http://www.adireaudio.com/mobile_audio/components/components.htm)

So what do you think, headunit or components? If you have any other suggestions around that price range for components (I don't really know the prices of the REs and ZRs, but my guess is they'll be around 400) then spit them out also. I have a feeling the ZRs won't be able to hold a candle to the others, but I'll have to wait until they're out before I can say for sure. I mean the XRs only have 2.5mm of excursion, the ZRs will probably have a max of 4mm, and those REs are supposed to have somewhere around 10mm of completely linear xmax. With displacement like that it'll be nearly impossible to beat them in the midbass department.

oh yeah, the amp puts out a rated 125x2, but it's supposed to put out closer to 140x2. Power shouldn't really be a problem, if that's too much then I can just turn down the gain, and I doubt it won't be enough for any sane setup out there (I'm not looking at Z6s or Rainbows afterall).

I will state my opinion:

The DIY route: yeah, it is good, I have done it. But from MY experience, to get a DIY setup that everything is perfectly matched (drivers/x-overs) together like in a high end set will cost you more than $400. Do not underestimate the research and labor that has gone into good sets of components. The Utopias speak for themselves. I though about going DIY again, but I am not regretting a single bit my decision to get the Utopias. It has been almost 2 months and EVERY DAY the blow me away, which has never happened before since I (and everyone) get used to the the sound of my setup. Well, this has not happen yet.

The JL ZR650-CSi: Do not underestimate them either :) The XR are great speakers, and x-max is not everything. Also, have you thought where are you going to put speakers w/ 13mm x-max? Given that these sets have at least 2 1/2'' mounting depth, you need at least ¾''/1'' spacers (I use 1'' w/ the Utopias), so I am telling you now if you put them on the doors, they will be hitting the door panels. Also, sory, I am sceptical about online "trends" like RE (have owned 2 RE 8, they were OK, nothing more, and did look cheap).

I would add the CDTs eurosports (and HD even, great speakers), the Focal K2P and the Utopias. Max price ~$500 online.

*And to be 100% objective, I will say that the amazing sound of the Utopias is through bi-amping. I did not try them "broken-in" on a single amp, so I do not know.

Is the headunit you have now pretty decent at least?

I was just going to say, if it isn't, I'd upgrade that first. If you get really nice components wired to a half assed HU, the source signal coming off the HU is still going to sound half assed.

Yea I have the premier 750, it has good sound quality and pretty decent tuning features. I mainly just want to upgrade for the Alpine's time correction, little better tuning, more adjustable xovers, and more mp3 features (like picking the next song while the current one is playing).

Also I know excursion isn't everything, but the more linear excursion a driver has, the more potential it has to get louder, mainly in the lower octaves. Why do you say the cone would hit the grill? You have the Utopia 165W and they don't hit do they? I can't find the excursion on that set, but you have an extra .25" spacing on your mids. Assuming the REs have less than 2.75" mounting depth I can keep the .75" spacers I have now. That would give me an extra 6mm of free space for the cone to move, as long as the Utopia mid has less than 4mm that means the RE definately wouldn't hit, and anything past that would be risking it. I can always cut away part of the back of the speaker grill too, not a problem.

As for the DIY set, you can build a set for however much you want. There are guys building $150-$200 sets that compete with the K2Ps, you get MUCH more than you pay for when you go DIY from what I hear.

I'd say get the components. They're more of a bang for your buck upgrade, as you have a good HU.
There is a more discernable difference between component speakers, than HU's, IMO.
Let us know which way you go, and how it turns out!
(P.S. I wouldn't be afraid of going the DIY route, as long as you're sure of his abilities, and you know exaclty what you want and how to ask for it)

^^ i agree...components. Those RE look interesting...but i'd have to hear them to recommend them.

I just found out from a guy on SIN that those REs require a sealed box and have a 4" mounting depth!! So uh, those are scratched off the list if it's really true. Any other suggestions? I'm leaning towards components myself instead of a headunit, and then I'll probably upgrade the headunit in the summer when I have a job again.

..sorry man i have no useful advice....

well actually..get components..

if you do get rid of them..i may be interested in buying yer focals ;)

The Utopias have 5.5mm x-max and 3-'' depth.

Well, after having owned many componet sets, I can say this w/ confidence: I have listened to many great sets and liked many too. Sets w/ great midbass, volume, imaging, separation, etc; each set had its own sound. I liked most of my previous sets, but aftre a while I always sterted to ask for more; if a set had awesome midbass, I would look for better highs and vice versa. What I can tell for sure is that the Utopias have a balance I havent heard in any set. I mean the WHOLE experience listening to them is UNREAL. Like everything in place, I really dont have the words to describe it. It is a different world to me, seriously; never in my life have I heard such a "totally intergrated" sound - again, I am at a loss to describe them.

do not leave out boston acoustic components, they are amazing, i honestly like them far better then the jl's, i find jl's to be real flat.

So what size mids are you looking to go for, because that is going to have a big difference in the type of sound that you are looking for. Do the Utopias really sound that good, because I have been looking to add some good midbass and SQ to my system.

uh, last I checked our cars take 6.5's, lol

Anyway, the Utopias are a bit out of my price range, though they would be nice.

well it's between the kodas and DIY now

I just don't want to wait for the ZRs to come out, people to get them, and then review them before making my decision. I don't know how good DIY can get for $350. If it'll be a noticable amount better than the kodas I'll probably go that route, otherwise I'll just stick to Adire. I'll have to find out from people with experience in both areas to see what they have to say, it'll probably be pretty hard to find them though.