If you look at some amateur car audio forums and Facebook groups, you’ll see a disturbing trend of people using speakers that are intended for home applications in their cars. While these speakers initially seem to offer impressive performance for their price, they simply aren’t designed to withstand the challenges associated with a mobile audio system. In this article, we’ll delve into what makes a “real” car audio speaker the only choice for your next sound system upgrade.
Why Is the Car Audio Environment Different From Your Home?
We’ll get into the environmental challenges of car audio systems shortly, but the biggest difference between listening to music in our cars or trucks and our homes is the volume level. If you are really into a song and decide to crank up the music in your car, volume levels can easily exceed 110 to 120 dB. This volume level taxes the power production capabilities of your amplifiers and, of course, gives your speakers a thorough workout.
Trying to listen to music at that volume level at home would quickly result in your neighbors calling the police to register a noise complaint. Quite simply, we listen to our car stereos at much higher volume levels than we do at home, and each speaker in the system needs to be able to handle a lot more power.
Power Handling Specifications
Marketing departments often take advantage of the topic of speaker power handling to inflate the perceived quality or value of a speaker. Printing a “peak power” number that is four or five times the continuous power handling number is functionally useless.
Useful power handling specifications define two numbers. The continuous power handling specification, also called the RMS power handling spec, is the amount of power that the speaker can handle indefinitely. Most companies test the power handling abilities of their speakers using pink noise that approximates the musical energy distribution found in music.
The peak power handling specification takes into account the dynamic nature of the music we listen to. Modern rock or pop music has a crest factor of 10dB. The crest factor means the quiet parts of the track are, on average, 10dB quieter than the loudest parts.
It’s important to note that the operating frequency range is a fundamental and important part of this specification. We wouldn’t feed a midrange driver bass frequencies below 60Hz and likewise, wouldn’t feed a tweeter midrange and bass information below 1,000Hz.
The number one reason speakers fail is that they can’t withstand the heat created by the power sent to the speaker. One relatively easy way to compare the thermal power handling capabilities of a speaker is to look at the diameter of the voice coil. Larger coils can handle more power because the heat is spread over a larger area.
High-quality speakers with accurate power handling specifications will typically have relatively large voice coil formers for the given speaker size. A 6.5-inch midrange designed to handle a true and genuine 100 watts of power will need a voice coil that’s at least 1.5 to 2 inches in diameter to dissipate that thermal energy.
Cone Excursion Considerations
You can tell a lot about the knowledge and experience of a speaker designer by analyzing the specifications and features of an entire series of speakers. How one speaker is intended to work with the models that operate in adjacent frequency ranges is quite telling. For mid-range and mid-bass drivers, power handling is a significant consideration, but so is excursion capability. In terms of speaker specifications, the Xmax spec describes how far forward or backward a speaker can move linearly. If you double this value and multiply it by the effective cone area, you get the total volume of air a speaker can displace.
In most cases, more excursion capability means two things: more output capability and, when designed properly, improved linearity when operated at lower excursion levels. A speaker that can handle a lot of power but can’t move very far without distortion isn’t much use as a mid-bass driver in a high-power system. Most 6.5-inch midrange and mid-bass drivers have Xmax specifications of at least 4.5 mm in each direction. With that said, some exceptional designs offer twice that specification.
In home audio, the crossover point between a woofer and a midrange driver is typically much higher and as such, home audio drivers simply can’t keep up. Sure, at low volume levels, this isn’t an issue. When you want to crank things up, hearing a voice coil former crash into a bottom plate is cringe-worthy.
Environmental Testing Considerations
For a true car audio speaker, the challenge of ensuring the driver design’s reliability means that the speaker needs to be tested in the same environmental conditions in which the speaker will operate. Companies that have detailed testing procedures and own or work with experienced and properly equipped factories have extensive processes that involve both extremely low and high temperature and high humidity tests. We are talking about low temperatures that would result in an extreme cold weather warning in most cities and high temperatures that exceed world-record setting conditions. Likewise, extensive testing will include both low and high humidity conditions.
North America doesn’t rank as the most humid place in the world, but states like Florida, Louisiana and Texas do see their fair share of humidity. Southeast Asia, on the other hand, registers 100 percent humidity almost all the time.
