Speakers Throughout the Years
Listening to music has been a popular pastime for thousands of years, and for much of this time, live music was the only option. Recording sounds became possible in the late 1800s, and with the inventions of the phonograph and record player, listening to pre-recorded sounds and music finally became possible and has only grown in popularity ever since. What we would recognize today as a modern speaker arrived in the form of the electromagnetic loudspeaker, and by the 1920s and 30s could be found in households worldwide.
The speakers and audio equipment that was available in those early days were cutting-edge technology at the time, but are extremely basic compared to what is currently on the market, and while some of the basics are still the same, modern speakers have come a long way in the last century.
Speakers from the first half of the 20th century will look familiar and are recognizable to anyone today who is familiar with stereo systems. They featured a circular cone made of paper, a coil, and a magnet, all located within a metal frame known as a basket, and powered by an external electrical source. These speakers were usually found in large wooden boxes that housed them and all of the other proper equipment needed to make a radio or record player function.
In the early days, there were only a few manufacturers producing speakers for the general public, but as radios and record players became more popular and were found in more and more American homes, more manufacturers began to produce speakers and audio equipment to keep up with the growing demand. One of the biggest reasons for the growth in speaker technology and popularity was the increase in the use of the automobile.
Cars and trucks became more accessible to the average consumer, and these vehicles began to arrive from the factory with radios and speakers. Early car audio systems typically featured a radio and one central speaker on the vehicle's dash. As technology advanced and auto manufacturers competed for sales, car stereo systems became more and more advanced and featured multiple speakers located not only in the dash, but also in doors, interior panels, rear shelves, and even in trunks. However, many vehicle owners found the factory stereo systems lacking in quality and power, and this need to upgrade car audio speaker equipment led to the rise in popularity of aftermarket speakers.
Over the years, many speaker manufacturers have come and gone. Some of the oldest manufacturers are still around, but just because they have a long history doesn't mean their current products are top-of-the-line. Some of the newer audio companies have taken advantage of modern audio science and technology to produce the best available audio equipment on the market, and one of the best examples of a newer company keeping up with, and ahead of, current audio trends and speakers is DS18.
History of DS18
The DS18 that we know today started out as Spirit LLC back in 2007. Spirit was initially created as a distributor of mobile electronics based in South Florida. In 2009, Spirit moved from a small storage unit into a large warehouse with 2000 square feet of space and began to hire the company's first employees. By 2012 Spirit had outgrown this space and upgraded to a 15,000 square foot facility with a staff of 20 employees. One year later, in 2013, the team at Spirit created its own brand of audio equipment, DS18 , with the introduction of the first DS18 amplifiers, and DS19 has been at the forefront of stereo system equipment ever since.
By 2015, Spirit LLC as a distributor of audio equipment had seen what consumers wanted and needed, and what worked and what didn't work when it came to sound systems. At this point, they were able to put their full focus into DS18, and they stopped becoming a distributor for other brands, which allowed them to put their full focus on creating the best products possible with an inventive method.
In 2016, DS18 moved into an even larger facility that featured 35,000 square feet of space, which helped them develop and design their products to be sold across the United States and shipped to 30 countries around the world. By 2017, DS18 began to offer its own range of stereo equipment that was suitable for use in the marine and off-road markets. These new marine-grade products really set them apart from their competitors and have helped make them the successful company they are today.
By 2018, the team at DS18 had grown to 40 employees, with 10 million dollars in yearly sales. By the time 2020 rolled around, they had grown to a staff of 60 people and moved into a 65,000-square-foot workspace. DS18 has steadily continued to grow as a brand, and its products are sold all over the world.
DS18 is still based in South Florida, with the current headquarters located in Miami, and while their products are designed and developed in the United States, they are connected to multiple factories across the world, with locations in South America, Asia, and right here in the United States to produce the best equipment on the market. Their focus on professional-level audio equipment for all styles of vehicles has allowed the company has see unprecedented growth over the past few years, which shows just how desirable their products have become with users.
DS18 Speakers
While DS18 initially started as a brand by producing amplifiers, they are now most known for their speakers. They produce speakers that are perfectly suited for automotive use, and can be found in many professional sound system builds, but what really sets DS18 apart from many of the other speaker manufacturers are their marine grade speakers.
Modern speakers in general are stronger and more robust than they have ever been. As technology has advanced, so has speaker build quality and sound quality, but marine-grade speakers have to face additional challenges that other automotive speakers might never have to deal with. Speakers and sound systems used in boats, motorcycles, and ATVs are often exposed to the elements on a regular basis and come into contact with splashing water, rain, dust, dirt, and debris often found in the great outdoors. They will also be subject to prolonged exposure to sunlight and the harmful UV rays produced by the sun, so marine-grade speakers have to be held to a different standard.
Marine-grade speakers have to be made from the best waterproof materials with water-resistant components that can not only stand up to all levels of humidity and sunlight but also deal with everything else mother nature can throw at them.
Do DS18 Speakers Have a Good Sound?
So we know that DS18 speakers are built tough to handle outdoor conditions, but do they have to sacrifice sound quality to achieve this level of strength? Luckily for anyone looking to purchase marine-grade speakers, DS18 products will not only hold up well in a marine environment, they also sound great!
Many DS18 speakers feature coaxial technology, which means that they have a built-in high-frequency reproducer on the same axis as a low-frequency reproducer, all in the same housing, which gives them better sound quality than a single-component speaker. Other DS18 marine speakers, like many of their wake tower speakers, feature built-in tweeters to help cover as much of the frequency range as possible. Some of their speaker designs also feature a built-in compression driver to make sure you can get the loudest possible sound, without having to sacrifice sound quality.
What DS18 Speakers Should You Choose?
When it comes to which DS18 speakers you should choose, it will all depend on your personal needs. If you are looking to replace the existing speakers on your boat, speakers like the PRO-HY6 and the PRO-HY8 made a good upgrade. If you are looking to add a little extra bass, then the addition of a DS18 subwoofer like the Hydro NXL-10SUB makes a great addition to your sound system. And if you want to upgrade your speakers and want them to look as good as they sound, you can't go wrong with the addition of a set of tower speakers like the Hydro NXL-X line of wake tower speakers.
Many DS18 marine speakers come in multiple sizes and also feature lighting elements that can help you further customize your boat and set yourself apart from all the others on the water. Which DS18 speaker you choose will be up to you, but they are all great choices.
What Speakers Brands Have the Best Sound Quality?
While DS18 products are some of the best marine-grade speakers on the market, they are not the only game in town. While there are hundreds of speaker brands out there, many can't stand up to the test, which leaves only a few at the top. Brands like DS18, Cicada Audio, DB Drive, Diamond Audio, Fusion, Ground Zero, Hertz, PRV, Rockford Fosgate, Sony, and Wet Sounds all produce speakers that will work perfectly and sound great when it comes to boat, motorcycle, or ATV sounds systems. And luckily for anyone looking to upgrade their marine audio system, all of these top brands can be found for sale on the same site.
Shop Garage Bagger for DS18 Audio
The best marine grade speakers available from DS18 and other manufacturers can be found at Garage Gagger Stereo. The folks at Garage Bagger have years of combined experience when it comes to sound systems for motorcycles, boats, and ATVs. They are just an email or phone call away and will be happy to help you put together the components you need to build your dream stereo system. Make your own opinion about which brand is the best by shopping our premium selection!
So head on over to https://garagebaggerstereo.com , order the DS18 speakers of your choice and any other marine-grade stereo equipment that you need, install them, and enjoy many future hours relaxing and listening to your favorite music at loud volumes.