If you are willing to make an upgrade to the music system in your car then you will be needed to replace the factory speakers with new speakers sold on the market. You don’t want a situation whereby you spend your hard earned money only to realize that they cannot fit your car. You will have wasted your time and money besides dealing with the disappointment.
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One of the rules of DIY car speaker installation is to check the speaker size before making any purchase. What speakers fit my car and what size of speakers do I need? These are some of the most common questions that need to linger in your mind before making the actual speaker replacement. There are so many possible answers to these questions as we shall find out later.
We are going to address these answers in details here. There is also no harm in watching this video that can help you with more information regarding how to choose the right size of speakers for your car.
Important Speaker Parameters That Will Determine Your Car Speaker Size
Figuring out the size of a car speaker can be quite confusing and as hard as a puzzle. It is important sometimes to just consider speaker sizes as more of a category rather than the sizes. The standard sizes of speakers usually measure either 6 by 9 inches, 5 by 7 inches or 6.5 inches (View more: Best 6.5 Speakers on the Market).
In the real sense, speaker size goes beyond just category but knowing the parameters around determining the speaker size. These parameters include; the speaker diameter, mounting depth and mounting height. Let us now discuss these parameters one by one into details.
Speaker Diameter
This is the dimension that represents the distance between the outside speaker frames (Outside diameter) or the diameter of the non-circular speaker frames. This measurement is done excluding any mounting lugs. Examples of a speaker diameter size are 5 ¼ inches, 6 ½ inches, and 6 ¾ inches. Most of the time, such dimensions might not be exactly the way the manufacturer puts them, that is why doing it yourself is vital.
This diameter is mainly important especially when you want to change your mounting arrangements to accommodate a larger diameter speaker. In this case, you will need to know the speaker diameter so that it fits to the new reconfiguration. The mounting holes for speakers of the same diameter are the same and standardized.
Some speakers will come with mounting holes that are elongated so that drilling new holes when installing them becomes unnecessary. This is an important feature that you will need to consider a lot if you are looking for speakers that will fit your car.
Another important dimension that is usually associated with the speaker diameter is the cutout diameter. This is the measurement of the distance between the center of the cone surround and the mounting holes. The cutout becomes the distance between the cone surround and the mounting holes.
For more information: Best Car Speakers
Mounting Depth
This is the measurement of how far the rear part of the speaker projects backward from the mounting plane. This is a very important dimension that you will need to have before replacing your car speakers. Most of the speakers will be installed on the doors, what about if you buy a speaker that is deeper than the clearance available on your car door? They will definitely not fit.
This means, therefore, that you need to predetermine the clearance available either using your old speakers or by measuring the clearance available in your door. Then ensure that the new speakers do not exceed the measurement.
Mounting Height
This is the measurement of how far the front part of the speaker extends outwards from the mounting plane. Mounting height is important in determining your car speaker size in that it will determine whether the speakers are going to protrude out of the car door panel or not.
It is always important to find out the height measurement of your old speakers before making a replacement. Most of the coaxial speakers have their tweeters protruding out of the front plane. This means that you will need to use a spacer in order to ensure that the grille does not hit the tweeter.
Other Ways To Find Your Car Speaker Size
There are so many methods that can be used to determine the size of your speakers. Determining the size of your speaker will help you in knowing whether the speaker that you are going to buy will fit your car or not. All car owners who love listening to quality music must therefore know these methods that are useful in determining the size of speakers.
1. Measurement on Speaker Brackets
Another easiest way to determine the size of speakers that fit your car is reading the markers on the speaker slots that show best-fit speakers for each speaker. This however comes with a limitation; some cars do not have speaker size markers or speaker boards which limits the use of this technique to specific car models.
2. Online Tools
Some online databases contain every car model and speaker sizes that will fit. What you will be required to do is to keying in your car model, and you will have your perfect speaker size. The finder will be able to give you all list of speakers that match your car. The decision to go for a particular speaker model will now depend on you.
These tools help you figure out which speakers can fit your car by analyzing the model specification and features. After doing that, it will also help you test for clarity, balance and other abilities. Some of the best online tools include online car stereo and car toys fit guide.
3. Car Manual
Another way to find your car speaker size is using the car manual. The information about the speakers will be found under audio system section. This information will comprise of the accurate measurement of the speakers that come with the car.
This means that the manual will be helpful if you are upgrading your speakers to the sizes that are almost like your factory speakers. The manual will also guide you in knowing if your system is expandable or not and in other sites that you can try them out in.
If you are missing your car manual, then you can still find it online. You can visit your car’s manufacturer website and download it if you have a problem with your DIY project.
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4. Trial and Error Method
Another last method you can use to find your speaker car size is through trial and error method. This is where you randomly try out several sizes until you find the most suitable speaker for your car. It may seem tiresome, but if you are really willing to learn more about car speaker sizes, then this is a method to go for.
Wrapping up
What speakers fit my car? The answer to this question depends on the model of your car but at least you now know how to determine the perfect speakers for your car. There are so many ways you can find your speaker size as has already been discussed in this article.
The process of getting the perfect speakers for your car begins with you knowing the available sizes and what you want and then stripping down to the basics and technics. You can always pay a trip to a local expert and consult on your car speaker size.
You may be lucky and surprised to find even more information about speaker sizes. We also hope that what we have provided here will boost you in finding the car speaker size. Which speaker size fits your car? Have you ever used any of the methods discussed above to know whether a speaker fits your car or not? Do you have another method for doing the same that we should discuss in our next article?