You need plenty of information when shopping for the best car speaker. There are so many offers on the market today, and while you cannot listen to every single speaker, it shouldn’t stop you from selecting the best model for your car.
Knowing your car’s speaker configuration is important. And the speaker size for car is one of the most important factors to be considered when choosing a car speaker. We realize that tech talk might not be your cup of tea, especially if you are looking for a quick solution. That is why this post is broken down into easy to read and understand sections.
If you are looking for the perfect car speaker size, we have created this guide just for you. After reading this guide, you will know the size that will fit you and your car. Read on to find out the tips that will help you.
What types and sizes of car speakers are there?
Сейчас на рынке представлено большое разнообразие размеров. Вот некоторые из доступных вам вариантов.
6×9”
These speakers are powerful options that fit a wide range of vehicles. One distinguishing feature of these models is that they come with a pretty wide cone. Due to this feature, they often have impressive bass output.
With 6”x9” units, you might not even need to install any woofers or subwoofers.
While they are often installed at the back of the car, you can also set them up in front; it all depends on what you want.
6.5”
Up next are 6.5” speakers. This option is the most common choice for car owners. They are easy to find on the market, which in turn means that many manufacturers build them to be versatile. These units come with several upgrades.
They are the proverbial ‘Jack of all trades” since they offer a bit of everything. The downside of this is that they do not particularly excel at anything.
If you aren’t sure about which speaker size to choose, this size will likely fit you right to the ground.
5×7”
These can fit a wide range of vehicles. If you are concerned about space, you’ll likely be relieved that these models come in reasonable sizes.
A feature that divides opinions is the specific ports. Many love these because it makes it fairly easy to set up. On the other hand, it can be a problem because if there is no proper adaptation, it is near impossible to fit them on some vehicles.
If you want rich, full, and clear sound, then you will likely fall in love with 5” x 7” speakers. They are excellent at sound production; handling more power and offering less distortion than smaller options on the market.
If you seek to upgrade your car audio and enjoy thrilling sounds, then you should closely consider getting these speakers.
5”
Looking to boost your stereo performance? Then this might just be what you need.
The 5” speakers are the smaller ‘sibling’ of the 5”x7” car speaker.
These units are small, usually found in the back door or back dash of vehicles. However, do not be dismayed by the size; they deliver a wide range of sounds. This advantage makes them wonderful companions to larger units.
Aside from the features mentioned above, we love these models because of the ease of installation. Due to the small size, they can be installed virtually anywhere without any hassle.
4×6”
These relatively small speakers offer good sound. However, if you are looking for car speakers that give great bass output, you’ll have to look away from this size.
However, if you need a small, relatively affordable unit that you can add to an existing sound system, then you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better option on the market.
You can increase the chances of getting a 4”x6” model with great bass by ensuring it comes with stiff cone material. Additionally, you can boost the performance by installing an external amplifier.
6×8”
They are very versatile and deliver some really impressive performances. Kenwood is a popular manufacturer of these types of models.
If you seek more depth and sound clarity in your car audio system, then you will like these affordable units.
Tweeters
If the unit falls within 1”x2” size, then it is a tweeter.
Although tiny, they can give a much-needed boost to your car’s audio system while not stealing the show.
Woofers and Subwoofers
If you love plenty of bass in your music, then subwoofers and woofers are just for you. These speakers come in several sizes, usually between 8” and 15”. A rule of thumb is that the bigger the model, the heavier the bass.
If you already have a 6”x9” speaker installed but want more bass, then a subwoofer is what you need.
They are the biggest car speakers available and require plenty of installation space.
Ways to measure car speaker sizes
Whatever your reason for getting new car speakers, you have to get the right measurements. Getting the correct measurement will help to narrow down your choices and get the exact one that will fit your vehicle.
It is also important to know the size because it would make installation so much easier. After all, the right one will fit like a glove.
Taking the measurements is not very difficult, and you can do it easily. Let me show you how.
Before showing you how, though, let’s consider some important parameters.
Speaker Diameter
This the distance between one end of the speaker to the other. In the section above, we have reviewed some of the most popular sizes on the market right now.
6.5” speakers offer plenty of configurations and customization options and are unsurprisingly the most common speakers on the market.
You should note that the stated size of the speaker doesn’t always match the actual diameter. These sizes are more of categories than actual sizes. This is another reason why you should always measure the actual speakers you plan to use.
Mounting Depth
It is important to know this dimension before you install the car speaker; especially if you are installing it on a car door. If the new units you are getting have a deeper clearance than that of the door, you will not get the units to fit into the door.
Additionally, if you don’t get the right mounting depth, your speakers will frequently hit the inner part of the car. This will reduce the lifespan of the product as well as affect the sound quality.
Mounting Height
Many speakers on the market come with parts sticking out of the front panel. You, therefore, must ensure that these parts do not frequently hit the grille.
Thus, you should measure the distance from the external panel of the speaker to the mounting plane.
Mounting Screw Width
This measurement is the least important, but having many measurements never hurt anyone. By measuring the distance between screw holes, you won’t have to make new holes when installing the speakers.
