Speaker Types

In the arena of car audio entertainment systems, several various speaker types must be merged to produce the best sound quality. Like any other component in car stereo systems, the vital goal of speakers is to perform its function without adding any form of “coloration” to audio signal.

In a perfect world, only a single loudspeaker on every side is required to reproduce the whole audio spectrum. Unfortunately, speakers that produce “low frequencies” have too much throng that does not allow it to produce higher frequencies. This is the reason why there are different speaker types used to cater to this dissimilar frequency needs. Speakers have tremendous range in price and quality. They also hold the biggest impact on overall sound of the car audio system.

There are basically three types of speakers: the coaxial speakers, component speakers, and the subwoofers.

Coaxial Speakers

This is among the most common and least expensive speaker types. The coaxial speaker has a midrange/woofer that has a tweeter that can be located over its cone, on a pole or bridge that extends from the cone’s center. These speaker types are manufacture in sizes that precisely fit the majority of vehicle brands.

The advantages of this type include easy installation, low cost, and are the type of speakers that closely meet the “one-loudspeaker” principle or so-called “point source” –a location where every frequency appears to originate. The design’s disadvantage is generally the “lower” sound quality for most of the coaxial speakers compared to the of component sets. When buying coaxial speakers check out important aspects including frequency response, power handling, mounting depth, tweeter protrusion, and sensitivity.

Component Speakers

These types of speakers are “single driver” speakers designed for reproducing frequencies at a given range. They’re used in tandem with additional component speakers to reproduce the whole audio range. As little two or as several as four or more various size drivers may be utilized to create the component set. Drivers operate within their intended audio band or frequency range through a series of “frequency filters” called a crossover.

Using a crossover to allow speakers to operate at a particular range prevents speaker distortion from trying to reproduce certain frequencies that the speaker is physically incapable of doing. To maintain a “point source” attribute, component speaker sets should be placed very near to each other – although this isn’t constantly followed. There are times when midrange/woofer is placed on doors, while tweeters may be positioned on pillars that separate the door frame from the windshield or a corner of front windows (sail panel).

Subwoofers

These are bigger drivers utilized to reproduce frequencies that are about or below 100Hz. Smaller speakers are not able to efficiently produce frequencies that are in this range because of the driver’s size limitations. Subwoofers are typically considered as speakers that are eight-inches or bigger, and requires more “amplifier power” than component or coaxial speakers because of their bigger size.

Subwoofers also need an enclosure for producing lower frequencies effectively. There are also several port types of speaker boxes or enclosures. At times, the enclosure may be as simple as that of a sedan trunk or as multifaceted as “series-tuned dual-flex band pass” enclosure. The size of the cone and the enclosure needed are two very essential factors in choosing a subwoofer. You may even choose to but a triangular, hexagon, or square shaped instead of the usual round cone.

There are also several speaker types used in various car models. Some of the latest car models such as Acura TL (luxury car by Honda) may use several certified Acura TL speaker types that provides enhanced audio system sound performance specifically designed for their car model requirements.

The different speaker types for cars will bring out better sound quality for the car audio system, providing a more enjoyable audio entertainment experience.