Best 4×6 speakers reviews- durability & performance all in one
I’m an audiophile and this being so, one of the things I treasure most is the detail in every genre of music I listen to. From hyped dubstep music to the soothing R&Bs and blues, there is no taking chances whatsoever.
Though most vehicles come with sound systems already preinstalled in them, these might not always give you the full audio experience as you obviously would like to have. Whereas most people are forced to put up with the low-quality speakers, others look for upgrades and only a few are able to find worthy upgrades that won’t give in after a few weeks of use.
Now here’s where we come in…
We intend to save you the time and trouble of looking for high quality, affordable and easy to install 4x6 car speakers. In a short while, you’ll be having a list of 10 of the best and besides just the reviews, there is also a detailed buying guide to get you started in shopping for one.
Let’s get started right away.
Comparison chart
Contents
- 1 2021’s top 10 4x6 speakers
- 1.1 1.Rockford Fosgate Punch P1462
- 1.2 2.Pioneer TS-A6966 A Series 6" X 9" 420 Watts Max 3-Way Car Speakers Pair with Carbon and Mica Reinforced Injection Molded Polypropylene (IMPP) Cone Construction
- 1.3 3.PIONEER TS-A4670F 4"" x6 4-Way Coaxial Speaker
- 1.4 4. 2-Way Universal Car Stereo Speakers - 240W 4 Inch Coaxial Loud Pro Audio Car Speaker Universal OEM Quick Replacement Component Speaker Vehicle Door/Side Panel Mount Compatible - Pyle PL412BK (Pair)
- 1.5 5. JBL GTO939 Premium 6 x 9 Inches Co-Axial Speaker - Set of 2
- 1.6 6. Infinity Reference 9632IX - 6” x 9” Two-way car audio speaker
- 1.7 7. Kicker KSC4604 KSC460 4x6 Coax Speakers
- 1.8 8. Pyle PL463BL 4'' x 6'' Three-Way Sound Speaker System
- 1.9 9. Polk Audio DB462 DB+ Series 4"x6" Coaxial Speakers with Marine Certification, Black
- 1.10 10. BOSS Audio Systems CH6520 Car Speakers
- 2 The ultimate guide to the best 4x6 speakers
If it’s too much trouble to read all our reviews, you could have a quick look at the 3 speakers below which are the best of the best among our list of the 2018’s recommended picks. There’s no way you could go wrong with these three.
Picture | Name | RMS | Rating | Product link |
---|---|---|---|---|
Kicker KSC4604 KSC460 4x6 Coax Speakers | 75 watts | |||
Pioneer TS-A4676R 4" x 6" 3-Way Speaker | 50 watts | |||
Polk Audio DB461P 4x6-Inch Coaxial Plate-Style Speakers | 50 watts |
Here’s how we rounded up this list of best 4x6 car speakers
We are not just all about evaluations and testing and our experience in the car audio industry alone wouldn’t be enough without the first-hand experience of users.
So as to ensure that no information is flawed, we went ahead and took the opinions of the critics, manufacturers as well as industry leaders. By backing all this up with the in-depth research through the internet, we were able to know the strengths and weaknesses of every single speaker in our reviews.
2021’s top 10 4x6 speakers
Among all the 4x6 speakers available in the market, only these made it to the top 10 list and I’m pretty sure each of them is worth every penny and bound to give you a whole new experience as far as car audio quality is concerned.
Here we go…
1.Rockford Fosgate Punch P1462
There’s no better way to kick off our reviews other than having a look at the Rockford Fosgate Punch P1462 which also boasts to be from one of the most enviable car speaker brands in the market. There’s a lot more to this speaker other than pumping up your music. Here’s a closer look
An integrated concealed crossover (ICC)
As far as coaxial speakers are concerned, this is one of the few that are going to give you a performance that’s close to what you’ll get from a component speaker.
The ICC id within the basket in order to give you an easy installation time while upholding the aesthetics of this speaker without overlooking its purpose whatsoever. By directing the highs to the tweeter and the lows to the woofer, you’ll also be getting a cleaner sound quality.
VAST surround tech
The Vertical Attached Surround Technique will increase the effective radiating cone area of the speaker without increasing the size of the speaker which could otherwise make installation complicated. The VAST surround will be giving you an additional 25% radiating cone area as compared to other speaker brands of the same size
The flex fit basket design
Other than using screws all the time, the Flex Fit frame used on this speaker makes use of slots where applicable. This, besides making installation easy will allow for a slight adjustment of the speakers even after they are mounted.
