Whether it's Beethoven or Aerosmith, good music is much more than notes and rhythm. Without a quality stereo sound, even the best music can't be enjoyed properly. This is true whether the music is being played by a home theater system or a car stereo system. Building a home theater system can be challenging, but choosing the right car speakers for a car stereo system is even more critical, because of the limited space and other installation considerations.
Quality Audio
Two factors are critical in choosing the right car speakers to deliver a full, high-quality sound. Power handing describes the car speaker's ability to manage wattage power. Car stereo systems with lower wattage powers won't need speakers that can handle a high amount of wattage power, but a powerful car stereo system will require speakers capable of handling high levels of wattage output.
Another consideration in choosing a speaker system is the sensitivity rating. This determines the amount of sound delivered after the speakers receive the sound signal. If the car stereo system is a standard factory model, the car speakers will need to provide greater sensitivity than if the system is a custom creation that utilizes multiple amplifiers.
Car Speakers
Based on these factors, consider what brand and model of car speaker will best meet the car stereo system's needs. Choose from full-range car speakers, which provide an accurate representation of a complete range of musical sound, from the lowest base to the highest treble notes.
Alternatively, select component car speakers, which are capable of delivering high-quality musical sound in a certain frequency range. For example, tweeters offer high-end sound frequencies, while woofers deliver lower-end sound frequencies. Note that tweeters manufactured from soft components deliver a warm tone, while harder materials will produce a starker sound quality.
Car Subwoofers
Which car subwoofer will work best with the car stereo system? This depends on the amount of space available, the power of the stereo system, the subwoofer enclosure, and crossovers. The amount of space available, of course, will depend on the size of the space in the car and the overall size of the car's audio system.
The purpose of a car subwoofer enclosure is to help improve sound definition. Some enclosures can be purchased as individual components, allowing experts to customize their own sound system by choosing the type of subwoofer they desire with the style of enclosure they prefer. Or, they can purchase the subwoofer and build their own enclosures.
Enclosed subwoofer systems are also available for those who'd rather purchase a complete package instead of trying to assemble their own subwoofer system. These systems contain a subwoofer with an enclosure built around it and sold as a package deal.
The second consideration in purchasing a subwoofer is that of crossovers. Crossovers are designed to assist in filtering out excess high-frequency noise. People who want a car subwoofer that only plays back lower frequency sounds should opt for a low-pass filter. Although most amplifiers already contain low-pass filters, an extra one is a must for a multi-amp system.
Another factor in deciding on a car subwoofer system is the overall system power of the car audio system. The system will need to have enough power to drive the subwoofer. Since most car subwoofers will need a car amplifier, don't forget to consider the amplifier's power needs as well as that of the subwoofer.
Car Audio Installation
Installation requirements and processes for the installation of car speakers are different with each car or truck. Frequently, removing the old car speakers and mounting the new ones in the same place is very easy to do. Just make sure the new speakers are exactly the same size as the old ones! Sometimes, however, car speaker mounting brackets are necessary, and in a few situations a little cutting or drilling may even be required.
In-dash car speakers are probably the easiest to install. Just unscrew and remove the grills in the presently installed car speakers. If no screws are visible, the present car speakers are most likely installed with the use of friction fittings. These can be gently pried loose from the dash with a chisel or other wide, flat tool. Be careful, though - if they cannot be easily removed, they could be mounted with screws from the bottom of the dash.
After the car speakers have been taken out, identify and mark the positive and negative terminals. Connect the car speaker wire and the speakers to be installed. If indicated, crimp the connection site lightly to make sure the connection is a good one.
Car door speakers are just a bit more complicated, but still fairly easy to install. Just take the old speaker grill off with a screwdriver or chisel. Be careful of the wires, and use these to connect the new speakers.
Most of the time, removing the old speakers and inserting the new ones is a very straightforward process. Occasionally, however, the removal of the door panel is necessary for the installation of car door speakers. In situations like these, check the car owner's manual to be sure this is done properly.
Use this information to choose car speakers and subwoofers that will maximize the quality of the car's audio system. With a little hard work and the right choices, your stereo system will soon be the envy of everyone in town!