-
Willie Greer
Do you want a car subwoofer but have limited space? Good thing, there are 6.5-inch subwoofers available that can seamlessly fit into your car audio system. With shallow mount depth and considerable maximum power output, you would not fear that the sub size will fall flat resulting in a waste of money. Plus, our audio experts curated the best 6.5 subwoofer guide below.
- Vented basket
- Compact design
- Handles a heavy load
- Amazing peak power rating
- Dual 2 ohm subwoofer
- Powerful bass
- Distortion free
- High peak power
- Designed and engineered in the USA
- Rigorously tested
- High-performance and heavy duty
- Good subwoofer for a small space
At A Glance: Our Top 4 Picks for 6.5 Inch Subwoofers
- Best Overall: Skar Audio EVL-65 D2
- Premium Option: Memphis Audio MJM644
- Best Budget: Toro Tech - Fierce 6
- JL Audio C1-650
Reviews of the Best 6.5 Inch Subwoofers
Skar Audio EVL-65 D2
The Skar Audio EVL-65 D2 is a subwoofer that provides more power to your system with solid lows. You will notice an improvement in the overall performance of your entire sound system with a 400-watt maximum power and 200-watt RMS rating.
The small subwoofer has a 2-inch copper voice coil and a sensitivity rating of 83.1 for maximum excursion. The ferrite motor allows the small sub to provide hard-hitting sound for overall richness with your music. Vented or sealed enclosures work well with the EVL-65 D2, and the compact frame and shallow mount design makes it a great fit for your small car speakers.
What We Like
- Boosts overall sound performance
- 2-inch copper voice coil withstanding high temperatures
- Small size and versatile setup
- Ferrite motor
- Dual ohm voice coil
- Great for small spaces
- Adequate power rating
What We Don't Like
- Hard to reach the terminals
- Requires breaking in
Memphis Audio MJM644
The Memphis Audio MJM644 subwoofer provides a great value. This particular subwoofer is our editor’s pick due to the high max power rating of 1,400 watts and an RMS power rating of 700 watts. It’s difficult to find a subwoofer that takes up less space but still provides earth-shattering sound. If you like to bump hard, the MJM644 is for you.
The 4 ohm voice coil is heat-resistant and the vented basket with a foam surround will add onto the cooling capability of the subwoofer. The small subwoofer has a very shallow mounting depth of just 5 inches.
What We Like
- Dual subwoofer
- 4-ohm voice coil
- Foam surround
- Vented basket
- Shallow mounting depth
- Very high max and RMS rating
What We Don't Like
- Not a powered design
- Listed as a single sub
Toro Tech - Fierce 6
The Toro Tech Fierce 6 has an affordable price tag given its impressive quality. The Fierce 6 subwoofers undergo rigorous testing and QC before being released to consumers. The brand guarantees excellent bass sounds and durability.
The construction consists of a high-temperature voice coil, subwoofer cooling T-yoke design, cast aluminum basket, and a non-pressed paper cone. The Fierce 6 is a very “fierce” subwoofer indeed as its small size offers an 82 dB sensitivity and a shallow mount depth. The subs are guaranteed to meet the 400 max and 200 RMS power rating output for hard-hitting bass.
What We Like
- High quality
- Cast basket
- Non-pressed paper cone
- Temperature-resistant voice coil
- Excellent bass response
- Guaranteed to meet the power handling promised
What We Don't Like
- Would work better with a rubber surround
- Requires a break-in period
JL Audio C1-650
JL Audio provides excellent internal components in their subs, and the JL Audio C1-650 is no different. They work better as pairs and can offer 450 watts at peak for both or a 225 peak for a single sub. What really attracted our audio experts aside from the attention-grabbing yellow cone is the JL audio quality promise.
As we said, the brand always provides impressive construction, which is why the sound quality stands out. The sensitivity rating is an impressive 93 dB, with a frequency response range of 48 Hz all the way to 24,000!
