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Willie Greer - August 2, 2021
6×9 speakers may not look like the conventional round ones you’re used to, but they are top-of-the-line for mid-range production. Just like with all other products, this won’t be true if you don’t pick the right ones. It might even hurt the bass in your car speaker system. Our audio experts have taken the time to review the best 6×9 speakers for sound quality.
- 4 speaker bundle
- Slender design
- Polypropylene cones
- Acoustic foam surrounds
- High power handling
- PET hard dome tweeter
- IMPP cone construction
- Works with the CarSoundFit app
- Very affordable price
- High sensitivity rating
- Low profile
- Balanced metal dome tweeter
Reviews of the Top 6x9 Speakers
Pioneer TS-A6990F
The Pioneer TS-A6990F is a 5-way speaker with a triple polyethylene terephthalate hard dome tweeter, a polyetherimide film cone mid-range, and a carbon and mica-reinforced injection molded polypropylene cone woofer. What may sound a lot like technical jargon to a beginner are the keys to dynamic sound.
The cone construction, along with the oversized motor structure, allows for maximum excursion and bass performance. The 6×9 speakers work with the brand’s CarSoundFit app. It’s actually more than just an app; it’s a car simulator to get a feel of how the TS-A6990F can outdo your factory speakers.
What We Like
- Works with the CarSoundFit app
- Excellent construction for high-quality sound
- Open & Smooth Pioneer speakers
- Oversized motor structure
- 700 watts peak power
- 4-ohm impedance
- Excellent speakers for bass without a sub
- Crystal clear sound
What We Don’t Like
- The continuous power is not very high
- May not fit all cars
Kicker 43DSC69304 D Series
The Kicker 43DSC69304 is a 4-speaker bundle that comes with two 3-way 6×9 speakers and two coaxial speakers. Both sets are very sleek and slim, with a relatively low mounting profile that will be easier to install.
The tweeters are designed to eliminate tweeter protrusion, which will deliver the best high notes without being obstructed by the grilles. The mid-range woofers of the 6×9 pair are made with polypropylene cones and acoustic foam surrounds for the best performance.
If you are looking for component speakers or coaxial speakers for your system alongside the 6×9, Kicker has you covered.
What We Like
- 4-speaker bundle
- No distortion at any volume
- Good quality sound
- Will elevate your car audio system
- Minimal tweeter protrusion
- Sturdy construction
What We Don’t Like
- Not as powerful as some other speakers
- Not the best deal for those who need only one pair
CERWIN VEGA XED693
The Cerwin Vega XED693 is the embodiment of the best 6×9 speaker pair you can get for a very budget price. It is made up of metal dome tweeters with an add-on kit. The power handling for the XED693 is 350 watts max, which isn’t bad for the small cabin of your car.
These speakers are very sensitive at a 94dB rating, which is much higher than what our team suggests for crystal clear and crisp sound. The frequency range of these highly sensitive speakers is between 50Hz to 18kHz. You can count on the XED693 to bring high-quality audio to an expansive sound stage.
What We Like
- Very sensitive speakers
- Excellent overall sound quality
- Dynamic frequency response range
- Metal dome tweeters
- 350-watt max power
- Very affordable price
What We Don’t Like
- May not be as crisp as very expensive high-end models
- Needs an amp for better bass
Rockford Fosgate P1694
The RockFord Fosgate P1694 is an excellent full-range speaker pair to match your head unit. They offer excellent sound quality due to being a 4-way design. As for the construction, the coupling of a PEI dome tweeter, injection-molded polypropylene cone, and butyl rubber surround will produce little distortion.
Aside from amazing sound, the speaker set also looks great with a sleek yet understated design. The FlexFit basket allows for better adjustment upon installation for a more suitable mounting depth. The integrated crossover will also make installation in your car stereo system much easier.
Your purchase will come with a 1-year warranty, mounting hardware, and removable grilles.
