Best Car Speakers | Reviews & Buyers Guide

Good quality car speakers are must if you want to listen to quality music in the car. Whether you like classical music in a traffic jam or rich bass of Bollywood music – listening to music while driving makes this time enjoyable. There is only one problem, especially in low to mid-cost car models, the manufacturers install inferior audio components.

Below is the comparison chart for some of the best car speakers in the market. You can also take inspiration from our buying guide to select the car speakers according to your personal preference. 

Best car speakers comparison chart

Name	Preview	Our Ranking	More Details	Type	Set consists of	Resilience - RMS average power	Load Capacity - Peak Maximum Power	Sound level volume	Impedance between speakers and amplifiers	Dimensions	More Details
Sony XS-FB693E		95/100	Check on Amazon	3-Way Coaxial	1 Set of Speakers with Speaker Wires	60 W	420 W	92±2 dB	4 ohms	6"x 9"	Check on Amazon
Pioneer TS-C601IN		94/100	Check on Amazon	2 Way Component Speaker	2 x Speakers, 2 x Tweeters, 2 x Crossovers, 2 x Speaker Wire	60 W	380 W	88 db (±1.5 dB)	4 ohm	159(mm) x 68(mm)	Check on Amazon
Pioneer TS-R6951S		92/100	Check on Amazon	3 Way Coaxial Speaker	2 Woofers, 2 Woofer Grilles, 2 Speaker Wire	50 Watts	400 W	92dB (±1.5dB)	4 ohm	6"X 9"	Check on Amazon
JBL GTO609C		92/100	Check on Amazon	Component Speaker System	2 speakers, 2Grills, 2 Crossovers and 2 Tweeters	5-90 watts RMS	270 W	93 dB	3 ohms	6-1/2" woofer cone 3/4" tweeter	Check on Amazon
Sony Mega Bass XS-FB162E		90/100	Check on Amazon	2-Way Coaxial Speakers	1 Set of Speakers with Speaker Wires	40 W	260 W	90±2 dB	4 ohms	6.5 inch	Check on Amazon
Pioneer TS-R1651D		88/100	Check on Amazon	3-way Coaxial Speaker	4 Speakers, 4 Speaker Wire	40 W	300 W	90dB (±1.5dB)	4 ohms	6-1/2" (160 mm), CONE	Check on Amazon

Buyers Guide for best car speakers

The diameter of the speaker housing in your car determines which speakers are suitable for you. Car speakers are usually sold in diameters of 4, 5 or 6 inches and in an oval shape.

Depending on space, taste and budget, you can choose between coaxial or component systems. In coaxial systems, only one loudspeaker plays all frequencies, and the component system consists of several loudspeakers.

The speakers are only half the battle. If you want sophisticated sound, you need more components: car radio, amplifier, power supply and insulation.

The size: Which car speakers are suitable for you

A new car speaker set replaces the built-in production model of speakers. But which speakers make sense for your car?

First, it depends on which car model you drive. Depending on the manufacturer and year of construction, there are different sized speaker devices in the car. These are usually found in the doors and on the dashboard. The diameter of these devices is usually independent of the manufacturer at 4, 5, 6 inch or in an oval shape.

To find the diameter, you can check the manual of your car. This diameter determines which speaker size is suitable for you. 

Car Speaker Types

A coaxial speaker sounds best for the ear because the sound is from the one point. As a result, we perceive the sound as very natural. However, as speaker devices in cars are usually at leg height, the sound when speakers are on the back is lost.

Component systems are good for a better music experience in the car. The deep and middle notes sound in the lower height – and a separate tweeter is positioned at head height. This makes the sound clearer and more spatial.

If you just want to upgrade the sound in your car a little bit, then you have a coaxial speaker. Even on cheap models, voices and music often sound much better than standard speakers.

Real music lovers should resort to the more sophisticated component system. Due to the separate pairs of speakers, a very harmonious and space-filling sound is possible.

Things to consider in car speakers

Find the right system

Subwoofer in the door and tweeter on the dashboard

Your car door has speaker housing in the doors. These can be quickly and easily fitted with coaxial speakers. If you are not bothered by the fact that sound is not optimally positioned for the driver, they are an inexpensive option.

