|
Bring a selection of music that you know really well.
Before shopping for speakers, dig through your music collection and
pick three or four different selections that you are very familiar
with. If possible, pick some different types of music.
We recommend picking some songs with male
vocals, some with female vocals and some instrumentals (preferably with
piano or other acoustic instruments). If you like electronic music, by
all means bring some of that as well. The most important thing is to
listen with music you have heard many times (preferably on good audio
systems).
Level the playing field.
Make sure that the demo board head unit has its bass and treble
controls
set flat, that no equalizers are engaged (or evil acronym-labeled
processing schemes on head units), that the amplifier has its bass
boost turned off, etc.
The point is to evaluate speakers, not how processing can affect the sound of them.
Make
note of the fact that many component systems offer adjustments on their
passive crossover networks that can affect their sound. If these are
visible / accessible, ask the salesperson to set each one to the
"neutral" setting.
Just because it sounds louder, doesn't mean it sounds better.
In fact, speakers that sound louder than others on a demo board usually
do so through peaky midrange response, excessive treble or both. This
artificial sound "jumps out" and grabs your attention... but it is a
trap that can lead to a long-term commitment with something that
constantly screams at you.
Always listen for balance, smoothness and accuracy and ignore relative
loudness. |
If it screeches on the demo board, it will hurt you in the car.
A speaker that sounds the least bit screechy, resonant or
exaggerated in the upper mid-range on the demo board will make you wish
for ear plugs when you put it in your car. If you want smooth, balanced
sound in your car, don't go for a "hot" sounding speaker on the board.
If you like aggressive, edgy music, your speakers shouldn't be.
If you love lots of mean mid-range, it's because you listen to music
that contains lots of it, there's no need to add more of an edge to it.
Get a speaker that reproduces the recorded sound faithfully. Your music
will come through in all its power and glory, instead of being filtered
through somebody's idea of a "marketable" sound.
Tell them you want to hear it played loud with some real power.
Ask the salesperson to hook up an amp to the speakers you are
considering and play them loud. If the sound breaks up at
high-volumes, keep looking. You want smooth, detailed midrange that is
in balance with the treble and the mid-bass... At all volumes.
There is no such thing as a "rock speaker" or a "rap speaker" or a "jazz speaker".
A speaker really doesn't have any magical attributes that make it
conducive to reproducing a particular type of music... it either sounds
right or it doesn't... with all music.
|
