The 5 Best 4×6 Car Speakers in 2024

What to Look For in the Best 4×6 Speaker

Size

The search for the best car speaker system starts with knowing the right car speaker size. There is no standard size for car speakers and the actual size depends on the car manufacturer’s design. The size measurement can be 4×6, 5×7, 6×8 or 6×9 depending on the diagonal measurement of the frame as well as the hole alignment. This guide will narrow down the best 4×6 speakers which are the most common car speakers secure on the market.

The 4×6 aftermarket speaker is an apt replacement for your factory unit as its small size can fit easily in the dash. It will slot in your car immediately and won’t require much modification. Even if there is a larger opening where the original speaker used to be, the smaller 4×6 can be propped to fit in the same location. In addition to the relatively small size, many 4×6 speakers come with a frame for easy installation.

Speaker Types

There are two basic types of 4×6 car audio system: component speakers and coaxial speakers. The speaker models differ in audio quality, price and ease of installation among others. Each type of aftermarket speaker set is unique and comes with its own strengths and weaknesses. They may both work in your car or truck but know why component speakers are better yet you might want to go for coaxial speakers instead.

Component

A component speaker is a system that utilizes separate tweeters, woofers and external crossover that work together to attain the best possible sound quality from the stereo. Sometimes referred to as “separates,” component speakers house their tweeters and woofers in different locations to make sure they are in the right place to create a full body of quality sound throughout the car. The tweeter takes care of the high frequencies while the woofer is responsible for the lower ones.

Such a great sound experience comes with a price. A 4×6 component speaker can cost around 1.5x more than coaxial of the same size by separating its “component.” It also often requires professional installation as it may require drilling or cutting a small hole in the door panel or mounting the tweeter on the dashboard. For the higher sticker price and a bit more work in the installation, your car audio can be heard and felt by your neighbors as you cruise down the street.

Coaxial

You have definitely listened to a coaxial speaker set as it is the sound speaker system manufacturers put in your car in the first place. It’s one structure housing all of the multiple speaker elements like the woofer and tweeter. A coaxial speaker system comes in a variety of shapes, sizes, qualities, and prices so it is easy to find a model that can seamlessly replace your current speaker set without the hassle of a complicated installation.

What coaxial speakers can’t offer is the depth and range that component speakers bring. While coaxial speakers can do both jobs of handling low and high frequencies, the other speakers have a separate speaker set for good frequency response and a much accurate sound. A 4×6 coaxial still provides a full range of car audio, is less expensive, and is an easy retrofit for the factory-mounted speakers in automobile doors.

Number of Drivers

Coaxial speakers can further be classified into 2-way, 3-way and 4-way speakers. What sets them apart are the number of drivers each speaker contains with 2-way speakers having 2, 3-way speakers having 3, and 4-way speakers containing, you guessed it, 4 drivers. But keep in mind that having more drivers does not automatically mean better sound quality. A 2-way speaker with two high-quality drivers will transform your car into a concert hall much better than a 4-way speaker with 4 cheap drivers.

2-Way Speaker

Knowing that more drivers does not necessarily mean better sound quality, a 2-way speaker is  made up of only a woofer and a tweeter with the former responsible for replicating low audio frequencies and the latter tackling the replication of high audio frequencies. It is the best option for those operating on a tight budget and looking for an upgrade quite simple to install. The catch is, if made from the same materials, the sound produced by 2-way speakers is relatively of lower quality compared to 3-way speakers.

3-Way Speaker

Besides the tweeter and woofer, a 3-way speaker has an extra driver to handle the mid-range frequency. There are also instances where the mid-range is replaced with a super-tweeter to further enhance the high frequencies. The sound produced from the three individual devices running in a certain range is much clearer, fuller, and more precise. However, the difference in sound quality may not even be noticeable to music lovers who are not audiophiles while costing them more money.

4-Way Speaker

Add an extra tweeter to a 3-way speaker and you have, more or less, a 4-way speaker. So that’s a woofer, a mid-range cone and two tweeters to hit more of that high-end sound. It is super awesome if you notice the high frequencies in jazz, folk or electronic music. But if the playlist you listen to is in the lower frequencies like hip-hop and pop, it may not necessarily have a big impact on the overall sound quality. Four-way speakers are the most expensive out of all three types of coaxial speakers and there are not many choices on the market.

Sound Quality

It goes without saying that good sound quality is one of the most important considerations to look for in new speakers. Do not confuse the size and price of a 4×6 with poor sound quality as most of them are big upgrades from factory speakers. The difference in the sound quality of original and aftermarket speakers can be remarkable as the former was built just to add some sound to a car to complete it and sell it.

