Distracted driving a car is highly undesirable. However, how to overcome the fatigue and monotony of the long road? Most drivers answer this question unequivocally: turn on the music or broadcast the radio station. And everyone at the same time wants to have a high-quality sound, without which listening turns into real torture.
If a new kit is bought in the car, it is important to know how to make a selection of speakers for the radio. With the wrong choice of components, a situation may arise when one component of the system cannot fully reveal its abilities. Or increases the likelihood of damage with the subsequent need for repair.
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How to determine the power of the radio
First, a little theory. The power of any playback device to which the speakers for the car radio are connected cannot exceed the on-board power supply parametrics. In the case of a sound system, this is the voltage limit of 12 V. From the standpoint of pure physics, the head unit or radio cannot have power per channel above 4.5 watts.
The correctness of this statement is confirmed by extremely cheap options for electronics. If you buy, for example, a tape recorder for 400-500 rubles, it will give out just such a small power and the speakers for the car radio should be selected accordingly.
Modern middle-class electronics work with a bridge circuit. Its amplifier can produce up to 18-20 watts of pure power. If there is a model with such a parameter in the store, you can safely buy it, because it is it that will not throw any surprises. A product of this type works physically correctly, according to the classical scheme, selected speakers for the car radio are not guaranteed to be able to experience unexpected overloads and fail.
But what does the magic numbers of 45, 50, 80 W mean at the output of the amplifier of the car radio, proudly duplicated by inscriptions, stickers on the front panel? This is both a marketing lie and a technical trick. An intermediate power storage is installed in the amplification circuit of such models. This is a capacitor that is charged at that time when the sound picture allows you to work at a signal power below 20 watts.
In the period of increasing amplitude, for example, with a sharp drum hit or a powerful increase in the volume of the track, the capacitor gives off energy, the amplifier exceeds the physically correct signal level. This approach uses the features of human hearing. When the capacitor’s charge runs out, the overall volume drops, but the person does not notice this due to the effect of inertia of perception.
Based on an understanding of basic physics, it is easier to realize what exactly the data indicated in the passport for the radio tape recorder means.
- Power in Watts - peak signal value, short-term. If the PMPO value is given in the documentation for the device, it does not require conversion and can be used as a guide when choosing speakers for the radio. In the case when the RMS power is given, the indicator should be divided by 1.41 to obtain the desired parameter.
- Sound scheme. Today, a standard stereo system is quite rare in market offers. A conventional radio has 4, 5 output channels, can be equipped with a separate subwoofer port.
All data can be found in the documentation for the sound reproducing device or see the tag placed on the case.The information received will be used when it takes time to choose the speakers for the car radio in terms of power.
Determine the place for the columns and their size
In most cases, car manufacturers have already decided everything for the average owner. The design of the housing already provides space for the installation of acoustics. If this is done, it is recommended to use the offers of the auto manufacturer.
In regular places for acoustics, all measures to neutralize vibrations are provided and structural strength is created. The installed speaker will not rattle unnecessarily, it will have enough volume to deliver high-quality sound and work at rated power.
All that remains for the owner of a modern car is to look into the documentation or visually determine which speakers can be installed in the regular departments. The machine simply allows you to get to them, including - during wiring.
If the car does not provide space for acoustics, it is recommended that you do not immediately take on a power tool to disassemble the interior and cut holes, but use the experience of other masters. On the Internet, in specialized forums there is enough data, including video, on how to properly install the speakers in the car. When solving this problem, you need not only to get a good sound and convenient wiring, but also not to violate the structural strength of the body elements.
Today, there are the following regular places for installing speakers:
- in the doors, mid-range speakers are placed here;
- in the front roof pillars, in the area of the front glass, to accommodate high-frequency satellites;
- in the rear shelf, where high-power speakers with close to bass ranges are installed.
Separately considered the placement of the subwoofer. It may have a structural solution that directly indicates its position inside the car body. For example, it can be an acoustic unit for installation in the trunk, on the floor with a flat shape, in the form of a product for placement under the rear seats.
In case one or more elements of the speaker system require their own amplifier for their operation, you need to carefully consider its placement. At the same time, it is worth relying on the manufacturer's recommendations and common sense. The device will need to give a lot of heat, so you can not install it in a closed, limited space.
We determine the necessary resistance, sensitivity and other parameters
The electrical characteristics of acoustics play a large role in the formation of high-quality sound and the overall functional suitability of an individual loudspeaker. Each speaker or speaker is selected according to the following criteria:
- Resistance. It is desirable that this characteristic corresponds to the value indicated in the passport of the radio. In this case, the acoustics will work in the normal mode, while not causing distortion of the signal from the amplifier.
- Sensitivity. On the one hand, this parameter describes how quickly the speaker responds to a change in signal. On the other hand, it describes sound pressure. When it comes time to choose acoustics, it is worth remembering one feature of the automotive grid. It has quite strong interference. Therefore, it will be wrong to choose speakers with high sensitivity. A reasonable way out is to buy acoustics with a parameter value in the range of 90-95.
- Q factor. This parameter describes how strongly the inertness of the diffuser affects the correct reproduction. For speakers installed in the car, it is advisable to choose speakers with a Qts of at least 0.6.
