Making music in the car is not an easy task. Connoisseurs of good sound are rarely satisfied with built-in car speakers. In order to improve sound quality, motorists install a new system. As a rule, speakers are installed in places prepared in advance for this purpose. All speaker seats differ in size and are selected depending on this factor. If you haven't checked the diameters of the seats yet, do so! One important point to consider is that the wider the speaker, the stronger the bass sound. There are two types of audio systems: component and coaxial. “But which ones are better?” you ask. It’s impossible to say for sure, it all depends on the tastes of the car enthusiast. Coaxial speakers are a single structure, but a component system includes several components.
The acoustics presented here have already been tested by many motorists. Let's find out what they say about her.
Morel Tempo Coax 6
Type : coaxial speaker
Price : 5,690 rub.
If you decide to purchase a speaker system for your car, the Morel Tempo Coax 6 is an excellent choice. The sound, most importantly, does not hurt the ears; in the speakers it is crumbling, very pleasant and clear throughout the entire range. There is not much bass, but its depth is given from 35 Hz.
For fans of Drum 'n' Bass and Dubstep, the bass will, of course, not be enough, but they will provide detail in the compositions they listen to. Acoustics Morel Tempo Coax 6 is suitable as a stand-alone device or can be used with a subwoofer. According to the owners, the sound is very decent, and it’s convenient that the acoustics do not have huge dimensions.
How to choose the right speakers for your car
A component speaker system consists of several loudspeakers that are placed in different places in the car interior. This allows you to get spatial sound with an immersive effect. Component acoustics can be purchased as a kit or you can choose the best speakers in your car yourself. Purchasing speakers for a car's sound system requires some knowledge of radio engineering, so most people buy ready-made kits. Component speakers typically include two loudspeakers and a passive LC filter or crossover. This is a broadband head, a high-frequency tweeter and a board with capacitors and inductors.
Some sets may consist of three speakers. In this case, the audio signal after the low-frequency amplifier is divided into three frequency channels:
- Short
- Average
- High
To choose the best speakers for your car, it is better to use the official rating or reviews of installed speakers.
Ural AS-M165
Type : variety broadband
Price : RUR 1,419
Are you looking for budget speakers? Ural AS-M165 model , which sounds clear and loud even without an amplifier (sound up to 30 and 35 divisions). The speakers are sold in pairs (2 pieces), they are compact in size and high quality.
“Ural” is one of the most famous Soviet brands in the field of radio electronics; the company’s first radios rolled off the assembly line of the Sarapul plant immediately after the Great Patriotic War. Buying from means being confident in the quality of the product. As for the Ural AS-M165 acoustics, it is positioned as a pop one, but many write that it “punches” perfectly.
Bang&Olufsen
A manufacturer of audio systems from Denmark, which needs no special introduction among music lovers and fans of high-quality car audio. One of the leaders in the audio systems market and rightly one of the top three favorites in 2022.
The company was founded about 100 years ago, and throughout its history the company has experienced ups and downs. Now is a period of rapid development and growth in popularity. Some believe that the audio systems of this company have become iconic. And a car with such an installation is considered an example of car audio quality.
The most interesting story of the confrontation of views among the founders and leaders of others would have led to collapse. But here it has become the secret of success, the emergence of new technologies that combine favorably with traditions in the world of acoustics.
The best publications have repeatedly recognized the brand as leaders in the world market in terms of the quality and efficiency of the audio systems they create. The Danish manufacturer has partners among automobile companies. These include such giants as Mercedes, BMW, Audi and Bentley.
In addition to the sound quality, buyers are also attracted by the aesthetics of each component. Everything looks gorgeous, at the highest level.
But there is one problem with audio systems. This is a huge cost. Compared to competitors, prices for audio systems can be 1.5-3 times higher. But that still doesn't stop people.
Focal 165 AS
Type : component speaker
Price : 10,390 rub.
For a relatively inexpensive price, buying the Focal 165 AS will give you a lively and bright sound that embellishes the sound somewhat, and you won't be disappointed by the bass. By installing this acoustics, you will be immersed in the music and will be able to recognize the interesting components of the compositions.
According to car owners, the Focal 165 AS puts on an opera house, right in the car! Externally, the crossovers are very nice, and even if you don’t understand acoustics, you will understand how well the device is made.
