How to Measure the Car Speakers?

The most confusing thing is “Speaker” when it comes to the car stereo. Although, true audiophiles know how important speakers are to them. Also, choosing the right type of Speaker is another huge task, or perhaps not everyone’s cup of tea. 

This blog is dedicated to you if you are naïve to the car stereo and require a pair of sophisticated speakers but don’t know much about it. 

Things might get a little puzzling in the car audio world, even if you buy a new set of speakers or replace the older ones. You have to look for different things while buying a set of speakers. Some of them are: 

• Whether you want component speakers or a Full-range system, tweeters and woofers are separated in component speakers. On the other hand, the devices are packed together in a full-range system, inseparable. 
• Speakers need to have a broader range of frequencies to deliver the best quality sound. 
• Check sensitivity; car speakers have to have low RMS and higher peak power handling for better performance. RMS should be somewhere between 2 and 50 Watts. 
• Here comes 2-way and 3-ways speakers, which entirely depend on your enthusiasm for music. 2-way speakers are composed of tweeters and woofers only. In contrast, 3-way speakers have tweeters, woofers, and a mid-range component to amplify the sound further to the next level. 
• The material used to manufacture speakers has to be rigid and strong enough to support heavy bass. 
• When made with soft material, Tweeters produce a warmer sound, and while they are made of hard material, they make the sound of a higher tone. 
• Speakers have to be surrounded by rubber to provide resistance. 
• Woofers have to be lightweight to make the best out of them. 

Getting the measurement of the speakers is undoubtedly the most crucial thing. And the most important thing is the “Size of the speakers.” 

Not all cars have the exact inner dimensions of the audio devices, and hence the size of the speakers may be variable. You might want to have the exact size of the Speaker you are getting rid of; it would encourage you to have a little more research on “How to Measure the Car Speakers.” 

However, there’s no rocket science behind it; it is simple enough to get the correct measurements of your car audio speakers. Even removing the older one from the car is even simpler. 

In this blog, we will share the easy ways to measure car speakers.

Why Do Car Speakers Have Different Sizes?

This has been answered already since the car factory system comes in variable shapes and sizes, and so do the speakers. You have to be very clear on which size of the Speaker you require to go with. 

This selection is crucial because it impacts the quality of sound your amplifier will produce. Car speakers come in different sizes because not all car speakers get fitted in the car. 

If you picked the wrong size, you would probably need to modify the speakers’ port to get them fit in, and for this reason, car speakers come in variable sizes. 

You can find car speakers ranging from 3.5 inches to 8 inches on the market, and even more significantly, they have specific features. Some can respond better to the low frequencies, while some better to the high frequencies. 

You probably need to dig a little into their features to pick something that quickly gets fitted in the car audio system. 

Read more – How to Install Speakers in a Car?

What Dimensions are Important for Car Speakers? 

Car speakers are a vast topic to discuss because the speakers’ dimensions are the first thing to look for even before the features are known. 

Although we have compiled some most-picked sizes of the car speakers with their features, they are appreciated. Check out the manual if you are not sure what size is necessarily good for the car audio system.

3.5 Inches Car Speakers 

These are the most suitable speaker types for fast and small-spaced cars because these are the smallest of all but immensely significant when it comes to features. 3.5 inches speakers consume less power; they are considered ideal for responding to mid-range frequencies.

 Suppose you want a crispier sound. Almost all the small speakers have a compact design and can be placed near your ear in the car. 3.5 Inches speakers are, however, not suitable for low frequencies. 

4 Inches Car Speakers 

Again not too big, they are all lightweight and easy to carry. Suppose you want to listen to the crisp sound with great bass. They are mainly designed to respond better to the high and mid-range frequencies. 

They also don’t need a lot of power to get functional. These small-sized speakers are great for small vehicles. 

4×6 Inches Car Speakers 

If you want quality and affordability to come in a single package, then 4 x 6 inches speakers are perfect for all music lovers. They ideally fit into the average sound system. 

Though these are the most demanding speakers of all, you will find many speakers vary in features and quality under different brand names. You have to be a little clever while choosing the one you’re looking for. 

5 Inches Speakers 

These are other demanding speakers on the list. They are all known for their sound quality. They are excellent for installing in vehicles and used in concerts to play loud music. 

At the same time, this edition of the speakers is mainly seen in class cars, usually cars made in Japan. But if you like the booming car that rattles, this may not be ideally good for that. 

5×7 Inches Speakers 

These are a little bigger than 5 inches speakers. These, too, are designed to respond to the mid-range frequencies. These are way too easy to install and perfect for DIY installation. 

These speakers are designed in a pattern to reduce distortion and hissing sound; they give you the desired bass you have been looking for. For true music enthusiasts, they ensure to deliver high-quality audio. 