A speaker design engineer needs to take humidity into account, especially when the design uses a pulp or pressed paper cone that can absorb moisture. Coatings must be applied to ensure the speaker parameters don’t change, and adhesives must be chosen to ensure reliable bonds between components. Humidity can also cause corrosion on exposed carbon steel components in the motor structure and chassis design if they are not coated.
Ultraviolet Exposure Considerations
Face it: Speakers designed for car audio applications are essentially outdoors and exposed to ultraviolet radiation. You can imagine the importance of using designs and materials that can withstand UV in a marine application, but conventional car audio speakers that are mounted in the dash or rear deck of a vehicle see similar amounts of sun exposure.
UV exposure will cause what is known as UV degradation. Synthetic polymers like polypropylene and synthetic rubbers that do not include UV stabilities will discolor quickly, develop a chalky surface, crack or, in some cases, disintegrate completely. A change in color does not necessarily affect the performance of a speaker. If the damage continues, though, the weight of the speaker cone may be affected, and the compliance (stiffness) of the suspension may change. The result will be unpredictable performance and eventually complete failure.
Physical Assembly Testing
Loudspeaker drivers designed for home audio applications only have to withstand the vibrations that the speaker system itself creates. In a mobile environment, our cars and trucks impose huge physical forces on the speaker. Bumps in the road can yield high g-forces that multiply the weight of the motor structure several times. Likewise, an out-of-balance wheel and tire can cause vibrations that are felt through the entire vehicle chassis.
The fasteners and materials used to assemble these speakers and the mounting and installation hardware must withstand these vibrations at both low and high frequencies. Manufacturers of high-quality speakers will use industrial vibration tables to test the suitability of the design and materials.
How to Choose a Speaker For your Car
Most companies guard their quality control and qualification testing standards closely, making it effectively impossible to search for that information. When you are shopping for speakers, look around the retailer’s showroom to see what they have on display. Ask to see what a new speaker looks like and hold it next to one that has been on a display board for a few months or years. If you see discoloration, that could be a sign that the materials chosen may not be up to the challenge of the automotive environment.
Next, choose speakers from reputable car audio brands that focus on engineering rather than marketing. If you don’t have time to do the research for yourself, ask your local mobile electronics specialist what makes the brand you are interested in better than its competitors. If they can’t provide an answer based on physical features and designs, it might be worth continuing your shopping. To be clear, “They sound great” or “Lots of competitors use them” aren’t valid answers. Oh, and don’t be fooled by “price marketing.” Just because one speaker is more expensive doesn’t mean it has more features and technologies that make it sound good, or that it has undergone proper design testing.
Last and most certainly not least, make sure you audition the speakers you intend to buy and compare them to other offerings. The key to a quality speaker lies in its lack of distortion and its clarity, especially at high volume levels. If you find a solution that is well-designed and sounds great, you will be able to enjoy your music for decades to come. Visit your local mobile enhancement retailer today to find out what automobile-specific options are available. They’ll be a worthy investment!
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.
Years ago, upgrading your car stereo meant buying a new radio that would play MP3 files or that included Bluetooth hands-free calling and audio streaming. As automobile manufacturers have increased their interest in providing advanced infotainment features, the aftermarket head unit industry has evolved away from conventional single- and double-DIN radios with segmented displays to multimedia receivers with color touchscreens. In this article, we’ll look at why upgrading your older car or truck with a touchscreen radio is a great way to add convenience and functionality to your commute.
Of course, the biggest benefit of having a touchscreen radio is the amount of information that can be provided. If you are playing an MP3 or WAV file, the song title, artist and album name are easily visible on the screen of the radio. If you are stopped at a red light, searching through your collection of music is quick and easy. Of course, displaying contact information for incoming phone calls is another huge benefit.
A huge benefit of most touchscreen radios is that you can add a backup camera that will allow you to see what’s behind your vehicle when parking. A backup camera makes maneuvering safer and much more efficient. Parallel parking is much simpler when you know just how close you can get to the vehicle behind you or the curb.
