When going on a long drive, the most important thing after getting your car fuelled is to get an amazing playlist. To make the most out of the drive, the audio system in your car should be up to the mark, so that you can enjoy the beats of your favorite songs- to their fullest.
If you prefer to go on long drives, then you should be interested in upgrading the audio system in your car.
If that is the case, then continue reading this article, which will tell you about the sound experience offered by different car audio system brands, after which you can choose the one, which best suits your requirements.
16 Car Audio Brands
Here are the top 16 renowned car audio brands you can try out. And, you won’t regret your decision. Period.
- Alpine
- Polk Audio
- Fusion
- Rockford Fosgate
- Pioneer
- Dynaudio
- Kenwood Corporation
- Bose Corporation
- JVC
- Bowers & Wilkins
- Harman Kardon
- ADAM Audio
- Blaupunkt
- JL Audio
- KICKER
- Focal
These car audio brands are discussed at length below:
1. Alpine
The first brand on our list of car audio brands in Alpine. Alpine, officially Alpine Electronics, Inclusive, has Alps Electric as its parent company.
The company was originally started as a joint venture between Alps and Motorola. Since then this company has been headquartered in Japan. The company specializes in the manufacture of car audio and navigation systems.
Since 2006, the company has been making the majority of its revenue through OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) sales. Some of the worldwide famous car manufacturing brands like Dodge, Jaguar, and Honda offer the company’s audio systems as their standard.
Alpine’s speakers are the best among their rivals, and if you are looking for something legendary at an affordable price, then this might be what you have been looking for. Alpine’s audio systems can be either a part of the stock model of your car or can be installed in your car.
By putting in decades of relentless efforts, Alpine has developed many options, which suit people’s budgets and tastes. It has developed an X- Series of speakers, which is its most premium product.
Alpine X-S65C is by far the most popular of all its products. Its speakers employ a technology called Hi-Res Audio, which is responsible for its high-quality performance.
2. Polk Audio
Polk Audio is next on our list of car audio brands after Alpine. This is a California-based brand, which is reputed as a high-performing and affordable audio brand. Polk Audio was founded in 1972, with its headquarters in San Diego, California.
The company was initially set up to provide audio equipment for a local music convention, but it was later revealed that it ran short of funds, and the company was then saved with the efforts of Klopfer and Gross, which designed a new logo and marketed for them respectively.
Polk Audio is famous across the United States for its remarkable speakers, which are available at a low price tag.
Thus, if you wish to own a hi-fi audio speaker, but you have a limited budget, then Polk Audio’s speakers might just be what you need. It is, therefore, called a performance-to-price brand, in the niche of car audio.
Polk Audio’s best-selling speaker has been the Polk Audio DB 6502. This speaker is the one to go for if you are looking for a cheaper speaker since this gives the best value in its price line. It has features like 2-way woofers and tweeters, which fight distortion and provide clarity by handling ultra-high frequencies.
3. Fusion
The third car audio brand on our list is Fusion. Fusion, officially FUSION Electronics Ltd., is a New Zealand-based company. It was founded in 1998. It was a result of the relentless efforts of some music, street culture, and car enthusiasts.
This initially emerged as a home-grown brand, catering to the domestic industry, but because of its world-class design, it now caters to international demand as well.
Fusion specializes in the manufacture of car audio products, like speakers, amplifiers, active enclosures, subwoofers, accessories, head units, etc. With the efficiency of their products and continuous commitment to building the best with time, Fusion has reached a world-class level.
It is now on its way to becoming an electronics brand, which operates at the global level.
Most of Fusion’s products work towards upgrading an audio system in a stock model. Thus, you can get a Fusion product for your car, even if your car already has an audio system. Fusion’s accessories will enhance your music experience in the car.
4. Rockford Fosgate
Rockford Fosgate is another car audio manufacturing company based in the United States, which has managed to feature in our list of major car audio manufacturing brands.
The company was founded in the year 1973 by Jim Fosgate. It was then called Fosgate Electronics.
The company had its headquarters in Arizona, USA. The hallmark of the company’s audio systems, i.e. the Frequency Energizer was developed as a result of a dramatic epiphany, in which the company’s founder realized that low frequencies sounded differently when listened to at a low volume.
