Best Car Speakers – Our Top Picks for 2023

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Best Overall 5 1/4″ Component Car Speaker

Infinity Reference 5030cx

See full list of Best 5 1/4″ Component Car Speakers

Latest Prices

$149.95 at Amazon.com

at Crutchfield.com

Infinity Reference 5030cx Quick Review

Originally introduced in 2019, the 5030cx is still the reigning top pick on our list. Not only has the Reference 5030cx built a reputation for their ability to handle power with clarity and longevity, they’ve done so at a very competitive price point. These 5.25” Reference component speakers take advantage of patented Plus One™ technology that allows for more cone area. A larger cone area can impact things like sensitivity and frequency range. A general rule of thumb, the larger the cone area, the better the speaker is at producing lower frequencies (bass). And for the highs, a .75” edge-driven textile tweeters hit the high frequencies with ease, even when pushing the system to its max.

Although these may not be the absolutely best performing speakers on our list, what we think is great about these speakers is how universal they are. With a 65W RMS power handling and 93dB sensitivity rating, they’re a great candidate for an external car amplifier, but also a fantastic match for those just looking to use a factory or aftermarket head unit for power. And when you combine their performance specs like these with the fact that they’re relatively affordable, they really are a great pick.

Key Features

MakeInfinityModelReference REF-5030cxSize5 1/4″ ComponentPower (RMS)65 wattsPower (Peak)195 wattsFrequency Response67 – 21,000 HzSensitivity93 dB

Pros

• Good choice for factory location replacements
• Durable speaker with a reputation for taking abuse beyond its limits
• Crystal clear mid and high range

Cons

• Limited Low-Range Frequency limits
• Use of an amplifier is recommended to get the best sound
• They do not come with grills

Best Overall 5×7 Car Speaker

JL Audio C5-570X

See full list of Best 5×7 Car Speakers

Latest Prices

at Amazon.com

at Crutchfield.com

JL Audio C5-570X Quick Review

We are going to start this list off on the right foot and show you an ultimate upgrade to your car audio system. This package isn’t cheap, but you’ll get what you pay for in terms of performance. This package includes a pair of the newest Evolution-series JL Audio 5×7” coaxial speakers and a pair of adjustable crossovers.

JL Audio engineers carefully tune these speakers to provide a depth and richness you won’t find in comparable round speakers while enhancing the entire sound spectrum by using premium components. The cone is mica-injected polypropylene which provides excellent rigidity with the addition of vibration dampening that improves midrange frequencies.

These coaxials include three-quarter inch silk dome tweeters perfectly matched to the deep, rich sound of the woofers. The included crossover network provides 4 tweeter attenuation levels and three midrange presence adjustment. Dial your system in and enjoy the cleanest sound you’ve ever heard from a 5×7” speaker.

Key Features

MakeJL AudioModelC5-570XSize5×7″ CoaxialPower (RMS)75 wattsPower (Peak)225 wattsFrequency Response48 – 25,000 HzSensitivity90.5 dB

Pros

• Excellent sound quality, particularly in midrange frequencies
• No distortion or buzzing even at high volumes
• Included crossovers are high-quality and compact

Cons

• Expensive way to replace your speakers
• Works best when provided additional amplification
• Requires wiring of a separate crossover

Best Overall 6 1/2″ Coaxial Car Speaker

Focal PC 165 FE

See full list of Best 6 1/2″ Coaxial Car Speakers

Latest Prices

$445.00 at Amazon.com

$479.99 at Crutchfield.com

Focal PC 165 FE Review

We’ve always loved Focal products. We’ve featured their products in various best lists for years now, including our list of best 6.5” component speakers. Before the PC 165 FE we had the K2 Power. A list of recommended car speakers should never exclude a few brands, one of them is Focal.

One glance and you’ll want to hear these Focals. The PC 165 FE is our pick for the best overall 6 1/2 inch coaxial speaker. Its flax-fiber woofer cone is pretty unique to Focal. Flax cones are made from flaxseed which is a common material used historically for textiles, parchment and so on. Flax creates an acoustically ideal cone material because it naturally dampens unwanted vibrations, it’s light and incredibly durable. To top it off, Focal’s TMD (tuned mass damper) surround is engineered to maximize the performance and movement of the cone. We recommend checking out Focal’s article that details competitive analyses of some of the alternative materials to TMD. Pretty cool.

