If you’ve been an avid reader of BestCarAudio.com, you may have noticed that we never refer to a live concert as being the reference for great sound from your car stereo system. We’ve alluded to concert-level output capabilities to determine how loudly your system will play. We’ve also talked about imaging and staging that describe the recreation of the position of the performers on a stage. If you’ve followed closely, our reference for great sound is for your mobile audio system to sound as if it were what a recording engineer and producer hear in a studio.

How The Recording Process Works

When a musician or band spends time in a studio, the engineer and assistant engineer will arrange microphones around the performers to capture their performance. The placement of these microphones determines the sound of an instrument. For example, a mic placed near the sound hole of a guitar will capture a very different sound than one placed beyond the body along the neck. Likewise, microphones on the head of each drum will sound different than a microphone placed a few feet away from the kit so that it can include room reflections.

Finally, one of the more dramatic examples would be the difference between recording the output of an electric guitar after it passes through whatever effect pedals the performer has chosen, and the option of recording the output of a guitar amp-and-speaker combination.

As the musicians perform, the recording engineer will blend the levels of each microphone using the mixing console or a digital audio workstation (DAW). He may also apply different signal processing to each signal through rack-mounted processors like equalizers, compressors, limiters, noise gates, delays, reverbs and distortion modules. If working in the digital domain, these modifications can be done through software plug-ins that mimic their physical brethren.

It’s important to note that the perception of the recording session depends on the quality of the speakers in the studio and the acoustics of the control room (where the engineer works). The sound also depends on how many instruments and performers were in the studio while recording. Imagine the process of recording a jazz trio, but only one performer was in the studio at a time as opposed to all three playing together. Minute to moderate amounts of sound from each instrument will be captured, after a short delay, by microphones on other instruments.

Why Doesn’t My Car Stereo Sound Like a Concert?

If you choose to crank up AC/DC or The Who to sound pressure levels above 120 dB, then you are indeed recreating a component of the concert experience. What you are lacking is the acoustics of the venue. As the performers play, what you hear is determined first and foremost by the audio system at the venue and the front of house (FOH) engineer who is blending all the instruments together on the mixing console. Next, if the venue is indoors, strong acoustic reflections will add energy to different parts of the audio spectrum. These reflections also wrap the performance around the audience, since sound reflected off the ceiling, side or back walls arrives a moment after the sound coming directly from the speakers.

How Do I Know if My Car Stereo Sounds Right?

We could go on and on describing the technical differences between a live performance and what you hear when you play a song in your car. Accurate sound reproduction is a concept that fraught with myths, misconceptions and misinformation. The perception of accurate sound is also tainted by people’s listening preferences in terms of bass levels and high-frequency output. What is universally agreed upon, yet rarely discussed, is the goal of choosing products that offer minimal amounts of unwanted distortion. This starts with the source of your music and extends through the radio, signal processor, amplifier and finally the speakers used in the system.

How can you make sure your stereo sounds good? Listen to as many audio systems as possible. When you hear something that impresses you, find out why. Was it the speakers or the way the system was tuned? Latch onto that as a key component of your system, then listen to more. Many retailers will say things like, “These are the best speakers I’ve ever heard.” While that statement may be true, it doesn’t make those the best speakers available. Do your research. Audition as much as you can. Ask questions. Once you have established a reference for great sound, choose a mobile enhancement retailer to help you achieve that goal in your car, truck or SUV. Your new car audio system may not sound exactly like a live concert — it may sound a lot better!

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Many car audio customers ask if it’s necessary to choose a specific size or type of speaker to play certain kinds of music. Do paper-cone midrange drivers handle classical music better? Do 15-inch subwoofers reproduce kick drums with more accuracy? Let’s take a look at how sound works and explain the benefits and drawbacks of different speaker sizes and designs.

Frequency Content in Music

Whether you’re listening to Nine Inch Nails, Neil Young, Taylor Swift or Metallica, all performers and musical instruments cover a surprisingly wide range of frequencies. The male voice typically covers frequencies from 125 Hz to over 3 kHz. For female singers, their voices typically fall between 200 Hz and 4 kHz.

