Hi there, I talked to Rich before I did my install, and told him money was no object, until I priced everything out -- then it became an object. LOL Rich gave me invaluable information on speakers and install, and from what I heard out there, Focal seems to be the best (and that was one of three options he told me about), but if Rich says something is better now, I would listen to him.
SammyJ pointed me to the JL amp in the fairing, which at the time, seem to be cutting edge, but with recent installs of Rich and Sammyj, my system is a VCR compared to their Blu-Rays. I have a Kenwood head unit, and the CD skips whereas the HK stock never did. However, i have all types of frequency/balance/fading options which Kenwood system, which is really nice to have. With that said, the HK, in my opinion, is a rock solid unit designed for a rough ride and the elements - if i could, I would have used my HK head unit, but then I would not have been able to fit the JL amp in the fairing. Rich, however, found a way around that issue -- why have 1 amp in the fairing when you can have 2, plus your HK stock unit. Just my 2 cents on the subject.
BTW: I'm not an Apple guy, so I use a USB memory stick mounted under my seat -- I also have XM radio on my Garmin 665 and Pandora on the radio -- 99% i'm using my USB stick, 1% MP3 CD, and NEVER XM or Pandora. I have 64 gigs of music, which is everything I listen to --- its not like XM or Pandora is going to play a Johnny Cash song I have not heard, or Lynard Skynard. And if, by chance, I start listening to Lady Gaga on XM or Pandora, someone please shoot me.