The world we live in is full of speakers. There is a vast diversity in speaker design and function. Smartphones, cars, TVs, home theater systems, etc., all make use of speakers of varying shapes and sizes.
This might lead you to wonder what exactly makes them different from each other? And why do some types of speakers sound so much better than others?
To many, car speakers are the ones that sound the best, and luckily so! There’s nothing better than taking a long drive with the best car speakers booming your favorite music at high volumes.
This does beg the question, though, why are car speakers so good? And what makes them so unique? To answer in a nutshell, the reason why car speakers sound so good to the average person is that car audio systems usually make use of four different powerful speakers in closed and small cabin space, this gives you an almost headphone like experience and as a result, sounds very good to our ears.
This article will help answer some of the burning questions about car speakers and what makes them so different from the traditional home audio systems. So let’s jump right in!
Why Do Car Speakers Sound So Good To You?
Car stereo systems have come a long way in recent years. Even factory-installed sound systems in most cars these days are capable of outputting fantastic sound quality.
But why are car speakers so good? And why does listening to music on the road make for such an enjoyable and memorable experience? Well, there’s a bunch of different reasons why that might be the case. Some of the reasons why you might enjoy car speakers more compared to home stereo speaker setups are:
1. Car Speakers Are Optimised And Designed With The Acoustics In Mind
The manufacturers and designers of car stereo systems have the significant advantage of knowing what the acoustics of the place utilizing the speaker setup will be like.
The general layout of the car cabins and the location of the speakers are more or less the same in almost every vehicle. This gives manufacturers of the best car speakers the ability to design tailor-made speakers with these specific acoustics in mind.
On the other hand, home speaker manufacturers have no clue about the room’s dimensions, what the speaker’s placement will be like, and what other equipment you will use it with and thus can’t make bespoke speakers with specific specifications acoustics in mind. This increases the chances of us buying the wrong speakers or setting them up incorrectly.
A lousy setup of your home’s sound system due to room-speaker mismatch may be the reason why your car speakers sound so much better in comparison. A high-end and adequately set up home sound system can give better results than car speakers, but it involves a lot of effort and planning, leading to screw-ups, and is something not everyone has the patience to do.
2. The Car Is A Small Closed Setup
The car cabin is a decent environment for listening to music, especially when the car is stationary. Although the climate outside cars can be loud and have a lot of noise, the cabin inside of most cars does a decent job of blocking it all out.
The small space means that it’s easy to achieve high sound levels, and the trunk can act as a resonance chamber to help produce tons of bass. Additionally, all listeners are relatively close to the speakers, meaning that the cabin’s acoustics don’t matter as much either.
3. The Headspace When Driving
Some genres of music tend to be more enjoyable when driving. Especially if the music you listen to has dominating bass and is played at high volumes.
Many people like driving and find it relaxing. Listening to their favorite music playing while on a scenic road can give the impression that the speakers sound better than they are, making you “feel” the music better. In reality, it could be that because you are in a more happy headspace overall, and hence music sounds much sweeter to your ears.
The Differences Between Home And Car Speakers
Even though both home and car audio setups utilize the same equipment like amplifiers, subwoofers, and tweeters, the components inside the speakers are a bit different.
The most significant difference between a car and home speakers is the impedance ratings used in each. Impedance refers to the electric load a speaker puts on an amplifier. In simpler words, it is the resistance the speaker generates against the current coming from the amplifier. Impedance is usually measured in ohms.
Generally, car speakers commonly have a rating of about 4 ohms of impedance, while home theater setup speakers often have a rating of 8 ohms.
This difference is because car batteries only produce around 12 to 14 volts; on the other hand, the power supply at our homes is approximately 110 volts. This means the amplifier used in our cars has to utilize low voltage and high amperage. At the same time, amplifiers in home setups are the opposite – high voltage and low amperage.
Another significant difference is the design philosophy and cosmetic appearance of these two types of speakers. Car speakers are designed to withstand a rougher environment. The inside of our cars goes through a lot, and these speakers need to withstand extremes of moisture, humidity, heat, and cold.
On the contrary, home speakers are usually not designed to be as resilient because they live in a controlled environment and don’t face such conditions.
Many car speaker manufacturers take extra steps to ensure that the drivers are aesthetically pleasing as well. Car speakers are designed to look good and often come in brighter colors, chromed baskets, and independent lighting.
In comparison, home speakers have a much more traditional look and feel and are designed to match with other furniture and not stand out as much.