The quickest way to kill a "tweeter" is to send bass to it! Speakers Replacing your factory speakers is probably the quickest way to improve your sound quality. Even so called "premium" sound systems use speakers you would probably never buy if you saw them in a store. So how do you choose a speaker? When should you look into components? We'll answer the second question first. Component speakers often seperate woofer and tweeter along with an outboard crossover. Though there are some replacement speakers that come close to component quality, our rule of thumb is; If it is within your budget, components will always give better sound quality, imaging and frequency response. Keep in mind that, unless your vehicle came with tweeter locations from the factory, you will have to cut in locations. This is no problem for a skilled installer, but if it is a leased vehicle, this may be a consideration. One of the first questions people ask is; "How much power will they handle?". Let's put that one to rest first. If you are powering your speakers from the deck (no external amp), power is not an issue. Even aftermarket decks that claim "50 watts per channel" actually produce about 15 watts rms or less. Any quality drop in speaker will take at least that. Even "premium" factory sound systems rarely supply more than 15-20 watts rms. So stick with a quality name brand and power handling will not be an issue. If you are planning to use an outboard amplifier, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, is whether you're using components or "drop in" replacements. You will never need more than 50-75 watts rms to run them. Replacement speakers tend to be small and usually efficient. Putting more power to them is a waste  of money that could be used elsewhere. Most quality drop ins and components will handle 50-75 watts without a problem. What else should you ask about? Well, the efficiency of the speaker is a biggie that no one asks about! The effeciency of the speaker is the speakers ability to turn the signal into sound. The higher the number, the louder it plays. (given the same amount of power) Most speakers, other than subwoofers that are covered elsewhere, are between 88 and 110 db. The average is 90-92 db. Now here is the important part; EVERY 3 DB DOUBLES THE VOLUME!!! In other words, if you had 2-6" speakers, 1 with an 89 db rating and the other with a 92 db rating, the 92 db rated speaker will potentially play twice as loud as the one rated 89 db. The other important factor is the construction of the speaker. A car is a very bad place for speakers. It can get up to 150 degree heat and down to 40 below. It deals with dry conditions and extreme humidity. Now even a cheap car speaker will put up with it for a little while, but unless you like buying new speakers every year, here is what you need to look for. Either coated paper cones or cones made of non-porous compound (like polypropylene, poly-mica or others). You want the surround (the part that attaches the cone to the speaker frame) to be a rubber material or treated foam so it will handle stress and temperature extremes without tearing. And here is an important one; The size and material of the magnet.  It is important, but not for the reason you might think. Most people believe the bigger the magnet, the better. NOT TRUE!!! Magnets are made of several compounds. Newer materials now allow smaller magnets to get the same or better results than the older ferrite magnets. Look for materials like strontium and neodymium. This can be important because when you are replacing factory speakers, there are often depth limitations. That speaker with the humungous magnet may have looked impressive at the store, but will it fit in your door?? A smaller magnet with superior perfomance will be easier to deal with. As always, we suggest that you use all of these tips, but ultimately, it should be your ears that tell you the best speakers for you. If they sound best to you, they are probably the right choice. Select a car audio topic below!!! Decks (CD or Cassette) Amplifiers Speakers Subwoofers

The Ultimate Edge, 5842 Route 104 East, Oswego, New York 13126  Ph:315-343-2995 E-mail: ultimat1@twcny.rr.com Hours: Mon/Wed/Fri 9:00 am-5:00 pm Tues/Thurs 9:00 am-7:00 pm and Saturdays 10:00 am-3:00 pm