What Speakers Fit My Car?

So, your automobile’s audio system has been acting up lately and you can’t wait to upgrade it with a set of fresh and booming speakers.

One problem though, you just can’t seem to decide which type of stereo system is best suited for your vehicle.

The best speakers to fit in your car will ultimately depend on the kind of music you listen to. Normally, different types of music will require different speaker setups to deliver the needed quality of music.

And the most expensive option doesn’t always reflect the highest quality you can get!

Choose Quality When Shopping for a Car Speaker

Selecting the best auto speakers is not a routine activity that anyone can perform. However, it will go a long way to save you the cost of constantly replacing your automobile speakers.

If the pre-installed factory speakers you find in the car do not measure up to your preferred sound quality, you might want to look for a relevant upgrade.

But before you embark on a project to soup up your new ride, you want to make sure that you are getting the best fit of speakers for your car, especially if you’re thinking of replacing the factory speakers.

There is no point in spending a fortune on a new set of speakers only to come and realize later on that they are not suitable for your ride.

To save yourself all the trouble and disappointment, you will have to pay keen attention to the speaker's size and type. 

After all, one crucial feature in the most sought-after vehicles today is the existence of the best fit of speakers. And this is exactly what you’ll learn as you go deeper into this article. 

Speaker Sizes

What are the Different Categories of Car Size Speakers Available?

The first thing to consider here is the type of speaker products that will complement your vehicle’s stereo system. This will also be determined by the kind of audio system that your vehicle is compatible with. Let us look at some of the different sizes of speakers you’ll find in the market:

Woofers and Subwoofers

If you are interested in the kind of music that will boom at every inch of the car, woofers and subwoofers will be the best choice for you.

These come in different sizes, from 8-ich subwoofers to 15-inch subwoofers and deliver a high bass and range of sound as the products increase in size. These are also the biggest car speakers you can get.

6 by 9-inch Speakers

If you are looking for a decent sound-range with less bass power than what a woofer or subwoofer offers, then try a 6 by 9-inch speaker. These have a relatively more compact size, but will still require a decent amount of space to be installed.

5 by 7-inch Speakers

One thing you’ll love about the 5 by 7” speakers is the high level of sound clarity it offers alongside a wide sound-range. These come in a reasonable size, so space shouldn’t be an issue for you. A 5 by 7” can handle more power while distorting less than smaller speakers. 

Another advantage is that it can fit in a large variety of car models. The only limitation is that it can only use specific ports.

5-inch Speakers

These speakers are what you’ll find in most vehicles and offers a good range of sound. Its versatility ensures that it fits in almost any car model you can think of and they play low, as well as high-frequency music with equal efficiency. 

These speakers come with stiff yet lightweight cones to handle harder kicks and deliver a more efficient response thanks to a higher handling capacity.

Tweeters

This speaker type falls within the 1 by 2-inch range of car speakers. Tweeters provide amazing sound support to the existing audio systems. They help to improve the quality in your car stereo system. 

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Choosing the Right Speakers for your Vehicle

When in search of the appropriate speakers for your car, be sure to follow the tips below:

Decide on the kind of speakers you want: This is the first thing you should have in mind.

Determine your price range: Choose a price range that you’ll be comfortable with when buying the products.

Check the speaker configuration: Ensure that the speaker you choose is compatible with your automobile’s audio system.

Match the speakers with the automobile’s stereo: This will require you to

• Measure the speaker size 

• Check the sensitivity 

• And determine the power-handling

Important Features of a Speaker that will Determine the Right Size for your Auto Speaker

Establishing the size of a car speaker can be a tough ask, but this is a puzzle that has already been solved for you. Sometimes, it's more essential to consider the size of the speaker as a category rather than taking it as an individual size. 

In essence, being aware of the measurements determining you’re the size of your speaker may at times go beyond considering it as a mere category.

These determining parameters include speaker diameter, mounting height, and mounting depth. 

Let us take a deeper look at each parameter.

Speaker Diameter

This refers to the distance between the outside frames or the diameter of non-circular frames. In case you are considering a change to the arrangement of your mounting to create more space for an extra speaker, you will need to know the speaker's diameter. 

In such an instance, you’ll need to know the speaker's diameter to accommodate the new set up configurations. The mounting ports for speakers with a similar diameter size are usually the same and standardized. 

Some speaker ports come with adjustment devices that allow you to drill any new holes you want to when installing speakers.  This is a crucial feature worth considering and may come in handy depending on how you want your new car speakers installed. 

Another important parameter is the cut-out diameter; usually associated with the speaker's diameter. This is determined by measuring the distance from the mounting holes to the center of the cone surround. 

Mounting Depth

The mounting depth refers to the distance from the mounting plane to the back of the speaker. This parameter comes in handy when you want to replace or improve the speakers in your car.

Although most automobile speakers are usually installed on the vehicle’s doors, there are some instances when the car door clearance may not be deep enough for the new speakers to fit. 

This means you need to determine the car door clearance available by either measuring the clearance or your car speakers and use this information to ensure that the shallow mount subwoofers you are getting do not go deeper than the available door clearance. 

Mounting Height

This is the distance from the outer extension of the speaker’s front part to the mounting plane. The majority of the coaxial speakers have tweeters protruding from the front plane.

This implies you’ll need to prevent the tweeter from constantly hitting the grille with the help of a spacer.

Other Ways You Can Determine Your Automobile’s Speaker Size

There are several methods of determining your car speaker size, and this will help you choose the right fit for a new speaker system you intend to install on your car.

It is something that you should always consider if you appreciate great music listening experience whenever you are driving vehicle. As such, consider the following ways of determining car speaker sizes:

Measure the Speaker Brackets

This involves reading the marker on the speaker slots. Note that this method has a limitation in that some cars lack speaker boards and/or speaker size markers. The method may, therefore, not apply to some vehicle models.

Online Tools

You can also find online databases with good information concerning every automobile model and the sizes of speakers it can accommodate. All you have to do is input your vehicle model and the searcher will provide a list of speaker sizes that will fit the model. 

These online tools assist you to figure out the correct fit of car speakers by analyzing the features and model of the car. They will further test for clarity, balance, and other aspects associated with the car model.

A good online tool you can use is "online car stereo".

Car Manual

Another way you can determine your car speaker size is by referring to the car manual. There is information provided under the audio system action that contains accurate and absolute speaker sizes for your car.

This will be important in case you want to improve the stereo system with speakers that are the same size as the factory speakers. 

The manual will as well guide you in knowing whether your speaker system is expandable.

Trial and Error Method

This method involves randomly experimenting with different size speakers to see which one among them will fit into the mounting hole. You should be warned, however, that this method can be tedious and frustrating.

Other Considerations to Make Before Buying Car Speakers

Woofer Quality

Before you look at the speakers, be sure to check the woofer quality. A good woofer has stiff and light materials to deliver a quality bass. Manufacturers tend to pair polypropylene with other materials to give off a more accurate bass response. 

Sensitivity

The sensitivity of a speaker is how much sound it can yield. Every speaker needs power which determines the level of sound being produced.

Normally, factory stereos feature low power of around 15W RMS per channel or less, which will ideally require a speaker with high sensitivity- over 90dB. 

On the other hand, if the car comes with a high-power stereo system, get a speaker with low sensitivity. 

Power-Handling

This parameter is usually indicated by the RMS rating. It refers to the total amount of power that a speaker can handle continuously.

For a low-powered system, you don’t need to get a speaker with a high RMS rating while for a high-powered system, the RMS rating should be near the output of the power source. 

It is recommended that you get speakers with an RMS rating matching the power source output to get the best speaker experience.