The last and most important thing is the choice of acoustics power. Based on the physics of the amplifier and the mechanics of signal delivery at different times, it is worth relying on the following postulates.
- The rated acoustic power should be at least one and a half to two times higher than the value indicated in the passport for the radio tape recorder. This is the main requirement for car speakers.
- The maximum power should not be less than three times the indicator of the amplifier. This is a desirable but not required compliance requirement.
- In some cases, when the manufacturer of acoustics indicates peak, not maximum power, it is worth choosing a product that has an accurate three-fold supply (or higher).
Some principles of choice are worth explaining. The specified rated speaker power is the data obtained as a result of testing. Acoustics is fed a signal in a wide range of frequencies. The test is conducted according to the scheme of a minute of work - two minutes of downtime.
Therefore, the rated power means a certain technical maximum, which is achieved when playing an average audio signal with a variable volume level.
It is not at all guaranteed that the column will not burn if the amplifier delivers rated power to it with clocks close to peak for hours. Therefore, it is recommended to take one and a half or double margin when choosing speakers. This ensures a guarantee of acoustics performance when playing music for hours and even days.
The maximum power shows the parametric of the input signal, which the column can withstand for a minute (for some manufacturers up to 5 minutes). This parameter is not measured by testing. It is calculated by the characteristics of the winding and other engineering parameters.
In real conditions, the radio can burn the speaker with a sharp surge of power close to its maximum. Therefore, for this parameter it is also recommended to have a three-fold margin, mainly to prevent overheating of the winding.
Peak power characterizes the speaker's chances of surviving with a short-term intense pulse of the signal. These data are obtained by the manufacturer as a result of testing a batch of products. Therefore, if the permissible peak of power is indicated in the acoustics passport, a choice with a three-fold margin is required.
Coaxial or component speakers
Buying coaxial speakers or a multi-point speaker system depends not only on the wishes of the car owner. The role of the radio.
- Coaxial speakers reproduce sound over a wide frequency range. They can work at the same volume at all points in the cabin, forming an equally distributed sound picture that is almost the same for passengers and the driver.
- Component systems are several speakers operating in different frequency ranges. Such a kit must be tuned to get an acceptable sound picture for passengers or the driver. The radio must be able to adjust the channel volume.
Often, separate amplifiers are used to control the component system, complementing the capabilities of a regular playback device.
The average car owner who does not suffer from audiophilia is recommended to buy coaxial speakers. These are devices in which two sound emitters. Today in the market you can pick up models that provide high quality sound in a wide frequency range.
People for whom life has not been sweet without a completely authentic sound environment and the natural sound of musical instruments can not do without buying a component system. You may have to spend a lot of time to balance and adjust it. However, the end result is worth it.
Popular brands
In order to immediately predict the characteristics of the sound picture in the car interior, without special knowledge, you can buy the acoustics of one or another manufacturer. Each brand is distinguished by clearly distinguishable features of sound and structural performance of its speakers or individual speakers.
Kenwood
KENWOOD products offer a full range of speaker systems.You can buy coaxial broadband or component kit. But the speaker offers for regular places are especially interesting. Such sets allow you to equip the interior with high-quality acoustics with minimal effort.
The sound of KENWOOD is a balanced sound picture without underlining the bass. They are well perceived, distinguishable, however situations when music turns into a continuous low hum are impossible with any adjustments and settings. When working with brand radios, KENWOOD speakers show a very clear, high-quality sound.
Pioneer
The Pioneer Consortium has been operating in the car speaker market for a long time. Prices for speakers and speakers are not democratic. However, this is easily explained by the fact that the company even uses its most advanced engineering solutions even in the cheapest systems of its production.
Acoustics Pioneer is interesting for motorists in that in the assortment positions you can find a ready-made set of speakers for installation in the regular places of the car of a particular model. The sound of the speakers has a low level of distortion. Diffusers and speaker coils show fast response, perfectly tolerate overloads. Most models work well in low frequencies.
Edge
This company is the standard for the use of speaker protection measures. Here you can find thoughtful ventilation schemes, special design solutions for coils and much more. The speakers sound very clean and juicy, regardless of type.
Among the company's offers are separate speakers, coaxial systems, active and passive subwoofers. The product features include a clear correspondence of real parameters to the declared values. Therefore, to guarantee a long stable operation of acoustics - you need to choose the right speakers and speakers Edge.
Sony
The acoustics of this brand is recommended for those who want to get the best value for money. The speakers are distinguished by a well-thought-out design and the use of classic engineering solutions. Coaxial acoustics are designed for low volume operation.
Sony products offer high-quality sound without frills, shifting the sound image down or up in the frequency band. Each model fully meets the expectations of the buyer. Not the last advantage of brand products is an affordable price and a wide range of models on the market.
Hertz
Hertz acoustics is synonymous with quality for many. The brand speakers are characterized by a high reaction rate to changes in the input signal. Therefore, the acoustics sound juicy, powerful, conveying the smallest shades of the melody.
Hertz speakers are suitable for playing music of any style. At the same time, even relatively small diffusers do a good job of reproducing bass. In the assortment of company offers you can find not only acoustics of almost any type, but also everything for the independent construction of a high-quality system. You can buy amplifiers, crossovers, subs, special automotive electronics with noise filtering.
