Do you desire a better sound to enhance your driving experience? You can make every ride remarkable with the best car speakers. Besides the relative ease of installing most products, upgrading your audio component helps you experience studio-grade sounds right in your car. The complex nature of car stereo components, a truckload of brands on the market, and the bogus claims by producers can make shopping for a car speaker somewhat confusing, particularly for the uninitiated in the car audio field. Thankfully, this article seeks a detailed overview of one of the most important, though overlooked, aspect of your car: Your car speakers. The comprehensive guide reviews 12 best car speakers review 2020 and some key things to know before purchasing car speakers in 2020.
Best Car Speakers 2020 –Products Review
1) CT Sounds Meso 6.5
Features
- Fiberglass cone
- NRB surround
- Voice coil
- Black stamp steel basket
With its top-notch sound quality, the CT Sounds deserve a good spot on our review list. For some time now, CT Sounds have been all the rage within the audio community. The producers have built a deserving reputation for top quality material and durability. Even more, with this product, Meso line reaffirms its pledge to quality productions. The first point of attraction to these speakers is their sturdy build. The systems spot huge magnets with surrounds made with NBR rubber, as well as thick and hefty grilles. Its bulletproof woofer cone is designed from fiberglass material.
The sound quality is worth stressing. The speaker produces a well-filtered bass response regardless of the volume and punchy mid. Sadly, the ends could become thrilled; you may not require rocket science to fix it. Noteworthily, with the massive magnets on the speaker, installing it on car doors might pose some challenges. Based on where the speaker is spotted on the doors, the magnet could stick on your window channels, hindering the windows from rolling down, completely.
Pros
- Impressive bass response
- Top-notch build quality
Cons
- Somewhat shrill high end
2) JBL GTO609C
Features
- 6.05 pounds weight
- 14.8 x 8 x 6.1 inches dimension
- Dual-level tweeter volume adjustment
- Plus one technology
- I-mount system
Being a leader in the audio brands market, JBL does not compromise top quality productions – whether for concert-hall specs or your car. While a standard JBL’s speaker may cost you some thousand bucks, the under-$100 GTO609C speakers will give you a good start. JBL designed the speakers with an above-average woofer, which gives off more air than its competitors. It comes designed with carbon-infused cones which feel a lot lighter, but stronger than its polypropylene counterpart. The effect is a much more impressive bass production and response.
So, if you do not wish to install a subwoofer, then these speakers should cut it. Again, the JBL GTO609C outshines the competition with the impressively designed tweeters. The tweeters come with top quality fabric diaphragm and a double-level volume system, which enables users to regulate the tweeter, isolatedly for better production. Also, you’d find particular interest in the tweeter-mounting system, which enables easy adjustment of the tweeter placement where deemed necessary. This feature comes particularly handy when the original tweeter is poorly placed. This will enable you to tailor the direction and location of your car tweeters for a more personalized sound experience.
Talking durability, GTO609C has added another feather to JBL’s hat. Its vented magnets component, carbon-composite frame, and butyl rubber surround, your speaker promises many years of sustained visual appeal and sound quality performance. Indeed, when it comes to price: quality ratio, this sound system takes a good spot on the list of best car speakers for 2019.
Pros
- Impressive bass
- Top sound quality
- I-Mount tweeters
- Innovative construction
Cons
- The grilles should’ve been easier to mount
3) 6.5 inch Pyle
Features
- Three-way speakers
- 6.5” speakers
- 180 Watt RMS
- 360 Watt MAX
Pyle has made an impressive show in the car audio industry. Its top-quality and high-tech woofers and drivers give it a place among trusted producers in the niche. Their innovative engineering and ingenious s designs make them a brand to beat.
Pyle’s 6.5 three-way speakers would make your car a desired in-car concert hall. It will thrill you with top-class sounds of your favorite playlist, right in your car.
The reasonably-priced speaker is a nice pick where budget is a key factor. Besides its high performance, the product comes with cool aesthetic design. Its 360W peak power comes with a 40hm.
The audio device spots wires, grills, and relevant mounting densities, for easy installation.
Pros
- 3 speaker units
- Sturdy built
Cons
- Colour might wear off
4) Boss Audio CH6520
Features
- 6.5-inch
- 2-way speaker
- 125 Watts x2 Power handling
- Grilles included
- Full range
Regardless of its spot on the list, this product brags amongst top car audio systems on the market. These beast sound systems are nicked Choas Exxtreme as a result of their crisp, clear, and loud sound production. This product comes with a durable and sturdy construction, which promises a long-lasting experience with your car audio. Chaos series features a red-colored metallic polymer-constructed woofer with a rubber surround that serves as protection against external threats which promotes quality productions. The sound system also comes with a two-inch polyamide cone and a one-inch tweeter.
