We all want to have the best car audio system, and speaker manufacturers recognize that desire. While some of us make do with the provided stock speakers already installed in our newly purchased cars, many of us have various audio needs that may not be sufficiently satisfied by such pre-installed devices. Speaker manufacturers understand the need to provide a readily available selection of aftersales car speakers. Thus, you can easily find a wide variety of car speakers that fully cater to your specific requirements. You can either opt for component car speakers or coaxial speakers, depending on several factors, including car space, brand, and model.
What really is the difference between these two major types of car speaker systems? Read on to find out.
Component Speakers
Component speakers are also called ‘separates.’ This is because they are separate speakers—they have individual drivers. They are separated from the woofer and the tweeter, allowing each speaker to be placed in different ideal locations inside your car. Since many vehicles have pre-installed speakers, the aftersales usage of these speakers isn’t suitable for many car owners. However, you can improve surround sound, noise reduction, and overall audio quality with these speakers.
Based on several factors, including vehicle size, typical road noise, and car space, you get to choose the best locations for your component speakers. Because you generally play your music while traveling, there is a need to prioritize how to optimize your audio system’s sound quality while in such a mobile environment.
For most car owners, these speakers are installed with the woofer in the door panel area. Then, the tweeter is typically placed at the top part of the door panel or even in the dash pillars. Such placements are generally recommended to obtain the best audio quality possible from your car audio system. Because of this, many of the newer car models that are already equipped with factory component speakers have their tweeters placed in the dash pillar space.
Placing your tweeter in the dash pillar area or even on the top part of your door panel permits it to have better on-axis feedback. This means that such a location lets your tweeter face you as the listener, allowing you to receive better higher-end frequency quality. Nevertheless, you can choose whichever location for your woofer or subwoofer. This is because lower-end frequencies do not require being on-axis. They tend to be omnidirectional, dispersing at a different rate. Thus, you can even put your woofer in your trunk—and it will still provide top-quality sound—if you do not have sufficient speaker space in your car.
If you have a big budget and a huge car, purchasing components speakers is a way better option, especially since you can fully customize each speaker’s location and maximize their overall capabilities.
Coaxial Speakers
However, if you aim to work within a given budget and still replace your car’s factory speakers, you can go for coaxial speakers instead. In a way, they are an excellent compromise between those single cone speakers and the more expensive component speakers. Coaxial speakers, often called full-range speakers, offer you much better sound quality as compared to the usual stock car speakers. They provide you with a two-way design that permits them to split the sounds and, hence, produce better audio feedback. They may also be three-way with an extra speaker—a smaller one—that further improves audio performance.
Coaxial car speakers are speakers that already have all their different components integrated into them. They already have a tweeter, a woofer, and even a crossover embedded in them. They offer you way better sound than the usual run-of-the-mill stock car speakers.
What Is The Difference Between Coaxial And Component Speakers?
Both coaxial speakers and component speakers are significant upgrades to your car’s factory speakers. As compared to your car’s stock single cone units, both speaker types offer you far better performance. However, there are several differences between both.
Sound Quality
Because component speakers are separate speakers, they offer you better sound quality when each component is placed in their most ideal locations. You have to remember that an on-axis response is required for your tweeters. To achieve this, they must be placed at the topmost part of your door panel or in your dash pillar area. Your woofer doesn’t need such an on-axis position; it’s off-axis. Hence, you can install it in any corner of your car and even be placed in your trunk. Component speakers provide you with the best sound imaging, especially when you put each speaker in their most ideal locations.
Coaxial speakers offer superb sound, as well. They already have a tweeter, a woofer, and even a crossover to provide you with a wide range of frequencies. They are, however, not as powerful as component speakers, and you may need a separate, efficient amplifier to improve audio performance. Also, coaxial units aren’t as great as component speakers when speaking of sound imaging. Because their drivers are too close to each other, you may experience intermittent frequency interference while listening to your music.
Customization
Component speakers offer you a wider breadth for customization. Because component systems mostly come with two tweeters, two crossovers, and two woofers, you get to customize their arrangement depending on your preferred setup entirely. A lot of these component systems also come with extra midrange or subwoofer speakers. Some are even provided with super-tweeters to optimize sound further. Component speakers allow you to get the best on-axis and off-axis responses.
Coaxial speakers, on the other hand, do not provide you with such freedom to customize. With these units, you merely have a limited opportunity for upgrade and even change how it looks after their installation. While they can indeed sound better than your car’s stock speakers and are designed to fit into most car models, they do not allow you the customization capability provided by component speakers.
Installation Process
While it is, indeed, highly recommended to purchase component speakers to replace your car’s stock speakers, these ‘separates’ require you to have the technical skills to put them all in your vehicle. However, if you have an adequate budget, you can also hire a licensed technician to help you with this.
Coaxial speakers are easier to install. Because they are built with the consideration of space, cost, and time as priorities, they do not need you to obtain extra help for their installation. With a bit of technical know-how, you can conveniently install these units by yourself.
Price
Component speakers are far more expensive than coaxial speakers. They require you to spend extra cash during their installation, especially if you do not have adequate knowledge on the wirings—and specific locations—necessitated by such an audio system.
Coaxial speakers, however, are simpler versions of these component speakers. They are speakers that already have the primary components integrated into them. So, you don’t have to pay for extra material or even require additional help during their installation. They are also far cheaper options as compared to the component units.
Which Are Better: Coaxial vs Component Speakers?
Depending really on your budget, level of technical expertise, preferences, and needs, you should get speakers that provide you with a top-notch audio experience. While your car’s stock speakers may be adequate for a bit of time, obtaining either a component system or coaxial speakers can boost your audio experience.
Component speakers are, of course, the better choice when it comes to surround sound, audio quality, and customization capability. They offer you the broadest range of frequencies without providing you with frequency interferences. They are also highly customizable because you can place them in the ideal locations based on their on-axis or off-axis responses. They also offer you better surround sound as they are separate speakers that fully provide all the different higher-end and lower-end tones without any difficulty. They can even beautify your car, acting as no-nonsense accessories that further upgrade your car’s interior design. Nonetheless, they are far more expensive than coaxial speakers even when compared to high end coaxial speakers.
If you are on a tight budget, coaxial speakers are superb choices. They do not require too much time to install as they already have all their components incorporated into them. You also do not have to hire professional help during their installation since they can be easily set up. Nevertheless, their performance isn’t as powerful as that of components speakers, but they are far better than your car’s factory speakers.
Conclusion
Component and coaxial speakers are both good choices. While component speakers are the better options when you have a huge budget to spend, coaxial speakers are superb choices as well. Because most modern car models are small, they do not have adequate space for several component speakers. If you have a small vehicle, coaxial speakers may adequately offer you a sufficient audio experience. You can add an amplifier to your car audio speaker system and already have the capability of enjoying your music as you drive through the highway. You even get to avoid spending too much dough while you’re at it.