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Our #1 Rated
Our #1 Rated
The midrange drivers produce an immense sense of clarity and balance that are hard to come by with speakers in this price range.
For those who are looking for a decent 3-way speaker system on a budget, this is a good and affordable option for most.
Even without a sub, we believe this is one of the best and most versatile in-car sound systems that poops over most component speakers.
Replacing the factory speakers literally took 5 minutes and was the easiest to install out of all the other items on our list.
Even with just the head unit, they give a warm and balanced quality with no interference whatsoever.
The attention to the design and build quality means they won’t damage easily, and the mounts make replacing factory speakers effortless.
Zero loss of sound or material quality, and the protective additives in the sub bands did exactly what was needed.
We thought these speakers sounded great for the price and were incredibly easy to replace the original factory units.
You may want to invest in an amp to go with these speakers, but we were blown away by what you get upfront with this system.
If you spend a lot of time on the road, a decent in-car sound system can make a big difference to your journey and your overall enjoyment of driving. If you’re looking to replace your car’s existing speakers any time soon, we’ve put together a great mix of options that cover various sizes, shapes, styles, volume thresholds and more.
In this article, we’re going to review the following Audio Interfaces:
How Should You Choose
There are a few things that you should take into account before investing in new car speakers. Not only do you want them to sound and look good, but you’ll need to make sure your vehicle is actually able to power them properly and prevent them from sounding muffled or distorted. Here’s 3 essential factors you’ll need to think about before you look to buy.
Size – Car speakers come in all different shapes and sizes. The best way to determine the size of the speaker you’re going to need, is to measure the factory ones that came with your car initially. If your audio system output isn’t compatible with your speakers, they’re not going to deliver a clear and optimum sound quality.
Power – You’ll need to make sure your speakers are able to handle the power transmitted by the car’s amplifier. If they aren’t capable of keeping up with the wattage pumped through the head unit, they won’t last very long and eventually blow out.
Build Quality – Believe it or not, the materials that your speakers are made of can make a big difference to how many years you’ll get out of them. If they’re made entirely out of cheap plastic, extreme temperatures during summer and winter could affect the speaker’s sound and shape, so you want something strong and durable.
Aside from the above, you’ll also want to pay attention to things like the speaker’s impedance, frequency response, RMS, sensitivity and peak power. We substituted the 6.5” factory speakers in Jack’s crappy, banged up Honda Civic to try and test out the below products. Here’s what we concluded to be the top 10 best car speakers of 2023.
Our Recommendation:
Pioneer’s TS-M650PRO takes its inspiration from the P.R.O series of speakers. This model features lightweight pulp cone woofers with oversized magnets designed to handle copious amounts of power. These go up to a maximum of 500 watts and 110 watts nominal. Impedance is a standard 4 Ohms with a frequency response of 50Hz-18kHz. In the box, you’ll find 2 speaker grilles, mounting screws, user manual and warranty card.
PROS
- Wonderful mid drivers
- Very loud and clear
- Lightweight and durable
- Mount up perfectly
CONS
- Take a while to break in
Why We Recommend: We had these babies pumping 150 watts each, but they can definitely handle a lot more power. Even when cranked up at the highest volume there was barely any clipping or distortion. What really made this sound system for us is the excellent midrange drivers. They’re so loud and produce an immense sense of clarity and balance that are hard to come by with speakers in this price range. The magnets they came with are massive! But this is how you get the abundance of excursion and sensitivity. A huge advantage.
Pyle’s 6.5” 3-way speaker sound system weighs in at 12lbs and comes equipped with grilles, cable and mounting hardware for quick and easy installation. The impedance level is 4 Ohms with a sensitivity of 89dB and a frequency response of 90Hz-20kHz. The 4 x 6” are capable of handling a continuous power rating of 240 watts with an RMS of 120 watts.
PROS
- Highly affordable
- Good build quality
- Easy to install
CONS
- Mids occasionally clip at high volumes
- Best not placed in the dash
Why We Recommend: Though these may not meet the needs of veteran audiophiles, for those who are looking for a decent 3-way speakers system on a budget, this is a good and affordable option for most. The highs could certainly do with a bit of improvement, and we noticed a bit of clipping in the tweeters, but the bass reproduction is decent even at its peak. The blind mounting system makes installation a breeze, but we’d tell you to be mindful about installing them inside a dash and grille, as you’ll have to wedge the plastic bits in for them to fit right.