For reference: the speakers are very powerful, so vibrate the doors before installation, otherwise they will rattle, or even worse, they will “eat up” the sound.
Harman Kardon
In the world of audio systems, Harman Kardon is the undisputed leader. A company from the USA, which confidently ranks first in the ranking in 2022.
Many will ask, where is JBL and a number of other excellent brands. It's simple. Harman is a multi-brand manufacturer that includes brands such as Lexicon, Mark Levinson, AKG and, of course, JBL. Due to this, the company occupies a leading position. With its widest range it can cover the needs of any buyer, regardless of his musical taste, car or financial capabilities.
Harman audio systems can be found on Genesis, BMW, Lexus, Ferrari and more.
Only high-quality materials, excellent sounding audio systems, a variety of components and advanced technological solutions allow us to call them the best.
Moreover, the assortment is really diverse. Here you can find audio system kits literally under $100. Or take something for several thousand and create a real opera theater inside the car.
Each buyer is guided by his own principles, requirements and financial capabilities when choosing an audio system.
What audio system is in your car? Have you changed the standard speakers? What didn't she like? What brand did you switch to and who did the installation?
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Blaupunkt Vc 542
Type : component speaker
Price : 2,923 rub.
For its price category, Blaupunkt Vc 542 is perhaps the best model. Buyers were pleasantly surprised by the clarity of the sound in the midrange and the attack of the drums. The speakers are packaged with a protective plastic mesh. The material of the basket from which the speakers are made is steel, and the diffuser is polypropylene. The speakers have a pleasant, balanced sound, and the presence of bass is surprising. They are suitable for listening to any music in the car: be it classical, rap or ambient. For that kind of money, high-quality Blaupunkt Vc 542 acoustics are just a gift!
Interesting fact: Blaupunkt has been in business since 1923. It was founded in Berlin under the name "Ideal". In 1938 it was renamed Blaupunkt. When World War II ended, the company was based in Hildesheim.
Bose
An American company that has been on the market for over 50 years.
According to a number of experts and ordinary consumers, this is the best audio system, which can be the optimal choice for cars of different classes and price segments.
What can I say? The whole world owes the birth of home theaters to Bose.
Currently, the manufacturer works closely with many automakers. Their systems are standardly installed on premium models and top trim levels of Nissan, Infiniti, Maserati and more. In total, there are about 10 auto companies among our partners, some of them the largest in the world.
Having reached this level, the engineers did not stop. New developments, original solutions and even revolutionary projects appear regularly.
Pioneer TS-R1350S
Type : coaxial speaker
Price : 2,450 rub.
Car enthusiasts have long been eyeing the Pioneer TS-R1350S . They liked the stylish appearance and excellent sound at an affordable price. Quite noticeable bass, thanks to which you can rock the interior of the car. Even to the eye you can see that the acoustics are made with high quality, as they say with love.
At first, the sound may seem blurry, but you can play with the equalizer settings to help solve the problem. The sound of the acoustics is clean and clear, listening to music is a pleasure. The main advantage of the speakers is their wide frequency range. They provide an amazing aerial stereo image; buyers rated the assembly a solid 5.
What speakers to put in a car without an amplifier
It often happens that a car enthusiast does not need loud and high-quality music in the cabin. A light, unobtrusive background music is enough. In this case, there is no need to purchase an amplifier, and the acoustics can be connected directly to the output of the radio. What speakers and speakers are best to install in a car without an amplifier? This question interests many car enthusiasts. Many are inclined to believe that for such sound you do not need speakers with multiple loudspeakers and crossover filters. It is enough to equip the interior with the best broadband speakers for cars. Sensitivity is the main parameter when choosing acoustics. It is better to install heads from 92 dB and higher. Too much power is not recommended. 30-45 watts is enough.
Hertz MPX 165.3
Type : coaxial speaker
Price : 16,100 rub.
This speaker system is an excellent choice for high-end audio systems that use 2-component speakers with a separate tweeter location. The six-inch acoustics are implemented on the principle of a point emitter, when the tweeter is installed in the very center.
Hertz MPX 165.3 are paired with a DSK 165.3 intermediary - it’s worth noting, an excellent combination. You will get detailed sound with these speakers. The bass is very good for its size. For high-quality sound, you will have to spend some time “warming up”. They play in front without a buffer or amplifier. For the price, an excellent purchase!