Whatever may be the backstory behind the company, the current state is that it has the most promising speakers, in terms of their volume.
Thus, if you are looking for a car audio system that combines power, clarity, and an amazing range of volume, you would find yourself attracted to this company’s products.
The most notable car speaker developed by this company has been the Rockford Fosgate T-4652-S. It is a combination of 6 pieces, which include a woofer, a tweeter, and a crossover that distributes frequencies between the woofer and the tweeter. This eliminates distortions and unwanted responses, resulting in a high-quality sound that uplifts your driving experience.
5. Pioneer
Pioneer is the fifth company on our list of some of the best car audio brands. It is a Japanese company, founded by Nozomu Matsumoto in 1938. Pioneer, officially Pioneer Electronics, started as a speaker and radio repair shop.
The company started the production of its speakers, with PE-8 as the first product in the year 1953. It soon became popular and got listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
As its name suggests, the company pioneers innovations in audio technology, while the other companies follow in their footsteps. It is remarkable and famous for its hi-fi audio and DJ equipment. Having such deep knowledge about audio systems, it has developed one of the best car audio systems. If you opt for Pioneer’s speakers for your car, you would never regret it.
Pioneer has a vast multitude of products for car audio systems. You can either choose to install the whole audio system developed by the company, or just go for their speakers.
Pioneer’s TS-Z65CH is the best speaker for automobiles developed by the company so far. The Twaron Aramid Fiber technology and the huge magnet used by the company yield the best quality bass that you can enjoy.
6. Dynaudio
Dynaudio is another car audio manufacturing company, which has managed to feature in our list of major car audio manufacturing companies.
The company was founded in the year 1977 and is of Danish origin. It is currently headquartered in Skanderborg, Denmark. It is distinct from other audio equipment manufacturing companies in the sense that it builds speakers using its drivers.
Although the company initially started as an OEM audio system supplier to a Swedish car company, Volvo Cars Corporation, and the German car company, Volkswagen.
While all Volvo vehicles come with a Dynaudio stereo, not all Volkswagen vehicles have this. However, it expanded its operations in recent times and has developed audio systems for homes and professional uses as well.
The company even has a professional audio equipment manufacturing subsidiary called Dynaudio Acoustics. Dynaudio’s speakers can now be found in studios worldwide.
If you are looking forward to getting a Volkswagen or a Volvo car, then it is likely that the system involved in your car could be Dynaudio. However, you can also choose to get this system for your car despite this having a car from another automobile company.
Getting a Dynaudio stereo for your car would be a delightful experience because its counterparts are installed in luxury car models like Bugatti.
7. Kenwood Corporation
Another car audio system manufacturing company based in Japan, which has made it to our list is Kenwood Corporation. The Kenwood Corporation was initially conceived in 1946 by William Kasuga as the Kasuga Radio Co. Ltd.
Later, it was renamed Trio Corporation in 1960. It was in the year 1986 when the company adopted its current naming i.e. Kenwood Corporation.
This Japanese company is the most appropriate example of the heights of Japanese precision in the audio system manufacturing niche. If you want to have a superior sonic sound experience, which feels realistic, then you should go for the audio systems sold by this company.
The speaker line produced by the company under the name Excelon is by far its most premium product.
The Hi-Res product, which is combined with the rigidity of the diaphragm made of glass fiber and an equalizer work towards providing the desired sound experience. Out of the Excelon series, the Kenwood Excelon XR-1603HR is the most promising product.
In the year 2011, this company merged with JVC. Since then, it is called JVC Kenwood Corporation. After this merger, the company ventured into many innovative works, one of the most memorable being creating a communications system for an airport in Istanbul.
8. Bose Corporation
Bose Corporation is the eighth company on our list of major car audio manufacturing brands. It is an American company based in Massachusetts.
It was founded in 1964 by Amar Bose. The company specializes in the production of audio equipment and has earned a worldwide reputation for being very careful and protective about its patents and R&D.