Skar Audio’s TX65C is part of their famous Elite speaker series. It features a 2-way component speaker system with 100 watts RMS and 200 watts of peak power. The tweeters are supported with high-grade silk domes with an internal crossover network. The subs feature glass fibre cones with TPE surrounds around the mid-range woofers. The frequency response is 50hz-25kHz and both units feature a 1.25” high temp copper coil with a premium ferrite magnet. Sensitivity is 89dB.
PROS
- Ultra lightweight and durable
- Excellent value for money
- Very loud, but crystal clear
- Pumping bass response
- Great mid range dynamic scope
CONS
- None
Why We Recommend: We found these to be one of the best in-car stereo systems on the market for just under $100. Not only are they rock solid in terms of build quality, the sound quality is to die for! Even when matched up against something like the Pioneer’s TS-Z65CH (which have exceptional dynamic range), these do a great job at juggling the highs and midrange and produce a sublime vibrancy level. We’d say Skar have seriously outdone themselves and created a truly agile and sensuous piece of art with these speakers.
The SXE-1725S is a 2-way coaxial speaker set which includes 2 pairs. The frequency range is 50Hz-20kHz with a power handling of 200 watts at peak and 80 watts of RMS. Each one comes with neodymium magnets and titanium polyamide composite tweeters with foam surrounds for long lasting use. The sensitivity is 92dB and impedance is 4 Ohms.
PROS
- Great price
- Easy install
- Super loud without amp
- Awesome power handling
CONS
- No grilles included
Why We Recommend: Alpine’s Type E series sure lived up to its rep and we were blown away by the sound quality, especially in the tweeters. Working alongside the bass, the whole range is clear and natural sounding. The polymer foam surrounds broke in quickly around the woofers and we didn’t pick up any distortion from them at all. Even without a sub, we believe this is one of the best and most versatile in-car sound systems that poops over most component speakers. The only con is the fact there’s no grilles, but these can be purchased separately for an affordable price.
Featuring 16” paper cone woofers and 1⁄2” ceramic dome tweeters, Kenwood’s KFC-1695PS 3-way coaxial speakers come in a lightweight and durable design weighing in at just over 4lbs. They come complete with an RMS power of 75 watts and a peak power handling of 320 watts, plus an impedance of 4 Ohms. Sensitivity sits at 88dB and the system produces a collective frequency response of 75Hz-20kHz.
PROS
- Lightweight and great build quality
- Highly affordable
- Easy installation
- Great sense of clarity in the mids
CONS
- Best paired with a sub
Why We Recommend: We think practically everything in Kenwood’s KFC range is speaker lickin’ good. But the 1695PS’s in particular produce an outstandingly good sound quality for the what they’re priced at. While the bass lacks slightly, it sense of clarity and accuracy they produce sure makes up for it. And this problem is easily solved with the addition of a sub. Replacing the factory speakers literally took 5 minutes and was the easiest to install out of all the other items on our list.
Featuring polypropylene Plus One woofer cones, 1-13/16” edge-driven dome tweeters, JBL’s 2-way GT7-6C is from their highly praised GT7 series and hits a frequency response of 55Hz-20kHz, with a sensitivity of 92dB. Power range is 2-50 watts with 135 watts at peak power. In the box are the 2-way speakers, 2 grilles, 8 head screws, 3mm Allen head bit, 8 speed clips and manual.
PROS
- Crystal clear sound quality
- Warm and punchy bass
- Effortless install
- Highly affordable
- Warranty included
CONS
- May need a sub
Why We Recommend: We were perfectly happy with how loud and clear the bass was in this system. Even with just the head unit, they give a warm and balanced quality with no interference whatsoever. Some may want to add an extra woofer if they want a deeper sound from the low end, but we hardly think it’s needed. Replacing the factory units was easy as pie, and the clarity in the mids was probably the most noticeable of them all in these speakers.
The Rockford R165X3 3-way 6.5” full-range speakers feature an impedance of up to 4 Ohms with a frequency response of 52Hz-20,000kHz. Each one comes with grilles, mounting hardware and integrated high-pass crossovers to deliver a rich and full-bodied sound. The domes in the tweeters are made from silk and the sub cones from vacuum polypropylene with rubber surroundings. Sensitivity sits at 91 dB. RMS peak levels between 45 watts and 90 watts maximum.
