Car Speaker Sizes: An Ultimate Guide For Beginners
As a car owner, you certainly want to be able to equip your vehicle with the best audio system. However, do you know the ways to own the perfect sound system? The answer will come from choosing the right car speakers sizes in the first step.
Choosing car speakers sizes is important because not all measurements may be compatible with your car. In order not to make the wrong choices and end up having to modify the ports, you need to determine the correct size and model.
Without making you wait any longer, here is all the information you are looking for about car speaker sizes and related issues.
Common Size
Before looking at today’s audio players’ most common diameter sizes, you need to note that although they have the same size model, each manufacturer has a different design.
In some cases, due to errors or differences in measurement, some products do not have the exact dimensions stated by the manufacturer.
3.5 inches
3.5 inches is the most common size for spaces where space is limited and large-diameter audio players are difficult to fit. Despite the size advantage, this type of design did not receive high praise for the bass.
The above disadvantage is mainly because the speaker cone is quite small, so it isn’t easy to generate large bass waves. Besides, the small diameter also means that products of this size will have poor power handling capabilities.
Yet, the highs and trebles of these 3.5mm diameter audio devices are impressive.
4 inches
Like the 3.5″ speaker above, the 4″ diameter audio devices are also quite small. However, just a little difference in size is enough to create a significantly better sound quality, especially in the bass.
Along with better sound quality, a product of this size also has larger average processing power. Depending on the manufacturer’s handling, the processing power will be between 25W and 45W.
Although the sound quality is significantly better than the 3.5″ product, the sound quality of the 4″ speaker is still not good enough to be a standalone product on a car audio system. Instead, it would help if you only favored options of this size as a complement to larger devices.
With the help of adapter mounting plates, you can completely replace sound players with a diameter of about 4×6″ or 5.25″ with this 4″ diameter design.
5.25″
You have many options when looking for a 5.25″ speaker model. This size allows the product to have a slightly higher mid-range quality than the smaller sizes.
In addition, it can be that 5.25″ is the perfect solution to the problem of balancing cost and performance.
You should note that this type of parameter currently only appears in coaxial products. Usually, the product’s processing power is in the range of 25W to 55W.
6 inches and 6.5 inches
The common feature of products with diameters in the upper range is that the midrange and bass are quite good. In addition, 6″ and 6.5″ products will often have high power handling capabilities and more high impedance options.
With more impressive sound quality, many users choose a product of this size as an upgrade device to replace the factory speaker model.
Suppose you need to increase the volume when enjoying music in the car. In that case, this speaker provides a better experience by giving distortion-free sound instead of being immersed in the sound with powerful and clear bass.
4×6 inch coaxial
One surprising thing about the 4×6 inch Speaker is that it has a similar power rating but has a more impressive cone surface area and volume than the only 4″ device.
Another advantage of this speaker diameter is that it will be available in sheet form, making it suitable for individual drivers. Besides, you can also convert this size product into a 3.5″, 4″ speaker model with the driver’s help.
The above conversion is quite common, so you can install only tweeters and upgrade your car’s audio system.
5×7 inches
You can sometimes find this type of speaker in places like the door or the back of a sedan. However, in practice, 5×7 is not a very common diameter length.
The reason may be that although this size can deliver more bass, it has a larger cone size, and there are not too many plate options on the market.
Therefore, users often prefer 4×6 sheet products or simply use the 5×7″ device as a component speaker device for a 5.25″, 6″, 6.5″ audio system.
6×8 and 6×9 inches
The two sizes above do not have too many differences. Both 6×8 and 6×9″ are the largest diameters available and possess a range of characteristics as follows/
The first is the ability to create quite an excellent bass. Maybe the bass that this product reproduces does not reach the level of super bass, but it is enough to meet the needs of listeners who are not too fastidious.
Second, 6×8 and 6×9 inches are ideal for appearing in high-powered audio systems. Not only stopping at the car audio system, but this device can also appear on boats, entertainment vehicles, and small speakers.
Finally, a device of this type will be able to handle power in the range of 50W-100W – quite an impressive ability for such a large size.
4 × 10 inches
With a rather special size, the 4×10 speaker will be suitable for spaces where the length is larger than the width. Not every car has a special area like above, this type of speaker is not really popular.