6 Inches Speakers 

Here comes a solution for the booming and rattling car music – 6 inches car speakers. They produce more than average quality sound. 

However, they are comparatively more significant than the others mentioned on the list, yet they are easy to carry, light-weighted, and easy to install. 

They are capable of producing impactful bass. If your car has a good room for audio devices, we advise you to go for 6 inches speakers. 

6.5 Inches Speakers 

This is one of the most common speakers on the list. They are specifically designed for an average spaced car; anyone can have it. In terms of sound quality, 6.5 inches speakers are more versatile. 

They are great with their RMS and Peak Power Handling. They respond to all range frequencies. Premium 6.5 component speakers aim to eliminate distortion so you can enjoy the great sound with a compelling bass. 

So, in a nutshell, the dimensions of the car speakers have their importance; you have to be wise enough while selecting them. 

Learn more about 2-way vs 3-way vs 4-way speakers.

How to Measure Car Speakers’ Screw Pattern?

To measure the car speakers, the first thing is to determine the screw pattern of the speakers installed. Although, you’ll be provided with all the mandatory adjustments to make it done by yourself, with the guidelines. 

Once the screw patterns are determined, you’ll find it easier to make further adjustments accordingly. You may also need to measure the distance between screw holes. 

However, it is noteworthy that not all speakers have the same car speaker patterns; if your old speakers had different screw positions, then maybe the newer one had different settings. 

You need to fetch the instruction and look for the necessary steps to follow. 

How Do You Measure Speaker Cutout Diameter?

When installing aftermarket speakers, you may require some more effort to get the job done precisely. The cutout diameter is the widest one as it accounts for the cone of the Speaker. 

To measure it, flip your speakers, have a ruler or a measuring tape, and measure the height and the width; write it down somewhere to never forget. 

Measuring Speaker’s cutout diameter will help you determine the depth of the hole you will make to insert the speakers firmly. 

However, the bottom of the speakers can also be round and rectangular, depending on the shape of the speakers you choose. 

So, if your old speakers were round, their cutouts were made circular, and now the bottom part is rectangular or square, then you may need to gif another hole on the desired location; you cannot use the same. 

The cutout size has to be smaller than the hole being dug so that your speakers can get fixed firmly inside. You have to make circular holes professionally; better if you practice it somewhere else. Use a sharp cutting tool to get it done without errors. 

The measurement has its importance; if the cutout is loosely inserted, continuously opening and closing the doors can damage them. 

How To Measure The Height of The Speaker?

Another crucial thing of the whole measuring procedure is measuring the speakers’ height to determine the mounting hole. 

To measure the accurate height, invert the Speaker so that the bracket faces upward, have a tape and measure the height, and note the measurement. 

This measurement will also help you determine how much the wider part is wide than the other. 

You can also repeat the measurement by making your Speaker face-up, and this time start the measurement from the bottom of the Speaker to the upside. 

This measurement will help you analyze the design of the mounting hole. Look at the measuring tape from the side, and you will find the difference between the two points as the tape extends outward. 

This may sound a little complicated, but it’s not. Before finally making the hole, you may need to practice on some cardboard. 

Note the measurement to use later.

How to Measure the Speaker Mounting Depth? 

Once the cutout is made, the next step is to mount the speakers in your car. Most speakers offer both flush and surface mounting options, while some only flush mounting, but in all cases, you have to measure the speaker mounting depths for DIY mounting. 

To determine the depth for the perfect insertion, you will have to measure both height and width of the speakers. To determine this, you need to have a ruler, stick it in the mounting hole, push the ruler as much as possible, and measure the depth when it fails to be pushed further. 

When getting the new speakers, you have to make sure that the measurements you make are more significant than the mounting height so that your Speaker can easily get fitted in. Never buy taller speakers than the mounting area because they can get damaged. 

How to Measure the Diameter of the Mounting Holes? 

The last and the essential measurement is for the mounting hole for the Speaker. 

The mounting depth of the Speaker has to be measured both externally and internally. To measure the exterior, have a ruler, insert the hole to the maximum limit, and mark. 

If the mounting hole is non-round, you have to measure the internal diameter of the mounting hole. Have a ruler, place it on the one recessed hole’s side, and extend it to the other. The cutout size has to be a little smaller than the recessed slip of the Speaker or the speakers will not fit in the hole. 

Conclusion 

Installing speakers is, in reality, one of the most manageable tasks; you have to be very clear about the dimensions required. If it is loose, your speakers will find it challenging to produce the sound they are capable of. 

So make sure they are adjusted tightly to produce tighter results. At the same time, you may need some excellent skills with cutting nicely on the surface to get your Speaker fitted in perfectly.