Orion Cobalt CO650 - Fullrange System Roundup

Orion Cobalt CO650
MSRP: $69.99
Said to be designed for maximum performance, whether powered from a head unit or an amplifier, the Orion Cobalt CO650 coaxials use a universal stamped steel basket with multiple mounting holes so they can be dropped into almost any vehicle requiring a 6.5-inch driver. The curvilinear-shaped cones are made of pressed paper/fiber blend with a pleasing satin silver UV coating and NBR (rubber) surrounds. Chrome Orion logos bejewel the cones just south of the tweeters. The tweeters use a 19mm metallized PEI dome and a swivel housing, the latter allowing users to direct the output in the direction suitable for the application.

Orion includes all the prerequisite installation gear, including grilles, wire, and mounting hardware. The owner's manual is very thorough, offeringplenty of diagrams and step-by-step installation instructions, which should help most any DIYer to install the CO650's into their car. The manual also specifies power handling as 120 watts peak and 50 watts RMS, and frequency response as 62Hz to 20kHz.

Listening
I started listening with Chaka Khan spinning in the CD player and noticed right away a problem that would resurface time and time again. Starting in the upper midrange and continuing all the way up to the highest highs, the CO650's sizzle, as if someone had cranked the treble up several notches. With tracks that carry a lot of information in this range, such as Usher's "Throwback," the sound quickly became fatiguing. But there's an upside to this. If you're mounting them low in the door, where most factory speakers reside, the boost in the higher frequencies could provide a better overall response depending how off-axis the speakers are to the listener. Beyond those issues, the bass output was respectable as was the system's ability to produce believable imaging. These aspects, along with their $70 price, allow me to recommend the Orion Cobalt CO650 coaxials to anyone looking to upgrade their factory speakers.