Name: Focal RSE-165
Brand: Focal
SKU: 091RSE165
Price: 129.99 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.5 (137 reviews)

by Crutchfield's Alexander H.

The benefit of Focal innovation

Focal's acclaimed sound is coveted by audiophiles and recording studios worldwide, and their Auditor Series speakers bring that sound quality to your car at a competitive price. This impressive RSE-165 component system, which includes two 6-1/2" woofers, two tweeters, and two external crossovers, will easily outperform your factory speakers and bring the fun back to your time in the car.

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Focal adds a phase plug to the woofer cone for better sound dispersion.

The benefit of Focal innovation

Exceptional components

To overcome the limitations of low speaker placement, the woofer's cone features a phase plug for better sound dispersion, so you'll experience a rich, full sound. Prepare to be moved by the bright highs and crisp detail broadcast by these Mylar inverted dome tweeters. With included mounting hardware, you'll have the tools you need to enhance stereo imaging by installing these tweeters in a good spot high up in your doors, in the sail panel, or on the dash.

Compact crossover network

This system's external crossover ensures a seamless distribution of frequencies to the woofer and tweeter, for a totally natural sound. The prewired crossovers are compact enough to fit in some pretty tight places.

Built to last

A polypropylene woofer cone and butyl rubber surround ensure these speakers will live a long life in your car doors, withstanding all kinds of environmental abuse while delivering robust sound. Focal built these speakers with an extra-large voice coil and a powerful magnet so they can handle an honest 60 watts RMS. Handsome mesh grilles are also included in case you're planning on a custom installation.

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Product highlights:

Featured in our article: Ten best component car speakers for 2024
component speaker system includes two 6-1/2" woofers, 2 tweeters, and 2 external crossovers
polypropylene woofer with butyl rubber surround
Mylar inverted dome tweeter
mesh/ABS grilles included
prewired external crossover (12dB/oct)
handles up to 60 watts RMS (120 watts peak power)
frequency response: 65-21,000 Hz
sensitivity: 90 dB
impedance: 4 ohms
woofer mounting depth: 2-1/2"
warranty: 1 year
MFR # RSE-165

What's in the box:

Focal RSE-165 owner's manual

Two woofers
Two tweeters (each with 18" length of speaker wire attached)
2 Flush mount tweeter cups (installed)
2 Surface mount tweeter adapters
2 Angled surface mount tweeter adapters
2 Crossovers
2 Woofer grilles
2 Woofer grille mounting rings
12 Speed clips
Eight 1" Pan head screws (large head)
Four 1" Pan head screws (small head)
2 Adhesive backed pads
User manual (English/ French/ German/ Spanish/ Italian/ Portuguese/ Chinese/ Russian)
Specifications printed on box
Thank you note

Featured review

These speakers are amazing. they are extremely crisp and responsive. I hear things in my music i havent heard in ages. want to hear the slide of fingers on the bar of the guitar? the raspiness of a asinger changing their octave? These are the ticket..

Alan from ROCK HILL, SC

See all 137 reviews

Customer Q&A

Is the 60 RMS rating per pair, or per speaker? I plan to run these active with a Kicker Key 200.4. Is 50w per channel too much for these?

Greetings Adam. Thank you for your question. The 60 watt RMS is per side. The Key 50 watts to these will be work just fine.

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Researched by Crutchfield's Pat M.

Features & specs

General
Speaker Size	6 1/2
Design	2-way
Tweeter Design	Inverted Dome
Impedance (Ohms)	4
Tweeter Composition	Mylar
Woofer Composition	Polypropylene
Woofer Surround	Butyl Rubber
Parts Warranty	1 Year
Labor Warranty	1 Year
Specifications
Sensitivity (1W at 1 meter)	N/A
Sensitivity at 2.83 volts	91.5
Frequency Response	60 - 21k Hz
Minimum RMS Wattage	---
Maximum RMS Wattage	60
Peak Power Handling (Watts)	120
Top-mount Depth (Inches)	2 9/16
Bottom-mount Depth (Inches)	2 3/4
Cutout Diameter or Length (inches)	5 5/8
Mounting Height (Inches)	0.226
Frame Width	6.586
Frame Length	6.586

The Focal RSE-165 replaces these items:

Focal Performance R-165S2

Product Research

Features

Phase Plug: The bullet-shaped phase plug in the center of the woofer ensures a smooth, flat off-axis frequency response by preventing the higher frequency sound waves emanating from one side of the cone from interfering with sound waves from the other side of the cone.

