At least three to four speaker models are needed to cover the entire frequency range with a good level of sound pressure inside the vehicle. For maximum acoustic efficiency, you need a subwoofer, which is best placed in the trunk. You also need two woofers in the ports, footwells, or a location that allows for a very stable mounting of the speaker. Some OEMs combine subwoofers and woofers in one speaker model – with careful mechanical integration, very good sound results are possible. For transparency of sound and good staging, there should be midrange speakers high up in the doors. And you need a tweeter on the A-pillar or IP panel.
In addition, you need a well-designed amplifier that is capable of providing all speakers and the digital signal processing unit with enough power to adjust the system to a specific vehicle cabin. With this speaker combination it is possible to get very good sound – but only for one person in the car. Additional speakers are needed to create a good sound experience for front passengers and other passengers, as well as complex 3D sound experiences and other sound functions. The current Audi A8, for example, has 23 speakers – and each of these speakers plays a special role.
What mistakes do car owners often make when using their sound system? You go into the vehicle’s sound settings and change them radically. For example, boost the bass to the max or edit the graphic equalizer. This will ruin everything. We’ve spent many months finding the ideal sound settings for cars. However, you should not completely abolish the settings.