Choosing an audio system in a car with a budget of 10 thousand rubles
Choosing an audio system in a car with a budget of 10 thousand rublesIn the materials of our “Advisor” on the “Search-Selection” website, we have more than once touched upon the topics of choosing a car radio and car acoustics. But those materials were devoted to individual components. Meanwhile, the speaker system in a car is a complex of devices that interact with each other, and they need to be selected together, based on common goals and budget. Therefore, we are starting a series of articles in which we will consider the basic principles of system selection of car acoustics. We will take a certain budget and, within the framework of it, try to select the optimal set of equipment. How to correctly allocate the budget for various components, in what parameters their characteristics should match, what modifications and alterations will be required in the car’s power supply system - these are the questions we will answer in each part of our series. We will be advised by professional car audio installer Andrey Lysov.
We'll start with choosing acoustics with a budget of 10 thousand rubles. Why exactly this amount? As the experience of installers shows, it is quite difficult to get something decent for less money; nevertheless, a certain minimum of power and quality must be met in any case. 10 thousand for car audio is not so much. Standard systems of even budget cars often cost much more, and their sound quality will be worse than that of a system that is assembled individually. So with such a budget, you can also save money by giving up. Let us note right away that we will plan purchases in such a way that they take up the entire estimated budget. Installation and configuration of components will need to be paid additionally or done independently. At the end of each article we will give an approximate estimate of the cost of installing the components in question.
Schematic diagram
Professionals in the car audio industry unanimously say: if you don’t have a big budget, there is no point in installing additional gadgets. The quality of the cheapest subwoofers and amplifiers is such that they will not provide any benefit. Therefore, with a budget of 10 thousand rubles, it is better to abandon them altogether and use the classic scheme - a head unit and four speakers: two in front and two in back. So, acoustics have been installed in cars for a very long time, and with the right selection of components, this circuit can provide high sound quality. Moreover, our budget, although small, allows us to purchase more or less decent equipment.
According to our expert, this amount is best distributed as follows: 3-3.5 thousand rubles for a radio or receiver, 2-2.5 thousand for front speakers, 3.5 thousand for rear speakers. Another 500 rubles will be required for speaker wires and various small things. In this case, we will get a perfectly balanced system in which there will be no obvious distortions and which will be able to squeeze the maximum of their capabilities out of the existing components. Let's take a closer look.
Let me immediately note that the specific model that we give as an example in each section is not the best, but the most typical choice. You can choose it, or you can choose a competitor from another brand. As practice shows, different manufacturers in the same segment have very similar equipment in terms of capabilities; differences are observed mainly in design, backlight color, and some additional functions. Within this framework, a choice is possible.
Head device
We have 3.5 thousand rubles set aside for a car radio. In this price segment, competition is very high, because here you can find both top-end products from little-known, most often Chinese brands, and budget devices from market leaders such as Pioneer, JVC, Sony. It is recommended to choose among devices of the second category. Even though they are also assembled in China and do not have particularly advanced functionality, they can still offer better sound quality and durability.
What functions and parameters does the average radio in this price range have? Playback from both disk and flash drive (USB or memory card), and, unlike the cheapest radios, these can already work with 32 and 64 GB flash drives; maximum power of 45-50 W per channel; one linear output: settings for cutting frequencies (the so-called crossover); equalizer and other very standard things. But we don't need more. Such a radio will have minimal multimedia, no screen, DVD support, most likely, and no remote control, although acoustically these devices are capable of something.
A typical representative of this group is the Pioneer DEH-2400UB. It has exactly the specs we need: CD player, MP3 playback, 4x50W maximum power, USB and iPod playback, front panel audio input, RDS radio. The list of supported formats is small (CD-Audio, MP3, WMA), but for this radio there are blocks for connecting to joysticks on the steering wheel - this may be of interest to drivers who have them in their cars. The DEH-2400UB has a very good set of tools for tuning and sound correction, which in terms of quality is much more useful than various multimedia “trinkets”.
Front speakers
The choice of front speakers in this scheme is probably the most difficult. The fact is that almost every car has regular seats in the front doors or on the dashboard. It seems to be convenient: I just screwed the speakers into the already prepared holes and there was no hassle. The problem is that in budget cars, standard seats are most often designed to use round 13-centimeter speakers - the simplest and cheapest type of acoustics. And here a dilemma arises: either choose from devices of this standard size, or convert a regular place to a different size. Within the simplest budget, experts still recommend not to bother and look for speakers that correspond to standard places. Since in most cars this is the 13th “circle”, this is exactly the kind of acoustics that we will consider.