Voice Coil: The voice coil is wound around a 1" diameter low-mass Kapton former, ensuring no coil deformation.

Tweeter Mounting: The tweeters can be flush mounted, surface mounted, or surface mounted at an angle (approximately 30°) using the included adapters. Once installed in any of the housings, the tweeter will pivot approximately 15° in any direction.

Note: Although the tweeters are shipped in their flush mount housings, no flush mount hardware is included. A method of holding the housings in place must be fabricated.

Tweeter Dimensions:

	Flush Mount	Surface Mount	Angled Surface Mount
Mounting Height	0.2"	0.84"	1.6"
Depth	0.65"	screw depth	screw depth
Frame Diameter	2.11"	1.775"	1.78" x 1.81"
Cutout Diameter	1.77"	N/A	N/A

Crossover: The input and output wires are attached to the crossover. The 19" input wires are not terminated (bare wire). Both the woofer and tweeter output wires are 10" long and terminated with quick slides to easily attach to the drivers. The crossover slope is 12 dB/octave.

Crossover Dimensions:

Width: 2-7/8" (3-1/8" including wires)
Height: 7/8"
Depth: 2"

The Focal RSE-165 replaces these items

Focal Performance R-165S2

Auditor Series 6-3/4" 2-way component system

19 reviews

component speaker system includes two 6-3/4" woofers, 2 tweeters, and 2 external crossovers
polypropylene woofer
"silk aluminum" dome tweeter

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13 questions already asked

I Have a 2006 Monte Carlo. It has 6 1/2" speakers in the front doors. Why would these Focal RSE 165 speakers not fit?

jason Apr 20, 2024

1 answer

Hey Jason, that is because while listed as a 6-1/2" speaker, it technically fits as a 6-3/4" speaker and does not have an adapter in the box in giving it a more universal for the slightly smaller 6-1/2" cutout. It all comes down to fitment and with the space given and just out of the box, it will not be able to drop in there. The below article will explain it a bit better than I ever could: https://www.crutchfield.com/S-JipHYaf0Gur/learn/blogs/av_tips/archive/2008/11/14/6-1-2-quot-versus-6-3-4-quot-car-speakers.aspx

red Apr 20, 2024 (Staff)

Do I need a capacitor for the tweeter to protect them or should setting my HPF crossover at 80hz be fine?

cha kai Mar 25, 2024

1 answer

Greetings Carter. Thank you for your question. Tweeters do need some type of filter if full range is being set to them. These come with a prewired crossover and should be use. Tweeters should, be getting no lower than 4-5,000 HZ.

hogan Mar 25, 2024 (Staff)

On a 2015 Hyundai Sonata would the tweeters mount next to the woofers in the doors? Or do the tweeters have to go up into the dash?

chad Mar 23, 2024

1 answer

For your 2015 Hyundai Sonata using the Focal RSE-165 components the tweeters can mount in the original dash location using the Metra 82-4201 bracket below included free with purchase, Chad. The crossover would be mounted in the door at the woofer location, with a custom speaker wire (not included, purchased separately) run from the crossover to the tweeter. The tweeters can be flush mounted, surface mounted, or surface mounted at an angle (approximately 30°) using the included adapters too, so you could also choose to mount them in a custom location if you wish. https://www.crutchfield.com/p_120824201/Metra-82-4201-Tweeter-Mounting-Brackets.html

bo Mar 23, 2024 (Staff)

Wil the focal RSE-165 work with 2022 Kia K5 with factory amp and do they support the rear doors?

ryan Dec 18, 2023

1 answer

Greetings Ryan. Thank you for your question. If your K5 has the Bose system, front woofers are 1.9 ohm, and rear doors are 3.4 ohm. Focals are 4 ohm. They can work with the Bose amp, but you will notice a volume drop, mostly in the front of the vehicle. These would be best with an aftermarket amplifier.

hogan Dec 19, 2023 (Staff)

