Factory Car Speakers
Greetings and welcome to another installment of our article series. In this post, we shall discuss the basics about factory speakers. I apologize for the bleak title, but to clarify things furthermore, this article could have easily been titled the following:
- Factory Car Speakers Versus Aftermarket Speakers
- The Truth Behind Factory Car Speakers
So now, let us segregate this post into the two basic concepts posted above.
The Truth Behind Factory Car Speakers
If you think your current factory system can do a lot more improving, you cannot be more right. The truth is, factory systems are just not keen to provide pleasurable music listening experiences. Sure, there are are these so-called signature series and multiple speaker systems like Audi’s Bang & Olufsen offering, but those are normally reserved for higher-end luxury cars. In this discussion, we shall stick with run-of-the-mill sedans, like your mother’s Acura, or semi-rich uncle’s Lexus.
A car is probably one of the worst places to setup an audio system. Remember, an ideal listening setup is one where the listener is at the middle of the left and right speaker, with the both having equal distances to the listener. In a car, such is impossible—unless you have the McLaren F1 where the driver is at the middle.
Add to the fact that factory speakers do not have good tonality to begin with. Tonality is how close a speaker sounds to the original source—instruments like they are being played next to you.
Over the years, I have seen the tweeter-midrange setup being made common by factories in everyday drivers. Sure, that may have some improvement over coaxial door installs, but in reality, the tweeters they use are nothing but miniaturized full ranges.
Factory Car Speakers Versus Aftermarket Speakers
I do not want to sound like a factory spokesperson here—after all, I am not trying to sell you anything—but factory speakers simply cannot cope with aftermarket speakers. Aftermarket brands specialize in car audio installations and most (if not all) of their products involve some form of research. Aftermarket speakers specialize in off-axis installations. What this means is that the speakers do not have a direct, straight line to the ears of the listeners.
Imagine how most car speakers are installed—usually in doors, in back boards, on dashboards. An ideal setup should have the speakers facing towards you, like in a home theater or a simple component system. Not having the speakers pointed towards the listener poses a lot of problems that have to do with sound quality. As a result, replacement speaker companies design products that perform reasonably well under such circumstances.
Another important aspect aftermarket speakers tackle is durability. If your car has a door speaker, chances are it is getting wet. Its back is inside the cavity that houses the windshield. Sure speakers have some protection but that small space is a damp one. The good aftermarket speakers also address this issue.
Going aftermarket also means limitless freedom in installation options. You can go all-out with your installation and have as many speakers as you want. For the conservative you are only concerned about sound quality, you can go with a simple two-way or three-way installation. Such will provide better locations because each individual driver is in a separate location. You can have tweeters or midranges installed in a direct line of path such as in the pillars.
Click here to see some aftermarket speakers to familiarize you with brands and types.
Some speaker photos
Related posts:
- Car Subwoofer System
- How To Pick The Right Amplifier For Your System
- Pioneer GM-6400F Review
- Focal 165 KRX2 Review