Our old Mercedes' CD player broke, so for a while, I used a Sonos Move, which is a mono Bluetooth speaker with quite a wide sound dispersion, in the car. But after repairing the CD player and switching back to stereo, it was clear that the mono sound actually felt much better in the car. When you think about it, rather than having multiple speakers all over the car and messing up the phase, it makes more sense for the sound to come from just one source, right? I think everyone should give it a try at least once.
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After some conversations, I want to clarify my point again: what I'm talking about is not really the Mono/Stereo, but rather how many places the sound is coming from. For example, even with stereo speakers, if they are something like this, I believe it would provide a far cleaner step response and better listening experience compared to a conventional car stereo with speakers randomly placed all around.
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/sonos-five-smart-speaker-review.51409/
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After some conversations, I want to clarify my point again: what I'm talking about is not really the Mono/Stereo, but rather how many places the sound is coming from. For example, even with stereo speakers, if they are something like this, I believe it would provide a far cleaner step response and better listening experience compared to a conventional car stereo with speakers randomly placed all around.
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/sonos-five-smart-speaker-review.51409/
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Dispersion?
In my opinion (many will disagree), for better quality, you want only one speaker to produce any signals. Having multiple speakers producing the same signal will result in phase issues. For some people who need extreme sound levels, phasing (except for bass) isn't important. If you listen to only the best recorded music with wide separation and a wide bandwidth and want the best reproduction, mono won't cut it.
In my opinion (many will disagree), for better quality, you want only one speaker to produce any signals. Having multiple speakers producing the same signal will result in phase issues. For some people who need extreme sound levels, phasing (except for bass) isn't important. If you listen to only the best recorded music with wide separation and a wide bandwidth and want the best reproduction, mono won't cut it.
In my opinion, it is always safer not to have any music (or phone call) while driving...sorry .
Other than early mono recordings, I can't see a mono recording ever being better than a stereo recording in a modern car.
That is in a noise-dampened car with acceptable stereo speaker installed.
If you are running an extremely noisy car with no noise insulation, you might not be able to hear the speaker on the passengers side - this is the only situation a mono speaker (combining both channels into one) might help.
That is in a noise-dampened car with acceptable stereo speaker installed.
If you are running an extremely noisy car with no noise insulation, you might not be able to hear the speaker on the passengers side - this is the only situation a mono speaker (combining both channels into one) might help.
I'm not talking about mono recording, but stereo recording with a mono speaker in a car. I have not measured the response, but the step response would be far clearer in mono at the driver's position, and I certainly hear it...
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Why would the recording mono/stereo make a difference if you had only one speaker (not an all in one multi-speaker)?
Most factory speakers locations are not very ideal.
Was the first changes I always did to my vehicles.
Prefer stereo, I had plenty of vintage 60s cars in my youth with mono.
Often updated the single speaker, but no thanks.
Often used the old factory mono location to have a very nice monitor for my CB radio.
Then added my own stereo setup.
Was the first changes I always did to my vehicles.
Prefer stereo, I had plenty of vintage 60s cars in my youth with mono.
Often updated the single speaker, but no thanks.
Often used the old factory mono location to have a very nice monitor for my CB radio.
Then added my own stereo setup.
I agree, and it’s normal to encounter noticeable phase issues when converting stereo mic recordings of instruments like piano or acoustic guitar into mono, even without artificial stereo effects. However, I still think that, overall, mono sounds more coherent than forcing a stereo playback in the cramped space of a car.
I do understand it might be hard to believe, but I wish you would really listen and compare for yourself. I mean just ONE speaker, not multiple mono speakers.
I do understand it might be hard to believe, but I wish you would really listen and compare for yourself. I mean just ONE speaker, not multiple mono speakers.
After some conversations, I want to clarify my point again: what I'm talking about is not the Mono/Stereo, but rather how many places the sound is coming from. For example, even with stereo speakers, if they are something like this, I believe it would provide a far cleaner step response and better listening experience compared to a conventional car stereo with speakers randomly placed all around.
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/sonos-five-smart-speaker-review.51409/
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/sonos-five-smart-speaker-review.51409/
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Speakers randomly placed all around are not a good solution in any case.
If the work is done with a minimum of competence the speakers are installed with the best compromise.
I went to see the link, but it isn't an object that suits me.
In addition to this, the installation could be more complicated than the classic speaker system.
It seems to me an object more suitable for home.
If the work is done with a minimum of competence the speakers are installed with the best compromise.
I went to see the link, but it isn't an object that suits me.
In addition to this, the installation could be more complicated than the classic speaker system.
It seems to me an object more suitable for home.
Cars are not really great for speaker positioning and they have so much glass to reflect sounds. But then again when you're driving your brain is focusing a lot of visuals so you cannot listen as properly as at home anyway.
I'm not a fan of having tweeters high up above the woofers. I like coaxials.
I'm not a fan of having tweeters high up above the woofers. I like coaxials.