It takes the best car audio speakers for you to blast music in your car, every day, without having to worry about a rattling sound from ‘somewhere in the car’.
If you’ve had to deal with rattling speakers, those terrible factory ones, then it’s best to consider a replacement.
Choosing the right 6.5 car audio speakers in a saturated and highly competitive market is troublesome and deeply frustrating. Therefore, we’ve made it our lives’ mission to help you make the right choice and save money while at it.
We studied the market to zero in on the best 6.5 car audio speakers. In this article, we’ll review the top 6.5 speakers on the market from leading brands, just for you!
9 Best 6.5 Car Audio Speakers – Comparison Table
Infinity Kappa 60.11CS 6.5"
(Editor’s Choice)98dB
90W45Hz-35kHz Check Price
Alpine SPR-60C
(Editor’s Choice)88dB110W65Hz-29kHz Check Price
Infinity Reference 6500CX93dB90W53Hz-21kHz Check Price
CT Sounds Meso88dB120W40Hz-6kHz Check Price
JBL GT7-6C92dB100W50Hz-20kHz Check Price
Focal K2 Power 165 KRX293dB100W70Hz-20kHz Check Price
Pioneer TSA1676R90dB50W32Hz-40kHz Check Price
Kenwood KFC-P710PS86dB80W63Hz-24kHz Check Price
JVC CS-J62092dB30W35Hz-22kHz Check Price
1) Infinity Kappa 60.11CS 6.5″ 2-Way Component System – Best Component Car Audio System
This Infinity Kappa 60.11CS is one of the best speakers you could have. It does not only produce high-caliber sound but also looks very good and add to the look of your vehicle.
It has a rugged construction that makes it quite durable. Plus it promises the best quality and highly balanced music.
This 60.11CS Infinity Kappa car audio speaker system belongs in the high-fidelity Infinity Kappa series. It features a 2-ohm nominal impedance that allows complete compensation for any resistance in the thin and unreliable factory-installed speakers. It wiring system provides more output compared to the factory installed speakers.
It has a sensitivity of 98db and a frequency response of 45-35000 Hz. This is quite good and allows the speaker to produce loud sounds.
The attractive and stylish look of this speaker system comes from the beautiful chrome inserts located on the grille matched and modern interiors.
You don’t have to worry about any visible screws. Coupled with the strong lows and the articulate highs, this Kappa series of car audio systems is one of the best you could have.
Sound quality
The incredible sound quality comes from the speaker’s power handling with a peak of 540 watts and RMS of 180 watts
It is made of high-quality materials. The glass fiber carbon injected woofer cone is durable. Plus, it is made using Plus-One-Cone-technology which gives the cone a bigger area, giving this speaker an edge over similar products on the market.
Its rubber surround speaker system is not only durable but also delivers bold bass without making the sound irritating or too loud. Despite high bass, the sound remains refined and easy on the ears.
The tweeter is a 1” soft and edge-driven done constructed with a soft but durable fabric.
Besides the high-quality construction, the speaker also features a temperature-resistant voice-coil which reduces voice distortion. Moreover, the vented magnet as well as its motor assembly system further cools down the speaker’s voice coil.
You can play your music as loud as you wish without having to worry about the parts of the speaker falling off thanks to the gold-plated screw terminals.
The protective and soft rubber finish on the grill further boosts sound quality and enhances its life. You will not have to worry about having to replace the unit anytime soon as it is made to run for a long period of time.
Moreover, there’s also a protective cover for the magnet boot. It improves efficiency, sound quality, and overall performance. All this combined makes this one of the best audio speakers for cars.
This is a good option for users willing to spend a good amount on quality speakers. It comes with a long warranty which will give you peace of mind. However, some users complain of distortion.
Pros- It comes with a 3-year warranty.
- Woofers are made of glass-five which results in clear sounds and low distortion of sound.
- It is sold as a pair. It comes with 2 woofers, 2 tweeters, and 2 external crossovers for the best sound quality production.
- Low distortion and high quality of sound.
- It has an attenuation control coil.
- It features temperature controls.
- You could use it as a portable speaker.
- It is expensive.
- Unfortunately, it generates a bit of sound distortion.
- It lacks the lower-end bass response in the Infinity Reference speakers.
2) Alpine SPR-60C Car Audio Component System – Best Use of Your Money
You will spend a lot more on this car audio system than you will on most other speakers, but the highs from this sound system are mind-blowing. This Alpine SPR-60 lives up to Alpine’s positive reputation. The lows from this speaker are just as impressive.