One of our personal favorite parts about this speaker isn’t the flax though it’s the basket/frame. Something about a cast aluminum (a magnesium aluminum alloy to be more specific) screams quality, strength and durability. Top it off with some nice laser etching in the frame – it’s the small (sometimes silly) attention to detail that Focal puts into their speakers that really make you confident in their products without even hooking them up to power.

The tweeter also features some innovative engineering with it’s inverted ‘M-Profile’ dome cone. This allows sound to disperse at a wider angle to help improve sound performance at extreme angles (like your A-Pillar) without having to directionally place the tweeters.

All in all, the PC 165 FE is a fantastic choice, our top choice, for a 6.5 coaxial speaker right now.

Key Features

MakeFocalModelPC 165 FESize6.5″ CoaxialPower (RMS)70 wattsPower (Peak)140 wattsFrequency Response60 – 28,000 HzSensitivity90 dB

Pros

• Excellent warm and natural sound with clear midrange
• High-end look that is hard to cover up with a grill
• Made from only the best materials

Cons

• Difficult to fit in some locations due to larger-than-standard cutout size

Best Budget 6 1/2″ Component Car Speaker

Polk Audio DB6502

See the full list of Best Budget 6 1/2″ Component Car Speakers

Latest Prices

$149.00 at Crutchfield.com

at Amazon.com

Polk Audio DB6502 Quick Review

Sometimes you just need a budget friendly speaker that will do the job – sound well, last and not break the bank. The Polk Audio DB6502 are the updated version of the DB6501. We’ve always been fans of the Polk DB series. They’re among the most popular speakers on our lists. Not only are they a fantastic value and bang for your buck, they perform well. And with features like a polypropylene and UV protectant cone, and waterproof inner and outer surrounds, they’re meant to sound great in the harshest conditions like boats, UTVs and other outdoor applications. So naturally, one of our favorite features of these speakers is their IP55 marine certification, making them a great choice for marine and outdoor applications! All in all, the DB6502 is at the top of our list of best value 6.5″ component car speakers – they’re a great buy.

Key Features

MakePolk AudioModelDB6502Size6.5″ CoaxialPower (RMS)100 wattsPower (Peak)300 wattsFrequency Response35 – 23,000 HzSensitivity92 dB

Best High-End 6 1/2in Component Car Speaker

Morel Supremo 602

See the full list of Best High-End 6 1/2″ Component Car Speakers

Latest Prices

$5,499.00 at Amazon.com

$5,499.00 at Crutchfield.com

Morel Supremo 602 Quick Review

Alternatively, if your pockets are deep and you have a high profile vehicle that needs its sound system to match its outrageousness this would be your choice. A recipient of the 2012 CEA Innovation award, the Morel Supremo 602 is Morel’s flagship component speaker for the automotive market. These components create precise, linear, dynamic sound with a wide frequency range. And with crossovers that are engineered to meet the most challenging acoustic conditions of a car, you can expect positive phase, sharp roll-off and resistor-free signal paths to create total sound integration between the Supremo components to recreate a realistic three-dimensional sound.

Ridiculously priced, Morel speakers take car audio to another level in their looks, design and performance. If you’re looking for greatness, here’s a good option.

Key Features

MakeMorelModelSupremo 602Size6×9 ComponentPower (RMS)140 wattsPower (Peak)600 wattsFrequency Response30 – 25,000 HzSensitivity89 dB

Best Overall 6×8 Car Speaker

Rockford Fosgate Power T1682

See the full list of Best 6×8″ Car Speakers

Latest Prices

$99.99 at Amazon.com

$129.99 at Crutchfield.com

Rockford Fosgate Power T1682 Quick Review

When it comes to finding a great speaker to replace blown or low quality factory units, Rockford Fosgate might be the perfect choice for you. These speakers feature carbon fiber and polypropylene injected cones that are both rigid and lightweight but also durable and reliable. This design enhances midrange frequencies and prevents off-sounds many oval speakers tend to create. An aluminum one-inch tweeter gives you dynamic high range frequencies.

