I have recently baught some counterfeit Focal 165 V2's (wich are being refunded due to the seller being a champ, he was ripped too).

I have just picked up some real 165 V2's and thought I would post the visual differences so that others could avoid being stung.

The actual speakers are very hard to tell appart. The fakes are a slighly different shade, but you would need the real thing next to the fake to tell. The only thing I did notice is that I could not get the grill off of the fake tweeters (it came off easily with the real ones).

The biggest difference I found was on the box. The print quality on the fakes is much lower, but again, you would need the real and fake side by side to tell.

The big giveaway is the picture of the tweeter. In the fakes, the edges of the silver section of the tweeter are slighly bent and look dodgy, the real tweeter looks perfect. This should be pretty easy to spot.

All of this only applies to the 165V2's, however I assume all fake V2's would be the same.

Maybe if anyone has had a similar experience with K2's they could add to this thread (maybe even make it a sticky).

I have been lucky because the people that I got the fakes from are champs and are giving me my money back (i doubt whoever sold the speakers to them will give any refunds), but others have not been, and will not be so lucky.

The other givaway (this is how I found out) is the serial number. All the fakes have the same serial number (seems pretty lazy to me).

Let me guess. You got these at a price too good to be true?

Some pictures would help also

Let me guess. You got these at a price too good to be true?




I did get them at a pretty good price, but it was from an active member on these forums, and i did my research, and this particular person is pretty straight up. What i didnt know is that this person had been ripped before me.

So where are the pics?

So where are the pics?


keep your pants on they will get there when i get time

heres some taken from the CAA forums

http://www.audio-apex.com/forumfiles/PICT0191.jpg
http://www.audio-apex.com/forumfiles/PICT0190.jpg
http://www.audio-apex.com/forumfiles/PICT0189.jpg
http://www.audio-apex.com/forumfiles/PICT0188.jpg
http://www.audio-apex.com/forumfiles/PICT0187.jpg
http://www.audio-apex.com/forumfiles/PICT0186.jpg
http://www.audio-apex.com/forumfiles/PICT0192.jpg


1-Serial Number is stamped into the back plate when it should be engraved. The hole on the Black Focal back plate is too large.

2-Couple of problems with the crossover and tweeter. Yellow on the box is off.

3-Impressive detail on the board but coils are way off. The caps have a clear heat shrink with the Axon labeled on them. The font is wrong and stretched. No space between the 250VDC. C1 seems to be larger than original. Caps should be C1-3.9, C2-3.3, C3-13 and all 250VDC 5% The real Focal terminal screws will accept both philips and slot screwdrivers, not just philips.

4-Font is incorrect along with the "TN52" is too large and in a bold font. Black back plate should have machining groves along with a beveled edge, not just a stamped steel plug. Cannot see but there probably is no "FOCAL" stamped into the side of the plastic trim that is part of the diffuser / wave guide cover. Poor solder job on the connections and Focal never strips that much insulation to make the connection. Back to picture #2 the Focal logo on the flush cup is in the wrong place. xxxx commented on his set that the logo will never line up right and look correct when the tweeter is locked in.

5-The big thing here is the tweeter diaphragm! Just look at your new ones. That crease / ring that is about 1/16" down from the top edge of the diaphragm is just a mess. Plus it is not even around the cone. The cone does not seem as deep / dished as a true Focal. Where cone attaches to the surround is different. The "X" marks that allow a better gluing to the surround to wrong. They use a large hole cell foam surround compared to the small cell neoprene that a true Focal has. The plastic seems to have a smooth finish vs. the Focal satin. Lastly the red stripe on the positive wiring is too thick.

6-Focal does not wrap the speakers or crossovers in plastic. Cannot see but I have heard there is no Focal warranty card. (Plastic business card size with Focal art on one side with Serial number on the other.) Again the Yellow on the box seems off colour.

7-Seems pretty good. Cannot tell the profile of the dust cap or the correct texture or finish of the cone. Is it true Kevlar?

8-Basket seems really close but the Zamac coating is too fine and does not seem to have the same sparkle as a Focal. Poor solder job again on the tinsel terminals. The big ugliness is the trimming of the cone. Look where the cone is glued to the surround. This should be a nice clean sharp edge. Plus it looks like the back of the cone is just the foam. There should be a layer of special glass tissue. If there is, it is very rough.

How do the fake ones sound ?

lol :stoopid:

Its not actually that much of a dumb question.

I have just installed the real 165V2's and they do sound much better (as expected), especially in the lower frequencies. However, the fakes sounded pretty damn good too (for the price). Probably about as good as the entry level DLS splits I have in my old car. I think the makers went to great lengths to make the speakers look the same, and in the process have come up with a decent sounding speaker. I cant vouch for how long they may, or may not, last though.

It's actually a very reasonable question.

Wow, thats incredible, i know theres no way i'd be able to tell the difference if i saw a pair of fakes without comparing them to originals.