If you are a person who likes to feel and enjoy music when you are driving or in a vehicle, surely you will like to enjoy high quality sound. This is one of the most important parts of the interior of the vehicle and for many it has to do with the «car audio».
Car audio is the set of car techniques that are carried out to improve the standard sound equipment that a vehicle includes. In this way they try to meet musical expectations.
If you want to take the definitive step to improve the sound quality of the vehicle, you will first have to take into account a series of fundamental concepts that will help you understand how it works and that will be key to knowing how to choose car speakers.
car audio components
When it comes to a vehicle, there are different components that need to be considered to improve sound quality. Among those you should know about are the following:
sound source
The sound source is essential for a computer, being this the radio or the multimedia player. This is the task of reading the music that is recorded on any medium that can be used, converting it into an electrical signal.
Depending on its quality, the sound will also have more or less quality, so it is very important to make an appropriate choice of this component in order to enjoy good sound quality in the vehicle.
Among the main technical specifications that help us choose an appropriate sound source are the following:
- S/N ratio: The higher the signal to noise ratio, the better the sound quality.
- Bits of digital to analog conversion: It is recommended that it be a 24-bit DAC for sound quality.
- Preamp output voltage: If an external amplifier is going to be used, it is recommended that it be between 2 and 5 Volts.
- Filtering and equalization: It is advisable to have equalization and time alignment to be able to adjust it to the acoustics of the vehicle.
Amplifier
The amplifier is responsible for increasing the power of the audio signal previously generated by the source itself. It is common for it to be included as standard in the source, but if you want to enjoy better sound quality, you will need an external amplifier.
In this way you can enjoy greater realism, depth and dynamics, which will bring you closer to a live musical experience. In this type of component, it has parameters that are of great importance, such as the RMS power.
In the same way, the S/N ratio, the total harmonic distortion, the amplification class and the Damping Factor must be taken into account. The higher the latter, the better you will be able to control speaker movement with bass sounds.
Features of a car speaker
If you want to know how to choose car speakers, you should know that this is the element that is responsible for converting the electrical signal received from the amplifier.
To do so, it first converts the electrical signal into a mechanical movement and this ends up causing variations to make it an audible sound.
If you want to make an appropriate choice, it is important that you take into account the basic parameters to make a correct choice:
- Power: It is a value that should always be valued according to its RMS value.
- Sensitivity: The more sensitive it is; the less power the speaker will need to sound as loud as others that are less sensitive. This parameter does not directly affect the sound quality.
- Number of routes: The most common is that it has two or three routes, which is more than enough, so it is not necessary to opt for ones that advertise between 4 and 6. Having more routes does not mean that you will have a greater quality; and in fact, on many occasions they are lower quality products.
- Frequency range: Regarding the frequency range capable of reproducing, in this case it is recommended that it be as wide as possible. However, you will be limited by the type of speaker in question, whether it is a tweeter, woofer or subwoofer.
- Impedance: Usually in car audio 4 Ohms is chosen
When it comes to knowing how to choose car speakers, these parameters must be taken into account, in addition to taking into account the material from which the cone is made. Depending on this, the sound will have its own personal nuances.
Some materials such as polypropylene and paper will make it possible to enjoy a natural and comfortable sound, but which offers some distortion at high volumes. On the other hand, if you opt for other harder materials such as carbon, aluminum, fiberglass or Kevlar, you will enjoy sounds with less distortion at high volumes in their frequencies of use. In this type of case, a more exhaustive sound treatment will be needed.