PROS
- Great build quality
- Highly affordable
- Beautiful midrange
CONS
- Bass response is a bit weak
Why We Recommend: It can only be said that these speakers work a treat when it comes to the midrange frequencies. As they are coaxial speakers, all of the components are handled by the same driver which makes everything so simple. We wouldn’t recommend going above the recommended 90 watts peak if you want to avoid distortion, but then again, you won’t need to use much power to get a clear sound from these units. The attention to the design and build quality means they won’t damage easily, and the mounts make replacing factory speakers effortless.
The DB651 6.5” 2-way slim-mount coaxial speakers have been designed to accommodate cars and marine vessels to withstand water damage. This model come as a pair and feature 0.75” silk polymer dome tweeters, and mica composite sub cones with rubber surroundings to withstand extreme temperatures and UV rays. Each speaker delivers an impedance of 4 Ohms with a frequency response up to 22kHz. Maximum power handling is 165 watts with a sensitivity of 92dB.
PROS
- Marine and motorcycle certified
- Rich and pumping sound quality
- No hassle installation
- Punchy bass response
CONS
- Woofer surrounds take a while to loosen up
Why We Recommend: We’re big fans of Polk Audio as it is, and were highly impressed with their DB692 3-way speakers. These ones come in a slightly smaller diameter and cheaper price tag and are very quick and easy to install. The woofers sounded amazing once they had a chance to break in, and while we couldn’t afford a boat to try them out with – we did leave them outside for a week. Zero loss of sound or material quality, and the protective additives in the sub bands did exactly what was needed. A solid performance all round.
Speaking of Pioneer, the audio luminaries have hit back with these 6.5” 2-way speakers with an RMS of 300 watts and 40 watts nominal. They have a peak power handling of 600 watts. The cone woofers are made from lightweight polypropylene moulds for minimal distortion and better sensitivity than standard coaxial speakers. Each unit features a suspension coil for dampening vibrations, preventing movement and improving overall sound production. Impedance is 4 Ohms and sensitivity is 91dB.
PROS
- Sharp mids and smooth lows
- Easy installation
- Great quality for the price
- Hardly any distortion
CONS
- May need a sub
- No speaker grilles included
Why We Recommend: We thought these speakers sounded great for the price and were incredibly easy to replace the original factory units. They deliver a great frequency response between 37-44,000kHz with a naturally crisp midrange and a warm low-end, but can easily be adjusted via the EQ and crossover network. They come in a 200 watts 2-way package as well as a 4-way package (if you’re looking for more than just a pair). We only tried the 300 watts 2-way and were highly impressed with the performance.
Kicker’s DS693 6×9 speakers come with a sensitivity rating of 92dB with an RMS of 70 watts and peak power of 140 watts. Each of the 3 speakers are equipped with heavy-duty polyester foam surrounds on the woofers to give a balanced bass response and 2” polypropylene dome drivers for the midrange frequencies. The package comes complete with 2 grilles, 4 red plastic butt connectors, 8 speed clips, 8 1-⅛” self-tapping screws along with a user manual. The frequency response ranges between 30Hz-20kHz.
PROS
- Excellent quality in the mids and highs
- Deep and full bass response
- Loud volume with little distortion
CONS
- Mounting holes a bit tricky to align
- Need an amp to get the best sound
Why We Recommend: Even though the majority of bass heads will probably want to invest in an amp to go with these speakers, we were quite blown away by what you get upfront with this system. The 3-way design brings out the richness in the treble and mids, while the dome tweeters and supertweeters balance out all the high-end frequencies perfectly. Don’t expect the windows to be rattling from the bass, but the whole thing is certainly loud. And for the price, they definitely live up to our standards.
Conclusion
Changing the factory installs in your car is a relatively easy job, but finding the right replacement is the tricky part. Pioneer’s M650PRO took the top spot for us overall in terms of the quality, ease of installation and price. Some may decide to add extra components, but we didn’t feel it was needed and were more than happy with the results.
While all the speakers on this list are highly affordable and don’t necessarily need an amp, bear in mind they’re never going to produce the kind of sound you’d get from a fully fledged PA system. The good news is you can simply add more tweeters and extra subs if you want more bass, clearer mids and a general improved performance.
Whichever speakers you go for, we hope they make your journeys more enjoyable!
