During our research for writing this article, we came across many customer reviews about how their purchases didn't meet their expectations. Most people feel that it's just about finding a high-power speaker and connecting it to their stereo. As much as we wish that was the case, it's not that simple.
You have to consider various factors like your head unit's power output, speaker build materials, and many more. We have prepared a comprehensive buying guide to help you choose the right speakers for your car. Our top 10 list will recommend the best car speakers in India from popular manufacturers like Sony, JBL, Infinity, and more.
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Table of Contents
You will find answers to your many questions like how to choose the right size, wattage, speaker type, and more in the below sections. We will also talk about how various build materials affect the quality of sound produced by a speaker. Keep reading!
When shopping for a car speaker, there are two sizes to consider: speaker diameter and mounting depth. But the diameter is more like a speaker category now and is widely referred to as the speaker size. Check the owner's manual for your car to know the supported speaker size as there are over 14 different sizes ranging from 3.5 to 8 inches.
Choosing the right speaker size allows easy installation. But that doesn't mean that it is impossible to install speakers of a different size. If you buy one that is larger than the supported size, you will have to make the hole bigger, while a smaller size will require you to purchase a bracket or an adapter to fit the speakers in properly.
The mounting depth is actually the height of the speaker. Suppose your car supports a mounting depth of 2.75", but the speakers have a mounting depth of 3.75", you won't be able to screw them in as it bulges outside. You also have to consider the various speaker types, which we will discuss in the next section.
As a general rule of thumb, component speakers are better since the low, mid, and high-frequency ranges are handled by different drivers. Songs will have more depth and clarity when played through component speakers. But a premium coaxial speaker system can always surpass this.
You can still install a component speaker system even if your car doesn't support one. Just get in touch with a local car mod shop. Our speaker size guide applies to both coaxial and component speakers. But there is a slight difference for a component speaker system.
A woofer is the largest driver in a component speaker system, followed by mid-range drivers and tweeters. Products will always mention the biggest size, so check the specification table to know the other sizes.
The 90dB speaker will sound louder than the other. A good sensitivity for a speaker is around 88dB and above 90dB is excellent. If you buy a speaker system with more dB, you will have to turn the volume knob less to reach your preferred loudness. You can connect speakers of any wattage to any stereo (also called head unit) or amplifier. But there is a catch.
Suppose you connect an 85dB, RMS 40W speaker to an RMS 100W amplifier, you will have to turn the volume knob too much to reach acceptable loudness. This sends more power and damages the speaker in the long run. But if it was a 90dB speaker, it will only get damaged if you play it at high volumes for a long time, as the power drawn increases when the volume goes up.
A 40W speaker will work pretty well with a stock stereo that sends only 10 - 15W of power. You can also operate an RMS 60W speaker with an RMS 75W amplifier. Just play the music at sensible levels so the amplifier doesn't send too much power.
Another important value you have to consider is the impedance of the speaker (denoted in ohms). Always match the impedance of the speaker to the impedance of the head unit or amplifier. Here is why. Speakers are electrical devices, and impedance is the resistance to current flow. More the impedance, the more the resistance to current flow.
If you connect an 8-ohm speaker to a 4-ohm amplifier, the speaker will receive more voltage than it can handle, which burns the voice coil. If it is a 4-ohm speaker connected to an 8-ohm amplifier, the amplifier will have to work harder to send enough voltage to the speaker, which will shut down the amplifier after some time.
Modern-day amplifiers have an impedance range. The active circuitry inside will send the necessary current depending on the type of speaker you connect. For example, the Sony XM-N1004 amplifier can send RMS 70W to four speakers at 4 ohms impedance or 85W to four speakers at 2 ohms. Again, the worst-case scenario only happens if you have to turn the volume knob too much.
It is not always the power and sensitivity that matters. The materials used to make the speakers affect the quality of the sound it produces. Let's start with the cones. A speaker cone takes the vibrations from the voice coil and converts them into sound waves. Paper cones make brighter sounds, but they can absorb moisture which can change their tonal characteristics.
