The general perception among many homeowners and car owners is that there is hardly any difference between car speakers and home speakers. However, you cannot swap one for the other.
The reason is that there are quite a few differences between car speakers and home speakers. We will today share these differences.
When we compare car speakers vs home speakers on various parameters, it will become easy for you to understand how they differ.
The parameters of the differences are-
- Sturdiness
- Power Source
- Size
- Aesthetics
- Magnetic shielding
- Impedance
We will go into the technicalities and various other details of these two types of speakers to get a holistic view.
Difference between
Car Speakers and Home Speakers
Sturdiness
At 1st glance, it might seem like car speakers and home speakers’ sturdiness is the same. However, there is indeed a difference.
Car speakers can handle much more wear & tear than the home speakers. Because the car always stays outdoors.
When you look at the construction of car speakers, it is such that they can handle moisture, sun, and high temperature easily. Only then will they stand the test of time.
On the other hand, while the home speakers are quite sturdy, they do not have to handle environmental factors. That is why their construction is not as sturdy as car speakers.
In terms of sturdiness, car speakers have an edge.
Power Source
The power source available in your home and your car is entirely different.
Car speakers, therefore, are designed to operate at lower power ratings. Often, they are designed to work with the power source of 12watts to 14Watts. That is the typical voltage that a car battery provides you with.
On the other hand, in your home, there is a 110 V power supply always available. The home speakers are designed to operate at this voltage.
The need for the amplifier is also different when it comes to car speakers and home speakers.
Car speakers need an amplifier for sure, as the output signal amplitude without the amplifier is often pretty low.
On the other hand, using an amplifier with home speakers is not compulsory. If you want, you can use them. Otherwise, the signal amplitude is such that you can listen to the audio directly as well.
In a way, car speakers working on low voltage make them more efficient. However, if you are looking for a speaker with a higher output signal, a home speaker is the one that fits that need.
Size
Usually, when you think about speakers, you might be imagining a bulky box. However, when you compare car speakers with home speakers, one of them is quite compact.
No prizes for guessing that car speakers are much more compact. The reason for the same is you need to install car speakers in a small amount of space. It is one of the primary reasons why they are that compact. Often, they are installed at the doors of the car. The doors of the car are made to accommodate an entire box. Due to the same, they are relatively compact.
When you look at home speakers, these are much bigger. The advantage, however, is that the boxes improve the audio response. Due to the same, the size of the home speakers provides them with an advantage as well.
According to the applications, the size of both speakers varies.
Aesthetics
Both the speakers vary significantly in aesthetics as well.
When you look at the car speakers’ aesthetics, they will often blend according to the interiors of the car. Even if you’re going to buy replacement car speakers, you can get them according to your car’s interiors. Often, they are available according to the model of the car which you are driving as well. That is why, in terms of aesthetics, car speakers certainly have an advantage.
Similarly, when you look at home speakers, you will realize that they come in a few set colors. These are black and other darker variants. It is tough to find car speakers which go well with the decor of your home.
Car speakers blend with the car decor more efficiently than home speakers.
Magnetic shielding
Magnetic interference can reduce the signal-to-noise ratio of the speaker output. When that happens, the distortion increases manifold. You cannot get a proper audio response. Consequently, the speaker output is complicated to understand.
To avoid this problem, you need speakers that provide some degree of magnetic shielding.
When you look at car speakers, you will realize that they come in raw form. They do not come in their custom tested boxes. Due to the same, hardly any car speakers are magnetically shielded. If you search for one, you might find a couple of options that provide magnetic shielding, but they do not offer that by default.
The case is entirely different for home speakers. Most home speakers are magnetically shielded. The custom tested boxes in which they are accommodated provide magnetic shielding. It means that they do not suffer from magnetic interference. Consequently, the audio response of home speakers is better than car speakers. Even when your surrounding has a lot of interference, home speakers can operate adequately.
In this regard, home speakers definitely have an advantage over car speakers.
Impedance
Impedance is the resistance that car speakers and home speakers offer. While this might be a technical point, it is one of the main differences between these speakers.
The car speaker has a 4-ohm impedance. That is because they are powered through low voltage batteries. The high amperage rating ensures that the single output is still adequate despite the low power input.
On the other hand, home speakers have an impedance of 8 ohms. The audio output which they provide is more high-end due to the same. Moreover, when you couple this with the magnetic shielding, which they have, the audio response is much better than car speakers. Moreover, you can easily connect to various other gadgets like amplifiers, preamplifiers, and so on due to the high impedance rating.
While this might sound like technical jargon to many, it is a crucial distinction between car speakers and home speakers.
Conclusion
Instead of thinking that car speakers and home speakers are the same, now you know which one is better than the other. When looking to buy one, you understand that you cannot interchange one with the other. So, you have to be very careful while choosing one depending on where you will use it.
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