Improving your car has long been popular with most drivers. Almost every one of them wants to upgrade somehow and refine the car – it is male nature.
Modernization, as you might guess, can be not only external but also internal part of the car, where the driver spends a considerable amount of time every day. The road to work and from work, a trip to the country – they would not be so rich if there were no music in the cabin.
However, the standard audio system rarely satisfies the driver, so inadvertently the question arises – how to choose car speakers. Well, we will not torment you and begin to talk about the modernization of the sound in the car.
Why change anything at all?
And it seems to be the answer is obvious to sound louder, and passing cars were jealous, but not quite so. Music affects our mood and inner peace of mind, but in each audio system, it is felt differently. As corny as it may sound, but it’s all about the sound that fills the interior of our car. Regular speakers, as a rule, sound cheap enough. This can be seen if you compare a more or less decent audio system and the sound in your car. The difference is felt, and this is the whole point.
The standard audio system, which is installed in most cars, does not produce such bright and juicy frequencies. This is a consequence of the fact that the manufacturer decided to save money and installed the car speakers with a small range of audio frequencies. The music in such case feels somewhat “flat”; like a bunch of sounds picked up and thrown at one point. If you pick good acoustics for a car, then listening to music in the car will be several times more pleasant.
Acoustics for cars – where to start?
If we were able to convince you to change the audio system on your car, or you were looking for an article on this topic purposefully, it’s time to tell you about how to start changing the speaker system in the car. First, we should say that the modernization of music should begin with the change of the primary device – the car stereo. A simple replacement of the speakers may affect the sound quality, but the difference will not be so noticeable. That is why it is better to start with the alternative of a regular radio to a more modern.
The process of choosing a car radio should also be approached with the utmost seriousness because it will depend on the sound quality of your car audio system. The most important features that you need to pay attention to when choosing a radio is the size, output power, and a number of channels. Let’s take a closer look at each of these technical parameters.
Size
To date, there are only two sizes of head units that are used by car manufacturers – 1 DIN (single DIN) and 2 DIN (double DIN). In principle, their difference lies just in the height of the device itself. We have analyzed and reviewed best models of double din head units you can read our article here. We also gathered useful information about single din touchscreen head units and reviewed the best models – read here.
Output power
This parameter will determine the level of sound quality that will be produced by your speakers. Of course, it makes no sense to buy a head unit with output power more significant than the output power of the speakers. Here you need to start from what kind of speakers you plan to install in the future. For good sound, you can consider options with an output power of 50 watts.
Number of channels
Almost all currently existing car stereos are equipped with four channels. This is logical since modern cars are equipped with only four columns – two front and two rear. But there is also a two-channel car stereo, so when choosing pay attention to what you buy. But in that case, if you plan to install additional speakers in the car, then you need to buy an amplifier.
How to choose speakers in the car?
Smoothly we got to the central question of our article – how to choose car speakers. If you have already purchased a suitable head unit and amplifier, it’s time to pick speakers. Generally, the choice of speakers starts with the same as in choosing a head unit – with size. According to the standard speakers also exist only of two dimensions – five-inch and six-inch (by the way, we would recommend you to read our guide on best 6.5 speakers for clarity). However, the difference is not alone in format, but also the quality of the sound. For example, five-inch speakers better reproduce high frequencies, but six-inch will be more to the liking of bass fans.
Power
If you have already decided on the size, it’s time to move on to the technical characteristics. The first thing to start with is the power of the speakers. It is essential that the speakers have more power than the output power of the radio. This guarantees you a high-quality sound the more power you purchased speakers.
Sensitivity
If you want the new car speaker system to sound perfect, special attention should be paid to the sensitivity of the speakers. This parameter is one of three components – Sensitivity, FS and Qts.
The first is the output sensitivity, which is responsible for the purity of the sound. That is, the higher the Sensitivity, the sound will be cleaner and better. Experts recommend speakers with an output sensitivity of 90-100 Sensitivity.
With the FS indicator, things are somewhat different. This characteristic is responsible for the depth of the music, or just for the saturation of the bass. If you’re thinking about what acoustics to choose to make it sound good, look for speakers with FS as low as possible. Usually, 60 to 75 FS is enough for a good sound.
How to choose speakers in the car and not to make a mistake?
If you have already picked up excellent speakers for your car, taking into account all the parameters listed above, it’s time to check the last nuances. Because most modern manufacturers are trying to save on internal materials that can not be seen at first glance, it would be nice to check the diffuser. The main task of this device is to convert an electric signal into music.
As a rule, the diffuser is made of paper or cardboard, which is further impregnated with a hydrophobic liquid. Please note that a quality suspension paired with a diffuser should be made of good quality rubber, even better if it is caoutchouc. Cheap analogs of speakers or copies are often sold with a suspension of the cheap natural fabric, which can not give a good sound.
After choosing your favorite speakers, it remains only to install them in the interior of your car. This should be done carefully so as not to damage anything. Pay particular attention to the wires and the reliability of the speaker mounting on the rear shelf, as there is the highest vibration. If we talk about the cost, the full audio system from scratch with excellent sound quality can be collected for $500. However, you can go further, buy the highest quality components, additionally install a subwoofer, but here the price may differ from the previous one by 3 or even five times.
