Tesla S Rear Speaker Size
The Tesla Model S rear location accommodates a 6.5 inch speaker size. Compatible types for the audio system include midbass and full-range units. The specifications cover a range from 2012 to 2021.
| Year | Type | Size (inch) |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Midbass / Full-Range | 6.5 |
| 2020 | Midbass / Full-Range | 6.5 |
| 2019 | Midbass / Full-Range | 6.5 |
| 2018 | Midbass / Full-Range | 6.5 |
| 2017 | Midbass / Full-Range | 6.5 |
| 2016 | Midbass / Full-Range | 6.5 |
| 2015 | Midbass / Full-Range | 6.5 |
| 2014 | Midbass / Full-Range | 6.5 |
| 2013 | Midbass / Full-Range | 6.5 |
| 2012 | Midbass / Full-Range | 6.5 |
Speaker Types
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Midbass | A driver tuned for upper bass and lower midrange, roughly from 80 Hz to 500 Hz. It has longer cone travel than a full-range unit, which supports stronger bass in doors and panels. |
| 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 rear speaker location in the Tesla Model S accepts a 6.5 inch diameter driver across all listed model years from 2012 through 2021.
- A 6.5 inch speaker occupies a mid-sized mounting footprint, requiring a rear mounting cavity deep enough to accommodate the basket depth and magnet assembly without obstruction from interior panels or structural elements behind the mounting surface.
- Rear speaker positions in sedan-style vehicles like the Model S are typically integrated into the rear deck or door panel, placing the driver at ear level or slightly below for rear passengers, which affects the perceived stereo imaging from the back of the cabin.
- The 6.5 inch cone surface area is suited to moving sufficient air volume to reproduce the lower midrange and upper bass frequencies that contribute to body and warmth in the rear soundstage of an enclosed cabin.
- A midbass driver is designed to handle frequencies roughly in the range of 80 Hz to 500 Hz, focusing on the lower midrange and upper bass registers rather than the full audible spectrum.
- In a rear installation position, a midbass driver works in conjunction with a separate tweeter elsewhere in the cabin, meaning the Tesla Model S rear location does not require the driver to reproduce high frequencies independently when a midbass configuration is used.
- A full-range driver is designed to reproduce a wider portion of the audible spectrum from bass through treble within a single cone, making a dedicated crossover network unnecessary when one is installed at the rear position.
- The 6.5 inch format is one of the most standardized sizes in automotive audio, and the rear mounting location in the Model S is dimensioned around a standard 6.5 inch bolt pattern and cutout diameter.
- Because the rear location is the only speaker position defined in the specifications, the 6.5 inch driver at that position carries the sole responsibility for rear-channel sound reproduction in any configuration not supplemented by additional speakers elsewhere in the vehicle.
- The compatibility with both midbass and full-range types at the rear position indicates the mounting depth and baffle dimensions of the Tesla Model S rear cavity are sufficient to accept the physical profiles common to both driver categories at the 6.5 inch size.