Car Speakers

Choosing a Car Speaker

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when buying your next car speakers. First and foremost, try to listen to what you are buying. Don’t fall victim to the outright false advertising the car audio industry is known for or salesmanship. And whether you are seeking to purchase Car Speakers, Tweeters, Midbass, Midrange, Coaxial, or Component speakers, keep a close eye on these critical features.

Size & Depth

If you visit a car stereo store with glass display cases, I am sure you will be drooling over giant magnets drivers like those made by DS 18 and American Bass. Buying a speaker that properly fits your vehicle is more important than the brand, type, or cost. And yes, a creative installer may be able to mount a ten or even a twelve-inch speaker in the door, but if this is not you, consider visiting the Metra website (metraonline.com) and checking out their vehicle fit guide.

Power & Sensitivity

As we have often said, PEAK POWER is a useless spec that should always be ignored. Your focus should always be on RMS rating and sensitivity. Although sensitivity is not a huge issue, it must be considered if you are not planning to add amplification to your system.

Materials and Construction

As I mentioned on the “Tell-Tell Signs of a Good Sounding Car Speaker” blog, unlike in home audio, one has to keep in mind the harsh conditions car speakers need to endure. Polypropylene is often sold as the cure for high temperature and humidity. However, polypropylene cone woofers have a long history of becoming unglued at the surround, especially if this one is made out of rubber. If high humidity is in your future, consider a foam surround. If sound quality is most important, consider adding an XTC cup to your door speaker. This is something that should be considered regardless of the environment.