I have a 2016 Hyundai Sonata SE would these Focal RSE-165 sounds good with a factory stereo?

joshua Nov 24, 2023

1 answer

They sure will work well with the factory stereo to give you good volume levels and improved clarity!

jason Nov 25, 2023 (Staff)

Is the 60 RMS rating per pair, or per speaker? I plan to run these active with a Kicker Key 200.4. Is 50w per channel too much for these?

adam Nov 20, 2023

1 answer

Greetings Adam. Thank you for your question. The 60 watt RMS is per side. The Key 50 watts to these will be work just fine.

hogan Nov 20, 2023 (Staff)

Please recommend a budget amp and powered sub to pair with RSE-165? Thanks

jamie Sep 11, 2023

1 answer

I would be happy to help, Jamie. Are you using a pair front and rear in your ride? If so, we will need a small 4-channel amp. The Pioneer GM-A6704 4-channel in the first link below delivers exactly the 60-watts we need for the Focal speakers, and it is a great value. For the subwoofer make sure you measure your desired install space to ensure a good fit. Our in-house Sound Ordnance brand B-8PTD in the second link below can slide into nearly any space and provides great bass on a budget! https://www.crutchfield.com/p_130GMA6704/Pioneer-GM-A6704.html https://www.crutchfield.com/p_777B8PTD/Sound-Ordnance-B-8PTD.html

bo Sep 11, 2023 (Staff)

Is the current stock of these made in China or France?

mark Apr 15, 2023

1 answer

Greetings Mark, and thank you for your question. The RSE level is made in China. Focal ES and up line are made in France.

hogan Apr 15, 2023 (Staff)

Please recommend a 4 channel amp to drive 2 sets?

dean Feb 10, 2022

2 answers

Can't go wrong with alpine x-a70F.

bruce Feb 11, 2022

My best recommendation is the JL Audio HD600/4. Beautiful, clean sound, and pairs nicely with the Focal speakers. It's expensive, though, but worth it in my opinion.

rob Feb 10, 2022

I currently have the Hertz DSK 165 in my front doors. I feel like the mids distorts early. I have it on an Alpine MRV-F300. Even when I bridged it for more power, I feel like I have to cross it over high to prevent distortion at higher volumes. 160 or 200hz. Iâ??m looking for something new. Has anyone run these before or after trying the Hertz Dieci?

leon Oct 17, 2020

1 answer

I have these in the back doors of my 2014 Hyundai Sonata with a JL Audio 4x100 on all the doors. I have not used the speakers you have but these are crossed over at 120hz and roughly half on the gain. They sound great! These add the mid range I was missing and are very responsive. Hope this helps.

rob Oct 17, 2020

leon Oct 17, 2020

1 answer

I've never used Hertz speakers so I can't help you. However, I have been pleased with the Focals that I have in an SUV and a truck.

david Oct 18, 2020

Do the Focal RSE-165 crossovers filter out the frequencies below the 60Hz for the low end of the woofers (advertised freq response), or are they just keeping the woofer and tweeter frequencies apart? The reason I ask is because my amp has an active high pass filters to block frequencies below 80Hz, but if these crossovers were already blocking below 80Hz then it would make sense to keep my amp at full range for these speakers. woofer-tweeter

ken Nov 23, 2017

2 answers

Yes, keep your amp at full range. I myself have a Kenwood class D amp and Kenwood head unit, and these speakers sound great. When I bought the amp, the salesman set my amp, knowing what I was running. Also used OF wiring and 4 gauge wire for the amp. Thinking of getting Focal's for the rear of my van, but not components, just 2 way.

ohlendorf Nov 23, 2017

I believe there is only a high pass between the woofer and tweeter. I have them actively crossed at 60 hz and they sound amazing.

kyle Nov 23, 2017

Will these work with only 25 watts rms?

christopher Feb 23, 2017

1 answer

Absolutely. Focal makes the Auditor line to be very efficient and work well without needing an external amp. They can handle the additional wattage of an external amp should you choose to add one but it is not required to do so. I hope that helps. My Bio: https://www.crutchfield.com/Support/Bio.aspx?bio=5

ryan Mar 10, 2017 (Staff)

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