The 125W RMS and 250W peak power assure an impressive handling power.
Pros
- Rubber surrounds
- Red metallic polymer-infused woofers
- Voice coils to control the temperature
- Hgh range 250 peak power
Cons
- bulkiness
5) Rockford Fosgate R165X3
Features
- 6.5”
- Polypropylene cones
- Sild dome tweeter
- 1-year warranty
- Mounting hardware and grilles
Rockford Fosgate brings to mind, good quality speakers at highly competitive rates.
If you’re on a tight budget, you may take a closer look at the R165X3.
For under $40, you too could grab a pair of car speakers. This price looks even cheaper than some OEM replacements, and even more, outperforms some speakers priced twice R165X3’s worth.
Although its 90W-tops RMS may not be in the same class with some high ended speakers, this slack is made up for with its top-class components.
Its rubber surround, rugged steel basket, and tough grilles guarantee that your speaker stands up to different conditions.
Pros
- Affordability
- Top-quality aesthetics
Cons
- Installation difficulty
- Poor bass response
6) Infinity Kappa 60.11 CS
Features
- 2-way speaker
- 6.5-inch
- 2-ohms impedance
- 5-1/8″ x 5-1/8″ dimension
Infinity Kappa 60.11 CS and JBL GTO609C have some striking similarities. This is reasonable as Harman coowns both brands.
As with JBL GTO609C, Infinity Kappa 60.11 CS is designed with Plus One innovation, which enables a bigger woofer to be installed inside the six-plus inches speaker. Also, it mirrors GTO609C’s rubber surrounds and composite-frame speaker.
That said, Kappa 60.11 CS does not measure up to the GTO609C when it comes to sound. Although its bass responses is no match for JBL’s, they produce off the chart mids and highs. Indeed to come by a 6.5” speaker with such clarity and accuracy is a rarity.
Although a head unit may power the speaker, you may need to further explore another realm of sound production with a good quality amplifier. Although same holds for all component speakers, it is particularly true of infinity.
Pros
- Top-quality build material
- Crisp and quality
Cons
- Substandard bass response
7) Kicker DS65
Features
- 8 x 8 x 7 inches dimension
- 4.6 pounds weight
- 6.5-inch
- 3-way speaker
Kicker is widely known for their modern design speakers and subwoofers. They also produce speakers with a good bass response and impressive power handling. DS65 is no different.
This speaker comes with 240w max RMS, and although many speakers surpass this, DS65 sounds louder. Typical of Kickers speakers, you’d be thrilled by its bass response.
With the speaker’s low-profile design, mounting is relatively easy. If you wish to try out a DIY, you can have this up in about an hour and with little hassles.
However, talking durability, DS65 leaves a lot to be desired. Many speakers on this list come with rugged rubber speaker surround, unlike DS65 surround with foam. Besides, its woofer cone comes from non-reinforced polypropylene, a fall-short of standard tech-advanced materials that promises long-lastingness.
If you seek affordability, loudness, and good bass response, consider the DS65 car speaker.
However, you may not get good enough standard construction as with some well-designed products and may not last many years, as their competitors would.
Pros
- Easy installation
- High volume
- Great bass response
Cons
- Below top-quality components
8) Polk Audio DB615S
Features
- Slim mount’6.5Inch
- 3-way speakers
- Butyl rubber surround
- Mica/dynamic balance polymer composite
- Marine certified speakers
Polk ranks among brands known for their long-standing reputation earned for affordability and quality – DB615S is a replica.
One outstanding feature of the DB615S is its remarkable installation ease. Its shallow nature makes it fit seamlessly into practically all mounting needs regardless of the vehicle type.
Even more, the product comes with a range of mounting options, which allows you to run a professional-quality installation without altering your vehicle’s arrangement.
Regarding sound, its 165W max RMS promises a mid-range power handling capacity. But considering the affordability of this product, it is well worth it.
This Polk Audio speaker shines brightest when durability is tested. The woofer features a cone mica/Dynamic Balance polymer composite. The woofer itself is deigned of polymer/silk composite. And even in the toughest conditions, its butyl rubber surround stands.
The DB615S was specially built with marine certification standards. So, besides your car, you can mount the speakers on a watercraft or boat. And if they are built to withstand tough ocean conditions, there’s hardly anything that subjects it to worst conditions in your car.
So, if you seek affordability and durability, consider DB615S. They are worth every single penny of the cost. However, they may not make the best pick for a seasoned audiophile.
With its slim size, the DB615S offers one of the easiest installation processes on the market. This shallow depth is considered the cause of its poor bass handling.
