3 Facts about Car Speakers

Car speakers and car audio in general can be a pretty complicated subject. Car audio is also something of a subjective matter as well since something that sounds good to one person may not sound the same to somebody else. But there are a few simple facts to bear in mind when considering car speakers that apply no matter what kind of music you listen to or what kind of vehicle you are putting them in.

First, a quality installation is paramount to good sound. A speaker that is poorly installed is just not going to sound good no matter how much you spend on them. Speakers that are too small for the hole they are mounted will allow sound waves from both sides of the speaker to be heard which will degrade sound quality a great deal. Be sure to select the proper size speaker for your installation site or that the correct size hole is cut for your speakers. Most speakers come with a template to allow for proper hole sizing, so be sure to use it. Speakers that are not mounted securely will rattle and resonate making every drum beat an annoying buzzing, rattling sound experience. Proper wiring connections are also very important to good sound. Loose connections can let speakers cut out or even ground out your radio or amplifier, blowing fuses or damaging equipment. The proper gauge of wire is also important as too small a wire will not deliver the full power of your audio system to your speakers. You must also ensure that the wires are run in such a way that they are not in danger of chaffing from sharp metal or moving parts since these hazards can damage your sound system.

Second, bigger isn't always better. While it is tempting to use the largest speakers you can cram into your car, this won't always guarantee the best sound quality. Speakers that are matched to the power output of your audio system, deliver optimal sound for the kind of music you listen to and physically fit in your car will sound better than two giant sub-woofers sitting on your back seat. Four high-quality, high-efficiency 6.5-inch speakers in a compact car will sound clean and fill the cabin with quality sound that larger, lower quality and less efficient speakers will not be able to match. If you really need some extra bass, a powered sub-woofer can augment small main speakers quite nicely without breaking the bank or crowding you out of your car.

Third, you can help the speakers you already have to sound better. When you listened to the speakers you bought at the car audio store they probably sounded great, but now that they are in your vehicle, they don't sound as good. Why? Your speakers will have to overcome all the road noise, engine noise and environmental noise surrounding your car which is not an easy job. All this other noise negatively impacts the speaker's ability to reproduce the sounds you want to hear. You can fix this by installing additional sound-deadening material like Dynamat under your carpets, over your headliner, in your doors and behind your back seat. These materials cut the outside, undesirable noise and let the sound of your speakers shine through.