One feature that we particularly like is the built-in crossover. The crossover is tucked away in the basket which keeps installation clean and simple. RF applies its VAST technology to these speakers which results in an effective cone area that is up to 25 percent larger than previous designs.

Key Features

MakeRockford FosgateModelPower T1682Size6×9 CoaxialPower (RMS)80 wattsPower (Peak)160 wattsFrequency Response55 – 22,000 HzSensitivity88 dB

Pros

• Excellent sounding speaker with a robust midrange and clear highs
• Fits numerous factory speaker locations without modification
• On-board crossover simplifies install and results in better sounding speakers

Cons

• Somewhat deep and may cause interference issues when replacing factory 5×7” speakers
• Not as much bass as might be expected from a speaker this size

Best Overall 6×9 Car Speaker

Focal RCX-690

See the full list of Best 6×9″ Car Speakers

Latest Prices

$132.99 at Amazon.com

$134.99 at Crutchfield.com

Focal RCX-690 Quick Review

Another Focal option on our list (there’s a trend here) is their RCX-690 6x9s. French manufacturer Focal is known for its great speakers, and great speakers don’t come cheap. The Auditor Series is meant to be an entry-level speaker but it’s hardly that – in both price and performance. We previously featured Focal’s older model, the Performance 690C on our 6×9 list. The new design uses better basket geometry and includes much better-looking grills. All technical specs and materials are equivalent, so it’s important to note the main difference between the old and new design is simply the way they look.

The RCX-690 is a three-way design. It uses an inverted mylar dome tweeter and an inverted dome super tweeter speaker to give you high-end quality without breaking the bank. We love the simplicity in the design of these speakers and the level that they perform at for the price point. They’re simply a great set of 6x9s.

The RSX-690 features a sturdy double-arm steel basket for its strength and rigidity. Within the frame you’ll find a polypropylene cone with rubber surround that enables the motor to move the cone like a piston while limiting flex and horizontal movement.

Where you will notice the difference between these speakers and other brands is really in the authenticity of the sound. Snare drums are tight and sharp, vocals are smooth and natural, and bass is full. You’ll get great sound from other brands, but you will not find a three-way speaker that sounds this good for a better price.

Key Features

MakeFocalModelRCX-690Size6×9 CoaxialPower (RMS)80 wattsPower (Peak)160 wattsFrequency Response50 – 20,000 HzSensitivity92 dB

Pros

• Superb sound quality, particularly at high frequencies
• Smooth sound and nice deep bass
• Great performance at a low(er) end price

Cons

• Require slightly more installation depth than most other speakers

Common Speaker Terms & Ratings

When you’re choosing the Best Car Speaker, CarAudioNow takes several criteria into consideration. Lets define a few common criteria and terms that are used when rating a speaker:

Power Handling: Power handling is the measurement a manufacture gives to rate how much power a speaker can handle and operate at. It is given by two measurements, RMS and Peak (or MAX). RMS Power rating is the amount of power the speaker handles continuously. The Peak Power rating is the amount of power a speaker can handle in short bursts. When comparing speakers, RMS Power is the more relevant and important rating to look at.

Sensitivity: Speaker sensitivity rating is a measurement of the amount of sound the speaker will emit from the power it’s given. The higher the sensitivity, the more efficient the speaker is with the power it’s given. For lower powered systems, you want a higher sensitivity rating. For a higher powered system, you want a lower sensitivity rating. Lower sensitivity rated speakers are meant to handle higher power.

Frequency Range: Frequency range is the frequencies that the speaker emits sound at. It’s typically measured in Hz. The ranges show from a low frequency to high, for example: 20 – 22,000 (22k) Hz. This measure how low and high the speaker can emit sound at.

To help you compare these three key speaker ratings for the products in our comparison, we’ve assembled a few charts:

Speaker Design & Materials

Woofer: The speaker woofer determines the responsiveness, and quality of the speaker. The stiffer and lightweight the material used, the more effective the speaker is. Polypropylene is a common material used for the cone. In addition, woven fabrics such as kevlar are used in higher quality speakers. Aluminum and titanium are also used in higher end speakers.

