Ford C-Max Dashboard Speaker Size
The Ford C-Max dashboard accommodates a 3.5 inch speaker size and 1 inch speakers, supporting both size options across the location. Compatible types for the audio system include full-range and tweeter units. These specifications cover the 2013 to 2018 model range.
| Year | Type | Size (inch) |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Full-Range | 3.5 |
| 2018 | Tweeter | 1 |
| 2017 | Full-Range | 3.5 |
| 2017 | Tweeter | 1 |
| 2016 | Full-Range | 3.5 |
| 2016 | Tweeter | 1 |
| 2015 | Full-Range | 3.5 |
| 2015 | Tweeter | 1 |
| 2014 | Full-Range | 3.5 |
| 2014 | Tweeter | 1 |
| 2013 | Full-Range | 3.5 |
| 2013 | Tweeter | 1 |
Speaker Types
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Tweeter | A small driver built for high frequencies, typically from about 2,000 Hz to 20,000 Hz. It adds treble detail and clarity and is usually mounted near ear level or aimed at the listener. |
| Full-Range | A single driver that reproduces bass through treble without a separate crossover network. It is the simplest replacement option and is common in factory audio systems. |
Additional Notes
- The Ford C-Max dashboard is a front-facing, horizontally oriented surface positioned at the base of the windshield, placing speakers at ear level relative to front occupants and angled toward the listening area of the cabin.
- Dashboard speaker locations typically involve shallow mounting depth due to the limited cavity space beneath the dashboard surface, which constrains the physical depth of any compatible driver.
- The 3.5 inch diameter is the larger of the 2 sizes listed for the Ford C-Max dashboard, and at that diameter a full-range driver produces a radiating cone area suited to reproducing midrange frequencies, generally from around 100 Hz up to several kilohertz, within the confined reflective space of a vehicle dashboard.
- Full-range drivers at 3.5 inches handle a wide portion of the audible spectrum from a single cone, which in a dashboard position means midrange vocals and instrumental detail are reproduced from a forward-facing, centrally located source close to the windshield glass.
- The 1 inch diameter is the smaller of the 2 sizes listed, and at that size a tweeter operates with a diaphragm small enough to move rapidly, reproducing high-frequency content typically above 2 to 3 kHz with minimal mass-related distortion.
- Tweeters in a dashboard location benefit from the elevated, forward-facing position relative to the listener, as high frequencies are highly directional and a placement aimed toward the listening area preserves stereo imaging and high-frequency presence.
- A 1 inch tweeter in the Ford C-Max dashboard position requires a crossover point to filter out low and midrange frequencies, since the small diaphragm is not designed to handle the excursion demands of those ranges.
- The simultaneous listing of both 3.5 inch full-range and 1 inch tweeter sizes for the same model years indicates the dashboard accommodates 2 distinct speaker positions per side, one for each driver type.
- A full-range driver at 3.5 inches in a dashboard mount contributes to front soundstage width, as the left and right placements on opposite ends of the dashboard create lateral separation for stereo content across the midrange.
- The shallow, flat plane of a dashboard installation limits low-frequency extension for a 3.5 inch full-range driver, since bass reproduction depends on cone excursion and enclosure volume, both of which are restricted in a dashboard cavity.