Includes an OEM adapter plate
Now here's something that you won't easily come across in other speaker designs in its class. With this adapter plate, this speaker can be installed in the OEM openings of most vehicles without much trouble.
However, just to be safe, I’d recommend that you ensure your vehicle is compatible with the OEM adapter plate before purchasing this bad boy.
Performance and build quality
It's got a frequency response of between 90Hz and 22kHz, a 90dB sensitivity rating, 35-watt RMS, a mineral-filled polypropylene injection molded cone and a butyl rubber surround.
With all these in one speaker, there’s no way you could possibly go wrong.
What we liked about it
What we didn’t like
2.Pioneer TS-A6966 A Series 6" X 9" 420 Watts Max 3-Way Car Speakers Pair with Carbon and Mica Reinforced Injection Molded Polypropylene (IMPP) Cone Construction
The fact that pioneer has been in the game for 80 years as far as car audio components is concerned should be enough reason to consider this speaker a worthy upgrade to your currently installed ones. But we’re all about getting into details and for starters, it comes in a pair- one for each door.
Is it worth your money, let’s find out, shall we?
Includes a cooling basket design
It is always a good idea to keep car speakers cool at all times and one of the best and most convenient ways to do this is for the manufactures to include a cooling mechanism in the design of the speakers.
In the case of the Pioneer TS-A4676R, there is a cooling basket which also does have an air vent that increases the cooling process. This, in turn, gives the speakers a better power handling that is just what you need for impressive lows.
A spider design
By incorporating the same material that is used in the PRS series of the high-end component speakers, the spider design will also be giving you a stiffer suspension as well as a more accurate response. This means enjoying every detail of your music
Quality diaphragm construction
To make the reproduction of clear sound with outstanding responsiveness sensitivity as well as a suitable degree of internal loss, various materials were combined together in the construction of the diaphragm in order to make it extra light and rigid.
The performance and build quality
Moving on to the performance, this speaker has got a 200-watt peak power and an RMS of 30 watts. In addition to the power rating, there is a new multilayer mica matrix cone that’s surrounded by a lightweight and elastic polymer surround.
Working together, all of the above features will give you one of the best quality sounds you could expect to get from a car speaker.
What we liked about it
What we didn’t like
3.PIONEER TS-A4670F 4"" x6 4-Way Coaxial Speaker
Drop-in replacement installation OPEN & SMOOTH(TM) sound design Clear high frequencies & deep rich bass Low distortion Midrange/tweeter bridge with Waveguide High heat-resistant wire voice coil Carbon & mica-reinforced IMPP woofer cone Elastic polymer surround material 4.4oz ferrite woofer magnet Dual 11mm dome tweeters 1 5/8" cellulose fiber cone midrange 4300Hz woofer to midrange crossover Imp: 4ohm Includes multifit installation adapters screws speaker lead wires 4-way 4" x 6" speakers Freq resp: 35Hz-42kHz 210W max 30W RMS Sensitivity: 88dB @ 1W/1m 1 5/8" mounting depth Condition : This item is brand new unopened and sealed in its original factory box.
IMPP and mica composite cone
If you’re after a speaker that won't let you down in the bass production, then your focus should be on this one. With the cone being the injection-molded polypropylene cone that’s also got mica added to it, this blows most speakers in its class out of the water.
The lightweight and rigid cone are going to have an improved sensitivity with reduced distortion at the same time- definitely the best 4x6 speakers.
A ferrite magnet motor structure
Whereas most 4x6 speakers just use the standard magnets, this one steps it up by incorporating a ferrite magnet which besides being small in size is amazingly strong.
This ensures the production of high-quality sound and at the same time makes this speaker less trouble to install and set up.
A piezoelectric tweeter
With the piezo tweeters being the latest trends in the manufacture of coaxial speakers, the highs on this bad boy won’t be compromised whatsoever. They are also renowned for working optimally without crossovers which means that they’ll be handling the high frequencies quite well
The performance and build quality
With the maximum power handling being 200 watts and the RMS power being 60 watts for the pair, the sound will be loud enough though not really audiophile-grade quality.
The surround, on the other hand, is a rubber coated cloth which works quite effectively with the woofer cone.
