First off, I'd like to point out we don't really have a forum for automobile anything. So, focusing on the "speaker" half, and the likely quality of information, I figured this was a better place than Null.

Alright, I blew out three of my car speakers. According to [http://www.sonicelectronix.com/cat_i7_--car-speakers.html]this[/url] site, my particular car has 4 6-3/4" speakers. I'd like to know if anyone in particular knows what speakers give the most bang for your buck...I'm assuming someone can find a 4chan post with a big ass picture, but just in case, I'm probably going to be searching for most of the rest of today.

What I'm looking for is a total price under $400, as much sensitivity and Peak Power, and as little impedance as possible.

For example, I like http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_9111_Polk-Audio-db651.html. Yes, I'm aware it's marine certified, that's not important.


Post has been edited 1 time(s), last time on Apr 17 2011, 4:36 pm by poison_us.

It really doesn't matter WHAT speaker you buy. If you turn it up on full, you're going to blow it. If you hear or see shaking, its too loud. Honestly I'd go to a junkyard and find a replacement, but the 'good' stuff disappears quick.

Funny thing is, I'm not looking to buy a speaker just to see how loud it'll go. I'd like something that I can play fairly loud, won't explode, and has a great sound quality.

EDIT: Now that I look at the speakers a little closer, I don't think I even could blow them, at least not without an amp, which I won't be getting any time soon.

To find a fitting speaker you gotta tell us the specs of your amplifier.
I usually go with double power on the speaker compared to your amp power. That way you can never blow your speakers just by playing too loud.

A word of warning:
I am not an audiophile. I know next to nothing on the subject. I can't tell the difference between a 128 kbps mp3 and 64 kbps vorbis. I listen to my music on default speakers in my car through a 1 W radio signal from my iPod (though the cd player clearly sounds better).

That being said, speakers are old technology. Audio technology is old technology. There is no clear "best" and "worst" and the market has stabilized pretty well, though there are some lemons out there (skullcandy in particular). In general, you will get what you pay for. When you're prepared to pay $400 for speakers, you are paying a very large amount for just quality. The prices haven't gone down in the past, so you're buying stuff that has been at that price for years. They need to keep the price high in order to stay in business, because speakers are designed to last a long time.

Another thing to think about is that when you're paying that much for speakers ($50 each), it's likely that they are going to be significantly better than whatever you originally had in your car. So no matter what, it will be a significant improvement over your previous buy, and you should be happy with your buy. Because the technology is so old, I do not think there is much of a difference between a $50 speaker with a $50 amp and a $500 speaker with a $50 amp. There might be a difference if both were $500, but I think you'll be getting into serious diminishing returns.

Finally, trust the free market. It does a pretty good job of weeding out the stuff that isn't worthwhile by making it cheaper. You will get what you pay for, at least most of the time.

Yea, I still have yet to find better quality speakers at the same price or less. The only speakers I've found that are slightly better in one area is far worse in another, and cost a little more. Those speakers, as far as I can tell, are probably the best I'm going to find.

Quote from NudeRaider

To find a fitting speaker you gotta tell us the specs of your amplifier.
I usually go with double power on the speaker compared to your amp power. That way you can never blow your speakers just by playing too loud.

My amp is the factory amp; I haven't been able to take a peek yet, but I'd imagine it's somewhere. Although search turns up mostly just where it's located, not any actual item or statistics. In any case, I already planned on buying one, because I know speakers are quirky; it's easy to mess them up when they try to draw more power than the head/amp supplies, so it's better to have a powerful amp than a less powerful one.

EDIT: Some guy on another forum says it's a 100 watt max output, but I'd still have to take a peek at the item number and whatnot.

I could kiss you.

Not true.
More powerful is always better, obviously. But I'm talking ratio of amp power to speaker power here. And it's terribad if this is 1 or even higher.
Also speakers are passive, they don't draw power and thus can't "mess your amp", your amp is supplying power. And if it's supplying too much your speaker will get destroyed. If it's supplying too little (at max. volume) you'll only get scratchy sound because an amp's characteristic line is becoming pretty bad when you're going above ~70% volume. This doesn't damage your equipment, however, just maybe your ears.

You gotta watch your impedance though. Amps only have a certain range of impedance of speakers they can operate well with. Maybe that's what you meant.

Quote from NudeRaider

You gotta watch your impedance though. Amps only have a certain range of impedance of speakers they can operate well with. Maybe that's what you meant.

This, and the bit about the ear damage. Statistics are given for both 2 and 4 ohms, though I only care for the 4 ohms. In any case, I'll see how the speakers work, then add an amp later if needed. I've got my eyes on a potential amp already, but I'd rather not buy it if I don't need it.

Your radio or whatever you're currently using has an integrated amp. I was speaking of that the whole time. But of course the same applies to an external amp.