Pros
- Easy installation
- Impressive value
- Marine certified
Cons
- Below-standard power handling
- Weak bass response
9) Alpine SPS619
Features
- 10-degree tweeter swivel
- Type S series
- 85W max RMS
- 30mm voice coil
- 260W max power capacity
Alpine also ranks among reputable manufacturers in the car audio market. More so, their Type S series is one of their most celebrated lines. Alpine has been widely commended for persons seeking an upgrade to their car’s speaker at a relatively reduced cost.
The Type S product series comes in 6 sizes, made to suit popular installations. With its 85W max RMS, 30mm voice coil, and a 260W max power capacity, the power handling is a lot impressive.
SPS619 comes with a 1-inch tweeter that spots a silk dome and can go 10° in all directions to ensure users can position the tweeters for a tailored sound.
The speaker’s woofer comes with poly-mica cone widely judged highly responsive and durable, with good base handling. And with its top-notch butyl rubber surround assures you of long-lasting performance.
Funnily, the speakers may not deliver so much outstanding performance initially, but over a few weeks, you may begin to feel some sound improvement.
Of course, this speaker may not be the best on the market, but for its remarkably low cost, it’s worth a place on the list of car speakers to watch out for in 2019.
Pros
- Easy installation
- Value for money
- Good bass response
Cons
- No installation guide
- Grille not inclusive
10) Infinity Primus Series 6X9
Features
- 6×9-inch
- 3-way speaker
- 5/9-inch super tweeter
- One Plus technology
- polypropylene cone
Primus Series 6X9 again vets infinity’s pro-level reputation.
The Primus product is a three-way car speaker with a 6×9-inch woofer and a one-inch tweeter that supports a 5/9-inch super tweeter.
The speakers come with a 300W max RMS, one of the best handling capacity on the market.
As with models from JBL and Infinity, the speaker features the latest Plus One technology and innovation that stocks large woofer in a relatively small frame.
For durability, its polypropylene cone and rubber surround guarantees a worthy long-term investment.
Those who wish to use their old head unit to power the speakers may give this series a try as they help maximize power utility. Besides, they make greater effects when connected to an amp.
The speakers offer soothing full-mids and highs. And with their impressive bass response, a subwoofer might not be relevant.
Although user reviews point to installation difficulty, that sole factor wouldn’t make it a bad buy.
Primus series delivers the top quality sound and durability expected of Infinity speakers, and at a relatively cheap rate.
Pros
- Durability
- Affordability
- Good sound quality
Cons
- Installation difficulty
11) Alpine SPS610
Features
- Type S series
- 6-1/2-inch
- Air-flow design
- Silk dome tweeter
- Butyl rubber surround
- Poly-mica cone woofer
Here’s another impressive option from the stables of Alpine. The 6.5-inch SPS610 is a coaxial speaker, which is a worthy replacement for your factory-fitted car speakers.
As with the SP619, this model promises a good-standard power handling with 240W-tops power capacity.
Although the power handling looks good, it becomes irrelevant if your speaker produces annoying distortions at top volumes. Thankfully, the speaker is designed with sturdiness in mind, built to handle tough conditions.
With its exceptional rigid voice coil, as well as mica, and poly cones, the speakers may handle high volume sounds without distortions common in low-grade speakers.
They come with a one-inch tweeter and an all-direction swivel, which enables you to customize your sound.
The SPS6 610 replicates the silk dome of the 619. The speaker also comes with tough rubber surrounds, which suggest durability.
Summarily, although you shouldn’t expect the best or loudest speaker out there, SPS6 610 delivers top-quality to audio enthusiasts at a relatively decent budget.
Pros
- Good bass response
- Top value for money
- Good power handling
Cons
- No grille in the package
12) Pioneer TS6900PRO
Features
- 6×9 inch
- 600W max rating
- Pulp cone woofer
- Bulleted tweeter
If you seek a-class bass production, you may think Pioneer’s P.R.O series. The 6X9-inch TS6900 promises good power handling, bass response, and components.
One outstanding thing about the TS6900PRO version is its power handling capacity and impressive 600W max rating.
The bullet tweeters are spotted in the middle, providing a clean and crisp high-end even at the highest volumes.
The woofer is built with a tested pulp cone. Although this design may not attract any awards for innovation, its responsiveness and quality bass handling capacity are commendable.
It comes with a rugged, heavy-duty steel frame and double-layered rubber surrounds, which guarantees durability.
Unfortunately, the PRO series is deep, which makes them hardly fit into many car doors. Although they can be mounted at some other locations, you may consider another option if you want car speakers for doors.
