Confused about buying new car speakers?
By Cars & Motorcycles on Apr 30, 2009 with Comments 4
BSmith asked: I have a 1990 Volvo and the speakers have gotten really bad. I am looking to buy new ones for around $100 but am willing to pay up to $200. My car has 4 inch speakers in the doors, which not a lot of speakers fit into. I am confused as to how amps are involved. Would I have to get a new radio too? What’s the benefit of sub woofers? I’m just confused about what I need to get. Can I just buy the speakers and have them mounted?
Filed Under: Buying New Car
About the Author:
all you really need is to replace the old speakers with new speakers that fit.
you don’t need any amps. but an amp for your speakers will make them play louder, and sound better.
you don’t need a new radio, but the sound quality of an aftermarket radio is much better than that of a stock radio.
subwoofers play Bass. loudly. the benefit of a subwoofer is that it will play the low notes that your 4 inch speakers can not accurately reproduce loudly, or at all. a subwoofer will give you the bass that your system is lacking. and if you decide to get one, you must get an amp to run it. subwoofers require more power than other car speakers, so an amp is mandatory.
But if all you want is new car speakers. then you can get those and nothing else. and any car audio shop will install your speakers for you, if you don’t want to do so.
You can easily just buy some new 4 inch speakers and have them installed without having to add anything else. Amps and subwoofers are not necessary, just optional if you want to knock the glass out of your neighbors car. Your existing radio should be fine unless you never liked its sound and want to upgrade or get some new features.
If you are going to add subs you will need two amps a 4 channel or 2 channel amp for your speakers (6x9s, 4x6s ect.) and the other amp for what ever subs you get. you dont have to get a new radio but its better if you do, subs are optional but it depends on what kind of music you like to listen to if you love bass then subs are the way to go but you can always just buy a sub that fits your needs like a sub that wont be so loud. yes you can just replace your factory speakers with the new speakers.
YES
or
Sealed = accurate bass
ported = exaggerated bass
bandpass = exaggerated bass with a narrow band of frequencies (it’s basically a sealed and a ported in one,
also used in competition).
The uncommon ones (more for competition use):
T-line (Transmission Line)
Solobaric
Folded Horn
Conical
Box Is what produces deep base 2 8″ subs here in Aus produced 140 db in a specially built box so size is
complete preference only
A box Can also change the Wattage of a speaker depending on type and size of the box and your amp should
match the RMS that you end up with there r equations you can find on the net
Bridging amp
amp+ to sp1+
amp- to sp1 -
or
amp+ to sp1+ to sp2+
amp- to sp1 – to sp2-
Will give you 2 ohm if your amp is 2 ohm stable
or
Recommended for best sound Quality
amp+ to sp1+ sp1- to sp2+ sp2- to amp-
Will give you 8 ohm and Peak at 4 ohm at max power
Are your subs single or dual voice coil
both will shake your car
10 s will give you Harder bass
I have used 10s in compertition and beaten 15s it all comes down to box
I have 2 x 8s Altech Lansing in a band pass box pulls 136 db Most pioneer 12s and 15s have trouble breaking a
true 135 db
Personal pref
goto member ship is free log in goto members rides check out parrots Orange Gemini PVan
go to and have a look at the colt the 2 x 10 Extreme Selenium in the front of the box
without the 4 12
Extreme Selenium going pull 140 db
tried and tested in db drags australian comps.
I have beaten cars with 2 x 15s with just the TENS
Extreme Selenium in the front doors pull 140 db as well the whole system has pulled in
latter shows 149.9 db = 4 x 12 & 2 x10 Extreme Selenium
This System is one of the Best Sound Quality cars in the world
all subs r fine once the amp is tuned properly unfortunatly most people just turn everything up BIG NONO
if you want great bass NO Cap – Caps are for full range amps only not Subs it is a myth that if you put caps
on your subs you get more bass
you don’t you get batter Quality bass and less bang and boom the cap sends an even flow of the power to your amp you loose 25 % off ( Tried and Tested ) put a 1 frd on your other speakers and it will help prolong the
life of your speakers and amps this is not saying not to as I run Caps In My SQ car But not my SPL car