Installation Space
Vehicles come with slots, whether on the door panel, the front-rear, or the back. When choosing a speaker size, you should measure these holes. After all, choosing a model larger than the slots can result in complications.
Steps to measure car speaker size
Tools you will need
- Tape rule
- Panel removers
- Screwdriver or drill
- Paper and pen
Steps
- Remove the panel. While the front-rear and back-rear also have slots for speakers, you might not need to remove the panels there.
- Use the screwdriver to remove the speaker and place it in a safe space.
- Measure the mounting depth. Using the tape rule, measure from below the mounting plane to the end of the magnet.
- Write down the measurement.
- Measure the speaker height.
- Write down the measurement.
- Measure the speaker diameter. Measure from one end of the unit to the other. Ensure your tape rule is taut.
- Write down the measurement.
- Measure screw width.
Other ways to find out the size
Apart from the ways highlighted above, there are other means of finding out the best speaker size for your car. These methods come in handy if you cannot measure the speakers.
Use the Car Manual
The car manual contains a wealth of important information about your car; including the speaker size.
Read the audio section in the manual and check the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) size. You will find the exact size that would do justice to your sound system.
Apart from telling you the size, the manual might also come with instructions on installation and other helpful stuff.
Speaker Brackets
Another way to find out the car’s speaker size is by checking out the speaker slots and reading the marker on them. The markers show the range of sizes that the brackets can hold.
Unfortunately, this method isn’t always reliable. For one, not all cars come with markers on the brackets. Others might not even have speaker boards.
Ask professionals
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Even better, after making a recommendation, a professional can help you to install the units.
Manufacturer
This is a risky method, but as a popular saying goes, ‘Fortune favors the brave”. You can decide to take a risk and buy that fancy set of speakers that you found online.
You can reduce the risk by calling up the manufacturer to get extra information that can help you with stuff like installation.
The Internet
We live in an age of information. There is so much available for free on the internet. From YouTube videos to Autoblogs and websites, you can always have the information that you need.
Even online stores usually come with a chart or guide to help you to pick out the right size of speakers for your car.
Getting the information that you need is pretty easy. All you need to do is type in the model of the car and other essential information to find out if the unit is the right size.
Local store
Your local store is a veritable, well, store, of information. The vendor might be a professional who can guide you in selecting the right speaker size for your car.
Speaker hole size chart
Online stores like Amazon often provide a speaker hole size chart that you can analyze before choosing a size for your car.
| Size | Chassis Type | Dimensions (PCD) | Baffle Hole Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21" | Aluminium | 520-528mm / 20.5-20.8in | 492mm / 19.37in |
| 18" | Aluminium | 432-440mm /17.0-17.32in | 416mm / 16.38in |
| 15" | Aluminium | 367-373mm/14.44-14.68in | 351 mm /13.82in |
| 12" | Aluminium | 298-304mm /11.7-12.0in | 286mm / 11.26in |
| 10" | Aluminium | 244-247mm/9.6-9.7in | 232mm/9.13in |
| 8" | Aluminium | 21 Omm / 8.3in | 187mm / 7.4in |
| 6.5" | Aluminium | 173.5mm / 6.83in | 150mm / 5.9in |
| 15" | Steel | 369mm / 14.53in | 352mm / 13.86in |
| 12" | Steel | 297mm/11.69in | 283mm/11.14in |
| 10" | Steel | 245mm / 9.65in | 229mm / 9.02in |
| 8" | Steel | 196mm / 7.72in | 183mm / 7.2in |
| 6" | Steel | 168.5mm / 6.63in | 147mm / 5.79in |
| 5" | Steel | 140mm / 5.51 in | 117mm / 4.61 in |
| 4" | Steel | 109mm / 4.3in | 95mm/3.7in |
How to choose the right speakers for your car
There are certain factors to consider before you buy speakers for your car. In this section, we will see some of the most important features.
Woofer Quality
If you love high-quality bass, the woofer quality is a very important consideration. The stiffness of the units will affect the quality, hence check these out.
Many of the best woofers are made with polypropylene, and we recommend that you consider models made from this material.
Weight
While car speakers are not designed to be carried about, you should still consider how the weight will affect the area you place them. Some parts of a vehicle are sturdier than others. Therefore, ensure that heavy models are placed in sturdy areas while lighter speakers are in ‘weaker’ areas like the door panel.
Sensitivity
This refers to the level of sound a speaker produces because of the power applied to it. If it is a low power stereo or system (15W RMS), car speakers with high sensitivity values (>90 Db) are the best bet.
On the other hand, if it is a high power system (16 W RMS or more), you should get car speakers with lower sensitivity values (< 90 Db).
Power-handling
Power handling shows you the amount of power that your speaker can handle. If you have a low power system, you do not require models with high-powered handling capabilities.
If your system is high-powered, then you should get models that have power handling capabilities almost equal to the output of your amps.
Conclusion
The right kind of speaker for your car depends on several factors, including the size of your car, the model, and the size of the speakers. This post shows how to know the right speaker size for your car; a first step in knowing the best models to buy. With all the information in this post, we hope it helps you in selecting the best option for your vehicle.
