How to Install Speakers in a Car?

We spend hundreds of hours in the car, and the favourite thing while driving is nothing but listening to music. That is what keeps the journey alive and never gets us bored of it. 

But once the speakers are blown out, the very next thing you want is to buy a new set of speakers and search on the internet “How to install speakers in a car?” Is that so? 

Though it’s simple to think of the voyage and hope in the vehicle, if you find out that the speakers are blown? It turns out to be the terrible thing of the day, I know, right?  

You will not be able to hear any sound from speakers, or it may end up with nagging distortion cracking sounds. 

This article consists of several parameters – finding the correct type of speakers, how the size and shape of the speaker’s matter, how to install speakers in your car, and some pro tips. 

This is going to be a helpful guide for the newbies; after reading this, you will be able to install aftermarket speakers on your own. 

How to Choose the Right Type of Speakers for Your Car Audio System?

Right speakers for a car audio system – What does that mean? 

Look, there are different types of car audio systems, and so the speakers for them are premium while some might lack some features. 

All you need to have the right speaker for your car system is to look for the features you want to take advantage of. Select the budget that is not too high or low but at least enough to buy a good and affordable set of speakers. 

Find out out another article on – The Best Car Subwoofer Under $100

You’ll need to measure the area where you want to put the speakers, and the space must not be restricted. Measure the area first and then go for the right type. 

But we would say leave a large space because bigger speakers tend to produce greater sound with better volume and the blasting bass. 

Make sure what you want: Floor-stand or the stand-mounters? Well, whichever fits your needs. 

Then there is an option of single-wired and bi-wired speakers. Bi-wired ones could get a little complicated for you at the beginning because you have to adjust the settings. 

We would suggest you go with the single-wired speakers – they are super simple, just get them connected with an amp, and all the frequencies will be transferred to them to produce the sound you’d love. 

You have another option – passive speakers, powered speakers, and active speakers. 

Passive speakers rely on the amp to get signals, while powered speakers amplify the signals on their own from inside, and the active speakers and active speakers, you need to have an amplifier, and they have the crossover work NOT in the speaker but at the in-line levels. 

It depends on which type of speakers you require, but we must say active speakers are more accurate and give better results in comparison so far.

What To Know About The Car Audio System Before Purchasing Speakers?

You have to evaluate the system, and for this, you don’t have to be a true audiophile; differences are always predictable. 

Steps To Evaluate Your Car Audio System

• Get in the car, close the door and windows.
• Play the music you love.
• Volume up to the height level you don’t usually go. 
• Assess, do you feel an unclear sound that you have to fix by adjusting the treble?
• Do you feel a hollow, poor, or empty sound that has to be fixed by adjusting the bass?
• If the music gets distorted on increasing, the volume is too high. 

If you are nodding in reply to the questions, you probably need to upgrade the system. Amplifiers are all flexible to the speakers; no matter what type of amp you own and which quality speakers you are connecting it with, as long as they both work in harmony, they will not blow out soon. 

Some factory systems have a limited wattage to carry. Many simple systems have a limit to have 2 or 3 channels, but if you purchase the speakers that work for 8 or 10 channels, it will not work out for a stereo. 

Why Do The Size And The Shape Of Speakers Matter?

Since you had already discussed that the larger the size, the better the results, however, the shape is all your choice, whether you want them round, square, triangle, or even something different. 

But size has to be given consideration. Larger speakers are more resistant, better in performance, and amplify music greatly. If you are a fan of loud music, then consider bigger speakers, because they can make it! 

Learn more about – What is a 4-way speaker?

Things You Need To Install Car Speakers?

Since each car is different and the speakers are, you may not require everything mentioned on the list, but the more you have, the better it is. 

You may also need to access the car’s manual to find the things you require exactly to get started.

List of The Tools Required: 

• Allen Wrenches
• Screwdrivers 
• Electrical Tape
• Crimping Tool
• Wirecutter 
• Soldering iron 
• Small knife 
• File 
• Panel popper
• Torx driver
• Box cutter 
• Drilling machine
• Flat tool 

Steps To Install Speakers In Car

We have already discussed that not all speakers are the same, neither in features nor in size, so before removing the blown speakers from the car stereo, check the dimensions they were adjusted in; you probably need to look for the same sized speakers, if you are out of the space or if you have enough space inside the car then choosing little larger is a great idea.

Your new speakers have to be great in terms of quality and at least better than the ones you are getting rid of.

