Selecting the speaker for your car is crucial. You will never fail to know which type suits the car when you are choosing a new speaker to be mounted in it. If you have already planned to buy a new speaker, you must have heard about two types of speakers: coaxial vs component speakers.
You would be wondering what the real difference is and which one is better. Well, whether you are the ultimate audiophile seeking precision sound or just that little extra punch in your music, the answer to your question lies in understanding how these coaxial vs component speakers difference.
The blog will consider coaxial vs component speakers to help you decide which one meets your audio needs.
What Are Coaxial Speakers?
Coaxial speakers are full-range speakers installed in most cars. They can handle the bass, midrange, and treble frequencies within a single unit. The coaxial vs component speakers comparison often highlights that coaxials come with a built-in tweeter and woofer in a single speaker, making them compact and straightforward to install. Unlike inferior single-cone speakers, most provide a woofer cone as well as a separate tweeter.
Another benefit of coaxial speakers is the simplicity of installing them in your automobile. Once installed, it is just a matter of plugging it in and playing your favourite songs. This is why coaxial speakers are very popular among individuals who do not want anything complicated with their settings.
What Are Component Speakers?
For example, component speakers are exactly the same like a pro version. Collectively, they deliver an advanced audio experience. The magic of this function is just that these systems break up into separate components like a woofer, tweeter, and, in some cases, separate crossover so that they can split the frequencies between the components.
This breakdown of components enables more customisation. Therefore, you can place each component of the system in its best place for the best possible sound quality. Component speakers are often the gold standard for car audio simply because they provide the most control over the sound profile. However, unlike coaxial speakers, they require a bit more installation effort and are often more expensive than coaxial speakers.
As we understand the definition of coaxial vs component speakers, let us understand the critical difference between them.
The Key Differences Between Coaxial vs Component Speakers
- Sound Quality:
Coaxial Speakers: Coaxial speakers sound decent enough for most listeners. A coaxial speaker, where the woofer and the tweeter are located in the same housing, more or less unifies the audio in that it gives a single unit but not necessarily at the extreme top and bottom ranges. They work very well for anybody who wants really nice-sounding speakers without a really high price.
Component Speakers: Component speakers are designed for audiophiles who demand crispness, accuracy, and richer, more profound audio. Because you can mount the tweeters and woofers separately, you can mount them wherever you prefer, which allows for better sound imaging. This will thus give you a more dynamic, defined sound, especially in the high and low ranges.
- Installation Complexity:
Coaxial speakers: These are pretty easy to install. Since all the parts of the components are merged into one pack, you can simply substitute the old speakers with new ones and off you go. Coaxial speakers are a good alternative for anyone who does not want to spend too much time in setting them up or who doesn’t want an expert.
Component Speakers: Component speakers require a bit of extra effort and expertise since, naturally, the component is installed in separate pieces, and you have to determine which goes where. The tweeter, for example, goes somewhere else-most commonly in higher positions (such as the A-pillar or a vented location on the dashboard-for better imaging, and the woofer goes in the door. Such an installation often requires more time and effort as well to get it up and running.
- Price:
Coaxial Speakers – You should expect coaxial speakers to be much more affordable than component speakers. You will find many variations by which you can get sound quality that is quite acceptable for a very affordable price. They will be the best choice in case you really want to upgrade your car’s audio system without really breaking the bank over this.
Component Speakers: Of course, component speakers are more advanced and therefore cost more than coaxials. This is because they sound much better than coaxial speakers and can even be customized much better. Besides that, it is more complicated engineering. If you need audiophile quality then this is where you are supposed to spend money, but be prepared to spend a lot more.
- Customization:
Coaxial Speakers: These kinds of speakers have little wiggle room when it comes to adjusting them. This is mainly because one unit carries both tweeter and woofer. This may actually make you place them in a single position without the possibility of making separate adjustments to your preferred sound settings.
Component Speakers: With component speakers, you better control things. You may position the tweeters at their best position for an image of sound and switch out the crossover to that which will work best on your setup. This way, you can fine-tune your audio experience according to your taste, whether you prefer more bass or crisper treble.
5.Space:
Coaxial speakers: These are compact speakers that consume less power. They are everything in one package, and therefore, they neatly fit into your car’s factory speaker locations without taking up much space.
Component Speakers: You will need more space. Since the components are different, you will have to find a mounting position for the woofers and tweeters, thus consuming more space that may not always be available in small cars. Component speakers will not be recommended if you deal with tight spaces in your car.
- Durability:
Coaxial speakers: Although coaxials seem rugged for their stock-level design, they may not take heavy play and heavy power out to be at par with component speakers. When you tend to push speakers toward higher limits with loud volumes or boomy bass, coaxial speakers may have quicker wearing down to occur.
Component speakers, on the other hand, are more reliable because of their higher-quality construction and individual components. That’s why they can support much higher power output without distortion. They suit all those who want to push the envelope of their car audio system.
Which One Is Right for You?
When choosing coaxial vs component speakers, it all comes down to preference and your specific needs.
Coaxial Speakers if:
- You’re on a budget and willing to sacrifice some sound quality.
- You want a hassle-free, straightforward installation procedure.
- You have limited space in your car and need compact speakers.
- You are just not a serious audiophile and still want to eliminate those terrible stock speakers in your car.
Component Speakers if:
- You want the best sound quality, so you want to install a custom setup on your audio system.
- You have ample space in your car and think you will use your audio system well.
- You are quite ready to spend more dollars for an elite audio experience.
Conclusion
Both coaxial vs component speakers have pros and cons, but it is the latter that best suits your needs as per your requirements and preferences. Coaxial speakers are a good choice if you want hassle-free upgrading, and they should deliver decent sound without much effort. However, if you want premium audio with clear, crisp sound, then go for the component speakers.
Regardless of your choice, upgrading your car audio system with Circuit i+ by Circuiti Car Stereo coaxial vs component speakers will enhance your driving experience. So, turn up the volume, and enjoy your journey with improved sound quality!