[bmwmotorrad46]

Hi All,

I've read many forums here and there about to find a really good 4" speaker. Searching other e-commerce sites, reading reviews have also been a great experience but I still don't understand couple of things?

1) Why BMW Harman/Kardon speakers are so expensive compare to Alpine/Kicker Pioneer etc?

2)Are those brands above very inferior than HK speakers because they are half or 1/5 price ? I mean Alpine S40 is $50 pair but HK pair is $200

3)What makes a speaker great ? RMS, Material, Brand, etc?

4)Where can I find the Harman Kardon speakers' specs?



Thanks a lot for your responses!

[wcs2229]

Originally Posted by bmwmotorrad46

Hi All,

I've read many forums here and there about to find a really good 4" speaker. Searching other e-commerce sites, reading reviews have also been a great experience but I still don't understand couple of things?

1) Why BMW Harman/Kardon speakers are so expensive compare to Alpine/Kicker Pioneer etc?

2)Are those brands above very inferior than HK speakers because they are half or 1/5 price ? I mean Alpine S40 is $50 pair but HK pair is $200

3)What makes a speaker great ? RMS, Material, Brand, etc?

4)Where can I find the Harman Kardon speakers' specs?



Thanks a lot for your responses!

Hello.

I used to spend a lot of time and $$ messing around with OEM/aftermarket car stereos in my younger days. Here is what I found:

1. Prices are set according to what the market is willing to pay, not necessary sound quality. Alpine used to be THE after-market equipment to get, but then car manufacturers got into the action by partnering up with well-known stereo brands that were not into the car stereos. Bose was/is big with GM/Cadillac even though I don't think they are very good (I had a Cadillac with Bose). Consumers bought into paying for OEM upgrades because they are better than the standard systems and they don't have to bother going to a sound specialist for even more $$. Also, car manufacturers integrated other car systems into their stereos for chimes, steering wheel controls, navigation, etc. that made it harder for Alpine et al to complete, with some dropping out of that market.

2. If you really want a high-end car stereo then Bose and HK do not qualify. There are still some custom specialists where you can spend $10K+, but there are fewer than before with the after-market business drying up.

3. Speakers are usually measured by frequency range/flatness, efficiency, dynamic range, power handling and similar attributes. Materials are one factor that makes for these attributes. RMS is just a measure of power handling. Brand is just who makes the speakers.

4. I don't know the HK speaker specs.

IMO, a good car stereo is not the result of good speakers ... it is due to a good SYSTEM, consisting of matching head unit/source, amplifier, speakers, crossovers, equalizer, etc. It is important to tune the system to the car environment, which is quite different than a stereo at home ... a car is smaller, the locations of speakers are limited, passengers are much closer to the speakers, there is road and ambient noise, etc.