Frequently Asked Questions
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| Search by most popular, sign in if you are a member, or email us if you cannot locate the answer to your question. All questions are personally answered by one of our FAQ staff, and will do our best to make sure each question is answered sufficiently. |
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| What kind of a difference do new speakers really make? |
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You'll find that replacing your factory speakers can make a difference that you definitely hear. Music sounds crisper and more dynamic, closer to the way it was recorded and better than it would with a worn-out or low-quality speaker.
Speaker replacement is also the single most cost-effective car stereo upgrade you can perform. And even the newer, factory-installed speaker systems, which may sound OK at first, aren't typically built to give you the years of reliable, ear-pleasing sound you can expect from a good pair of aftermarket speakers.
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| How does a speaker's power handling relate to the power output of a receiver or an amplifier? |
Let's limit our discussion to RMS (continuous) power, because whether we're talking about power handling or power rating, the RMS number is always more significant than the peak number.
You should pick an amplifier whose power rating is in the upper end of your speaker's power range.For example, if a speaker is rated to handle up to 35 watts of RMS power, it will perform closer to optimum as your power source approaches delivery of 35 watts.It's better to overpower a speaker than to underpower it — the distortion caused when you push a low-powered amp or receiver to its limit is much more likely to harm a speaker than too much power. |
| Do speakers with a higher efficiency rating sound better? |
| Efficiency ratings don't tell you how good a speaker "sounds." They simply indicate how well the speaker uses power.If you're using a low-powered factory system, you'll want to choose a speaker with a higher efficiency rating (90 db and up).Low-efficiency speakers can sound great, though they'll need a high-powered receiver or amplifier for energy. |
| Does the type of tweeter make a difference in the sound I hear? |
Speaker manufacturers employ a variety of materials in their tweeters, such as paper, silk, ceramic, titanium, polyetherimide, and so on.One type of tweeter is not necessarily superior to another.They all have different characteristics and reproduce sound in slightly different manners.As a rule, paper is responsive because it is so light, while composites are more durable.You'll find silk and silk/polymer blends sound very smooth and even.
In general, a dome tweeter provides better dispersion and off-axis imaging than a cone tweeter.A balanced dome tweeter combines the two designs with a dome mounted within a cone.You might want to listen to a variety of tweeter materials and designs to find the one that suits your musical taste. |
| My front speakers sound distorted when I crank up my system, even though I just bought them.Is there any way to improve their performance? |
| Try a set of Bass Blockers .These act as high-pass crossovers to guard against distortion, especially when you turn up the volume.Remember, the smaller the speaker, the more difficulty it has reproducing low notes at high volume.Eliminating low frequencies from a smaller coaxial speaker means you'll get cleaner, louder performance.And, since the bass coming from your back speakers (or subs) is omnidirectional, you'll never know the bass blockers are there! |
| What advantage do I gain by choosing component speakers for my car? |
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With a properly powered set of matched components, you can count on sound that images better and is noticeably more detailed and dynamic than you could expect from conventional speakers.
You can mount the separate tweeter wherever it will give your high frequencies the most direct path to your ears.This optimizes your speakers' imaging and brings out a level of detail you may have never heard before.The premium-quality woofers deliver forceful, dynamic bass and midrange and the separate crossover networks do a great job of properly routing your highs and lows to protect your tweeters and make your system sound its best.
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| My new component speakers aren't living up to my expectations.What's wrong? |
Here are a few tips and hints to get your component speakers sounding their best:
•Check the crossover setting — many think that a flat setting for the tweeters is the way to go, but you'll often find that you need to attenuate the highs to counteract too much brightness
•Are you feeding them enough power? Running most sets of components off your head unit is just not going to give them enough power to operate properly.Remember, underpowering your speakers is more dangerous than overpowering them.
•Like a good sub, speakers need time to break in.
•Are you getting rattles and vibrations? Check your mounting — you may benefit from baffles and dynamat.Remember, you've created new openings for the tweeters as well. |
