Types of Car Speakers & Which is Best for You

Whether the music you hear in your car doesn't sound the way it used to or you're doing a complete revamp of your vehicle's audio tech, you'll need to learn about the types of car speakers designed to fit your needs. That can involve measuring your existing speakers and hardware, considering what you're looking for in new car audio equipment and learning more about car audio in general. And if you've had a speaker "blow" before, you'll be hoping to fix it as soon as possible. Below, we'll dive into the different types of car speakers, but a good place to start researching is with our part finder. Here, all you'll have to do is enter your car's make, model and year to see the dimensions for equipment that will fit your auto. There's more to choosing a speaker than simple dimensions, though—but it's a good place to begin. From here, your next step is to choose the types of car speakers you want—but how?

Most cars come with factory-installed coaxial speakers. Coaxial speakers tend to be budget-friendly and contain all of the classic elements of a speaker in one convenient piece. The tweeter, woofer and all other parts sit within a frame or basket, and sound radiates from a single axis. These come in various sizes, often depending on factors like how large your car is. These speaker types are popular thanks to how easy they are to install. As we mention in our car speaker buying guide, upgrading to a new set of these is the easiest way to boost your sound quality. But not all coaxial speakers are the same.

With coaxial speakers, it's all about sound quality, but there are ways to boost quality while keeping the convenience of a coaxial. 2-way models include a tweeter to make highs soar, while 3-way models add a midrange driver for even better (and more powerful) sound quality. Finally, 4-way systems include an extra tweeter for even better sound quality. There are a lot of choices, but when you boil it down to which size fits your vehicle, what works for your budget and what fits your expectations for sound, you'll be able to find the perfect coaxial speakers for your car.

Component speakers are the opposite of coaxial models; where coaxial speakers seat everything inside one basket, component ones separate the tweeters and woofers within the auto for better sound quality. It's a more complex speaker and a tougher installation process, all for a completely upgraded audio experience. These types of car speakers aim for a sort of surround-sound feel thanks to an external crossover that filters the highs from the lows. And while woofers can be installed in the same place that your original factory-installed speakers lived, you'll likely need to create a mount for the separate tweeter. The tweeter is usually mounted higher up in the door or in the dashboard. For even fuller sound, explore 3-way component sets that include a woofer, mid-range speaker and a tweeter. Component speakers are great for anyone hoping to enjoy the best of their music on a long road trip, the everyday commute, and everything in between. Since these types of car speakers need you to cut open your vehicle and mount different components, that's a job you'd likely want done by professionals—like our award-winning team in Abt's Mobile Installation department.

When you're upgrading from one set of speakers to another, know that your new gear might need more power from a stronger amplifier. Begin by considering the amplifier power in relation to the speakers' power requirement. This is done to optimize performance. To know if you need to upgrade your amplifier, look at the RMS, or root mean square, power rating of your speakers in watts. The RMS will be a range. Next, you'll take the top number of the RMS rating and find an amp that can put out 75 to 150 percent of that number. Next, calculate 75% of that number. If your amp can't keep up with the amount of power your new speakers need, you'll need to purchase and install a new amp as well. We sell those, so it shouldn't be too tough to find amps that match your types of car speakers.

If you're still not sure whether coaxial or component speakers are best for you, weigh the pros and cons, keeping aspects like budget in mind, as well as how much work you want to put into the sound system. If you're trying to spend as little as possible and are looking for an easy installation, a coaxial system is the right choice for you. But it's not every day that you upgrade your car's audio system. If you have a bit of wiggle room in your budget and want the best sound quality possible, spring for the component speakers. In all likelihood, this isn't an installation you'll make more than once—so why not go for the best?

When it comes to choosing individual coaxial or component speakers for your car, keep in mind that factory speakers and aftermarket models aren't the same. Even if you use our part finder or take clear measurements, an aftermarket model might not sit in the space the same way your old speaker did. That's why it's best to get expert help when choosing types of car speakers for your auto. Our experts are here to help; between car audio installations, window tinting and more, the team at Abt knows cars inside and out. If you have questions about amplifiers or other products, give us a call at 800-860-3577 and we'll discuss how we can upgrade your car's audio system. We'll be able to make your dream car a reality.