Audition speakers before you buy
SpeakerCompare simulates the sound of home and car speakers through your headphones. It lets you compare sonic characteristics between speakers so that you can make a more informed shopping decision.
Why selecting your headphones is important
SpeakerCompare tailors your listening experience to the exact headphones you have, so that what you hear is comparable to auditioning speakers side-by-side in person. Knowing which model headphones you’re using lets us remove any sonic coloring from your experience.
Two different listening modes
In an actual listening room, you'd find that some speakers play louder than others when fed the same amount of power. In equal power mode, you'll hear these differences in loudness as they naturally occur between speakers.
In equal volume mode, we've made the loudness of each speaker about the same. This gives you a more direct comparison of subtle voicing differences between speakers.
Nothing beats listening to speakers in your space
SpeakerCompare gives you a sense of the sonic differences. But performance in the real world is affected by the acoustics of your car or home, your choice of amplification, and your source material. We still believe that the gold standard for auditioning speakers is hearing them in your own environment — that’s why we offer a 60-day money-back guarantee.
Meet Ken Nail
A fan of technology that makes your life better.
I came to Crutchfield in 1999. During my six years as a Crutchfield Advisor, I learned a lot about the technology behind great car and home audio. I learned even more about what people wanted in their car stereo systems.
I've written about car audio gear and fitness tech (like running watches and cycling computers) at Crutchfield since 2005. I also carved out a niche producing demo videos for our in-dash car stereos. The hands-on experience I got with car stereos while making these videos was an invaluable aid to me in learning about their exciting features and then explaining them to our customers. I began editing for our outstanding team of writers in 2021.
Before coming to Crutchfield, I spent 10 years teaching music in Charlottesville area schools. I keep my musical interests satisfied by volunteering as a classical music DJ at a local community radio station, and I stay up to date with the latest in outdoor tech by cycling, running, and backpacking.
Fun facts: I've completed an Ironman triathlon, run the Boston Marathon, hiked 1300 miles of the Appalachian Trail, and lost on Jeopardy!
More about Ken
More from Ken Nail
How to build the ideal car stereo system
Fitness gear for a triathlete-in-training
Fitness tracker buying guide
Quick guide to matching subs & amps
Car stereo FAQ
Car stereo installation gear made easy