If you are like us, you enjoy fine-tuning your audio system to meet your listening preferences. Many touchscreen radios include multi-band graphic equalizers that will let you dial in the frequency response of your sound system for the music you enjoy. Some also include signal delay settings, crossovers and seating position options that allow your installer to create a realistic listening experience that mimics being at home in your living room or at the mixing console in a recording studio.
Even the most basic of touchscreen radios includes support for MP3 and WMA file playback from a USB memory stick. As you step up in features and cost, support for WAV, FLAC, AAC and DSD high-resolution audio files is added. Smartphone and iPod connectivity is another common feature with these radios. You can plug in your device and charge the battery while listening to your music collection as you drive. Many units will display album art right on the touchscreen.
Thanks to the iDatalink Maestro interface, mid- to high-end receivers can connect to factory infotainment systems like Ford Sync or Chrysler’s Uconnect. If you have a factory-installed backup camera or USB port, these can often be used with a new receiver. Parking sensors and vehicle configuration options for climate controls are additional commonly supported functions.
If you are looking for something a little fancier and truly beneficial, check out the options for adding Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to your car. These smartphone integration technologies make it safer and easier to make phone calls, listen to incoming text messages and dictate a response or choose the music you want to hear. You can even ask for turn-by-turn navigation directions to an address in your phone book or a business address searched on the Internet. The navigation directions consider real-time traffic flow information to create an efficient route.
Nobody will deny that the Apple iPod is single-handedly responsible for a massive shift in the portability of music. Sure, the Walkman and Discman were important components in the history of portable media players, but those technologies supported existing music formats in the form of cassettes and compact discs. The 
In the ’80s and ’90s, going to the record store was a thing. Music enthusiasts knew when new albums would be released and would plan their schedules around making time to be at the store early on those mornings so they’d be the first to get a copy. Fast forward to the 2000s, and access to new music is as simple as a click of your computer mouse or a tap on your phone and a short wait while the album downloads to your desktop or your 
Apple’s MFi (Made for iPod/iPhone/iPad) program is a licensing program for companies that develop hardware or software that is designed to communicate digitally with these portable media devices. The original program, called Made for iPod, was launched in 2005 at the Macworld Expo and has evolved to include AirTunes wireless streaming, wireless game controllers and, most recently, devices intended for use with the HomeKit system that mimics Google Home and Alexa functionality.
The goal of the MFi program is to ensure that consumers are provided with a predictable experience. Functions may not always work the way you want, but they will work the same on every product that has been through the MFi certification program. Though iPod and iPhone connectivity is a relatively simple process, the recent popularity of CarPlay is where the standards really tax the resources of those who are developing products. Apple tests screen geometry, icon colors and the position of volume function overlays. It has stringent hardware requirements that include strict USB connectivity testing and requirements for an onboard gyro.
In researching this article, we talked to several companies that develop products under the MFi program. One of them mentioned that they had seen a list of blacklisted device keys in a preview of iOS 12.1 for the iPhone Xs. What does this mean? Any device that connects to an iPod, iPhone or iPad through the Lightning connector must include a small microcontroller that includes a software key. Think of this key like a digital serial number. These microcontrollers are found on all Lightning cables as well as headphone and video adapters.
Recently, we’ve seen an influx of inexpensive Lightning cables and charging adapters available for sale at the checkout counter of local gas stations, variety stores and hardware stores. While the price and convenience of these cables are alluring, we want to caution our readers about using devices that aren’t specifically approved by Apple.
Let’s face it, most of us aren’t really happy with the 
Even the most exotic of factory-installed sound systems cannot produce amazing bass. For most of us, the speakers in the doors don’t play much below about 50Hz. This means we are missing out on more than an octave of the most fun part of our music.
Beyond not having enough bass in a factory audio system, the next most common complaint is that the system won’t play loudly enough. While the speakers in your car are limited in their capabilities, the most common issue is a lack of power from the radio or 
If you have read any number of our articles here at 
For too long, adding a signal processor has been considered the icing on the cake when it comes to premium audio system design. The reality is, as soon as your budget allows for it, adding a processor can dramatically improve the performance of even a modest installation.