Woofer Surrounding: The woofer surround also is an important aspect of the speaker system. It can effect the sound as well. Durable, lightweight, and free moving materials are used to allow the woofer to move with as little energy possible. The material is essential for a long lasting speaker too. As speakers get older and used, humidity levels and wear-and-tear can crack and break the woofer surround. Rubber surrounding is typically the most long lasting an high performing. Foam an cloth surroundings are found on less expensive car speakers, with lower performance and shorter life spans.

Crossovers: When you purchase a component car speaker set, a crossover is typically a part of the package. External crossovers are typically used to lessen the amount of distortion a speaker has. They do this by separating the frequency inputs. Signals can cross through coated wiring and cause distortion. So an external crossover system will limit this.

Components vs Coaxial Speakers

One other quick thing worth defining before you start digging into our list is the difference between a coaxial and component speakers. If you have a vehicle with tweeters in your A-Pillar or in your dash, you’ll likely need a component speaker. If there are no tweeters throughout your car that you can find, you’ll likely require coaxial speakers. Our vehicle speaker size list should help with this question, but if you’d like to read up more about the difference between the two types of speakers, be sure to read our components vs coaxials article.

We know you want the best 6.5 component car speakers, the only question is, how to install them?

The thought of installing a car speakers can be quite intimidating. They’re built into doors, sometimes the dashboard and maybe the rear parcel shelf. How do you get the old ones out and replacements in without damaging all that trim? And if you’re upgrading to a component system, you’ll need to think about how you’ll remove the A-Pillar trim to access the tweeters or the dash covering.

Fact is, car speaker installation is easier than it looks. All you need are a few simple tools and a little knowledge. We’ll provide that know-how here, hopefully inspiring you to tackle this not-too-difficult project. Check out our How To for Installing Car Speakers to prep yourself for your upcoming speaker upgrade.

About this List

We take our ‘best lists’ very seriously. Our top pick car speakers that we compiled on this list are based on extensive research, our own experience and testing of products and of course our knowledge of the industry. In no way was this list subsidized or influenced by a manufacturer who pays us to place a speaker on a list. The recommendations here are guidelines, based on what we think are quality car speakers that will perform well, last long and are built by manufacturers that you can trust. And our lists originate here – they are not copied from other sources and thrown together without purpose. Providing you the trust that the information you read here is legitimate, and the confidence in the product you choose from this list is our top priority. We’re constantly keeping these lists up to date too, so you are seeking a car stereo, you’ll always find the latest and greatest here.

FAQ

What are the benefits of upgrading my car’s speakers?

Upgrading your car’s speakers can result in a number of things – improved sound quality, increased volume, and more powerful bass response (among others). By upgrading your factory car speakers, you can enhance your listening experience and make your music sound much more dynamic and enjoyable.

How do I choose the right car speakers for my vehicle?

When considering replacing your car’s speakers, the first thing to check is the size of speaker that’s compatible for your vehicle so that they fit properly in the location you want them to. It’s also important to consider power handling, sensitivity and frequency response. By aligning power handling with the power output of your head unit or amplifier and things like frequency response to your listening habits, you can ensure you chose the best car speaker for you.

How do I install new car speakers in my vehicle?

Installing new car speakers can definitely vary depending on the vehicle and the speakers you choose. Generally speaking most speakers, regardless of size, will mount relatively the same as long as you chose the right size for the location. To install a speaker, you will need to choose the location and then use your vehicles factory speaker wire (or custom speaker wire if you wired it yourself) and attach it to the positive and negative leads on the speaker. Once you’ve connected your leads to the speaker, you can mount it in place.

What are the best brands of car speakers on the market?

Some of the most reputable brands for car speakers on the market today include JL Audio, Rockford Fosgate, Sony, Hertz, Morel, and Focal. Many of which are on our list of best car speakers!

What is the difference between a coaxial and component car speaker?

Coaxial and component car speakers are a little different in terms of their design and function. Coaxial speakers have all the speaker elements, such as the woofer and tweeter, combined into one unit. In most cases, you’ll see the tweeter front and center on a coaxial speaker. They are simple and easy to install, making them a great option for those who want a straightforward solution for almost any application. Component speakers, on the other hand, have separate components for the woofer, tweeter, and crossover network, which can be placed in different locations in the car for optimal sound quality. They are more complex to install but provide better sound quality because of their dedicated components, and greater flexibility in terms of placement.