On a car’s audio system, you’ll find this type of speaker on the dashboard of some truck models. In some vehicles, 4×10″ speakers may appear in the rear area.
Coaxial Or Component Speakers
Coaxial speakers and component speakers have quite a few differences affecting the output sound quality. To make the choice that best suits your personal preferences, you definitely won’t want to miss the following information:
Coaxial Speakers Overview
This audio player will have two-way full-range speakers. There will be a woofer, a tweeter, and a crossover in it. All of the above are in one cluster.
Therefore, it can be that coaxial speakers are almost like a combination of a single cone loudspeaker and a component speaker system.
The advantage of this type is that the sound is quite good, can be suitable for most listeners today, and can even conquer the most demanding listeners.
This type of speaker also possesses several other notable advantages, such as being easily upgraded and replaced, quite popular, so you do not have too many difficulties in finding the product that best suits your needs.
However, the downside of this type of product is that the price will be a bit higher than the common ground. To own a high-quality coaxial speaker model, you will have to pay at least $400.
Component Speaker Overview
This type of speaker is a collection of woofers, tweeters, and crossovers. The components are not different from coaxial speakers, but the difference lies in the placement of each device. The above details are all mounted separately rather than integrated into a cluster, thus providing admirable sound quality.
This model possesses some special features such as tweeter volume reduction, efficient crossover, additional wire configuration, and good quality woofer.
Thanks to the above, the subwoofer has become one of the best products with frequency response and sound accuracy available today.
Besides, the product also handles power more efficiently and the performance of the crossover component better.
Besides the advantages, you cannot help but consider the biggest drawback: the installation process is more difficult, and you may even have to make your tweeter mount in the field. Car audio systems are not allowed.
Read more: What Is LPF On Amp: In-Depth Information & Application
Things To Consider Before Buying
You can completely upgrade and replace the car audio system. However, to make the process easier and to minimize errors during the upgrade process, you need to pay attention to the following main issues.
Speaker depth
The equipment available from the car manufacturer will be shorter in height while the magnet is smaller, sometimes may not follow the standard specifications. The reason may come from the limited space in the car because of other necessary parts on the car.
Some new products may have differences in size, so sometimes, they will not match the available depth of the vehicle. It is better to choose the right measurements to find the product that best fits your car’s audio system.
Another issue related to the fit is the hole design and speaker frame on car models. The mounting hole style and structure don’t match your alternatives.
You do not need to spend too much time and effort on continuing to find the right products. Instead, you can solve it with some simple methods like resorting to the help of an adapter ring.
In some cases, you can use self-repair kits such as screws or drills to create new mounting holes.
Speakers built into a frame
You can currently find several products in frames or out of plastic. As a result, you may find it difficult to get a direct replacement.
However, similar to the problem above, you can still solve it by going to the installation adapter. And to save the most time and effort, you should prioritize adapters that are available at fairly accessible prices.
Too tall tweeters
You will often encounter the above problem on trucks with dashboard speakers.
It is nearly impossible to reset the original speaker cover or blister in this case.
To avoid possible trouble, you should check the manufacturer’s original design carefully from the beginning and compare it with the size of the products you want to choose.
FAQs
In addition to the information above, there are many other interesting points worth considering regarding car speaker sizes and related issues. Below are some frequently asked questions.
Obviously, larger sizes will bring better experiences. Luckily, you can completely upgrade using adapters or do some repairs.
6.5 and 6.75″ do not bring too much difference in sound quality.
For 6-1/2 inch products, 5-5/8 inch is the most common mounting hole size.
To determine Single or Double DIN Radio, you will need to measure the front of the head unit. If the result is in the range of 7×2″, you will have to replace the unit with a DIN terminal unit and vice versa.
Conclusion
Above is the most basic information related to car speaker sizes. Hopefully, the above sharing will help you easily choose the right product to upgrade and install your car audio system yourself.
Your final choice should not only be the right size but also meet your needs, personal listening preferences, and the budget you’re willing to pay.
In some cases, you do not need to pay too much attention to the audio device size. If you love it and want to replace your sound system with a certain product, you can completely modify the existing mounting holes or create new ones.
The above process may require a bit of engineering, but you will have the perfect experience after completing the installation process.
Hopefully, My Car Gears has provided you with helpful information about car speaker sizes. Thank you for your interest in the article!