If you want better sound experience then you should consider having the component sound system. 

More watts doesn’t always mean more power

Many cheap manufacturers lure with high wattage – but unfortunately, they say nothing about the performance. This usually means the peak load capacity that the speaker can provide for a short time.

If you are looking for comparable values, you can use the RMS value. RMS (Root Mean Square) indicates how much power is delivered on average – and is therefore much more meaningful.

Do I need a 2-way or 3-way system?

Since the mounting dimensions for the car are very compact, 3-way car speakers rarely provide an advantage. 

But what do 2-way and 3-way system mean anyway? 

 In 2-way car speakers, there are two sound sources. The tweeter plays the high frequencies and the bass is responsible for the low and medium. 2-way systems have a compact design to keep the sound clear. Please note that the more compact speakers, the less bass it can reproduce.

3-way systems are usually less compact. They reproduce sounds over three sound sources which are tweeter, an additional midrange and the woofer. In this system, additional midrange can take care of the bass. However, this does not make much of a difference for the sound system in cars, as the 3-way systems are also compact in design for space reasons.

We recommend the 2-way system, but it is ultimately a matter of personal taste.

Full sound: It takes more than speakers

Speakers, amplifiers, cables: everything important!

If the music in your car is just for background sound, then the built-in car radio is sufficient. This usually provides 10 to 20 watts RMS per channel.

If you buy car speakers that are rated at 70 watts RMS, the radio would be the limiting factor for your car system set. It cannot deliver enough power to the speakers. Once the certain volume is exceeded, the sound begins to crack and crackle.

Car radios are often advertised with up to 50 watts of power per channel – unfortunately, this is only the peak load of the products.

Therefore, always pay attention to the RMS specification for car radios. In terms of construction, the pre-installed amplifiers in-car radios seldom create more than 20 watts RMS.

Good values ​​for an amplifier are 50 to 100 watts RMS per channel. It is important to pay attention to the correct impedance.

For example, if the speaker has an impedance of 4 ohms, the amplifier should also be rated 4 ohms. Operating a 4-ohm speaker on an 8-ohm amplifier can cause the amp to burn out.

If you have a car stereo, amplifiers and speakers installed, you consume more power than before. For this, you usually need a power supply that is suitable for your performance.

In summary: These components are important

Anyone who buys powerful speakers needs the right accessories to get the most out of them. The most important are car radio, amplifier and power supply. If you want more bass, you also need an additional subwoofer.

Additional features that are important when buying car speakers

In the end, your taste decides

The technical values ​​of the speakers can be compared. Which speaker offers more power? Which one gives more bass? But In the end, it depends on your personal preference. 

Especially with loudspeakers, each listener has their preferences, which cannot be determined from watt-counts and decibel values. Take your time for an extensive car speaker-test and do not listen to your friends. Why? Because each person perceives sound differently – what sounds good to you may not sound as good to others.

It is best to have the car speaker installed by the expert

Those who value high-quality workmanship should have their car sound system installed by 

The correct installation, the correct alignment and the insulation significantly influence the listening experience. The advantages and disadvantages are obvious:

• Perfectly tuned car sound system
• No own effort
• No rattling in the body
• Installation costly

Installation tips for hobbyists

There must be an air-tight space between the inner and outer panels.

The rings that hold the speakers should be as stable as possible – preferably made of wood or metal.

Stick foam between the cardboard and the inner panel – this will dampen the sound.

Tips & Tricks for better sound

The correct installation is important, as well as the quality of audio cables and music files.

The quality of the cables that attach the speakers to the radio or amplifier influences the sound experience. For the front system you should use cables with 2.5 mm² cross-section, for car subwoofers 4 – 6 mm².

Quality of music files

More bass through subwoofers: Without a subwoofer, in the car, you should not expect too much bass. Especially for loudspeakers with a 4-inch diameter, the bass is very short due to construction. 

If you want car speakers with good bass, you cannot avoid a car subwoofer set. These bass boxes are available in two versions: active and passive. Active means that an amplifier is already installed in the subwoofer. Passive means that an additional amplifier is required for operation.