Car Stereo Speakers

Most often than not, car stereo speakers that come with the car are not as good as the after-market ones. For those who want to improve the sound quality of their already existing car stereos, replacing the factory speakers with the latest car stereo speaker in the market today is a pretty good idea.

Various kinds of car stereo speakers are intended to reproduce specific frequencies. The wider and higher the speaker’s frequency response, the more the speaker is able to capture and reproduce sound. For instance, tweeters only pick-up and reproduce frequencies that are high-pitched, while subwoofers only recognize the “lowest” frequencies –the bass.

Once shopping for car stereo speakers, it is essential to think about the sensitivity efficiency of the speaker, which determines the extent to which the sound will travel. “Efficiency” is calculated in dB/Wm or “decibels per watt at one meter”. For instance, speakers with 90 dB/Wm sensitivity, produces 90 decibels of sound within a “one-meter” distance.

For those who play their car audio systems continuously, concentrate more on “Maximum Power RMS” of car audio speakers – this is the highest power that the speaker can continuously produce. To obtain the complete sound range in cars, one needs a “component speaker set” –this covers every range of frequency. The bass should be at the back, while high-pitched speakers such as tweeter should be at the front.

The most basic set up of car stereo speakers should comprise the following: a subwoofer at the back; two tweeters at the front, typically at he doors; and two midrange or “multi-element” speakers close to the back.

Unless the speakers are excellently high-performance units, the deck must be able to provide power to the component speakers to enable the amplifiers to concentrate on the subwoofer. If you want to connect the amplifier with the speakers and the subwoofers, a crossover is needed to distribute the correct frequencies to its needed speakers.

There are certain tips to keep in mind when choosing car stereo speakers that’s right for you. Before rushing off to stores and getting the first unit you get your hands on, here are some guidelines that you may want to do:

Before Shopping

Take out the existing car stereo speakers. Measure the openings of the speaker. Front speakers generally measure four-inches, five-inches, or six-inches. Speakers at the rear deck are typically six-by-nine inches, six-and-a-half inches, or five-and-one-fourth inches. Select a favorite tape or CD to bring to the store.
Tips: If measuring can’t be done for the speaker openings, then bring the speakers to the store. Utilize the help of a “door panel popper” when removing the panel and getting to the speakers. Make sure that you secure and label the original wires of the speakers.

In The Shop

Pick out a number of speakers that fit the measurement and your budget. Request the salesperson for the chosen speakers to be plugged into a radio that is comparable to the ones you have in the car. Play the favorite CD or tape you brought with you when speaker testing as you’ll be able to identify if the sound is clearly heard or not. Select the speaker the best satisfies your taste.

Choose “coaxial speakers” for the car’s front doors. Coaxial speakers are an assembly of a pair of speakers; the speaker playing the highs, and the other playing the mid-range/mid-bass frequencies. Before leaving the shop, check out the “speaker package”. Ensure that it has everything –speaker, speaker wires, grille, screws, installation instructions, owner’s manual, and warranty.

Tips: Choose speakers that are 4-ohm. Avoid speakers that have heavy magnets as they can’t be powered by a standard car stereo. If intending to attach speakers directly to a radio, ensure that the salesperson does not test the speaker via an amplifier during demonstration as this changes the sound.

Car stereo speakers enhance the sound quality of an audio system. If you’re thinking about changing the existing car speakers, then don’t miss out on essential tips that will help you shop for the right car stereo speaker.