Polypropylene is one of the most popular woofer materials. It provides good internal damping and is resistant to weather changes. Aramid fiber is tough and produces one of the best sounds. Polyetherimide (PEI) can handle high temperatures and are best suited for making tweeters. You will find PEI used in budget tweeters and tweeters in 2-way or 3-way coaxial speakers.
Ferrofluids can be found in several premium car speakers as it is effective in dissipating heat produced by the voice coil. Less heat builds up, less chance for sound distortion at high volumes. These are some of the most popular materials used for making speakers. You can use this information to judge the quality of sound a speaker produces.
Passive subwoofers require an external amplifier to run at their full potential. Subwoofers are usually bulky, but shallow mounts are designed to fit in tight spaces like car doors. A bass tube produces a comparatively boomier bass because of the internal reflection happening inside the cylindrical structure.
As always, bigger drivers usually produce more loudness. Your choices for subwoofer sizes are 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, and 18 inches. You can choose one depending on your preferences, but make sure that the bass doesn't overpower other frequencies if you are interested in listening to balanced sound.
₹7,789.00
JBL GTO609C is capable of handling even low-powered head units of amplifiers. With a sensitivity of 92dB, you don't have to turn the knob too much to get acceptable loudness in your car. The RMS power is 75W, and the nominal impedance is 3 ohms, which makes it suitable for amplifiers like Sony XM-N1004 that can deliver 70W x 4 at 4 ohms and 85W x 4 at 2 ohms.
You get one pair of tweeters that handle high frequencies and one pair of woofers that handle low frequencies. If your car only has a provision for installing coaxial speakers, you will have to cut holes to install the tweeters.
The speaker diameter is 6.5 inches with a mounting depth of 2.06 inches. We recommend JBL GTO609C to people looking for more tonal clarity while listening to music.
₹29,849.00
If low, mid, and high frequencies are handled by separate speakers, the result will be audio with more depth. Focal 3-way component kit does just that. Along with tweeters and woofers, you get a mid-range driver that can handle mid-range frequencies. The supplied crossover will channel the right frequencies to the right speakers.
Check your car's user manual to find out whether your car supports 6.5-inch speakers and has facilities for woofer and mid-range driver installation. No one frequency will overpower the other as the driver sensitivities are configured for balanced sound production.
Try pairing it with a head unit or amplifier that can deliver around 80W of RMS power at 4 ohms nominal impedance. If you already have a power source that does not match the specifications of this speaker system, try not to play the speakers at high volumes for a long time, as it may damage the components.
₹4,183.00
Cars like Mahindra XUV 500 and Volvo S90 have spacious interiors. If you are looking for a pair of speakers loud enough to fill the entire interior, the Infinity REF-9623ix will be a perfect choice. It comes with a whopping 100W RMS power and a sensitivity of 94dB. We recommend buying an amplifier to utilize these speakers' huge potential.
The speaker diameter is 6 x 9 inches with a mounting depth of 3.06 inches. Infinity's edge-driven dome design ensures more surface area for heat dissipation. This enables the speakers to function with lower distortion at higher power.
Since these speakers are capable of drawing high power, we recommend proper impedance matching (of 4 ohms) to prevent damage to components. A pair would be more than enough to fill an entire car unless you own a limousine.
₹7,026.00
If your car doesn't have enough space for a bass tube, we recommend Infinity Kappa 800W. It can fit in the rear dashboard, under the seat, or in the vehicle door, depending on the make of your car. Alternatively, you can get a speaker enclosure, but it will take up space in your trunk.
The unique feature of this subwoofer is that you can select the impedance. Just flip a switch to choose 2 ohms or 4 ohms, depending on your audio system specifications. You don't have to worry about overheating the voice coil as the speaker is designed to allow maximum airflow.
Kappa 800W has an RMS power of 400W, so we recommend buying an amplifier for more oomph if your head unit provides lesser power. The subwoofer offers good value for money considering the overall specifications and the selectable impedance feature.
₹2,918.00
Aftermarket stereos like Pioneer MVH-S219BT and Sony DSX-B700 come with output RMS of around 50W per channel. Sony XS-FB693E will perform well with such head units. It's a 3-way coaxial speaker system with a tweeter, midrange driver, and woofer combined. You can be assured about the longevity of your speakers if you connect them to a 4-ohm stereo or amplifier.
