When purchasing an aftermarket sound system for your vehicle, it is important to know exactly what is needed in order to avoid wasting money and get the best possible quality. There are a lot of physics involved in installing speakers into a vehicle and it needs to be done in a very precise manner. There are three major types of car speakers for sale that serve different specific purposes, so it’s important to know the basics between the different types.

Coaxials are the most common type of sound unit. Stock audio systems usually come with at least two sets of coaxial. Basically, they are midrange cone woofers which result in a low to midrange sound level from the midwoofer and a reproduction of high frequency given off from the tweeter which is normally mounted on top. Older cars normally do not come with the tweeter, because makers have just realized its importance in sound quality.

Component systems, in most situations, include midrange woofers, multiple tweeters, and crossover networks. They function similarly to coaxial systems except for the crossovers which significantly improve the quality of sound. They channel the particular sounds to the components which are made for that specific signal – for example, the tweeters will only emit high frequencies. These tend to be much more expensive but have a much better sound.

The materials with which the woofer or tweeter is made will have a significant effect on the cost and could also drastically improve or reduce its longevity. Denser cone materials, like glass fiber, tend to produce the best sound quality, that means nothing if the rest of the speaker is not made with high-quality materials. In the end, it will be a waste of money for the good material if the rest of the speaker is cheaply made and will not last.

This is the same of the surround material, which is kind of like the springs on a trampoline. It supports the system as it moves back and forth and vibrates to create sounds. Thus, the surround material must be tough and stretchy enough to support the movement. Most cars come stock with foam as the surround material, but this is extremely prone to temperature damage. Having a dense material as the surround will improve the longevity of the speaker and give you a better sound for longer.

Once speakers of good quality are installed, it is important to know that their placement could make or break the sound quality. Even the best speakers will not give good quality if they are placed unevenly or do not have good imaging. There must be front, rear, and center channels which are scientifically adjusted to give the best sound. Otherwise, it will seem like the instruments and vocals are disheveled, coming from all over the place, and will sound very sloppy.

Your best bet when browsing car speakers for sale is to get a professional to decide what is best for your type of car. There are different types of speakers to choose from and surely every brand uses different materials for every different component. Choosing the right system will help to ensure great sound quality and durability of the equipment so consumers can avoid wasting money on unnecessary or bad quality products.

Every modern car comes with a “stock” audio system that the manufacturer decided was an adequate sound package for that particular vehicle. However, people who love listening to music in their cars or simply like to modify their vehicles will often seek aftermarket car speakers and audio units to make the sound louder and of better quality. When installing a new system, it’s important to know the facts.

Speakers should be placed to get the maximum sound quality. Thus, imaging is important. Imaging is strategically deciding which sounds will come from which places. In most cases, the vocals of the music will come from the units in the center of the car. Melodic instruments, on the other hand, normally come from the sides of the vehicle. Having the same sound come from different places in the car will lessen the sound quality.

Staging goes hand-in-hand with imaging. It helps to make the music sound similar to that of a concert. It should sound like the singer is standing up front while the bass and guitar are coming from behind the vocalist. They should all seem to be coming from the front, though technically they are coming from all over. Essentially, the placement of the speakers and what comes from where will “fool” your brain.

As if imaging and staging aren’t difficult enough to master, one must then get proper directivity. It is related to the science of frequency – by overlapping middle and low frequencies, directivity will “bring” sounds to the front. Midbases should be played as low as possible without getting distortion while subs should be at a higher frequency. The bass coming from the front and back will then be mixed, making it seem as though the bass is coming from the front.

There are several different types of speakers. Coaxials, or three-ways, are two or more units built in the same frame. They are inexpensive and easy to install. Separate speakers are tweeters, woofers, and an external crossover which can be used experimentally for perfect staging. Horns are a type of speaker that are great for directing sound and are very efficient. Midbases and subwoofers add to the low frequencies of the system.

It is best to mount them in the front of the car to give the best sound while reducing the delay. Rear speakers should be used to create a sense of depth in the music, but should definitely not overpower the directness of the front units. Center channels, in addition, help give the sense that the vocals are coming from the front of the car. They are subtle and should never be too loud – they are simply for spacing purposes.

There is in fact an exact science to installing car speakers. It relies heavily on the physics of sound to give the best quality. If they are not placed correctly or if the imaging is off, it will sound like the voices and instruments are coming from all over the place and will sound low-quality and unrealistic. The idea is to get the music sounding as much like a concert as possible, and it will probably require the help of a professional to do so.