It is fine-tuned for balance and clarity with its multi-layer hybrid-fiber woofers which deliver strong bass responses. The adaptation of the ridged surround by Alpine (originally for their subs) ensures that you get consistent and extended cone movements which push a lot more air. Its silk tweeters are impressively designed to produce the smoothest highs to bring out the depth and details of the music, without any shrills.
The incorporation of an EQ ring in the tweeters’ front facilitates the dispersion of the highs for more sweet spots. You might also like that the tweeters are mounted separately allowing you to focus the sound according to your seating position.
Its smaller and stronger neodymium magnets are different from traditional magnets used in speakers. These magnets are the reason why this Alpine SPR-60 has high-density polymer frames.
The 2-way external crossover networks help in the control of the low and high frequencies, yielding clear and seamless sounds.
If you like to turn things all the way up, even when rushing to work, you might like these Alpine speakers. It’s designed to deliver a lot of, and it can handle really high volumes.
Pros- 7-tweeter adjustment levels.
- Impressive quality of sound. Extremely clear lows and decent mids and highs.
- High-quality and durable design made of rugged and high-density plastic polymers as casing, and premium-quality fiberglass in the cones.
- You can crank the music all the way up.
- Good value for money.
Alpine is known to produce high-quality products and this set of car speakers is no different. This speaker has passive crossovers and while it might be expensive but it’s worth the price. Plus, the company offers exceptional customer support, which is an added benefit.
Cons- It is expensive.
- Installation is not as easy.
3) Infinity Reference 6500CX – Best Budget Car Audio Speakers for Clarity
Competitively priced and feature-packed, these Infinity Reference 6500CX speakers are the best in terms of sound clarity. Manufactured by a highly regarded company in the car audio systems industry, these speakers promise a high sensitivity of 93db.
This component speaker system comes with 2 woofers, 2 tweeters, and 2 external crossovers.
The high sound clarity from the speakers comes from the polypropylene woofer cones as well as the vented voice coils and the true 4-ohm technology. It has edge-driven and soft-dome fabric tweeters as well as fully-adjustable tweeter controls.
Thanks to rigorous voicing procedures and infinity tests, all the parts of this system blend perfectly, delivering the best quality high-fidelity car audio system.
It has a peak power handling of 270W and 90W RMS.
This speaker can be a good option for users looking for a reliable and easy to use the product. It comes with a guide that explains all about the speakers.
Pros- Great power handling.
- High sensitivity.
- It is loud and clear.
- Crisp sounds in mid and high bass levels.
- Installation is not straightforward.
- You have to buy installation wires separately.
4) CT Sounds Meso 6.5 Inch Component Speaker Set – Best Mid Bass 3-Way Speakers
CT Sounds might not be a name on your top car audio brands’ list, but you might want to include it there.
It is a complete audio system set that will easily replace your old factory system. It excels in its ability to cover a lot of midbass. So, if you are looking for a sound system that offers the ideal amount of bass without having to use small subwoofers, then this set might be exactly what you need.
The set has all the ideal components for the mids and also the highs you’d love. It comes with different mounting pods for the speakers allowing you to install or move them according to your sound needs. It has the best power feed that ensures you enjoy loud but clear music.
Its design features include the fiberglass cone and the Nitrile Butadiene Rubber) (NBR) surround system which provides rich tones, the PC+NOMEX spider (6mm top and 5mm back plates), and the spring terminals on every woofer for fast and easy connectivity.
This system incorporates a Y30 ferrite magnet, a black powder-textured cast aluminum basket, and crossover circuit box. The silk dome tweeter has a chrome plated grille attached to the copper-clad aluminum wire. The face grilles included promise extra protection.
This beauty from CT Sounds can be a good pick if you’re looking for a reliable product. It comes with 1-year of warranty making it a good option. Plus, it looks very attractive as well and is known to produce clear sounds.
Pros- High-quality sound.
- Exceptional Mid Bass.
- Competitive pricing.
- Great magnets.
- Durable design.
- They don’t handle high bass too well.
- The tweeters could be better.
5) JBL GT7-6C Component Speaker System– Best Budget Speakers
The right car audio system has an advanced design, it’s made of high-quality materials. It doesn’t break the bank – this JBL GT7-6C comes with all these features and some more.
This system consists of 2 woofers, 2 external crossovers, and 2 tweeters. It also offers a power handling of 150W (peak) and 50W (RMS) and a sensitivity of 92db. All this makes it one of the best options out there.
Its produces decent quality sound thanks to the use of high-quality materials like the patented Polypropylene Plus One.
