• Typical subwoofer speaker cone"Squared Circle - Subwoofer" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: laffy4k (Chris Metcalf) under the Creative Commons Attribution license.
  
  

History

• The Galvin Corporation developed the first car radio in the 1930s. These were primitive radios with usually only one speaker mounted in the dashboard. Car audio technology would not change much until the 1970s, when audio companies began making amplifiers, allowing more power to be distributed to the speakers. Most car owners were using home speakers until audio companies began making performance speakers that met the demands of audio enthusiasts.
  
  

Types

• There are several different types of speakers, but they all fall into one of two groups: component or coaxial. Speakers in the component category are specialized for a certain range of sound from low to high frequencies and include: tweeters, midrange drivers and subwoofers. Coaxial, or two-way, speakers are most common and will combine tweeters and midrange speakers into one unit for easier installation.
  
  

Sizes

• Car speakers can be made in a number of different sizes, from small 1-inch tweeters to 12-inch (and larger) subwoofers. The most common shape for speakers is circular, but a large majority of coaxial speakers are made in an oval shape. Some subwoofer manufacturers have experimented with other shapes. Square ones offer a larger surface area and can move more air; triangular and hexagonal woofers have also been made.
  
  

Cost

• Car speakers come in all price ranges. It is not uncommon to see an audio system costing several hundred to several thousand dollars, with some ultraperformance, custom audio installations that can cost upward of $10,000.
  
  

Considerations

• Car stereo costs can add up quickly, and you must think of what will make you most happy when driving, and if it is going to be worth it in the long run of owning your vehicle. Car audio is an expensive addition to a car, but is often a bad investment, since it will most commonly not add value to a vehicle.
  
  Auto manufacturers have been noticing the need for quality sound in vehicles and have been catering to the demand with audio systems that rival most midrange aftermarket setups.