What we liked about it
What we didn’t like
4. 2-Way Universal Car Stereo Speakers - 240W 4 Inch Coaxial Loud Pro Audio Car Speaker Universal OEM Quick Replacement Component Speaker Vehicle Door/Side Panel Mount Compatible - Pyle PL412BK (Pair)
What we liked about it
What we didn’t like
5. JBL GTO939 Premium 6 x 9 Inches Co-Axial Speaker - Set of 2
BL engineers designed the GTO 609C component speaker to produce strong, clear sound from a head-unit or amplifier capable of delivering up to 270 watts of power. This makes the GTO 609C an ideal match to systems powered with head-unit or factory-amplifier power levels. Even better, the speaker matches many of the GTO Series amplifier combinations. As a result, it can keep up with systems that feature one or more subwoofers and satisfy high-fidelity audiophile listeners. And its great power-handling specifications also increase reliability over the lifetime of the speaker.
Fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) frames
The fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) frames used in the GTO 609C’s 6-1/2-inch (160-millimetre) woofer/midrange drivers resist warping even when you mount them on uneven surfaces.Their nonmagnetic carbon composite helps to control the magnet’s energy and deliver it to the voice coil instead of wasting it as heat.
What’s more, the plastic doesn’t resonate.The result of this control is accurate sound in your car.This much power makes for an ideal match to systems powered with head-unit or factory-amplifier power levels. Even better, the speaker matches many of the GTO Series amplifier combinations.
What we liked about it
What we didn’t like
6. Infinity Reference 9632IX - 6” x 9” Two-way car audio speaker
Being one of the car speaker brands that has been around for the quite a long time now, infinity has, over the past years perfected the designs of their speakers to give car audio enthusiasts a musical experience unlike any other. New Reference speakers are designed to deliver Infinity’s signature sound in more vehicles. They feature edge-driven textile tweeters for smooth, clear highs and the larger models offer an adjustable tweeter output level control for high-frequency optimization based on installation location or the listener’s preference. Oversized Plus One™ woofers offer more surface area for higher bass output and enhanced midrange performance. Plus our newly engineered baskets are optimized to fit most factory speaker locations. Available in a range of standard sizes – 3", 4", 5-1/4", 6-1/2", 6" x 8" and 4" x 6" coaxial, 6" x 9" 3-way, and 5-1/4", 6-1/2", and 6" x 9" component – they’re the perfect upgrade from factory speakers.
Whereas other coaxial speakers may tend to have sound distortions sometimes when you tune up the volume, it's not the case for these bad boys.
The 92dB sensitivity allows the speakers to operate at high volumes even when supplied with a small amount of power hence making these the best 4x6 speakers for almost any vehicle.
What we liked about it
What we didn’t like
7. Kicker KSC4604 KSC460 4x6 Coax Speakers
We’re way past halfway in our reviews and we’re doing great so far. So, are these kicker really worth it? Well, let’s just say they’re what I’d recommend if you’re looking for something with a high longevity and performance at the same time.
How about we take a closer look?
A thin-mount design
If getting a perfectly fitting set of speakers in the past has been a problem, then I’d recommend that you check these ones out.
They come in a really thin configuration with the top and bottom mount depth is 44mm and 52mm respectively. The thin-mount design deems these good enough speakers for you to have behind your factory grilles.
An extended dynamic range
Something else that makes these the best 4x6 speakers is the dynamic range. With this being increased, the sound will definitely be an upgrade to your factory installed units as far as volume and clarity are concerned.
A polypropylene woofer and tough rubber surrounds
For the production of an accurate bass, this speaker has got a polypropylene cone for the woofer around which is a tough rubber surround.
These two step the bass up a notch and at the same time are long lasting which has you enjoying an outstanding audio quality for quite a long time.
Neodymium tweeters
To make the highs as good as the lows, the tweeters come with the neodymium magnet. In addition to this, the dome material is silk which means smooth and clear highs.
That’s not all…
The frequency response is 50Hz-20kHz, the sensitivity is 88dB and the power handling is 75 watts for the RMS and 150 watts for the peak. With all these in one speaker blended with an outstanding material construction, these are definitely a worthy upgrade.
What we liked about it
What we didn’t like
8. Pyle PL463BL 4'' x 6'' Three-Way Sound Speaker System
These speakers not only look great but they do sound great as well. Think of how awesome it would be to have these installed in your vehicle. With Pyle being one of the most accredited brands in the car speaker market, these triaxial speakers stand out to be the perfect replacement to your stock installed units.