It has a 4-ohms impedance, a frequency response of 50-20000Hz. Plus, it comes with grilles.
JBL is one of the most reliable names when it comes to speakers and you will understand why once you get your hands on this beauty. The speakers produce rich sound and are also easy to install.
Pros- It is affordable.
- Works great for the front doors.
- Easy installation process.
- Good sound quality with good definition and subtle sound.
- The solder is messy.
- Plastic mounting area.
6) Focal K2 Power 165 KRX2 Component Speaker Kit – Best Car Audio System for Sports Cars
If you are looking for a way to express your lifestyle through powerful sounds, then the K2 power in this Focal K2 165 KRX2 could be exactly what you need.
The iconic yellow cone is an iconic design that delivers the most powerful and dynamic sound, exalting your driving experience. The K2 composite sandwich cone has a formidable power-handling capacity.
It’s suitable for all kinds of cars, especially sports cars. You could also get it if you are a thrill-seeker. Its intense style, damping, lightness, and power-handling are mind-blowing.
The K2 power system gives the system a harmonic sound balance. This balance comes from advanced technological features like the M-shaped aramid-fiber inverted dome tweeter offers an incredible treble.
Note that the use of glass and Aramid fibers gives the system the control needed for the reproduction of very delicate somewhat classical passages. The system has the power to handle bass-heavy beats, effortlessly and with formidable authority.
The use of robust zinc-aluminum and non-magnetic alloy baskets ensure that the baskets do not interfere with the electronic parts.
For an extra punch, there is the 2-ohm impedance system which extracts maximum power from the system.
Focus speakers are quite easy to handle as they are light in weight. Plus, the product comes with a 1-year warranty, making it a good option for users looking for peace of mind.
Pros- Best value for money.
- Powerful speakers with a high-power handling capacity.
- Best sound quality with precise clarity and great separation.
- Delicate classical passages in the midranges.
- Premium-quality materials.
- It is expensive.
7) Pioneer TSA1676R 3-Way Speakers – Best Budget 3-Way Car Speakers
These Pioneer TSA1676R speakers are easily the most affordable speakers on the market, and the best bit is that you don’t have to worry about your ears screaming because of poor sound quality.
These speakers feature a mica matrix cone which optimizes the quality of the sound produced. It is coupled with a lightweight, elastic polymer surround system that ensures the delivery of crisp sounds whenever the music plays. It is a 320W max power speaker unit.
The TS-A line of speakers includes a highly rigid cone matrix made of mica. The cone is structured for wider sound dispersion resulting in the delivery of a wider and deeper bass.
The new tweeter design delivers a good range in the mid-to-high frequencies, while also producing high optimized sounds, even at higher volumes. These technological improvements have resulted in greater performance, improved sound quality, and you also get to play a wider variety of music.
Pioneer TSA1676R allows you to play music as high and as clear as you like thanks to the use of high-quality materials that give the speakers a high level of rigidity and lightness, reproducing sound with exceptional responsiveness. The materials used also deliver the right degree of internal loss.
You might also like the speaker system because of its high level of sensitivity from the elastic polymer, and resistance to heat that comes from the voice coil wire which dissipates heat. The voice coil is also durable, and it can withstand high power input. The cooling basket has an air vent which enhances the cooling process of the speakers, improving the system’s power handling ability.
This product is unique as it comes with a pair of Alphasonik earbuds (for free) but let’s concentrate on the speakers for now. They are affordable, produce exceptional sounds, and are quite reliable as well. However, they are not very good looking.
Pros- 1-year warranty.
- High-quality sound with cleaner bass.
- Impressive sound clarity and loudness.
- Super-affordable and easy to install.
- Durable and responsive design.
- Not marine grade.
- They require break-in time.
8) Kenwood KFC-P710PS 280 Watts Performance Series Component Speakers – Best MidBass Speakers
Kenwood is a big name in the car audio speaker systems industry. It is known for its high-quality and affordable audio systems. This Kenwood KFC-P710PS is one of its leading productions, and it promises exceptional sound delivery thanks to the integration of new technologies like the Diamond Array Patterns which boosts the strength of the cone while reducing the distortion of the speaker.
There is also the incorporation of a durable surround system which not only gives you value for money but also increases the responsiveness of the speaker.
The clean vocals, well-articulated lows, and the mind-blowing highs come from the component system’s two tweeters and two woofers, as well as the injection of Diamond Array Patterns into the polypropylene woofer that features a rubber surround.