You also need to decide on the type of speakers - coaxial or component. In the first type, all speakers are located under one cover and sound “side by side”. The second has a high-frequency speaker (popularly called a “tweeter”) separated from the low-frequency one. "Disconnection" can give better sound quality, but coaxial speakers are much easier to install. Although our budget is small, we can afford component front speakers - we will look for such an option.
We have 2.5 thousand rubles to buy front speakers, and this is quite a decent amount for acoustics of a given size. An example is the Pioneer TS-1331C. These speakers cost about 2.3 thousand rubles and have a rated power of 40 W, which for this standard size is a very good parameter and exactly corresponds to the capabilities of the head unit. The sensitivity of these speakers is 91 dB, the reproduced frequency range is 40-30,000 Hz - these are good indicators.
As an example, we gave a two-pole speaker, but in principle, for the same money you can buy a three-way model. It’s just that in one price category it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to get better sound from increasing the bands, and there’s no point in using more powerful speakers with the head unit we’ve chosen - it won’t handle more power anyway.
Rear speakers
You can be much more flexible when choosing rear speakers than when choosing front speakers. Firstly, not every car has standard places for rear speakers. You will have to do them yourself, but here you have the opportunity to choose. It is no coincidence that we distributed the budget allocated for acoustics in such a way that a little more was spent on the rear speakers - here you can install more interesting speakers, for example, ovals measuring 6x9 inches. Ovals themselves (due to their shape) give a more interesting sound (low frequencies sound better), and they are also a decent size. We don’t have a subwoofer, so in terms of bass we’ll rely on the rear ovals.
In a sedan with placement there are no special options - you can embed them into the rear parcel shelf. This is a very advantageous option from an acoustic point of view, because in this case the entire trunk becomes a kind of acoustic box. In a hatchback or station wagon, the speakers can be built into both the side panels and the luggage rack, having previously reinforced it with plywood. The best option is when the plywood is screwed directly into the metal, and the speakers will already cut into it. The more rigid the design, the better the speakers play.
There is an option to install the rear speakers in special podiums. For popular cars (for example, domestically produced) there are ready-made options for sale. For rare foreign cars, you will have to make them to order, which is significantly more expensive. In any case, podiums are additional expenses; our budget does not allow them. So we will mount it in the standard way.
We saved about 3 thousand rubles for the rear speakers. And for this amount you can buy very good ovals, even three-lane ones. There is no point in taking more, but three stripes will be just right. An example is the Kenwood KFC-S69742. In terms of power, these speakers even exceed the capabilities of the head unit, but we will need the reserve. These are also coaxial acoustics with very simple installation.
Additional accessories, installation
The resulting system is so simple that it does not require the purchase of various accessories, except for speaker wires - you need to somehow connect the speakers and the head unit. The equipment used in this circuit does not place any serious demands on the wires. But this does not mean that for installation you need to use the first thing that comes to hand; the wires still need to be acoustic. You just don’t have to buy expensive ones; Mystery or Supra will be quite enough. By the way, if the car had audio preparation, you can use the factory wires. They are usually the cheapest, but with such equipment we don’t need much.
How much will it cost to install such a system? In a mediocre car service center, you will have to pay about 2.5 thousand rubles for the installation work: for domestic cars it is a little cheaper, for foreign cars it is a little more expensive. This division has been going on for a long time, although in fact it is even easier to work with foreign cars. They have more standard places, everything can be easily removed and unscrewed, the clips rarely break, but if it’s a foreign car, then the price tag is higher. In any case, there is an option to do it yourself. Installing car audio does not require high qualifications, but some experience will be useful. At a minimum, you need to know how to remove trim, connect wires correctly, and “cut into” the car’s electrical system.
We will discuss the choice of car acoustics with a budget of 25 and 50 thousand rubles in the following materials.
Morel TEMPO ULTRA 502
Type : coaxial speaker
Price : 8,059 rub.
The coaxial acoustics Morel TEMPO ULTRA 502 are equipped with 2-3 speakers, and each of them emits sound in an individual range, which eliminates the intersection of frequencies. According to reviews from motorists, the sound surprised them with its quality: they had not heard “this” from a standard size of 13 cm for a long time.