Here’s what they pack under the hood…
Includes a mid-range tweeter
Unlike most stock and aftermarket speakers that only come in a 2-way configuration, this one has got a mid-range driver added to it. This is a one-inch neodymium film mid-range and it’s going to take care of the vocals pretty well.
In addition to this, there is also a ¾ piezo tweeter which gives you smooth, loud and detailed sounds
Non-fatiguing rubber surround
For both durability and performance, there is a non-fatiguing rubber surround around the ravishing blue poly-injection cone. This is flexible enough to allow for the dissipation of quality bass and at the same time will stand up quite well even in the harshest environments.
High temp voice coil
For durability and performance, there is a high temp ASV voice coil. This increases the power handling capacity of the speakers and cannot be easily damaged upon doing so. At the end of the day, you’ll be getting a sound quality unlike any other.
Includes mounting hardware
Included in the package are all the essential mounting hardware you’ll be needing to set it up. In addition to this, you’ll also be getting a pair of speaker grills. These securely hold the speakers in place and at the same time protects them against physical damage.
What we liked about it
What we didn’t like
9. Polk Audio DB462 DB+ Series 4"x6" Coaxial Speakers with Marine Certification, Black
Polk audio is well known for the manufacture of some of most of the marine certified speakers which just so happen to be the best as far as durability is concerned. With the Polk Audio DB461P, however, you’ll be getting one of the best audio experiences in addition to the durability that they’ve got.
Here’s why this pair made it to our top 10 list…
A dynamic balance polymer/mica composite mineral filled cone
With the cone being one of the most important parts of a car speaker, the cone in either of the speakers in this pair is made out of a polymer/mica composite that is also mineral filled. This way, it’s lightweight and at the same time rigid enough for the dissipation of a high-quality bass. The same also does have a dynamic balance which plays a huge part in improving the audio quality.
Durable butyl rubber surrounds
Besides the cone, the surround is also made from one of the best materials- butyl rubber and in this case, considering this is a marine-grade car speaker, durability will be at its best.
This makes the Polk Audio DB461P the perfect speakers to have in your vehicle if you’ll be out in extreme temperatures- they’ll definitely withstand the test of time.
A silk-polymer composite dome tweeter
As for the tweeters, they have a silk-polymer composite for the dome which is also liquid-cooled which adjusts damping to improve the sound quality and more so increases the thermal handling of the tweeters. This means quality highs at all times.
That’s not all…
In addition to the above-mentioned features, these speakers have an RMS power of 50 watts whereas the peak power is 150 watts and a high sensitivity of 91 dB for clear sounds even at high volumes.
What we liked about it
What we didn’t like
10. BOSS Audio Systems CH6520 Car Speakers
It’s been a good review and we’re finally at the end of the list.
As far as installation is concerned, this pair comes with speaker grills for each speaker right out of the box. This not only makes installation easy but it also protects the speakers from any physical damage which in turn increases their longevity.
Also, considering they are coaxial speakers, they’re bound to fit perfectly well in most vehicles.
It’s got both the tweeter and midrange driver
Unlike the factory installed speakers and most aftermarket speakers that come in a 2-way configuration which has only the tweeter and the woofer, this one throws a mid-range driver on top of this.
With the frequency response being 100Hz-18kHz, the sound quality will definitely be a worthy upgrade.
Piezoelectric tweeters & poly-injected woofer cone
The tweeter, being piezoelectric will be resistant to overloads which, in most cases results to the destruction of the high-frequency drivers when used without a crossover.
As for the woofer, the cone poly-injected which means a high-quality bass at all times. Considering there is a flexible and durable rubber surround for the woofer, this is definitely an upgrade worth having.
What we liked about it
What we didn’t like
The ultimate guide to the best 4x6 speakers
Making the wrong choice while purchasing car speaker will cost you your hard-earned money and with the market currently being bloated by a lot of 4x6 car speakers, it's not as easy anymore to get the perfect one for your vehicle.
Now, if you're looking for a worthy upgrade, you're in the right place. These speakers are guaranteed to sound much better than any stock installed units.
Here are the key things you should always consider:
The frequency response
The frequency response o rather the frequency range is a critical indicator of quality sound on a speaker. It’s got to be within the range human hearing and considering we’re talking coaxial speakers here, it’s also got to carter for the highs and the lows equally.
