Product Evaluation - Phoenix Gold RSd 65CS

R&B
Smokey Robinson "What's Too Much"
Who hasn't heard of Smokey Robinson? If you haven't, you must have been born after the mid-'80s or been living under a rock somewhere. Great vocals and SOUL are here in spades!

Again, great bass response for a pair of 6.5" components! Robinson's velvety vocals sounded true-to-life smooth. The image stability was much better on this song than it was on the GRP big band piece that preceded it, due in most part to the lack of complexity here. The background vocalists were appropriately subdued in relation to the lead vocal and they had a convincingly live sound to them. There's also a sense of space that was lacking on "Senor Blues." In this piece, the percussion adds a shimmer and ambience that's a complement to the keyboards and muted trumpet, both of which sounded surprisingly realistic. The PGs almost seemed to disappear, doing a commendable job of rendering this R&B classic.
Score: 7/10

Rock
Steely Dan "Everything Must Go"
Steely Dan's been around since the early '70s and they only get better with age. "Everything Must Go" is one of my favorite tracks on this album.

I don't know what it is about some recordings, but some, like this one, just seem to lack bottom end. The PGs didn't have anywhere near the low-frequency response here that they've exhibited on the three previous selections. This probably won't matter much if you're going to be using a subwoofer in combination with them, but without one they sounded pretty thin on this selection. In their defense, I've noticed this phenomenon on some other rock tunes too, so this isn't unique to these speakers. They sound smooth and articulate in their bandwidth-restricted way and should cut through really well when used with a sub. They weren't piercing or harsh (most of the time) and should sound really good on most rock music. In other words, I'd certainly consider them if I was building an R&R system for my favorite ride.
Score: 6/10

Alternative
Red Hot Chili Peppers "Funky Monks"
The Chili Peppers might be called a pioneer of alternative music and they've pretty much perfected their craft. They can really light up a pair of speakers and they'll definitely give your system a workout.

Just like in the last selection, the PGs lacked some bass, but there seemed to be considerably more low-frequency energy in this recording and the PGs made the most of what's here. Vocals sounded very good and guitars cut through the mix as they should, without any undue harshness or brittleness. The PGs had convincing impact and placement. Stability of the various musicians on stage was also quite good. After what I've heard while testing these speakers, I have to remind myself over and over that the retail price of these speakers is only $159! I've tested speakers costing two to three times this much that didn't sound any better. If I were listening to a system with a subwoofer, I think I'd be pretty pleased with these speakers for my front stage.
Score: 7/10

Conclusion
If you're looking for a good set of component or coaxial speakers that won't break the bank or force you to take out a second mortgage on your house, you owe it to yourself to check out the Phoenix Gold RSd 65cs. These are some of the best sounding speakers I've tested in this price range and are an excellent value.