If you have ever upgraded a sound system by switching from an inexpensive amp to a great one, you may have noticed there is less background noise or hiss. When listening to music in our vehicles, we need to try and ignore wind and road noise and sound from the engine and exhaust system. Having your local car audio specialist retailer add a layer of 
No, we aren’t dissing your gangster rap or John Fogerty CDs. There has been a trend of late to focus on high-resolution audio files like FLAC and DSD. While the mechanical limits of these file formats dramatically exceed the listening limits of all humans, the improvement in recording and mastering equipment required to create these recordings is of excellent quality. In short, even within the standard 20Hz to the 20kHz range, high-res audio files sound better because they are created better.
The easiest upgrade is a 
Lots of us like to install car audio equipment at home in our driveway. Do-it-yourself car audio has been popular since the 1970s and always will be. The problem is, it takes more than a solid understanding of electrical theory and physics to install and configure a modern audio system. Qualified installers use tools like real-time analyzers to set crossovers and adjust polarity. They use oscilloscopes to match the amplifier sensitivity settings to the source unit. Investing in this gear is often out of reach for most do-it-yourselfers and often overlooked. If every aspect of your audio system isn’t optimized, you are short-changing yourself on performance.
How’s that for a confusing idea? What we are talking about is replacing your existing audio equipment with even better products. Let’s say you had a set of $250 components installed in the doors of your car a few years ago, and the system is tuned to optimize those speakers with a digital signal processor. If you upgrade those to a set of $1,600 components and have the system retuned, the difference will be night and day. Your music will be clearer and more detailed. You’ll be able to pick out subtleties that were otherwise lost. Think of upgrading to amazing speakers like cleaning your glasses: Everything will suddenly become crystal clear. The same applies to upgrading your subwoofers. There is a lot of information in the bottom few octaves of your music. A better sub will recreate your bass with dramatically improved realism.
In the ’80s, ’90s and early part of the 2000s, upgrading the car stereo system in your vehicle was a relatively simple process. You’d start by picking out a new radio that offered the features you wanted and add a set of speakers to improve the sound of the system. Pretty much anyone with a basic understanding of electrical systems could use a wire harness adapter to install the radio, and the speaker installation was usually a drop-in upgrade, save for having to crimp on some spade connectors.
Fast-forward to 2010 and beyond, and the world of 
When you take your new car to a shop for a sound system upgrade, there are a few steps required to ensure you will get the performance you want from the system. The first should be a series of questions from the salesperson about how you enjoy your music. Do you listen at high volume levels? Do you like lots of bass? Some will ask you what kind of music you listen to to help understand your goals for your audio system. For the truly dedicated, the questions should include a query about what you hope to improve by upgrading the system. A visit to your vehicle can often provide valuable insight into what’s missing. If you have the bass turned up on the factory radio, you may benefit from a 
Where the expertise of a mobile electronics specialist retailer shines is in knowing how your factory stereo works and, subsequently, how to upgrade it. Remember the signal processing we talked about at the beginning of the article? If a shop sells you a new set of speakers without addressing this tuning, you may not like the results. There are three options available to deal with this processing. If you can, a new radio and potentially a new amplifier will eliminate the tuning. Audio interfaces include the PAC AmpPRO, iDatalink AR, Axxess AX-DSP or one of the many ZEN-Audio solutions from Nav-TV. Finally, you can add an amplifier with a digital signal processor to correct the tuning for the new speakers. There’s no “best” answer to your upgrade needs, as each vehicle and client’s goals differ.
Before you balk at the cost of adding a DSP and amp to your 
Let’s look at how we handle the tuning in the vehicle. You’ll need an amplifier with a built-in DSP. There are lots of compact solutions available from companies like JL Audio, Mosconi, Helix, Audison, AudioControl, Sony, Alpine and Kicker. A suitable 
Take a deep breath. Talking about spending thousands of dollars on a speaker upgrade might scare a lot of people. The question is, are the upgrades worthwhile? When executed by a properly trained technician, the answer is unquestionably yes! Not only will new speakers play louder, they produce less distortion to make your music clearer and more detailed. The signal processor can be used to fine-tune the system to provide the overall sound balance you want. Most people enjoy smooth and natural midrange with some accentuation in the midbass region and a little more in the bass region. Your technician can