What We Like
- 4-way speakers
- Minimal distortion at any volume
- PEI dome tweeter
- Injection-molded polypropylene cone
- Butyl rubber surround
- Comes with a 1-year warranty
- Integrated tweeter crossover
What We Don’t Like
- May need a sub or amp to boost the bass
- May not fit in all cars
Kenwood KFC-6966S
The Kenwood KFC-6966S are 3-way speakers that will get you better sound quality than a lot of other expensive speakers. They come with a 400-watt peak power handling and a polypropylene cone for durable and long-lasting performance.
The coaxial speakers for your car sound system bring the best midrange production. The tweeter and super tweeter working with the midbass will accurately deliver the mid and high frequencies for full-range sound.
Additionally, the magnetic circuit embedded inside each coaxial speaker and the sound field enhancer will upgrade your factory head unit for the best sound quality.
What We Like
- Enlarged magnet circuit
- Sound Field Enhancer
- Very low mounting depth
- Polypropylene woofer cone
- Decent bass and exceptional mids and highs
- Almost no distortion at high volumes
What We Don’t Like
- The bass is weaker than the mids
- Low RMS rating
JBL Stage 9603H
Another speaker pair that can handle loud music and low bass notes is the JBL Stage 9603H. These will take over and excel where your factory head unit and speakers failed. The 300-watt peak power handling sees each speaker produce about 70 watts RMS. Our team likes the frequency response, which is not bad for 6×9 units at 45Hz to 20kHz.
As for the sensitivity, our audio team always recommends 90 or above, and the 9603H sits nicely at 92dB. This is a better rating than many stock speakers. Overall, the 3-way coaxial car audio speakers produce a well-balanced sound that can fill your car cabin.
What We Like
- 3-way coaxial car speakers
- Wide frequency range
- Great audio quality
- Made with high-quality materials
- 92dB sensitivity
- High-quality bass
What We Don’t Like
- Low RMS rating for some
- No mounting hardware
Kicker CS Series 6x9 Speakers
These Kicker CS Series 6×9 Speakers come with a mini tweeter to help round out the sound spectrum. It also features two mid-range drivers with voice coils in each that feature EVC technology. One of the best parts of the CS series Kicker speakers is that it’s made to fit most cars.
The polypropylene cones plus the ribbed and UV-treated surrounds made these aftermarket speakers very hard-wearing. Of course, they also deliver excellent acoustic production.
Our team has found that the installation process into your car sound system is very easy, and the mounting depth was quite low. These speakers come with covers that won’t hinder the sound output.
What We Like
- 3-way coaxial speakers
- Superb sound quality
- Neodymium tweeter magnets
- EVC Technology
- UV-treated surrounds
- Pretty universal fit
What We Don’t Like
- Better bass with an amp
- May need additional screws for a better fit
Kenwood KFC 6996PS
The Kenwood KFC-6996PS from Kenwood are amazing 5-way speakers that will beat the old factory speakers and introduce you to much better car audio quality.
Not only can you find a woofer, mid-range, and tweeter, but the speakers feature two super tweeters to handle the high-frequency production. The highs are further supported with the EVC Technology.
Each speaker produces enough power for a combined 150-watts RMS and 650W peak.
One more thing that stands out about the Kenwood KFC-6996PS is the diamond array pattern in the woofer cone that will reduce distortion.
What We Like
- Sound Field Enhancer for louder sound
- 5-way speakers with two super tweeters
- 650-watt peak power
- Diamond array pattern woofer cone
- Acoustic Sound Harmonizer
- Low mounting depth
What We Don’t Like
- May need an amp for bass
- Lower bass output
JBL GTO939
The JBL GTO939 is a little pricier, but these speakers deliver cabin-filling sound that is worth the cost. The speakers feature carbon-injected Plus One cones that are larger than the competition, which brings more bass in return.
The soft dome tweeters have oversized voice coils that can handle high temperatures and long hours of playing. The heat dissipation is also reinforced by the same voice coils. Plus, the tweeter volume adjustment will help optimize the soundstage regardless of the placement.
The fiberglass-reinforced plastic frames will reduce resonance for the most precise sound quality for your speaker system.