Bose Corporation has a wide range of products to offer for both home appliances as well as car audio systems. It provides both whole audio systems, individual audio equipment like speakers, automobile sound systems, headphones with noise cancellation facilities, and professional audio products.
If you are looking for an audio system, with a verified and guaranteed promise of quality, then Bose Corporation is the one that you are looking for.
9. JVC
The ninth brand on this list of some of the major car audio brands is JVC. JVC, i.e. the Victor Company of Japan, Ltd., was founded in 1927. It was originally developed as a subsidiary of a US-based company called Victor Talking Machine Company.
JVC is known for its outstanding achievement in the field of technology. In terms of the infotainment system in the car, it has mastered not only the audio but also the video medium.
Like most other companies, this company performed well post its merger with Kenwood Corporation. JVC’s products are unique in the sense that they perform above the general level of their price bracket. These products come in a huge range, varying from backup cameras and woofers to whole new multimedia stereos.
JVC’s KW-Z1000W is the best-selling multimedia car stereo out there. If you are looking for an infotainment system infused with both audio and video mediums, then JVC’s car stereo is your go-to infotainment system.
Its ten-inch long HD screen that comes with an HDMI input makes it worth your while. It not only controls your music features but can also control the car’s info and controls. It also has access to Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
10. Bowers & Wilkins
Another audio manufacturing company that builds its products for automobiles, which has managed to feature in our list of significant car audio manufacturing companies, is Bowers and Wilkins.
Commonly known as B&W, this is a company based in the UK. This privately owned company specializes in manufacturing audio equipment like headphones and loudspeakers.
The company was founded in the year 1966 by John Bowers. He set up its headquarters in West Sussex, England, and In 2020; however, the company was acquired by Sound United.
Sound United is the one that owns several audio companies.
B&W has been notable for its diligent commitment to developing its R & R&D. It has constantly made efforts to keep up with time and introduce developments about upcoming technological innovations. This has been the reason behind its success so far.
If you are looking for an audio system for your car, which is up-to-date with the current technological advancements, and gives you the ultimate experience of enjoying music while driving, then you should go for an audio system by B&W. Its Matrix, Nautilus, etc. models are notorious for their performance.
11. Harman Kardon
The eleventh car audio manufacturing brand, which features in our list, is Harman Kardon. This is a high-end audio system manufacturing company based in California, in the United States. Harman Kardon is a renowned brand throughout the world for its televisions and other home entertainment audio devices.
The company was founded in the year 1953 and has become even more popular for its car audio systems than its original products, which were oriented toward home entertainment.
Harman Kardon’s audio systems are a part of the stock models of luxury car manufacturing companies. However, they can also be installed in cars.
Recently, they developed audio systems with Bluetooth compatibility. This has led to an increase in its popularity and accessibility.
Therefore, if you are planning to get a car audio system, with a simple yet sleek look that comes with an easy installation and promises a powerful, clear, and accurate sound system, then Harman Kardon is the best choice for you.
12. ADAM Audio
The twelfth brand on our list of famous car audio manufacturing companies is ADAM Audio. The acronym ADAM stands for Advanced Dynamic Audio Monitors.
ADAM Audio is a German company, based in its capital city Berlin. It was founded in the year 1999, with its specialization in producing loudspeakers for professional audio systems. Currently, they are working on building hi-fi speakers.
If you are looking for an audio system for your car, which provides clarity of sound and better music quality, at comparatively low prices, then you should go for ADAM Audio.
They are more aesthetically pleasing than traditional speakers. It has an industrial design, which is known for the use of folded ribbon technology.
The products of ADAM audio are quite well-rounded. They build products for home appliances as well as automobiles. Although they were initially used by a limited audience, their popularity has sky-rocketed recently.
ADAM Audio’s tv 7 is its most promising infotainment product. Its speakers have a distinct feature of a mini-dome, which is different from a conventional dome speaker. When the folds of its pinched membrane contract and expand, they produce a sound that delights the people enjoying the drive.
13. Blaupunkt
Blaupunkt is another car audio manufacturing company, which is a favorite among the public and has thus made it to our list of car audio brands.
This is a German company, founded in the year 1923 as a headphone manufacturing company. But eventually, over the years, it has evolved into a car audio brand.
