Sound deadening, and speaker installation requires some knowledge and understanding of how speakers work.
Whether you are building your custom door audio upgrade or installing speakers in stock at 6.5-inch side-mount locations, this is true. You want your door speakers to sound the best they can without being too loud.
There are many ways to improve the sound of car door speakers. Here are simple and easy steps in a quick guide to help you start upgrading your car door speakers. You will be able to get a better and richer sound once accomplished.
Best Way To Make Your Car Door Speakers Sound Better Than It Used To
The best way to make your car door speakers sound better than they used to is by upgrading them with a set of component speakers. They’re also known as separate or component speakers because they’re made up of separate speaker cones for the tweeter and woofer (the part that reproduces lower frequencies).
Component speakers are typically more expensive than full-range component sets, which include both tweeters and woofers in one unit (although some brands do offer full-range component sets at a reasonable price).
The problem is that your car door speakers are not designed to reproduce low frequencies well. They’re made to give you great sound at high volumes, but not low frequencies. The good news is there are some simple ways you can make your car door speakers sound better than they used to:
Understand your car’s speaker system
Understand your car’s speaker system. Before buying any new equipment for your stereo system, determine whether or not it is compatible with your car’s speaker system.
Your car probably has a stock head unit, which means that it was made by the company that produced the vehicle. If you want more power, look for an external amplifier and replace the stock head unit.
In general, you’ll need to know the following:
- RMS (root mean square): This is a measure of the wattage that can be produced by a speaker continuously.
- It measures how a speaker can convert electrical energy into acoustic energy without failing or overheating.
- Power handling: Also known as peak power, this measures how much wattage a speaker can handle for short periods.
- Frequency response: This is the range of frequencies (measured in hertz, or Hz) that a given speaker can reproduce
Learn to mix frequencies better
The second step to making your door speakers sound better is to learn how to mix frequencies better. The most basic example of this would be to turn down bass frequencies in the music you listen to through the speakers.
The best way to accomplish this is with a graphic equalizer. These are used by DJs but can also be found anywhere that sells car audio equipment (or online).
You can find them for under $100, and they will vastly improve the sound quality of your door speakers. To understand why this works, it’s essential to know how small speakers like those in your doors produce sound.
They have a tough time producing low bass frequencies because they require more energy than higher tones. It’s like trying to make an hourglass move sand quickly — it just won’t work as well as an enormous hourglass.
Use a subwoofer to take the pressure off the door speakers
Install a subwoofer if you have the space. Use a powered subwoofer with its amplifier, or use a pair of passive subwoofers in a box wired to your car’s main amplifier.
Subwoofers will take some of the pressure off the door speakers, which will sound better without handling bass frequencies.
Seal Gaps In The Door Panels
It’s one of the most common problems with factory-installed speakers. Gaps in the door panels allow more sound to escape outside instead of being directed at your ears.
Sealing off these gaps will keep the music inside and improve your sound quality. One way to do this is to use foam weatherstripping. This can be applied directly to the door panel or over the existing weatherstripping.
The foam absorbs any excess vibrations from the speakers, improving the overall sound quality.
Self-adhesive closed-cell foam is another option that works well for sealing gaps. It’s a thin, flexible roll of material that you can cut and apply directly under the door panel.
This stops vibrations from reaching the metal door panel before escaping through gaps in the weatherstripping or around window glass. To ensure you’ve sealed all possible openings, try shining a flashlight around your doors while an interior dome light is on.
If you see the light coming through anywhere, it’s time to seal that gap!
Install A Sound Deadening Material
Installing a sound deadening mat on the inside of each door panel helps to eliminate this unwanted noise and improves bass response. The best deadening mats are self-adhesive and can be installed on any flat surface.
The mats come in rolls that are easy to cut to size and easy to install.
The first step is to fold back and then remove the door trim panel so you can access the inside of the door. On some cars, you’ll need to remove screws from a metal plate that holds the door handle; other vehicles have a plastic container that pops off with a panel tool.
Once you’ve removed the panel and exposed the inner door area on some models, you may find existing sound deadening material installed by the factory. If so, it’s best to obliterate it before installing your new material.
This will ensure your new material adheres appropriately and provides maximum benefit. Once all the old deadening material has been removed, clean away any loose debris or dust before applying the new product.
Seal up the inner sheet metal of the doors
Seal up the inner sheet metal of the doors: When you close a door, does it sound hollow? If so, you’re likely experiencing resonance that robs your speakers of their full potential.
