Best Car Speakers for 2023, According to an Expert

<p class=”body-text”>Moolchandani gave us the rundown on all things car audio. He also filled us in on some of his personal go-to favorites. After a flurry of information and mining Moolchandani’s encyclopedic knowledge of brands and models, we’ve put together this list of expert recommendations for the <strong>best car speakers</strong> you can buy.<br></p><hr><h2 class=”body-h2″>Things to Consider When Upgrading Your Car Speakers</h2><h3 class=”body-h3″>Environment</h3><p>When asked to run through the fundamentals of upgrading a car audio system, without hesitation Moolchandani began with the listening environment. “What vehicle is it going into, how big is the vehicle that we need to fill with sound?” he asked. “We also need to deal with the chassis, like thin door panels where we might need to prevent rattling, and what type of speaker fits best in the vehicle.” </p><p>Your vehicle itself is just as important to sound quality as your audio hardware. It’s important to understand the size of the vehicle cabin, the type and number of speakers your vehicle can accommodate, and even the materials the vehicle is constructed from, both inside and out. </p><h3 class=”body-h3″>Listening Habits</h3><p>If you just throw some new speakers into your car, you may notice a crisper sound or slightly more volume. If you want to get the biggest bang for your buck, though, it’s important to consider your listening habits. Do you crank up the volume and roll down the windows? Windows up? And what do you listen to? Classical? Pop? Death metal? Hip-hop? Podcasts? All of these preferences should play a part in the car speakers you choose.</p><h3 class=”body-h3″>Cost </h3><p>Car audio serves a huge range of consumers, from the average driver and the audiophile to competitive audio enthusiasts. So as with most things, prices vary widely. According to Moolchandani, an average consumer should be prepared to spend about $1200–$1500 to have their sound system professionally upgraded. <br><br>Moolchandani insisted, though, that the average listener need not spend more than a few hundred dollars to get a noticeable upgrade in sound. This would likely include a few new speakers and a power source, but not necessarily a new head unit or sound processor. </p><h3 class=”body-h3″>Upgrades</h3><p>While speakers alone will likely net you an improvement over your factory sound system, to reap the full benefits of new car speakers you’ll also need a few upgrades. Amplifiers, sound processors, batteries, wiring, and the radio head unit itself all play a role in the quality of the sound your new speakers produce.</p><hr><h2 class=”body-h2″>Types of Car Speakers </h2><p class=”body-h3″>Component Systems</p><p>For the best possible sound from your speakers, consider component speaker systems. Components consist of woofers, tweeters, and external crossovers that are designed to work together to produce high-quality sound. With a component speaker system, you can mount various elements throughout the car for greater depth and clarity.</p><p class=”body-h3″>Coaxial</p><p>Coaxial speakers are the most common type of speaker on the aftermarket and consist of multiple speaker elements in one, with a woofer for low bass sounds and a tweeter for high notes. These are available in a range of sizes and prices to fit various factory speaker cavities and budgets. For the average consumer, an easy upgrade to coaxial speakers provides the easiest plug-and-play solution; that’s why they make up the bulk of this list of recommendations. </p><p class=”body-h3″>Subwoofer</p><p>You may have seen subwoofers in the trunks of heavily modified vehicles, usually accompanied by lots of fiberglass and neon lights. They produce the lowest-frequency sounds (bass) and are generally available from 8.0 to 15.0 inches in size. They will typically require an enclosure (box) and a power source (amplifier). And because a larger box translates to higher output, greater pressurization, lower distortion, and less stress on the driver(s), subwoofers also take up the most space in your vehicle.</p><p class=”body-h3″>Midbass</p><p>These speakers handle mid- to low-bass frequencies, such as bass drums. They are generally available in the 6.5- to 8.0-inch range but often aren’t necessary in vehicles—unless you desire an extremely high-end sound system. For most of us, good midrange door speakers will be enough.</p><p class=”body-h3″>Midrange</p><p>These speakers handle additional midrange sounds that the midbass and tweeters cannot. Most often installed in the door, they add detail to the overall sound and are usually available in the 3.5- to 6.5-inch range. </p><p class=”body-h3″>Tweeter</p><p>Tweeters are responsible for the highest sound frequencies and also add clarity. They are the smallest speaker in a system and are usually mounted higher than others. </p><p>Ready to check out the best of the aftermarket for new car speakers? Here are some expert recommendations.</p>” />