Number of bands
The number of separate frequency ranges into which the total frequency range reproduced by the speaker is divided. In this case, a separate speaker (or even several) is allocated for each range (band). the optimal speaker parameters for each band are different. Therefore, multi-band speakers are considered to provide better sound quality than full-range speakers. In modern multi-band car audio,
2(HF / LF) or
3(HF / MF / LF) bands are usually provided.
Max. power
The maximum power of a short-term (up to several seconds) incoming signal that the speaker can withstand without physical damage. Just like the nominal power, it matters for the selection of acoustics for an amplifier (or vice versa): it is believed that the maximum power of the speakers should be at least 2 times higher than the maximum power of the signal source.
Frequency range
The total audio frequency range reproduced by all speaker speakers.
Obviously, this range should not be too narrow, so that the acoustics do not cut off the lower and/or upper frequency limits of the reproduced sound. At the same time, the human ear perceives sound within 16 Hz - 22 kHz, and it simply does not make sense to provide speakers with a wider frequency range. We also recall that in
mid-frequency acoustics and tweeters, reproducible frequencies are limited due to specialization (for more details, see "Type"). And the overall sound quality will depend not only on this indicator, but also on a number of other features.
Impedance
The term "impedance" refers to the electrical resistance of AC systems whose DC resistance is very low, such as loudspeakers. In modern car audio, the most common impedance is
2,
4 or
8 ohms. This parameter has practically no effect on the sound quality — it serves to select the optimal combination of acoustics and an external amplifier. If the speaker impedance is higher than that for which the amplifier is designed, the sound will be quieter than necessary, and if the impedance is lower, distortion in the sound is possible.
Sensitivity
This parameter determines the volume of the sound of a particular speaker when a certain standard signal is fed to it. Typically, this is considered a 1 W signal with a frequency of 1000 Hz. The higher the sensitivity, the less the speaker is demanding on the power of the amplifier. So, it is believed that for acoustics connected directly to the car radio, the sensitivity should be 80 dB or more; for less sensitive systems it is recommended to use a separate amplifier.
Tweeter size
Size of the high-frequency speaker(s) included in the speaker design.
Size affects the amount of space required to install the speaker. However, high frequencies do not require large diffusers, so this dimensions is usually small and does not significantly affect the overall dimensions of the speaker system. The only exception is individual high-frequency tweeters (see "Type"), where the overall dimensions of the housing are directly related to the dimensions of the diffuser.
Midrange speaker diameter
The diameter of the midrange speaker(s) provided in the speaker. Midrange in this case may also mean a combined woofer/midrange speaker or an emitter of broadband acoustics (see "Type").
The size of the midrange speaker is often a key parameter that determines the overall dimensions of the acoustics and, accordingly, the requirements for its installation location. Exceptions can only be found among models with separate woofers (see below). But from the point of view of acoustics, a larger size allows you to achieve higher power and richer sound, including on bass.