Speakers with the best frequency range will range between 40Hz and 20kHz. The lower the frequency is, the deeper the bass will be. For coaxial speakers, having a frequency being as low as 50 or 40 Hz should be enough to give you a good enough sound quality.
The low frequencies could sound much better by the incorporation of a subwoofer in your vehicle. If, however, you select the best 4x6 speakers, you won’t really have to spend on subwoofers
Climbing up the frequency response scale, you can focus on the highs and the Mids. The maximum possible frequency that the human ear can make out is 20kHz.
But does having a good frequency response guarantee the best sound quality?
Well, the frequency response does contribute a huge part in giving you an outstanding sound quality but having the extremes on the highs and the lows won't always give you a good sound quality since there are plenty of other factors in play such as the material construction.
Woofer and tweeter material construction
I know what you’re thinking- “but some speakers come with the super tweeter and the mid-range drivers as well?”. Well, this is true but as far as the build quality is concerned, the materials used are, in most cases, similar.
Here are some of the components you’ll want to pay attention to…
The cone
The cone, in any car speaker, is of utmost importance. For the coaxial speakers, the woofer and the tweeter are both handled by the same drivers and most designs have the tweeter mounted in the center of the woofer.
Since the woofer will be producing the lows, the cone should be rigid and at the same time lightweight to enhance flexibility. With this being so, it’s going to move with ease and give you the best details in your highs. I’d recommend that you go for a polypropylene cone or even better, one that’s got a metallic coating such as aluminum
As for the tweeters, you'll want to settle with those that got silk which produces smoother highs hence giving you a refined sound. For even better results, go ahead and purchase those that are reinforced with a synthetic material which adds extra stiffness.
The surround
This works hand in hand with the woofer cone and you’ll want it to be flexible and durable. It basically allows for optimal movement of the cone and if it’s not flexible enough, it means that you’ll not be getting the best out of your speakers.
Rubber tends to do the trick in this case since it won't be damaged by dust and you can always count on the rubber to persist even in extreme conditions such as high temperatures.
The peak & RMS power ratings- what to consider
The power handling capability of a car speaker is yet another critical factor to look into when making your selection.
When taking this into consideration, we’re basically talking of the peak and RMS. The peak power is the maximum possible power rating that the speakers can achieve. On the other hand, the RMS is the continuous power rating that the speaker runs on.
The RMS is what you should look into when selecting your set of speakers since the speakers can be able to handle this on a continuous basis and not just for a short period of time. Running the speakers on peak power for extended periods of time may result in the blowing of the coil which is the last thing you'd want, right?
But that’s not all…
If you’d like to upgrade the speakers alone, I’d recommend that you do so with regard to your system. There’s really no point in getting high powered speakers if you have a low powered system. It would be much simpler if you are doing an overall upgrade for your car’s audio since this way, you can be able to upgrade your system to match your high-powered speakers.
The sensitivity- how much power can it utilize?
This is the amount of power that the speakers can be able to utilize and it’s measured in decibels. So, basically, the higher the sensitivity, the better the sound quality.
Now, if you have a low powered head unit of maybe 15 watts RMS for each channel or less, which is what you’ll most likely have in factory installed speakers, going for a speaker with high sensitivity will be a perfect match. On the other hand, speakers that have anything more than 16 watts RMS per channel would work perfectly well with a speaker that’s got a low sensitivity.
My recommendation…
Going for a high sensitivity speaker will always leave you at an advantage since you’re guaranteed to have a better sound quality regardless of the stereo you have. Any speaker with a sensitivity rating of above 80dB should do the trick.
Impedance
In addition to having a high sensitivity rating, I’d also recommend that you pay close attention to the impedance as well. This is normally measured in ohms and unlike the sensitivity, having a lower impedance of 3 or 2 ohms on your component speakers will leave you at an advantage.
Here’s why…
In order to enjoy that quality bass, you'll need to utilize as much power as possible, right? Well, if you've got a low powered stereo, 4x6 speakers of about 2-ohm impedance should be able to supply enough power to the speakers in order to give you the best of the highs and the lows.
Final verdict
I don’t really believe in the phrase ‘one fits all’ when we talk of car audio components and neither should you. From both the reviews and the buying guide of the best 4x6 speakers, it’s crystal clear that every speaker has its own unique trait and it’s up to you to find the one that’s best for you and you alone.
From my experience, it’s best that you go for the best car speaker that you can afford. You don’t really have to break the bank; most of the speakers in our review will give you a kick for your buck.
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