It also features a 1” soft dome tweeter, an in-line crossover network, and it can handle highs of 80W in RMS and 280W in peak power. It has a sensitivity of 86db and a frequency response of between 63-24000Hz.
Kenwood is known for excellent products and customer service. Plus, the speakers come with a 2-year warranty and has some kickass features that make it produce an exceptional sound.
Pros- Good price.
- Great sound quality with clear drivers, clean sound and great imaging.
- Impressive power handling.
- The durable design of woofers and tweeters.
- In-line crossover works well.
- Easy to install.
- Great control of sound.
- The tweeters fail too soon.
9) JVC CS-J620 Coaxial Car Speakers – Best Low-Price Speakers
If you are on a tight budget but need great audio systems for your car, you might want to try these JVC CS-J620 Coaxial Car Speakers. JVC understands that great music ebbing from great audios systems is what we all need hence these super affordable speakers.
They are great coaxial speakers with a high power handling of 300 watts at its peak and RMS of 30 watts. The RMS power handling of 30W allows easy addition of a modest amplifier.
It also boasts improved OEM drivers compared to other JVC audio systems. The OEM system has mica cones with a ferrite magnet woofer, a neodymium magnet for the 1″ Poly-Ether Imide, PEI, tweeter (with balanced dome), and a hybrid cloth and rubber surround which handles the mid and low-end frequency peaks.
The PEI tweeter material is what allows the drivers to reach a high frequency of 22000Hz. All these work to deliver great quality lows and highs and great clarity.
This system is engineered for simple installation. It has a shallow frame, mounting tabs, and screws for simple installation.
It has a 4-ohms impedance and a sensitivity of 92 decibels.
These JVC speakers are excellent and quite reliable, however, it may not be the right product for users looking for a speaker that produces good bass.
- Great sound quality for the price.
- Super affordable.
- Easy installation.
- Good upgrade from factory-installed speakers.
- Poor bass response.
- Too many holes.
Buying Guide for the Best 6.5 Car Audio Speaker
Car audio speakers are made differently. There are specific features which must be present in an audio speaker if you are looking for the best experience.
The sound of music blasting or filling the air smoothly will depend on the size of the speaker, the type, sensitivity, power-handling capacity, materials used to make the speaker, and several other features like the swiveling or the pivoting tweeters.
You might also want to get the speakers, as well as essential protective features like the bass blockers, and foam baffles.
If you are buying a car audio speaker for the first time or haven’t gotten around to the shopping for speakers bit before, here is a detailed guide of the things you should consider before you spend your money.
RMS Watts
RMS is the Root Main Square, the unit that determines the audio system’s average power output. A high RMS peak delivers impressive sound quality and high performance.
The Number of Pieces Required
Before you buy a car audio speaker, first determine the number of pieces, you’ll need.
Speaker Design
Should you get the 3-way or the 2-way speaker? 3-way has an extra component for the mid-range frequency, and the 2-way only features a woofer and tweeter.
Sound Quality
The speaker’s sound quality is the basic feature you should be looking at when buying a 6.5 car audio speaker or any other speaker for that matter. For the quality of sound, check the speaker’s frequency, the maximum (amplified) power output, and the power efficiency of the speakers.
Type of Speakers Needed
Your choice of aftermarket car audio speakers falls into the component speaker systems and the full-range speakers.
Component Speaker Systems
These are the speakers that use superior speaker designs for the delivery of the highest and the best possible sound quality. Your typical component speaker system features separate woofers, external crossovers, and tweeters; designed to work together.
In this system, the tweeters will come as separate components from your woofer so that you can mount it in a location providing high-quality imaging. This separation of components ensures that you get more realistic and live sound with greater depth.
In this system, the crossover network will come externally to your tweeter and woofer, allowing the use of the highest-quality components for sharper delineation between the frequencies delivered to the drivers — the result of using a component system more realistic sound quality.
The other beautiful aspect of the component speaker systems lies in their design – they are made of superior quality materials in comparison to the full-range speakers.
All these features bring about exceptional and detailed sound and dynamics.
Full-Range Speaker Systems
In this audio speaker system, all the elements of the speakers come in one bag. The simplest form of the full-range speakers consists of a woofer that works for the lows, and a tweeter for the highs. In some advanced models, there are extra drivers like the super tweeter or the midrange.
If all you are looking for is an unfussy car audio system upgrade from the factory speakers, then you might want these full-range speakers. Installation of the new speakers is as easy as removing the old speaker and connecting the new speakers. These speakers are also affordable.
How will the speakers match your audio system?