What We Like
- The speakers sound amazing
- Durable woofer materials
- Fiberglass-reinforced plastic frames
- Oversized voice coils
- Larger cones
- Ideal match for head units
- Low resonance
What We Don’t Like
- Not a match for all cars
- Requires an amp for better performance
Pyle 6x9 Universal Car Stereo Speakers (PL61984BK)
The Pyle 6×9 Universal Car Stereo Speakers bring a high RMS rating of 250 watts and 500 watts at peak. The inner workings that help produce the best sound quality include a high-temperature ASV voice coil, a black poly injection cone, a film dome midrange, and a piezo tweeter.
The frequency response is excellent at 50Hz to 20kHz. The high sensitivity rating promises loud and accurate sound despite the volume and position of the car speakers. The speakers are also very easy to install with the mounting hardware and necessary materials included. Also, the universal fit makes it much easier to incorporate into your system.
What We Like
- 500 watts of peak power
- Easy to install with everything included
- ASV voice coil
- Decent frequency range
- Low top mount depth
- Low distortion
- High sensitivity
What We Don’t Like
- May need an amp for deep bass
- Doesn’t fit a 5-inch hole
6x9 Speakers Buyer’s Guide
The car audio industry is a vast one with hundreds of products to choose from in order to improve your car audio. It can be difficult to find the best speaker, and our audio experts sympathize with you. This is why our team has created a quick guide on what to look for when finding the best 6×9 speakers.
Power Handling
To put it simply, the power rating or handling directly impacts how loud your speakers will be. There is the peak and the watts RMS power rating. The peak indicates how loud the speakers can be played in short bursts while the RMS is for continuous power. The peak rating will always be higher than the watts RMS, which is why manufacturers and brands often advertise it first.
Our sound engineers say that the RMS is what’s most important to consider when you play music in your car. This is how loud your car speakers can realistically be for continuous playing without damaging the components.
Tweeter and Woofer
6×9 speakers are usually 3 or 4-way speakers with the occasional 5-way. 3-way speakers have a dedicated driver for each section of the sound spectrum. There will be a woofer for the bass, a mid-range driver for the mids, and a tweeter for the high notes. 4-way car speakers have what the 3-ways have except there is an extra super tweeter for the higher frequency range.
Next Read: Top-Quality iHome Speakers
The 5-way speakers contain an extra super tweeter that will further allow the car 6×9 speaker to round out the entire audio scale.
You should ensure that each cone and driver are made with durable materials that still allow for maximum excursion but low resonance. A silk dome tweeter and mica-injected polypropylene cone woofers are an example of what our team would suggest. Ideally, customers would go for 4 or 5-way speakers for better performance.
Sound Quality and Bass
The sound quality and bass are determined by a variety of factors, including the power rating, the inner components, and materials. One other thing is brand-specific technologies or advanced technologies that can propel the car speakers to the next level.
Keep in mind that 6×9 speakers are not the same as floor-standing speakers designed to give your home theater surround sound. This means that you may benefit from an external amp to get the bass you want.
One example of advanced technologies that can help boost the sound includes EVC Technology.
(If you are looking for Bluetooth speakers, you can also check the loudest Bluetooth speakers available here!)
Frequency Response
For subwoofers, the lower frequencies matter more, while the higher ones are more crucial for tweeters. As most 6×9 speakers for your car are full-range, you need the speakers to be able to achieve as wide a spectrum as possible.
You want the speakers to work with your head unit and reach the lowest of lows and highest of highs possible. The human audible range [1] is between 20Hz to 20kHz. You need your speaker system to at least be able to reach the notes within this range. However, dedicated component speakers will be more successful.
Ideally, the frequency response will be around 30 to 50 Hz to 20 kHz. Without a dedicated subwoofer, it will be very difficult for a 20 Hz frequency response to be met.
Sensitivity
The sensitivity rating of your vehicle speakers also ties into the loudness. The sensitivity is measured in dB, or decibels, and the higher the number, the better and more sensitive the speakers are to the power input. This means they will be louder.
Our audio engineers always suggest a dB rating of around 90 or above. Luckily, many of the speakers we have on our list make this threshold, and some even exceed it. Average level speakers have a rating of around 88 dB, so if you find the ones you like at this range, they can still perform sufficiently.
