Car Speakers, designed primarily for automotive environments, sometimes pique the interest of audio enthusiasts for home or DIY audio projects. While the idea of repurposing car audio components can be appealing, especially given their often affordable price points, it’s important to understand the nuances of car speaker design and their suitability for different audio applications.
One must acknowledge certain limitations when considering car speakers for general audio use. It’s true that only a select few car speaker drivers might even come close to being appropriate for high-fidelity listening. For instance, there are mentions of specific models, like the Pioneer TS-G1615, being used in specialized speaker enclosures such as TQWTs (Tapered Quarter Wave Tubes), suggesting a niche suitability in particular designs.
Furthermore, a practice exists within certain circles to modify these select car speaker drivers. These modifications often involve applying what’s described as “mythical” coatings or making tweaks like adding damping material between the whizzer cone and the main cone. These adjustments are aimed at refining the driver’s performance, potentially addressing specific acoustic characteristics. Such modifications echo techniques sometimes explored by owners of high-end full-range drivers like Lowthers, albeit often with less hesitation due to the lower initial cost of car speakers.
A fundamental aspect of car speaker design is their intended listening environment. Car audio systems are inherently designed for off-axis listening. This is because car speakers are typically mounted in doors or dashboards, positioned away from the direct line of sight and hearing of the listener. Consequently, car speaker drivers are engineered with this off-axis response in mind. However, this design characteristic can lead to a limited “sweet spot” – or a less than ideal soundstage – when used in typical home audio setups where listeners are often positioned more directly in front of the speakers. This is due to the phenomenon of beaming at higher frequencies, a common trait in many speaker drivers.
Interestingly, anecdotal experiences highlight the potential for enjoyment even from basic car speakers. The memory of using 4-inch full-range drivers salvaged from a car, even in rudimentary cardboard box enclosures, and connecting them to early sound cards reveals a significant jump in audio enjoyment compared to the low-quality multimedia speakers of that era. This underscores that while car speakers may not always be the pinnacle of audio fidelity, they can still offer a substantial upgrade and a pathway to experiencing better sound, especially for those starting their audio journey.
The affordability of car speakers is undeniably a draw. The mention of readily available and inexpensive 6.5-inch drivers, even those not explicitly designed for car audio but still possessing decent specifications, opens up possibilities for experimenting with audio concepts like linear arrays. While perhaps deviating slightly from the core topic of “car speaker” characteristics, the availability of such cost-effective drivers sparks ideas for larger scale audio projects and further exploration within the DIY audio community.