When it comes to instruments, their frequency ranges are much wider. An upright piano extends from less than 30 Hz to more than 4 kHz with harmonics that extend even higher. A triangle has significant energy right up to 15 kHz. What most people don’t expect is that an instrument like a snare drum covers a surprisingly wide bandwidth. The fundamental is at 275 Hz, but harmonic content extends solidly up to 6.5 kHz before starting to roll off.

The Importance of Audio System Frequency Response

For a high-quality car stereo system to sound good, we need the system to cover as much of the audible frequency range as possible. For most of us, this means we need everything from deep bass at 30 Hz or lower up to the highest of highs between 15 and 20 kHz. To achieve this, we need at least two speaker sizes; in practicality, three sizes work better.

The next requirement is that the frequency response of our sound system needs to be relatively smooth with a pleasant balance. Some people like a little more bass while others like laid-back high-frequency reproduction or a little extra sizzle on top. In almost every blind test performed by speaker manufacturers, the midrange response (150 to 4,000 Hz) of the system should be as flat as possible for vocals to sound accurate.

The Three-Way Audio System

Most audio systems installed in vehicles use a three-way design. The term three-way describes the use of three differently sized speakers, each operating in different frequency ranges to recreate the recording. In a factory-installed sound system, you may have an 8- or 10-inch subwoofer in the rear parcel shelf or cargo area to reproduce bass frequencies below 80 Hz. A 5.25-inch or 6.5-inch woofer in each of the doors will play from 80 Hz up to the crossover point with a midrange driver on the dash or a tweeter in the sail panel. For a tweeter, the crossover is likely around 4 kHz; for a midrange, it could be between 250 and 450 Hz. Using multiple speakers reduces system distortion because small speakers aren’t being asked to work at high excursion levels to produce low-frequency information.

Does Speaker Size or Material Matter?

Does it matter what size speaker you use in your car audio system? To keep the answer short and sweet, larger speakers typically reproduce low-frequency information better. However, this doesn’t have to be directly associated with bass. A 2-inch midrange on the dash of a Jeep can play down to 400 Hz without any problem, whereas a 1-inch tweeter needs to be crossed over at 4,000 Hz.

The drawback of using larger speakers is that their output becomes directional at higher frequencies. An 8-inch woofer in the door of a sedan will need to be paired with a midrange in the dash to produce even sound throughout the listening environment. The phenomenon of speaker directivity is purely related to the cone diameter and not the speaker’s design or materials. Directivity is one of the reasons why some systems use a four-way design with dedicated midbass and midrange drivers.

So, back to our question about speaker sizes and music types. Does speaker size matter? In terms of the sounds the speaker is reproducing, speaker size does not correspond to a specific type of music, only to a specific range of frequencies.

Does Cone Material Affect Sound Quality?

Choosing a material for a speaker cone requires balancing three criteria: mass, damping and rigidity. For example, a metal speaker cone may be light and rigid but could run into problems with resonance at higher frequencies. Paper, plastic and composite cones all have their strengths and drawbacks. The speaker designer’s goal is to choose a cone material and design that will function without distortion within the desired frequency range. The speaker doesn’t know what kind of music is being played, nor does your source unit or amplifier.

How Do I Choose the Right Speakers for My Car Stereo?

When it’s time to upgrade the stereo system in your car or truck, visit a local specialty automotive enhancement retailer. They will inspect your vehicle to confirm speaker size and location, then suggest a combination of sizes to meet your needs. Your goal during the audition process is to choose a solution that sounds accurate and detailed, especially at high volume levels.

If you’re wondering how they’ll make sure the system sounds good with the music you enjoy, the answer comes in the form of tuning. If you include a digital signal processor (either as a stand-alone piece or one built into an amplifier), the installer can calibrate the system to ensure smooth response and the right amount of bass and high-frequency output to meet your needs.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.