Quality audio manufacturers, on the other hand, are committed to delivering top-notch in-car entertainment. They are aware that every part of a car audio system plays a crucial role in sound quality whether it is very prominent or even unnoticeable. A best 4×6 car speaker should be able to generate selective high tones and low basses. There should be crisp and clear audio at every volume level without any distortion whatsoever.

You can also soundproof your car for better audio and less noise and we have a guide here on how you can do that.

Build Quality

The material used in making the best 4×6 speakers helps create the final sound. This is because sound waves are bounced off of the material before being projected into the car. Aftermarket speakers tend to be constructed better from higher quality materials than factory speakers that use cheap materials. The materials replacement speakers are made of are marine rated and can resist extreme weather conditions.

The woofer is generally made with something lightweight and rigid like polypropylene to produce fine sound quality. A tweeter works best with soft materials such as silk or poly for a refined, yet mellow sound. The cone, on the other hand, is made from denser materials for better bass reproduction while the voice coils are made of high heat resistant wire to withstand heavy and prolonged usage. Rubber for the surrounding material won’t only sound better but will also stand the test of time.

Brand

Car speakers from recognized brands provide audiences peace of mind that they will get a consistent, high-quality listening experience. The biggest car audio brands have deep pockets, access to high-quality materials, and the time to do research and design to deliver high-quality car audio. Rockford Fosgate, Pioneer, Kenwood, Infinity, and Kicker come to mind for the company reputation and performance of 4×6 speakers.

These audio manufacturers experiment with audio innovations to make speaker systems sound better. Rockford Fosgate’s Injection Molded Foam Surround is a development never seen before in car audio. Pioneer’s Open & Smooth sound concept delivers a smooth frequency response that makes for an immersive experience while Kicker’s Tri-Tech cones with their proprietary 3-layer design ensure the best possible response and clarity.

Price

As with any purchase, you often get what you pay for with new speakers. Top-of-the-line speakers pack a serious punch but it can easily cost an arm and a leg. The good news is there’s a full range of high-quality speakers available at nearly every price point. While aftermarket car audio prices have dipped the past years, advances in materials and production have proceeded, putting speaker upgrades within reach of most drivers.

A simple Google search such as “what is the most affordable car speaker” will pull up a variety of lists so you can check what options fit your budget. You can adjust your allocation depending on speaker features and capabilities that are absolutely necessary instead of extra accessories or specifications that are superfluous. The things to look for may include speaker sensitivity, power handling, pivoting tweeters, and external crossovers.

Frequency Response

Car speakers can vary in how they produce the highest and lowest notes. They carry a specific frequency range and the wider the range, the better the sound the speaker makes. The frequency response measures how well the car speaker reproduces all of these audible frequencies. A high-quality 4×6 can cover as much of the audible frequency range as possible with a relatively smooth and pleasant balance.

All performers and musical instruments cover a surprisingly wide range of frequencies with the lowest number in frequency response associated with bass guitars and male vocals while higher numbers correspond with electric guitars and female voices. Typically, humans can hear sounds from 20 to 20,000 hertz so a good frequency range for a 4×6 car speaker is between 50 to 22,000 hertz.

Power Handling

As the name suggests, power handling is the maximum amount of how much power in watts that a car speaker can stand without breaking. It is measured in Root-Mean-Square (RMS) numbers that tell how many watts the speakers can handle and still perform at their peak. Those with high watts RMS can take on more power and are less prone to overheating and distortions. An excellent RMS rating on 4×6 speakers is above 100 watts, while the peak power rating should be around 200 watts.

When comparing the specs of aftermarket speakers, put more importance to the RMS numbers than to the peak handling capacity. You do not actually need speakers that require a lot of power to operate. Speakers that can work with not much power are more practical and much preferred. Depending also on the kind of vehicle you drive, a small-sized car like a hatchback would be fine with at least 50 watts RMS while an SUV should have 75 watts RMS or more.

Sensitivity

Sensitivity measures in decibel how well a car speaker converts power into sound. Because speakers can only get so much power, those with high sensitivity are preferred for their great sound quality and volume at a lower wattage. To explain it to a five-year-old, the higher the sensitivity rating, the louder the speaker is. Speakers with low sensitivity also convert more power into heat instead of sound.

For reference, a normal speaking voice registers 65-70 decibels while a car horn is at 110 decibels. An average sensitivity measurement for car speakers would be around 88 decibels while anything below 84 decibels is considered poor sensitivity. A speaker sensitivity of about 92 decibels or higher is very good and should be sought after. Shoot for over 90 decibels so you don’t have to incur the extra cost of buying an amplifier.