Step 1: Removing The Factory Speakers 

The time has arrived to say your old speakers’ b’bye! In the car stereo, almost every speaker is hidden under a protective covering made up of mesh wire usually. 

The panel has to be removed before the speakers are removed or modified. The panel serves as the barrier that has a crucial role in protecting speakers from inside.

Take any of the mentioned tools to pry the panel carefully. You have to be gentle enough not to hurt yourself. 

Loosen the bolts with the help of a screwdriver and gently remove the panel. 

We hate to break that removing the factory system isn’t the same for every car. For small and simple cars, the work might take some minutes to remove from the factory system, but the giant and the luxurious car can make you sweat. 

You may need to remove door panels or car seats to get access to the wires and bolts of the speakers. 

Do not pull out the speakers abruptly; whether they are connected with the wire or not, do not rip them off. 

The speakers are often connected with the bolts and screws, while some are glued to the position. Whatever the case is, use the appropriate tools to take them out gently. 

You may need to modify the factory speakers maybe in the future so keep the screws in some safe location. 

Step 02: Connect The New Speakers 

Once the old factory speakers are taken out of the system – almost half of the job is done with this. The next very step is to connect the new speakers with the car audio system, which is effortless and pretty simple. 

You have to connect the speaker’s wiring harness with the car wiring, but just in case if you have a little complex factory audio system, then adjustments may vary; it will no longer be simple then; you have to go with the crimped connection or a soldered connection. 

There are positive and negative terminals of the speakers that have to be connected with the positive and negative ends of an amp so that they function properly. 

If the polarity is ignored, it will end up with distortion and unusual sound, and they’ll soon blow out. Commonly terminals are marked with the signs + and -, but if not, then the thicker terminals are the positive ones.

To build the connection, avoid using electrical tape as it may lead to hazards if temperature changes; the tape may lose its grip and can also degrade over time. 

Step 03: Mount The Speakers 

Probably the simplest job of an entire procedure. You have the options of Flash mounting, surface mounting, and door mounting as well. 

We’d suggest you keep the speakers closer to the amplifier because the farther they are located, the more time they will take to convert frequencies into the bass.

Mounting of the speakers is a piece of cake for anyone, whether professional or inept; thankfully, due to the basket they come with, you just need to have some tools to fix the basket in the respective space. 

Step 04: It’s Time to Test the Speakers

All connections and wiring have been made to this step, it’s time to test the speakers and see if the connection is built properly or not, and if not, you have to check the polarity and use some tough thing to hold wires together in the way that they should not wave with the air. 

To test your new speakers , you have to connect the negative terminal of the battery back and turn the car stereo on so that electrical charges start to flow within the wires. 

Play the favourite music, raise the volume, and observe the bass, see how electrical signals are converted into mechanical signals, but if the speakers are not working at all, then possibly there’s an issue with the electrical connection. 

Try to provide your speaker’s current specifications on the guidelines so that they function well. 

If the speakers are working fine, follow the next step. 

Step 05: Secure Your Speakers 

If you have followed each step professionally and you are successful enough to achieve the sound you’ve been looking for, this is the final step to secure them. 

You can secure the speakers under the seat, on the dashboard, and on the door as well. But if the factory speakers have the same dimensions as the old factory speakers, then you are lucky to place them at the same location. 

Mount the bracket in the space and fix it with the bolts and screws with the help of the appropriate tools mentioned on the list.

If there’s not enough space in the factory system to welcome your new speakers, you have to dig a hole of the size of the basket of the speakers under the seat, in the door, or somewhere near. 

Fix the speakers in the drilled holes, use screws and bolts to have them stuck there and make sure to follow all the instructions mentioned in the guidelines that your speakers come with. 

Can I Connect More Than One Speaker To The Stereo?

You can connect almost four speakers with the car audio system either in a parallel or series sequence. There is always more than one amplifier with the settings of right and left terminals to connect with the speakers; again, it is variable for each car factory system. 

Your car may have two amplifiers; some have three, while a home theatre amplifier can offer up to nine speakers to enjoy the sound you want to listen to through the system. 

But if your car doesn’t have more than one or two amplifiers, you can also opt for the device called power distributor, and they literally work! 

You have to connect your speakers with the device and then build a connection of the device with an amplifier and check how it works. Make sure to keep up the power supply the speakers need to work. 

Conclusion 

When it comes to listening to the music in the car, everything you need is quality speakers! Though it is a piece of cake to install speakers on your own, you don’t have to call a technician to pass the buck and handle it for you. Follow the steps mentioned in the article and get the job done easily!