A car audio speakers job is to convert the audio signal in its electrical form to a pressure wave that we can perceive as sound. Similar to any component in a car stereo system, the ultimate goal of a speaker is to do its work without adding any coloration or changing the original sound of the audio signal.

Ideally, only one speaker per side is enough to reproduce the entire audio spectrum. But unfortunately, a speaker that can produce low frequencies has too much mass to be able to produce the higher frequencies. For this, there are specialized speaker drivers that take care of particular frequency bands. For example, sub woofers are used to produce the extreme lows of music with impact that can be felt as well as heard.

Speakers have not just an extreme range in quality and price but also have the greatest impact on the overall sound of a car stereo system.

How to buy a car audio speaker

When shopping for a car speaker listen to it before buying it because there is no other way to know how it will sound to you. Keep in mind the following . . .

Ensure you take along with you a CD that you normally listen to when you audition the speakers. This will help you get a better idea of how the speaker reproduces sounds you are familiar with.

Listen closely for low level details and how instruments sound.

After narrowing down your choices to a couple of different speakers, audition them at length. A poor quality speaker has an exaggerated low and high end.

Adjust the bass and treble as well as the volume to levels that are comfortable for you.

Beware of salespeople that turn up the volume slightly on the expensive speakers and persuade you to buy them.

When choosing loudspeakers, be realistic. If you dont want any modification in your existing speaker holes, buy speakers that fit in the current available space. Also keep in mind depth considerations, like in doors where speakers may interfere with windows rolling down. Take note of dashes where speakers may be limited by ducts (for heat and air) and rear decks where depth is limited by torsion bars.