If you dream of a live orchestra in your car with crystal clear sound, pay attention to the Morel TEMPO ULTRA 502. They can hear every instrument without distortion, even at high volumes. It's amazing to hear the solo gain momentum (with an amplifier like the Alpine PDX-V9). If good sound at a reasonable price is what you are looking for, take it - you won’t regret it!
Sony XS-FB1330
Type : coaxial speaker
Price : 1,690 rub.
Are you looking for a worthy replacement for standard speakers? We are sure that after you find out the advantages of Sony XS-FB1330 , you will choose this device. What's so special about these speakers? Firstly, there is bass, surround sound, which causes an immersive effect in the music. Secondly, the price justifies the quality.
The speakers can even be installed independently on the rear and front doors without any problems. The first impression may surprise you a little, but after you adjust the equalizer in the MMC 12 radio, you will experience excellent sound! You will hear new pleasant sounds that are not present in the standard speakers. Let's check?!
Assessing the pros and cons
Some car owners believe that it would be easier to replace the standard radio with a new one, because there is no need to invent anything, just connect the ready-made one through the linear outputs! And the functionality of the new radio will be higher, and the money spent (from 7 to 15 thousand rubles) is practically the same, and the device for that amount can be found quite decent.
A serious problem faced by owners of aftermarket radios is their theft. These devices attract thieves like a magnet, and at any cost, by breaking a car window or picking up the keys to the car locks, they steal their favorite radio-electronic device.
Also, non-standard devices require complex and expensive installation in the panel, therefore, after carefully weighing all the pros and cons, many drivers agree to modify the standard radio. Of course, if you want to have “cool” audio functionality with an MP3 player, memory card slots, USB connectors, Bluetooth, color LCD display, etc., then the “native” device will have to be replaced. If you are ready to completely remove the car's standard acoustics, then the radio will also change.
As for expensive cars (Audi, Mercedes), replacing one speaker with another is almost impossible - the entire audio system is subject to it.
Technical difficulties arise with the “advanced” configuration and intelligent control system. And there are also high-class cars where abandonment of the standard audio system is not provided.
JVC CS-ZX530
Type : coaxial
Price : 2,890 rub.
the JVC CS-ZX530 speaker system . Now you can listen to your favorite tunes in improved sound and enjoy this event. The sound is clear, without any wheezing.
The design in the photo, according to buyers, is not very impressive, but in person it is very pleasant. When listening to music through the JVC CS-ZX530 speakers, it becomes clear that they have surpassed the popular TX-G1033i Pioneer and even Sony! If you've listened to music through standard speakers before, you'll be pleasantly surprised.
What's the result?
The presented options are suitable for customers who are not ready to plunge into the wilds of car audio or participate in car audio festivals. These are some ready-made solutions that meet the needs of slightly more demanding clients who have a rough idea of what they want to get from the sound. Representative Ilya Smirnov compares the creation of a car music system with tailoring a jacket: the client must always determine what is closer to him. That is why, after finishing the work, the studio specialists suggest traveling for a couple of weeks, getting used to the music, listening to your favorite tracks, and then, if necessary, returning to refine and fine-tune the system.
JBL CS760C
Type : component
Price : RUR 2,376
JBL CS760C series of speakers is designed for those who want to listen to music while traveling and enjoy it. The speakers install easily and fit virtually any standard size.
According to customer reviews, they have no complaints about the sound of these speakers: they work very well. To warm up the acoustics, buyers are advised to listen to CDs of different music genres. Within 2 months after this, the sound can become much better. To get high-quality sound, a regular radio is enough, you don’t even need an amplifier.
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Which pop speakers are best to put in a car?
Many lovers of rich and powerful sound prefer to equip their cars not with standard acoustics designed specifically for car interiors, but with pop-up speakers. This allows you to get high-quality sound at extreme volumes. Such parameters are determined by the high sensitivity and power of the best pop speakers. The disadvantage of using stage speakers is the high cost and large sizes, which do not allow their installation in standard seats. Their weight also exceeds the weight of normal loudspeakers due to powerful magnets and polypropylene diffusers. The top variety of car speakers includes the following models: SWATREV-65 Pro, ORISLS-65 and MomoHE-810. All loudspeakers are distinguished by high power and reliability.