Impedance
The impedance is key to the efficiency of your speakers. The impedance refers to the electrical resistance the speakers have, which in turn impacts how much power it needs from the amp. The lower the impedance is, the more “efficient” your speakers are at allowing signals to pass.
The impedance is measured in ohms, with the most common being 2, 4,6, and 8 ohms—the lower the number, the lower the impedance.
Installation
One of the biggest issues our sound team faces when testing products is the compatibility with the car model and installation process. The most pressing thing to look for is compatibility with your car model. 6×9 speakers have a unique design with a more elliptical shape rather than regular round speakers.
You have to take a look at your stock holes to make sure installation won’t take too long or be too difficult. There is a chance you may need to hire professional services, which can be expensive. To prevent yourself from falling victim to price gouging, our experts suggest looking around to compare prices.
You also have to be sure the speakers are compatible with your head unit. The head unit is the main component that disperses the sound waves to the other units. There is a chance you can replace everything and just get a new head unit that works with your 6x9s. However, that will cost more money, and if you’re on a budget, it’s advised to work your speakers around the head unit.
You also have to take into account the top mount depth and whether or not the system comes with mounting brackets. Hopefully, the top mount depth will allow the speakers to sit flush when mounted to keep out of the way.
Component or Coaxial Speakers?
There are two different types of speakers – component and coaxial. It’s vital to determine the type you want and if it works well with the rest of your system.
Component speakers’ role is what their name suggests; they are a component within the system. This usually means it’s a dedicated driver for one purpose and delivers a specific part of the sound spectrum. A single subwoofer for your car is an example of a component speaker. Its job is to only focus on the low tones. The same goes for component tweeters that handle the high end of the spectrum.
As you may have guessed, coaxial speakers are the opposite. Full-range speakers, for example, are coaxial speakers. They are made up of more than one component driver in a single unit that is created to tackle more than one end of the sound spectrum.
2-way, 3-way, and 4-way speakers are clear examples of what coaxial speakers are. Since coaxial speakers are considered all-in-one designs, they are easier to install than several component speakers.
Price
The price range of your coaxial or component speaker system is up to you. Component and coaxial systems will impact the price, as will your expectations for sound. Our audio engineers included options under $50 and ones closer to $100 to help people within different price ranges.
You don’t always have to spend an arm and a leg to get awesome sound, but it does take some time to sort through the weeds. Luckily, our team did all the legwork for you.
The sensitivity rating of 6×9 units is higher than components speakers, which works well with your radio, but our experts will admit that some may need an amp boost for bass. If you require an external amp, that could factor into the price as well.
Installing a 6x9 Speaker
Installing a 6×9 unit is more difficult than regular round speakers. If you are a newbie at speaker installation, we would recommend enlisting professional services to avoid a catastrophe. If you can do it yourself, make sure to have all the right tools.
You must first take out the factory speakers in your car and replace them with the new 6x9s in its place. It may take some adjustments and tweaks, but connection compatibility is the most vital part.
FAQ
Which is better, 6.5 or 6x9 speakers?
6.5 speakers don’t have as much surface space as 6×9 units, and many 6x9s are full-range speakers which can produce more balanced audio. 6.5’s can also be coaxial units, but they are easier to install. Which is better is up to your tastes and budget range, but our team recommends 6×9. The quality of the build will also factor into which is better.
Is an amplifier needed for a 6x9 speaker?
Our audio team would recommend an amp with a 6×9 speaker. You will notice a difference in the bass response. Amp installation will also support the peak and RMS power outputs of the speakers much better than ones without. Most 6x9s will work well on their own, but there is no denying the need for an amp boost for bass in some models.
Our Top Pick For a 6x9 Speaker:
Pioneer TS-A6990F
Our audio experts have agreed that the Pioneer TS-A6990F is the best 6×9 speaker on the market. The dual speaker combo has a combined 700 peak wattage output with hard-wearing construction. They adopt the brand’s Open & Smooth sound concept and work with the CarSoundFit app to experience the sound before installation.
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