Blaupunkt is associated with some of the landmark developments in the field of car audio, like the introduction of FM radio in cars, CD-player in cars, etc.
A Blaupunkt’s stereo is going to be a delight for you, with such a long legacy. If you decide to go for a Blaupunkt’s audio system in your car, rest assured that you will enjoy the best quality music.
The company offers a variety of models for its audio systems to suit the specifications of various cars. This means that there is a high possibility that you will get the desired model for your car, no matter how uncommon your car is.
Moreover, since the production has moved to China, the prices have fallen considerably. Thus, Blaupunkt can take care of your budget constraints as well.
Blaupunkt’s Bremen SQR 46 DAB has been its most notable stereo. It was released in the year 1986, but the company has continued to make innovations in this model, such that it remains up-to-date. Though it looks like a machine for time travel; it is capable of giving you the best music experience while driving.
14. JL Audio
JL Audio is another audio system manufacturing brand, which has managed to feature in our list of the most remarkable car audio brands. This is an American company, based in Florida.
It was founded in 1975, and unlike most other car audio brands, it was initially developed as a company that dealt with products related to marine and car audio systems.
Although the company started the manufacture of equipment for mobile and home audio, manufacturing car audio systems remains its mainstay.
It is a heritage dealer in-car audio systems, which is the main reason for its popularity. Getting JL Audio’s speakers for your car thus, can be like a ticket to a fun and amazing ride.
The company’s JL Audio C5-653 speaker is one of its best sellers. It has a 3-way speaker system responsible for its excellent precision.
The speakers have a combination of many features like woofers with Kurt Müller suspension, and an ideal crossover set that enables the perfect frequency bands of audio to be sent.
15. KICKER
The second last company in our list of some common car audio brands is KICKER. It is now commonly called a Kicker. This is an American company, which was initially conceived by two people working in a garage at Stillwater, Oklahoma in the year 1973. Now the company has grown to employ over 200 people and exports its products outside the USA.
The company was the first to develop full-sized speakers, especially for use in automobiles. The passion of its workers has played a major role in the company’s success.
It is their concerted efforts in keeping up with time and the latest technology, which contribute to their ascendance in the field of audio systems. They promise to deliver excellence in terms of their audio systems, and you will be glad to become their customer.
If you wish to commute to your workplace with pristine audio, KICKER might just be the best choice for you. Installing KICKER speakers in your car can also give you the best music experience during long drives.
Kicker’s Q-Class 41QSS674 is the most promising of Kicker’s products. It is the most harmonious set of car speakers, whose strength lies in the efficiency of its crossover.
16. Focal
The final brand which has made it to our list is Focal. Focal is a car-audio brand of French origin, founded in the year 1979 by Jacques Mahul. Focal specializes in the manufacture of loudspeakers, which can be used with the toughest audience among demanding scenarios.
Their product Grande Utopia is considered the best speaker by audiophiles. Besides, they are even more popular amongst studios worldwide and hold patents for many innovations in the world of music.
With such a hold over speaker technology, it is very natural for Focal to produce the best car speakers. The company claims to have control over the complete manufacturing, and this lends the company its hallmark quality.
If you are looking for a car audio system that can transform the vibes of the car from boring to exciting, then you can consider Focal, which can do with its hi-fi speakers.
Focal employs various technologies in producing world-class speakers. These include the use of alternating materials in developing Kelvar-cone woofers and the use of inverted designs for tweeter domes.
You can find the company’s headquarters still in Saint-Etienne, France, but it is now owned by an English company called Naim Audio Limited.
Conclusion
Be it either an audiobook or your favorite playlist, a good audio system installed in your car, would enhance your driving experience with amazing music to soothe your ears. In this article, you came to know about various car audio brands, their brief history, and their characteristics.
Although these days, most cars have an inbuilt audio system in their stock models, you can use the knowledge you acquired from this article to decide which car audio system you would like to opt for, in case it is not pre-installed or you would like to change it.
Even though the main deciding factor remains your budget, we have given information about the major car audio brands, which fall in the same price bracket, so that you can choose between them based on their features.
