Component Car Speakers: What To Look For

Component speakers, like this Infinity Kappa 60.9cs system, help make your music sound its best.

Component speaker systems are the best way to get high-quality sound in your vehicle. You'll find a wide variety of component speakers available, so picking out one set can be a bit daunting. But if you keep a few important points in mind, you'll be able to make a smart choice for your vehicle.

Match your speakers to your system

Your car's sound system will determine if you buy speakers with a high or low sensitivity rating. Simply put, sensitivity measures how much sound a speaker makes from the power applied to it. If your car's system is low-powered (15 watts RMS per channel or less), you'll get better results from speakers with high sensitivity ratings (over 90 dB). If you're using a high-powered stereo (16 watts RMS or more) or an external amplifier, extend your search to the less efficient systems which are built to handle more power.

Power handling is another important spec to keep in mind when selecting your component speakers. Be sure the speakers you choose can handle the power output of the amplifier that will be driving them. And remember, the key spec in power handling is the maximum RMS power, not the peak power rating. RMS power ratings realistically measure how much power the speaker can handle continuously, not just for a short burst. The recommended power range can also give you a clue about how a component system will perform in your car. A system rated at "2-50 watts RMS" will make a better match for your low-powered stereo than another system rated "10-80 watts RMS."

Component speaker system construction and materials

Materials have important effects on the durability and sound quality of component speakers.

• Woofer materials
  A woofer should be made of material that's stiff, yet lightweight in order to produce the low notes in your music effectively. Most car speaker woofer cones are made of synthetic films like polypropylene, which serve well. Polypropylene is often mixed with other materials, like mica, to create a stiffer cone for more accurate bass response. Woven fabrics, or synthetics coated with metals like aluminum or titanium, create light, strong cones that provide excellent response. All of these materials stand up well to the heat, cold, and moisture that car speakers face daily.
• Tweeter materials
  The material used for the tweeter exerts a profound effect on the type of sound produced by the speaker. Generally, tweeters made of soft materials, like polypropylene, textile blends, or silk will give you sound that's refined and somewhat mellow. If you like the highs bright and snappy, go with hard materials, like metal, ceramics, or graphite.
• Surround materials
  The surround on a woofer performs a vital role — it allows the woofer cone to move freely, so you get better bass output. It needs to be durable, so it can stand up to temperature and humidity extremes. Surrounds made of rubber will provide the best overall performance and longevity, while treated foam and cloth surrounds are often found in less expensive component systems.
• The crossovers
  Component systems typically use passive external crossovers to achieve clean separation between the frequencies sent to the woofer and tweeter. The woofer and tweeter don't waste energy by trying to reproduce frequencies they're not intended to reproduce. You'll enjoy cleaner, more efficient sound reproduction.

High-quality internal components, like those in this crossover, make a big difference in the quality of your sound.

Many crossovers have extra input terminals to allow bi-amping. Instead of driving the woofer and tweeter with a single channel of amplification, you actually connect two sets of cables, with each set carrying the signal from a separate amplifier (or amp channel). This way, both low-frequency drivers (woofers) and high-frequency drivers (tweeters) receive dedicated amplification. Look for this feature if you're planning to put together a real high-performance system.