Unless you have the latest model supercar equipped with a premium sound system, there’s a significant chance that your vehicle is in dire need of a replacement in the speaker department. To be honest, most manufacturers put less emphasis on audio quality and more on design, power, and other such factors.
Whether your car speakers have aged or they weren’t good enough to begin with, there are plenty of reasons to get rid of them with aftermarket 4x6 speakers. But how to select the best 4x6 speakers? In this guide, we will analyze some leading speakers available in the market and help you decide on the perfect sound equipment for your car.
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Benefits of Upgrading Your Car Speakers
Your car speakers are an essential aspect of the sound system; almost all auto enthusiasts demand excellent sound quality for a better driving experience. So, the first thing you want to do if you want an impressive sound is to replace the factory speakers as most of these are not competent, to begin with, or wear out over time.
You can get better speakers without burning a hole in your pocket while also enjoying the top-notch sound. Good quality aftermarket speakers come with better sound and superior construction as compared to factory-installed ones. This enables them to produce various wavelengths of sound accurately to provide crisper and clearer audio.
Top 4x6 Speakers Compared
Image | Model | Power Handling | Frequency Range | Check Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Rockford Fosgate P1462 | 35 Watts RMS | 90-22,000 Hz | ||
Infinity REF-6422cfx | 135 Watts | 75-21,000 Hz | ||
Pioneer TS-A4670F | 210 Watts | 35-42,000 Hz | ||
No products found. | Polk Audio | 150 Watts | 50-22,000 Hz | |
 | JBL GTO6429 | 135 Watts Peak | 75-21,000 Hz | |
Kicker 43DSC4604 | 120 Watts Peak | 50-20,000 Hz | ||
Infinity Kappa | 180 Watts Peak | 75-25,000 Hz |
Choosing Quality 4x6 Car Door Speaker
Following are some features you need to consider when selecting the best 4x6 car speakers:
Sound Quality/ Audio Performance
The best sound systems reproduce sound accurately; this sound quality is linked directly to its sensitivity or efficiency, which is the measurement unit of sound (dB) in ratio to the supplied power. If your factory fitted speaker has lower sensitivity, you can install a high sensitivity speaker to enjoy better sound quality.
Additionally, decent audio performance is reliant on frequency response; this is the range of audible frequencies that the speaker can produce. The range spans from 20 Hz and 20 kHz – so ideally, you need a speaker that can operate on both high and low-frequencies without much deviation.
Compatibility & Amplification Requirements
Matching speakers with your car’s stereo system is absolutely vital for top-quality sound. A good audio system unites all the different elements like speakers, receivers, etc. to ensure excellent audio. Car speakers function on a specific range of amplifier power. It is important to ensure this power specification is compatible with your audio system for improved sound quality.
Ease Of Installation
Before purchasing 4x6 component speakers, you need to gather some information about the factory fitted speakers that you are going to replace. This will arm you with basic knowledge of whether the new speakers will easily fit in the given space or not. You can always take out the old speakers and measure them, or many stores also provide configurations and size specifications for your vehicle based on the make and car model.
Build Quality & Design Aesthetics
A comparison between available 4x6 car audio speakers will tell you about the diversity of materials used in their construction. For instance, the cones located in each driver may be made of aluminum, paper, polypropylene, polymer, etc. As the function of the cone remains the same – that is to create sound waves by pushing air – you might be wondering at the variety of materials.
The cones work like a piston to push air, but some of the softer ones bend and flex at specific frequencies; this distorts the sound. In other words, a more rigid material based cone is better. This is just one illustration of how much impact the construction and materials have on sound quality. The fact is, everything from the glue to wires in a speaker affects the sound – this is the reason why speaker manufacturers pick each component with care.
Power Rating/Handling
Two key components you need to consider before buying a new set of speakers include peak power rating and RMS (Root Mean Square) wattage. The former indicates a speaker’s maximum power handling capacity in short bursts, while the latter signifies the amount of power it can withstand regularly.
According to manufacturers, if you need to protect your speakers, you should pay attention to the RMS rating. You should consider choosing a higher RMS power rating if you have a robust external amp which requires more powerful speakers to match its output. Generally, using low powered speakers will do more harm than good and reduce the life of the speakers.
Price & Warranty
An all-important point to consider before buying new speakers is its price. You can gather all the information about your preferred speakers and then compare their prices.
This can help you finalize a suitable product that fits your needs and doesn’t burn a hole through your pocket. Additionally, check whether a warranty covers the speaker or not, if it is, then it is important to read all terms and conditions thoroughly to check what is included and how long it will remain valid for.
7 Best 4x6 Car Speakers Reviewed
1. Rockford Fosgate P1462
Our top pick
Power Handling | 35 Watts RMS |
Configuration/Design | 2-way full range |
Sensitivity | 90dB @ 1 watt/1 meter |
Frequency Range | 90-22,000 Hz |
Nominal Impedance | 4-Ohms |
Warranty | 1 year |
Rockford has been in the audio business for almost over 30 years and is known for engineering quality speakers. Even today, each of its new product pushes the envelope of excellence even further. With its all-around performance and specs, we consider the Rockford Fosgate P1462 to be the best 4x6 car speakers. With its impressive design of a 2-way full-range, these seem to be the ideal pair of speakers for people who want the best quality sound. As a bonus, they are easy to install in your car.
The speakers also come with a Vertical Attach Surround Technique that significantly increases the subwoofer's effective radiating cone area by up to 25%. Rockford has also been mindful of conforming to the industry standards, and the powerful speakers are in line with the CEA-231.
With mounting hardware and an OEM adapter plate, these speakers can handle power of around 35 Watts RMS/70 Watts. The high output and an accurate frequency reproduction are made possible through the PEI dome tweeter; it comes with a built-in crossover and injection molded mineral filled with polypropylene cone and a butyl rubber surround. These speakers are also verified from Klippel – a speaker certification program – which effectively ensures their quality.
If bought through an authorized seller, you can also avail of a full 1-year warranty and have the best value for your money. For an increased quality output, it is advised that you use these with an amp.
Pros
Cons
2. Infinity REF-6422cfx
Best sounding 4x6 speaker
Power Handling | 135 watts |
Configuration/Design | 2-way |
Sensitivity | 92 dB |
Frequency Range | 75-21,000 Hz |
Nominal Impedance | 3.0 Ohms |
Warranty | 1 year |
Infinity’s Reference series is known for its quality and clarity when it comes to the sound. The infinity REF-6422cfx brings you exceptional clarity with the help of ½ balanced textile dome tweeters that bring out even the minutest sounds in your music.
These speakers can go up to 45 watts of RMS power and, therefore, work exceptionally well with an external amplifier. At the same time, they work well with the factory radio or even an aftermarket stereo. Also, these 3 Ohm speakers can be configured with your speaker wires, thus providing you more volume from the system.
The tough polypropylene woofers installed in them come with a durable hi-roll rubber surround. This adds an extra punch to these speakers, especially with it being a decently sized option. As these are cheaper than most others and are of more than decent quality, we feel that they are one of the best sounding 4x6 speaker options on the market today.
Pros
Cons
3. Pioneer TS-A4670F
Best 4x6 speakers for bass
Power Handling | 210 watts |
Configuration/Design | 4-way |
Sensitivity | 89dB |
Frequency Range | 35-42,000 Hz |
Nominal Impedance | 4 Ohms |
Warranty | 1 year |
Pioneer is known across the globe for its premium products for almost 50 years now. In fact, they will be celebrating their golden jubilee next year. And the reason behind their success is that they are dedicated to their products. The TS-A4670F is part of Pioneers A series that has been specifically designed to match the subwoofer and the full-range loudspeakers. This function helps deliver a seamless and smooth sound with a high impact bass.
Another significant aspect of these speakers is that they come with custom-fit installation adapters and have the original equipment (OE) 4x6, which is included in both the US and European – this helps in fitting the speakers in the original location with improved acoustic performance.
These speakers provide listeners with a seamless and smooth transition between the midrange and tweeter drivers. This helps in delivering uniform off-axis frequency, especially in cases where one or more speakers are aimed away from the listener.
Also included with these speakers is the CarSoundFIt App, which is a simulator for giving you the experience of an in-car sound through your smartphone. We would recommend these as the best 4x6 speakers for bass while listening to music.
Pros
Cons
4. Polk Audio
No products found.
best 4x6 speakers for jeep wrangler
Power Handling | 150 watts |
Configuration/Design | 2-way |
Sensitivity | 90 dB |
Frequency Range | 50-22,000 Hz |
Nominal Impedance | 4 Ohms |
Warranty | 1 year |
As the best 4x6 speakers for a wrangler, these speakers provide high-quality audio and performance. The Polk Audio has delivered reasonably well on its assurance of quality sound, which goes beyond OEM factory systems.
One of its main features is the resistance towards dirt and water; they have already been tested for Salt-fog, UV, and humidity. It also comes with Polypropylene and a UV tolerant cone that has a waterproof inner and outer surround. They are built for cars, ATV’s and boats and have received an IP56 rating as-well.
Additionally, they come with a non-corrosive plastic grille and stainless steel mounting hardware. But the most unique feature is their universal fit size; they can be placed in almost all vehicles with the simplest of installation packages and are very easy to fit. Most importantly, the installation of these speakers doesn't require you to cut into the original wires, unlike other options in the market. With all these features, it is safe to assume that the Polk Audio is by far the best 4x6 speakers for Jeep Wranglers and other similar vehicles.
Pros
Cons
5. JBL GTO6429
Best 4x6 speakers for the money
Power Handling | 135 watts Peak |
Configuration/Design | 2-way |
Sensitivity | 92 dB |
Frequency Range | 75-21,000 Hz |
Nominal Impedance | 3 Ohms |
Warranty | 1 year |
If you’re wondering what would be the ideal match for systems powered with a head-unit or factory amplifier power levels – then look no further than the JBL GT06429 Premium.
Designed to produce a strong and much clearer sound from the head-unit or the amplifier, the JBL Premium delivers up to 135 watts of power. Due to this reason, they can keep up with systems that feature one or more subwoofers, while providing listeners with excellent sound quality. They also have a high power handling system that increases their life and gives you the perfect return for your money.
Their ability to move more air than the others in this class means that they make more bass. This is because of the Carbon-injected Plus One cones that are the largest in this category. Additionally, they also have soft-dome tweeters with oversized voice coils resulting in greater heat dissipation and a much higher power handling.
Even under demanding conditions, these JBL speakers remain intact and maintain their integrity. This is because of the Carbon-composite and nonmagnetic basket. The low-impedance and 3 Ohms make up for the small wires that are installed in most of the cars today, and this allows the speakers to make use of every watt the stereo can produce. Considering the amount of money these speakers are being sold for and comparing it with others in the same category, it is safe to assume that these are the best 4x6 speakers for the money being spent.
Pros
Cons
6. Kicker 43DSC4604
Best 4x6 speakers for truck
Power Handling | 120 watts Peak |
Configuration/Design | 2-way |
Sensitivity | 88 dB |
Frequency Range | 50-20,000 Hz |
Nominal Impedance | 4 Ohms |
Warranty | One year |
Acknowledged as one of the best 4x6 speakers for your truck, Kicker 43DSC4604 is an excellent replacement for your old factory speakers. Kicker provides you with brilliant sound and incorporates a zero-protrusion tweeter into a low profile speaker – as such, these can fit in most vehicles.
A much clearer sound can be heard as compared to your factory speakers. The two-way design provides you with a dynamic sound and a much better high and low. They’ll go up to a decent volume even with low-powered factory audio systems, thus making it easier for you to enjoy loud music and jamming to your songs while driving.
This is made possible due to the highs being dedicated to the PEI domed tweeter while sending the lower frequencies to the 4x6 polypropylene woofer. This feature also lends added durability to the speakers, making them a reasonable investment.
Although these speakers do not come with grilles, they can be adjusted and used with previous factory ones. Additionally, installing them is fairly simple and can also be done at your home by looking at the provided user manual. When buying the Kicker 43DSC4604, you should keep in mind that Crutchfield offers a 60-day money-back guarantee on them.
Pros
Cons
7. Infinity Kappa
Best 4x6 plate speakers
Power Handling | 180 watts Peak |
Configuration/Design | 2-way |
Sensitivity | 94 dB |
Frequency Range | 75-25,000 Hz |
Nominal Impedance | 2.4 Ohms |
Warranty | Not Specified |
This is the second time a speaker from Infinity is being mentioned on this list, but that is because the brand is known for providing quality speakers. And this is the main reason why the Infinity Kappa is considered as one of the best 4x6 plate speakers in the market today. The woofers are patented with Infinity’s proprietary Plus One technology; this helps deliver robust bass and high output.
The textile dome tweeters are cutting edge, and with its over-sized coils, the delivery of higher-pitched sounds is exceptionally smooth. Each of Infinity’s models come with audiophile-grade inductors and capacitors that give you a more detailed and accurate sound – unmatched by competitors in this category.
One of the most unique features of these speakers is that the tweeters can rotate 270 degrees and are placed at an angle. This provides the listener with the option of elevating the soundstage if the speaker is mounted towards the lower part of the door. Users can also custom-tune the high frequencies through the push-button tweeter level control (+O dB flat and +3 dB).
The 2ohm function enables the speakers to extract considerable power from either the amplifier or the head unit, resulting in an incredible performance. Overall, these speakers are a perfect example of how all car speakers should perform.
Pros
Cons
How Car Speakers Work
Speakers are much like air pistons that move back and forth depending on the electrical signal provided, and this movement translates into music for us. Simply put, amplifiers produce alternating electrical waves that turn the voice coil into a magnet. This electromagnet is either attracted or repelled and causes the speaker cone to move, which results in sound.
4x6 speakers are non-expensive, small-sized options mostly fitted in the front of a car. These speakers, with their excellent bass, add a punch to your audio and sound system.
Coaxial (Full-Range) Car Speakers vs. Component Speakers
Most factory fitted car stereo systems contain coaxial speakers; simply put, these consist of all components combined into one structure. Also, full-range systems are easier to install and come in various sizes that mount effortlessly in factory speaker fittings. Bear in mind; these systems are not that impressive when it comes to sound quality.
On the other hand, component speakers have separate drivers that can be mounted at various locations inside your car. These types of systems are generally made of finer materials and present a better overall listening experience.
Installing 4x6 Car Door Speakers
Here's a list of things you may require to install 4x6 component speakers:
If you have all these tools, let’s begin with the installation process:
- 1To safely install new speakers, it's crucial that you disconnect the negative terminal of the battery. Remember, the open doors can drain your battery and leave you with no juice. Additionally, it can also protect you from dangerous short circuits.
- 2Remove all the components within the 4x6 speaker box. This may include speakers, wire, mounting screws, clips, crossovers, tweeters, tweeter mounting hardware, and an instruction leaflet. It is important to decide where you want to install your tweeters and what type of mounting you would like (flush, angled, or surface).
- 3Now, remove your old speakers. For this, let’s take the example of the Ranger’s factory-fitted speakers that are mounted in the doors.
Firstly, pull out the window crank; some vehicles require a window crank removal tool, but for this, you can utilize a panel tool to pry the cover. After this, the crank can be removed with a Torx T-20 screw. Then, you should remove the Philips screws and also the door cup – at this point, the door cover should slide right off.
- 4As the factory speaker is mounted with the help of four Philips screws, the speaker can be cranked using a flat head screwdriver after removing these four screws.
- 5Now, we can prepare the crossover by stripping its input wires and connecting them with Crutchfield wiring harness. You can either solder these two together or use connectors to join them.
- 6There is space for 6”x8” speakers in the front door of the 1996 Ford Ranger. Similarly, many vehicles might have different spaces. To adapt to this, you can use a Crutchfield speaker bracket to mount your woofers in the given factory opening.
- 7The next step will be to angle-flush mount the tweeters by first selecting the right position and then drawing an outline using the tweeter cup. Then, with the help of a drill, you can cut out a hole and trim it using a knife.
Note: every manufacturer provides a different system for mounting the tweeter.
- 8Then, you finish the wiring by attaching the woofer and tweeter to the crossover. Afterward, put the door panel back on the door. Additionally, you can put the crossover between the door frame and door panel and replaced the screws, pull cup, and window crank.
Once this is done, all you have to do is sit back and enjoy our music and crisp sound quality.
Tips to Better Car Audio Quality
Working on your car's audio quality is more like a journey rather than reaching your required destination. It is a process that you can keep adjusting and tweaking along the way.
Although a quick fix would be to buy the best available hardware, that would require you to pay considerable money upfront. Another way to go about it is to upgrade your built-in speaker and make a few adjustments here and there – with this you should expect the quality of your car’s audio to improve drastically.
Ironically, people expect these upgrades and adjustments to include an improved head unit as compared to your factory one or buying a subwoofer. But you can achieve better sound quality by just improving the environment in your car and getting rid of as much as external interference as you can.
Here are a few steps that can help you achieve this:
Accessories for 4x6 Car Speakers
People Also Ask (FAQs)
What determines the sound quality of car speakers?
The frequency range can determine the quality of your car speakers; generally, a wider range of frequency means better quality as it provides a better sound output. The optimum range would be 20000 Hertz, while the lowest it can go is 10 Hertz.
Another measure of quality can be the Total Harmonic Distortion, which is basically the translation of sound from the audio file. Anything below 0.1% THD means that the speakers are of good quality, even though the usual value varies between 0.05% - 0.08%, which also implies a clean sound.
You can also determine the sound quality through speaker impedance – this tells you how much power your speakers can draw. The standard would be 8 Ohm while 4 Ohms, which is great – but also more expensive, especially since you will require a good quality amplifier to get the most out of them.
Lastly, the headroom is the calculation of how much your system can produce in short bursts. You can take the example of a good home cinema sound system where you feel a jolt or vibration during explosions or gunfire from an action movie. The same is the case with your car speakers; if you feel any jolt or vibration, it means that your speakers are of good quality.
Where is the best location to place these car speakers?
For most of us, the dash, the doors, and the rear deck are the prime location as they have already been set from the factory. But once you opt for a custom upgrade, then the kick panel is known to be the best location. This is the area under the dash in the far left and far right corners of the car's interior. While some users might not be comfortable with this placement, it has to do a lot with the time-alignment. What this means is that the speakers must be placed at an equal distance from you so that the sound can reach you at the same time from both ends.
Do car speakers need to be broken in?
Not really – there is no need to play music on your speakers at half the volume to help ease into the process. The ideal way would be to play your music with a more comprehensive dynamic range, and after about 100 hours, the speakers would break-in. Although there is certain gear that can help you with this, it is a costly option and something that really isn’t necessary.
What are the best rated 4x6 car speaker brands?
Rockford Fosgade, Pioneer, Polk Audio, Boss Audio, and Kicker are some of the top rated 4x6 car speaker brands today.
Where is the best place to buy these 4x6 speakers?
If you prefer purchasing online, then Amazon.com is an excellent option for shopping for the best 4x6 car speakers. They provide fast shipping and superior customer service. If you're lucky, you may also get free accessories with your purchase. You will also find these brands at your nearest electronics store, or you can visit the manufacturer’s website for more detailed on store locations and authorized dealers.
Conclusion
For our 4x6 speakers review, we hope that have we provided you with all the details necessary to make an informed decision. We’ve made our selections based on the functions, design, technology, and the price of all the speakers. Considering this, we feel that the best 4x6 speakers are the Rockford Fosgate P1462 Punch as they have great features at an even better price point compared to others in the market.