For this, you will have to check the audio system’s sensitivity and the power handling capacity.
Power-handling Ability
This is a measure of the amount of power (watts) the car audio can handle. A low-powered audio system means a low-power requirement while a high-powered system, one with a powerful external amp requires powerful speakers with a high power handling capacity (the power should be close to the amplifier’s power output).
The most important bit in power handling is the speaker’s maximum RMS power-handling rather than the peak power handling.
Note that the RMS ratings give a realistic measure of the amount of power the speaker will handle continuously rather than the speaker’s power-handling in the spur of the moment.
This means that 2-50W RMS-rated systems make better matches for the low-powered stereo systems.
Sensitivity
The sensitivity of the audio system measures the quantity of sound a speaker yields from the power applied. With a low-powered car stereo system with about 15watts RMS/Channel or even less – the case with the factory-installed stereos, you will need a speaker with a rather high sensitivity rating, say 90dB or higher. But, if yours is an aftermarket stereos system or even an external amplifier, then a low sensitivity-rated speaker will do the magic with exceptional sound quality.
Materials
The power handling capacity of your speaker matters. But what determines how long and well the music blasting through the speakers will be is the material used to make the speaker.
In this case, we will look at the materials used for the different components of the audio speakers.
Tweeter Materials
The tweeter’s material affects a speaker’s sound quality significantly so; quality stumps everything else, all the time. The best (and most) tweeters’ design involves the use of soft materials such as textile blends or silk. The soft materials result in the production of highly-refined and beautiful sounds.
But if you are searching for a speaker that produces the snappy and bright highs, you might want to choose a speaker system whose tweeter is made of hard/ stiffer materials such as ceramic, graphite, or metal.
Woofer Materials
For those low music notes, the woofer (component or full-range) should be made of stiff but lightweight material. Some of the best speaker materials are made of synthetic films such as polypropylene as they serve well. For stiffer materials, manufacturers ass mica to polypropylene resulting in more accurate and powerful bass responses.
Other woofer materials used include woven fabrics or synthetic-coated metals like titanium and aluminum. These materials are also lightweight, and they provide an excellent and powerful bass response. These materials are also resistant to cold, heat, and moisture.
Surround Material
The surround system gives the woofer cone the fluidity to move freely, resulting in a bolder bass. For this to happen, the surround system should be durable to withstand extreme temperature and humidity changes. These are best experienced with a surround system made with rubber. Rubber is also long-lasting. The alternative to rubber is cloth and foam – these surrounds are cheaper and work well.
External Crossovers
If you settle on the component speaker system, you’ll have to use the passive external crossovers for a clean separation between the frequencies between the woofer and the tweeter.
This is because the tweeter and the woofer do not waste energy trying to reproduce frequencies they are not supposed to reproduce — the use of the external crossover results in a cleaner and highly efficient sound production.
Note that most of the crossovers you use feature extra input terminals which allow bi-amping. So, instead of driving your woofer and the tweeter with one channel amplification, you get to connect two sets of cables, each carrying a separate signal from the amplifier. With this, the two low-frequency woofers/ drivers and the high-frequency drivers/ tweeters always receive a dedicated amplification system.
If you want the highest-quality car audio system, then you have to look at the external crossovers.
Swiveling and Pivoting Tweeters
If you are planning an upgrade of your car speakers lying low in the door, then the use of full range speakers that have pivoting tweeters is crucial for the production that big sound effect. Since tweeter produces highly directional high-frequency sounds, the use of the pivoting tweeters ensures focusing of sounds with a high soundstage. The pivoting tweeters will also result in more realistic sounds with more depth.
Detachable Tweeters
A speaker that features a detachable tweeter works as a full-range or a component system. The detachable tweeters are also an excellent investment for anyone planning to reuse their speakers in another car.
Marine Certification
If you plan to install your speakers in an off-road vehicle or an ATV, check the Marine Certification for durability.
Other Features
Other than the features above, you might also want to invest in other features like the foam baffles for dust and moisture protection; bass blockers for improved efficiency in small speakers; or a Dynamat to lower the noise levels in the car and improved clarity.
Conclusion
Choosing the right speaker can be quite a difficult task. We researched widely and looked at different features of car audio systems to give you this review.
While these are the top audio systems for cars on the market, note that your choice should be guided by factors like the sensitivity, power handling, sound clarity, design quality, and also ease of installation. Make sure to pick a product that meets your requirements the best. Infinity Kappa 60.11CS 6.5″ is our personal favorite due to the high quality of sounds it offers. However, other products on the list are also quite good.
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