Have you ever wondered what types of speakers are in your car? Or, How many types are there? This article will give you a thorough knowledge of the ins and outs of car speakers.
Car speakers are the only output hardware in car audio, and a poorly chosen car audio speaker can destroy your overall audio experience. We have jotted the article in a way so that you can choose the right car speakers for you.
Without any delay, let's jump into the key discussion.
Types of Car Speakers
For heads up, there are mainly two types of car speakers. Component Speakers and Coaxial Speakers.
We will show the use differences for both of the speakers at the end of the article. But before that, let's talk about what a Component Speaker is.
What Are Component Speakers?
As we know, human ears can hear sounds with frequencies in the range of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, which is known as the audible band. Speakers are ideally designed to produce sound waves in that audible band.
Component speakers are sets of speakers in which each type of component speaker is designed to deliver sounds within a specific frequency range.
Based on what range of frequency the speaker is producing, there are 5 car component speakers types. Let's hear them.
1. Subwoofers
They are the most favorite kind of speakers of any audiohead. Subwoofers are exclusively made only to produce bass sound, frequencies below 80 Hz. Their purpose is to deliver the deep, earth-shaking bass that you feel as much as hear.
They are pretty large compared to other car speakers. They're typically placed in the trunk or rear of the car, where they can deliver those ground-shaking bass notes without distortion.
2. Woofers
Just like subwoofers, woofers target the lower spectrum of the audible band, but it has a broader range, typically from around 40 Hz to 500 Hz.
They bring warmth and fullness to sound, reproducing lower-pitched instruments like bass guitars and drums. Design-wise, they are larger than tweeters and mid-ranges, often employing larger cones to move more air and produce those lower frequencies.
3. Tweeters
Tweeters specialize in producing a special kind of sound frequency known as treble, which ranges from around 2,000 Hz to 20,000 Hz.
They are smaller than low-frequency bass speakers and come with a variety of options, like dome tweeters, cone tweeters, and even horn tweeters, each having its unique characteristics. You will have to position them at the ear level for optimum quality, or you may place them in the upper parts of door panels and dashboards.
They are well-known for reproducing sound with clarity and nuances and are essential for vocals and instruments like cymbals and violins.
4. Super Tweeters
Super Tweeters also reproduce high-frequency sounds, but unlike Tweeters, they process frequencies that are above the audible frequency range or beyond 20,000 Hz.
If they are not audible, then what purpose do they serve? It is a common question among audioheads. Though they are not audible, they can improve your overall audio experience by adding depth, details, and perception. They are usually used in exclusive systems and paired with the primary tweeters.
5. Mid-range Speakers
Mid-range speaker fills up the frequency gap between treble and bass sounds. They primarily work with around 500 Hz to 2,000 Hz.
Human voice and many musical sounds are reproduced best by this type of speaker. They create a smooth transition between bass and treble sounds and make your musical journey more soothing. For the best quality and more balanced sound, we advise you to place them near woofers.
What Are Coaxial Speakers?
A Coaxial Speaker or Full-Range speaker combines two or more component speaker elements (like subwoofer, tweeter, etc) in a single speaker unit. It is a more convenient and compact option that covers a large range of the audible band.
Based on the combination of drivers or elements, there are some common types of full-range speakers.
1. Two-way Coaxial Speakers
Among the various Coaxial Speakers, they are the simplest in design and are widely popular for their balanced performance and affordability.
They primarily combine two drivers—a tweeter for treble and a woofer for bass.
2. Three-way Coaxial Speakers
Also known as Triaxial Speakers, it only adds a mid-range element to the previous two-way speaker. The added benefit is that now it can handle the middle range of frequencies.
3. Four-way Coaxial Speakers
If you add an extra mid-range speaker or super tweeter to the previous three-way configuration, you will have a four-way Coaxial speaker.
Though the additional driver is added for enhancement of crisps and clarity, the effectiveness of the fourth driver in a confined space like a car can vary.
4. Custom Coaxial Speakers
These are designed for specific car models or unique installations. They might feature unconventional driver arrangements or sizes to fit specific vehicle spaces or acoustics.
Choose Between Component and Coaxial Speaker
Now that you know the popular car speaker types, you may ask yourself, what are the differences between a component and a coaxial speaker? Let us answer that for you.
Features | Component Speaker | Coaxial Speaker |
|---|---|---|
1. Sound Quality | Can deliver superior sound quality with greater clarity and depth because of frequency separation | Integrated drivers lead to less precision but are good for casual listening |
2. Design & Construction | Have an external crossover for precise frequency distribution and allow strategic placement of drivers | May or may not have a built-in crossover and comes in an all-in-one compact size |
3. Installation | Require a more complex and time-consuming installation | Easier and faster to install, often suitable for DIY installation |
4. Cost | Expensive due to higher quality components and design | Lower installation costs, often suitable as direct replacements for factory speakers |
Final Verdict
We believe that now you will be able to find out the best type of car speaker for yourself. From woofers to tweeters and mid-range to full-range, you know it all.
Speaker is important not only for delivering a perfect, clear sound but also for creating the perfect vibe. You can surely achieve both if you understand the speaker types for car audio.
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