You’ll get better sound even without changing out anything else by sealing up these panels. Here is an easy way to seal up the inner sheet metal of the doors.
First, remove all of the screws in your door panel and remove the door panel. Next, use a plastic putty knife and run it along all of the seams on your door where water may leak in.
You will notice places where there is a gap between your door’s inside and outside panels.
You can get closed-cell foam closed-cell from Home Depot and put it in these gaps. Cut them to size with scissors and use a staple gun to secure them. This will stop any air movement through those gaps, allowing your speaker to work as designed.
Replace Your Factory Speakers With More Powerful Coaxials
There are two primary ways to upgrade the sound in your car.
The first is to replace the factory speakers with more powerful coaxials.
Coaxials are the most common speaker and come from the factory in almost every car and truck.
They’re called “coaxials” because they have a tweeter built into the center of the central woofer cone, so they take up less space than separate tweeters and woofers.
Since we’re talking about better sound quality here, those aren’t the only advantages of coaxial speakers. They also offer improved sound quality over most factory speakers.
If you’ve got a factory speaker box with a tweeter on it, replacing it with an excellent 2-way coaxial speaker will noticeably improve sound quality. The crossover network inside the speaker box isn’t as sharp as a component set’s crossover, so you don’t get as clear of a division between the high-frequency and low-frequency drivers.
My favorite coaxial brands are Alpine and JL Audio — their speakers provide an outstanding value for audio performance.
Install An Amplifier
One of the most effective ways to improve your car audio system is to install an amplifier. An amp can boost the power of a single speaker or multiple speakers.
It can also drive subwoofers, which require more power than other speakers. If you have a factory-installed car radio, an amplifier can significantly enhance your listening experience.
If you’re unsure if an amplifier is suitable for your car audio system, consult with a professional installer. You may consider upgrading your head unit and speakers before installing an amp if you have a basic factory sound system.
Before you buy an amp, you will need to estimate how much power you’ll need. Generally, up to 75-100 watts, RMS per channel is enough for most door speakers.
If you’re looking to upgrade your front and rear door speakers and possibly add some tweeters, consider a 4-channel amplifier that delivers up to 50 watts RMS per channel at 4 ohms — that’s plenty of power for a wide variety of speakers in both sizes and efficiency ranges.
Get rid of vibrations
Since you’ll be working with your car’s door panels, they will tend to vibrate when you turn up the volume on your stereo. This can cause unwanted rattling and buzzing sounds from the speakers, which takes away from your music’s quality.
Try using a stiffener such as Dynamat or Noico Sound Deadening Mat to eliminate this problem. These products are designed to absorb vibrations and help keep everything nice and quiet when you’re blasting your favorite tunes.
Connect all wires correctly
This goes without saying that you should Connect all wires correctly. Use a test CD to check for the quality of sound. Check the wiring. Use a screwdriver to tighten the screws on the speakers and amplifier if necessary.
FAQ
How do I make my door speakers louder?
1. Adjust the settings on your factory radio
2. Increase the volume to the maximum level
3. Add an aftermarket amplifier to boost speaker output
4. Install a new stereo with higher preamp outputs
5. Replace your factory speakers with high-efficiency models
What kind of amp do I need for door speakers?
You will need a 2-channel amplifier to power the front door speakers.
A 2-channel amp, or stereo amp, has two channels that you can bridge together in order to drive a single speaker.
You can step up to a 4-channel amplifier if you want speakers in your vehicle.
A 4-channel amp has four channels that you can use to power two pairs of speakers.
You can also bridge some or all of the channels together to drive a subwoofer with more power than a 2-channel amp would provide.
Will adding an amplifier make speakers louder?
The answer is, It’s not that simple. It depends on the speakers you’re using.
If you’re using passive speakers (the kind that doesn’t have their power source), connecting them to an amp will make them much louder.
Active (powered) speakers already have their power source, so combining them with an amp won’t make them any louder.
The main point is to show how to make door speakers sound better without breaking the bank. This can be accomplished in several ways, with the most common being sound deadening of the door and soundproofing behind the speaker.
We hope we’ve been able to provide some solutions and tips that will have your door speakers sounding better than ever. Whether your budget is large or small, there are ways you can take control of your sound and achieve great speaker results.
With patience and effort, you can have a great sense of pride in your work.