What We Like
- Incredible frequency response
- Relatively low impedance
- Great boost for factory vehicle speakers
- Durable subwoofers
- Highly sensitive
What We Don't Like
- Sound works better in pairs
- Low RMS and peak as a single sub
6.5 Inch Subwoofer Buyer’s Guide
Material
There is not much our audio team can say about the size, as we’re focusing on the top 6.5 subwoofers today. These subs can still provide a bass boost for your car audio to balance out the high frequency sounds. To do this, the sub must be in the correct ported or sealed enclosure and be made of durable materials.
To be a good match for your speaker system, the subwoofers should have large bumpers to add to the resilience, and must not be interfered by the magnetic field. Our expert audio team also recommends a rubber surround of possible, double-stitched butyl rubber to be exact, dual voice coils, and even dual drivers for bigger sound.
Our experts stress improved magnetic control within the sub will reduce distortion at various volume levels inside ported and sealed boxes. To ensure longevity and best value, make sure there are proper cooling channels to keep your subwoofer cool while the mounting bracket is sturdy.
Power Rating
The power rating of the sub will have an impact on your car audio. The power handling of a subwoofer feature is broken down into two categories – the RMS and the peak.
The RMS is the output the subwoofer can meet for long periods while the peak is the figure for short bursts. The peak is usually twice the amount of the RMS, and it’s the power rating that manufacturers usually advertise.
Our audio experts remind our readers that the RMS is the rating to pay attention to especially when looking for high-quality outdoor subs. It is the RMS that is how powerful your subwoofers will be to complement your speakers for everyday operation.
Sensitivity and Impedance
Speaker and subwoofer sensitivity and impedance mean the same thing. The impedance has a direct effect on the power consumption of your household sound equipment and car audio equipment.
The impedance a subwoofer features is measured in ohms, and it is indicative of the resistance your unit or sound system has to the electrical current flow. Ideally, our team says to look for a lower impedance. A lower impedance means your speakers or subs require less power to reach a certain output compared to ones that have a higher impedance.
The sensitivity is measured in decibels, or dB [1], and it has an impact on how loud your speaker and subwoofer is. To get a clear picture of how loud your bass can be, you need to look at the sensitivity and the power rating together.
Anywhere around 88 dB will deliver better than average speaker and subwoofer performance, but our experts have high standards and suggest at least 90 dB.
Ease of Setup
How easy is the setup of your new subs? Many subwoofers are component models, which means you will need to do the mounting on your own and find enclosures that match. The purpose of a very compact 6.5 sub is to accommodate limited space, so you need a shallow mount depth.
Depending on the type of speaker you have, such as coaxial speakers, you have to make sure the connections are compatible.
(Looking for the ideal sub to install in your car? Well, you can check the top under seat subs we listed here for you)
Basket
Our sonic engineers talked about the basket venting throughout the article. The purpose of making sure your basket is properly constructed and vented is to guarantee more effective and durable subwoofers. Adequate air flow through the basket will help regulate temperatures, which in turn prolongs your playing time.
FAQ
Who makes the best 6.5 inch subwoofer?
Skar Audio makes the best 6.5-inch subwoofer. Skar has affordable products with excellent construction and sound output. Their subwoofers install easily into your speaker system and come with temperature-resistant voice coils, an excellent frequency response, and a reliable construction. They also come in affordable price ranges.
Is a 6.5 subwoofer good?
Yes, a 6.5 subwoofer is good for space saving and hard hitting bass if you know where to look. They are small units that can fit easily into any vehicle and some models can provide excellent frequency responses and bass output. They may not be as powerful as 8 or 10-inch subs, but they are great for the size.
Our Top Pick For a 6.5 Inch Subwoofer: Skar Audio EVL-65 D2
Our team’s top pick for the best 6.5 subwoofer is the Skar Audio EVL-65 D2. The small subwoofer provides an impressive low frequency response with a 2-inch copper voice coil designed to withstand higher temperatures. The powerful ferrite motor and small driver provides versatility and promises a lot of strength for a tiny sub of this size.
For similar products, we listed down the following for you:
