Car enthusiasts and music fans alike can find commonalities in a shared desire to boost their vehicle’s tune-blaring capabilities; varying in size and power, a popular choice is the 4x6 inch speaker, slap bang in the middle of the range.
Usually suitable for the majority of vehicles without the need for any major renovation, they’re bigger and better than the speakers typically pre-installed in cars by manufacturers without unnecessarily overpowering your sound system.
Deciding which set to opt for, especially if you’re not particularly car or sound tech-savvy, might be difficult on your own, but not when we’ve hand-picked five of the highest quality speakers for your perusal in one clear, concise list.
Those who prefer to know all there is to know before committing to a purchase can find solace in our thoroughly researched Buyer’s Guide, laying out the main features to consider when it comes to picking a suitable speaker for your car.
Answers to some of the most burning questions from customers desperately seeking speakers can be found in our Frequently Asked section, if you have any lingering doubts or still need more information. Drive safely!
OUR TOP PICK
Customers looking to replace their existing sound system without the effort of reading about ten different options can count on this pair from Pyle, with almost four thousand five star reviews attesting that the affordable price point is not too good to be true.
Using blue poly injection for its cone, this woofer offers plenty of stiffness and reduces vibrations produced without any added weight, whilst a one-inch ASV coil is more than prepared to take the heat of those higher watts.
Durable butyl rubber surround holds the speakers securely, extending the life of the speaker whilst providing a rich, open sound stage and minimal distortion, packing plenty of power with a frequency range of 95Hz-20Khz which is impressive at this price point.
A 4 ohm component compensates for the undersized, underpowered systems produced in factories and pre-installed in the majority of cars nowadays, to make the most of every watt your stereo is able to produce.
Pros:
- Three-way triaxial speaker system
- Wide frequency range for bass, mid and high notes
- Protected by rubber for minimal vibration
Cons:
- Limited bass tones in comparison to higher-powered options
EDITORS CHOICE
Keen to replace your factory speakers with a quick, easy to install package that will have you back on the road in no time? Consider this pair, the P1462 two-way speakers from Rockford Fosgate, who consider themselves the global leader in audio innovation.
With a slot-mounted frame pattern, their patented Flex Fit basket makes use of slots as opposed to single, screw sized holes, not only increasing the speaker’s durability, but allowing for slight adjustments once mounted for a snug fit.
Improving the overall sound quality of the speaker is a high-strength, injection moulded polypropylene woofer cone, rigid enough to minimize flex and vibration during use, retaining sound clarity and reducing distortion.
Easy installation and a clean overall look are achieved by using a concealed, integrated crossover, which is hidden inside the basket, ensuring the correct frequencies are delivered to their relevant drivers, protecting your sound.
Pros:
- Four ohm impedance
- Includes 6 x 8 adapter plate
- Simple, well-designed installation
Cons:
- Low 35w RMS measurement
BEST VALUE
Perfect for replacing those disappointing, manufacturer’s choice speaker systems, this polypropylene pair from Kicker has an incredibly impressive frequency range of 50-20,000Hz for lows, mids and highs producing a bassface you’ll be proud of.
Lightweight at just 2.84lb, their two-way design uses zero protrusion PEI tweeters to create their dynamic sound, which serve to ensure you achieve a high quality, clear sound without a need to interfere or manipulate those factory-installed grilles (a separate set is not included).
Capable of bringing out excessive volumes from even the lowest wattage of factory radios, it can handle 30 watts of RMS with 120 watts of peak power, and an impressive frequency range of 50-20,000Hz conjures up lows, mids and highs without distortion.
Included with your speakers themselves are two lengths of 11 inch speaker wire, plastic butt connectors, speed clips and all of the screws you’ll need to install, so there’s no need to purchase any additional accessories before getting started.
Pros:
- High sensitivity at 88dB for louder playback
- Solid frequency range
- One year warranty and 60-day money back guarantee
Cons:
- New grilles not included
RUNNER UP
With an 80 Watt RMS rating between them, and peak power production of up to 550 watts combined, the Cerwin-Vega 4x6 speakers are an excellent choice if you want to pump up your jams whilst retaining sound quality.
Graphite-injected and reinforced, the spun woofer cone is stiff enough to resist distortion at loud volumes; each speaker is surrounded by rubber to minimize vibrations and protect fragile internal components from damage.
At 90-18,000Hz, it doesn’t have the greatest frequency range on this list, but with a sensitivity of 92dB and a one inch, balanced dome, polypropylene tweeter, a clear, sharp sound no matter low, mid or high, is sure to be found.
Installation is easy with a top mount depth of 1.811 inches, although a fresh set of grilles is not included, so it’s necessary to use those that are pre-installed in your car, or purchase a new and separate pair if those are not compatible with your new speakers.
Pros:
- Reinforced woofer cone and high sensitivity for clearer sounds
- Protective rubber surround
- One year manufacturer’s warranty
Cons:
- Grilles sold separately
RUNNER UP
Favored by customers over pre-installed, factory selected speaker sets, this affordable pair of 4x6 two-way coaxials from Skar Audio are the budget-friendly choice for boosting your car’s voluminous potential as far as possible.
Easy to wire up and install in a matter of minutes using the RPX46’s spade terminals, you won’t waste hours of precious cruising time trying to work out how these speakers are going to fit into your car.
A microfiber paper cone and 20mm aluminum dome tweeter are linked to a butyl rubber surround, reducing vibration to produce a strong, clear sound no matter what frequency, with an impressive 40-20,000Hz response for lows, mids and highs aplenty.
Perfectly sensitive with a measurement of 91dB, in conjunction with the other quality components, you’ll be able to blare your music as loudly as you want, and there’s no need to panic about distortion thanks to a powerful ferrite magnet.
Pros:
- Premium silk-dome tweeter
- Four ohm impedance packs plenty of power
- Protected by butyl rubber surround for longer lifespan
Cons:
- Somewhat heavier than other listed options
Best 4x6 Speakers Buying Guide
You’d be wrong if you thought speaker shopping was as simple as asking which one sounds the best - to achieve top-notch, top-volume playback on your road trips, there are a variety of characteristics at work. Such as...
Frequency Range
Calculated and measured in Hertz, a speaker’s range is the level of audible sounds it is able to produce; the higher the range, the sharper and crisper the tone, whilst lower ranges are able to attain that deep bass reverberation car and music fans alike will enjoy.
Typically, 4x6 inch speakers will have an audible range of 50-100Hz, which is pretty middle of the road as far as all speaker sizes go, but those of high quality are still capable of achieving some bass, mid and high notes during playback.
Looking for the bass-iest of bass production? A set of 4x6 speakers probably won’t offer you the deep notes you’re trying to obtain, which means you may need to purchase a second amp or subwoofer to increase their range if you can’t go any bigger.
Your speaker’s woofer cone size will influence its ability to reproduce those low-end notes, too, so it’s worth opting for a speaker with a larger, more durable cone if you intend to blare bass-heavy music regularly.
Material
A stiffer speaker will minimize the vibrations produced when generating sound, so if you want to avoid a fine from the cops for being anti-social whilst still satisfying your need to listen at max volume, pick up the sturdiest set you can.
Lighter speakers composed of polymer or rubber have longer life spans as they won’t succumb to water damage or rusting, as well as absorbing those vibrations to minimize distortion of your music when at full blast.
Shape
Every car and every music setup is completely different, and some will have more room and higher performance powers than others; it’s possible you’ll need to make some modifications to your vehicle in order to make your new speakers fit, so always measure precisely!
Conveniently, the manufacturers of oval-shaped speakers, as opposed to round, recognize this issue, usually including square metal plates with drilling holes to allow for customization that suits you. Make sure you’re as accurate as possible to achieve the best sound!
Sensitivity
Otherwise known as a speaker’s capacity for converting electrical power from an amp into sound - more sensitive speakers are able to replicate audio much more clearly and of a better quality at higher volumes.
Pre-installed factory speakers typically have a lower power rating, usually only offering 15w RMS (more on the difference between RMS and peak later), so combining these with some increased sensitivity speakers capable of 90dB or higher is your best bet.
Peak Power versus RMS Power Rating
When picking out your new speaker set, there are two rating systems you need to bear in mind. Root Mean Square (RMS) wattage refers to the level of usage and power a speaker can withstand on a regular basis, which is perhaps the more important measurement.
Peak power is the same measurement, but in terms of quick, individual bursts of usage as opposed to longer playback sessions, so unless you’re only ever taking five minute drives you don’t need to pay as much attention to this.
Advice from all manufacturers indicates that exceeding their recommended RMS rating by increasing the number of watts is a surefire way to damage your setup; your speaker might not demonstrate external issues, but there could be a problem with your internal coil.
Coils are moved with magnets to manipulate the speaker’s woofer cone during sound production, but fuelling it with too much wattage can serve to burn your coil out, resorting in the horrible scratchy noises you definitely don’t want to hear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I need an amp for my 4x6 speakers?
Although they are more powerful than you might think at their smaller size, you don’t need to increase the power of a 4x6 inch speaker with an amplifier as they aren’t built to withstand the wattage generated.
However, if you want to acheive a louder volume without risking the quality of your sound, it might be a worthwhile investment to prevent an inevitable blowout should your coil overheat.
Which is the loudest possible car speaker?
A speaker’s volume production is controlled by several factors, including size, frequency range, sensitivity and ability to withstand distortion or vibration, as these can influence the sound’s quality at different levels.
The more sizable your speaker, the bigger its internal woofer cone will be, and this is important when it comes to preventing a distorted sound by absorbing vibrations, so a larger size might be more beneficial.
Whether or not a speaker is CAPABLE of reaching a certain volume means nothing if the sound generated at that level is not worth listening to, so the quality of the components used is of equal importance to its size.
Sensitivity levels will also determine how much volume your speaker can take without sounding scratchy, crackly, or worse, blowing out the coil; higher sensitivities mean you can hit maximum volume without a worry.