Pros
- God bass response
- Impressive power handling
- Impressive quality components
Cons
- Cannot be installed in some doors
- Feels bulky.
Best Car Speaker Review of 2020 – Buyer Guide
The 12 speakers above have some distinctive features that place them on the list. Well, a good speaker may not always automatically translate to great sound, straight out of the box. Many factors are determinants of speakers’ performance across cars.
Let’s quickly go through some important things to know before selecting the best car speakers.
Types of Speakers
1) Subwoofers
Subwoofers handle the lowest frequencies in sound production. A typical subwoofer measures between 10 to 15 inches in size. Many stock car audios do not come with subwoofers. They are mostly included in an aftermarket package.
Of course, you may not need a woofer to get good quality sound, but a subwoofer helps improve music’s clarity and dept, particularly for fans of hard rock, hip-hop, and other bass-heavy Jamz.
2) Woofers
When you think of a car audio speaker, woofer most likely comes to mind. Woofers are mid-sized speakers found in all car audio units. They help manage mid-range frequencies.
Ideally, bigger woofers are widely thought better bass handlers. However, smaller-sized woofers tackle near high-end frequencies more accurately.
For high-ended car audios, multiple woofers are common – While the woofers control mid-bass, the smaller one caters to mid-range and higher frequencies.
3) Tweeters
These speakers are responsible for high-end frequencies. The tiny units are normally not more than 1.5 –inch sized. Full-range speakers usually come with tweeters spotted at the center of the woofer. For component systems, tweeters are spotted somewhere at the door panel or, sometimes, immediately behind the passenger and driver seat.
Types of Speaker Systems
For car audio, there are two major types of speakers. Here’s a quick breakdown:
1) Coaxial Speakers
Also called full-range speakers, the coaxial speakers come with all basic components, preinstalled. The speakers spot a woofer for low frequencies and tweeters for the high-ended frequencies. Some come with extra drives for mid-range frequencies. If you desire an upgrade to your car audio with less fuss and effort, you may consider investing in full-range speakers.
But if a-class auto quality and personalization is the goal, component speakers are your best bet. Most full-range speakers come with extra customization options. For instance, some come with detachable tweeters for personalization flexibility. Some have swivel tweeter for directional adjustments.
2) Component Speakers
The high point of component speakers is quality sound production for an improved listening experience. The component system gives each speaker a distinct entity. These woofers are detached from tweeters for enhanced audio performance. The crossover distributes appropriate frequencies across speakers ensuring the tweeter gets the high-end frequencies while the woofers deliver the low ended ones.
This speaker system utilizes the topmost quality components, offering the best audio quality and high customization opportunity. These options are also costlier and with a trickier installation process.
Other Related Components of Car Speakers
1) Crossovers
These are small-sized electronic application found in all car audio systems. The crossovers serve as small computers to direct the sound across appropriate frequencies. The crossover sends the highest, midrange, and lowest frequencies among the tweeters, woofer, and subwoofer, respectively. The full range car audio system has speakers with built-in crossover. However, the crossover is a standalone device in component systems.
2) Amplifiers
Amplifiers, as the name connotes, amplifies sound inputs. As with crossovers, all car audio systems have amplifiers. However, these amplifiers usually come in sizes proportional to the stock system in your car. For better sound, you may need to upgrade to a bigger amplifier for a better power supply to your car speakers.
Amplifiers come in different sizes, based on the speaker’s capacity they can power. While a five-channel amplifier is designed to fuel up to five speakers, a one-channel counterpart can handle just one speaker – particularly a subwoofer. So, before you make a buy, take note of the number of speakers you wish to power in your car.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1) What is the difference between a two way and three-way speaker?
Two-way speakers are also called coaxial speakers. These speakers come with a tweeter and woofer. While the tweeter handles high-end frequencies, the lower frequencies are handled by the woofer.
On the other hand, three-way speakers are also known as triaxial speakers. They come with tweeter, woofer, and another speaker to manage mid-range frequencies.
Q2) How many watts’ speaker is a good buy?
Wattage measures the high limits of the speaker’s volume — the greater the watt, the better the production at high volumes. High watts do not automatically translate to the better speaker; its sensitivity is the key factor in determining the number of watts needed for certain volumes.
Q3) Are car speakers easy to install?
It depends. While it may be less technical with full-range speakers, you may need a professional for component speakers.
Wrap up
If you wish to improve your car sounds as well as your driving experience, you may think of a car audio system upgrade. Changing your stock audio system may be a good start. And you can get a good audio lift without breaking your safe. The 12 speakers covered are some of the best car speakers for 2020. Look closely at the reviewed options and pick one that suits your lifestyle and budget.
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