You don't have to worry about the comparatively low RMS power of 60W, as the 92dB sensitivity ensures enough loudness without having to turn the volume knob too much. Make sure your car supports 6 x 9-inch speaker installation. We recommend Sony XS-FB693E to budget buyers looking for a product that provides good value for money.
₹1,800.00
Usually, stock head units deliver a maximum of 10 - 15W of RMS power. The best match would be low-powered speakers with high sensitivity, and JVC CSJ620 would be the apt choice. These are 2-way coaxial speakers featuring a tweeter and a woofer. The woofer cone is made of mica, which is sensitive and also lustrous, adding to the interior aesthetics of your car.
It's best not to connect these to an amplifier as you could risk burning the speaker coils. We recommend these speakers to car owners looking for shallow mount speakers as the mounting depth of these speakers is just 1.7 inches. Customer reviews show that the speakers perform decently for their price.
₹999.00
JXL 1090 is our budget pick for cars that support 4-inch speakers. You may also use these as dashboard speakers. We feel that the speakers offer good value for money due to the following reasons. It is a 3-way speaker, so you get different devices handling different frequencies. The materials used are of acceptable quality.
The woofer cones don't absorb moisture and have low distortion as it is made of polypropylene. Polyetherimide is used to make the tweeters. This material is capable of producing bright high-frequency sounds with less power.
You can directly connect these speakers to most aftermarket car stereos and expect good quality sound. But don't expect much in terms of bass, as these are 4-inch speakers.
₹6,999.00
You don't have to sacrifice deep bass just because there are space constraints in your car. With a height of just 2.7 inches, Zoook MONSTER X1 can fit under the seat of your car. You also don't have to worry about buying an amplifier to power it, as this subwoofer comes with a built-in amplifier. The device is designed to protect itself from overload, thermal and short circuits.
It comes with a wired controller that allows you to adjust the bass levels so that the low frequencies don't overpower other frequencies. There is a bass boost option also when you feel like enjoying some deep, thumping bass. Don't think that the bass quality will be less due to its small size. MONSTER X1 will definitely impress you as it had impressed many of its customers.
₹6,899.00
Bass heads will surely love the JBL GT-X1300THI. Since it is a bass tube, the low frequencies will sound louder and boomier due to the internal reflection in the cylindrical enclosure. Compared to the other subwoofers we have featured here, the JBL GT-X1300THI has a larger driver (12 inches).
Due to its large size, it will take up space in your car trunk, which may be inconvenient for some people. Since there is no inbuilt amplifier, unlike the Zoook MONSTER X1, we recommend buying one to unleash its maximum safe potential.
It has a sensitivity of 92dB. If you are looking for balanced sound, this product is not for you as you will have to tune it down, resulting in a low-frequency response on par with regular subwoofers.
₹4,450.00
With 45W of RMS power and 93dB sensitivity, the JBL GTO19T will produce high frequencies with superior loudness. It goes well with stock and aftermarket stereos. If you are an audiophile who likes to configure your own sound system, we recommend adding this pair of tweeters to your list.
JBL's edge-driven soft-dome tweeter design increases its power handling capability, ensuring safety even if you play at the peak power for a long time., but we recommend not to do it. This design also improves the clarity of music, thus producing crystal clear vocals.
We recommend matching these tweeters with woofers and mid-range drivers around the same sensitivity and power to ensure that your system delivers well-balanced sound.
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Here are some tips for choosing the perfect speaker system for your car. Decide your budget first. Check the type of speaker system your car supports. You may choose a stereo with a built-in amplifier or buy a separate amplifier, depending on how loud you want to hear the music. Keep in mind that you need the rest of the money for buying the speakers.
Make sure the sensitivity is above 90dB. You may choose any wattage above 40W as long as you don't plan to turn the volume up too high. An amplifier will make your volume knob sensitive. A high-powered amplifier will not require much to turn up the volume to sensible levels. So match the speakers appropriately to avoid any undesirable situations. And don't forget about matching the impedance too.
Author - Arun F Xaviour
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