The simplest fix can be a simple factory replacement, but if you want a clearer sound and longer-lasting pair of speakers, then take a look at the buying guide down below to find the best car speakers for you. Below that is also the top 8 best car speakers that you can get right now.
Buying Guide
How to choose the best car speakers.
Size
This is one of the first things you should look at before you look at any of the other features if you do not want to break a speaker that is too large by forcing it into the hole in your car or have it dangling by the wires and hitting everything while you are driving.
Many speakers can come in a variety of sizes, but the most standard ones are 3, 4, 5 1/4, 6 1/4, and 6 1/2 inches in diameter for those that are circular. However, there are also oval-shaped speakers which are not as common as circular ones, but they are still pretty popular in some models. These are usually 6 by 8 inches or 6 by 9 inches.
It can be a little difficult to get an exact measurement from your current speaker, and it can be easier and simpler to either ask at a car shop or google your question.
Number of speakers
Some cars just have the door speakers, but there are some models that also have smaller speakers that are either on the dashboard, beside the door speakers, or are in other locations in the car.
If you are planning on replacing a single speaker, regardless of what size it is, it can be less common to find a single pack of one size. If you do end up getting a pair instead of a single pack, which is usually more cost-efficient depending on the speaker and brand, then you may want to just replace two speakers so that the difference in sound quality does not drive you insane.
The newer speaker will have a naturally higher sound quality when compared with your other speakers unless the new speaker has lower specs than your old ones, which is what we will talk about next.
Sound range
We are talking about the frequency range that the speaker is able to handle. Sound frequencies are measured in Hertz and the higher the frequency, the higher the pitch is. Most speakers, car or otherwise, usually can handle frequencies up to 40,000 Hertz or so, which is pretty standard.
The thing many people take a look at is how low the speakers can go; the lower frequency range, the better the change that can support a strong bass. Many speaker frequencies usually go as low as 100, but there are a few very high-quality speakers that can support frequencies as low as 30 or so.
Volume Range
When it comes to speakers, if you cannot test the volume yourself when you are picking one or two out, which is pretty common, the easiest way for you to understand how loud they can get is by looking at the decibels(dB). The average car speaker has a max dB range of 80 to 100, which is about the same as other kinds of speakers. For comparison, the average car horn is between 105 and 110dB, which can be one reason why they do not make louder car speakers.
Full-range vs component vs factory
Depending on the make and model, factory car speakers are generally the cheapest and have the lowest quality sound; these are the speakers that came with the car. The next best kind is full-range speakers, and they are usually the simplest to install and are a little more expensive than factory ones. The last kind, component speakers, are usually the highest quality, more expensive, but they tend to carry sound better and last longer.
Things to look for that differentiate them.
One of the biggest things to look at is the mounting components. Because there are many different car designs but only so many speaker sizes, many speakers can components that are not enough or too few for your car. The most common components that get in the way during this process are the screw holes, the rim, and the body. Be prepared for these parts of the speaker to get in the way while you are trying to install them, because sometimes, even though the speaker size is correct, the design of the speaker can cause them not to fit properly.
What is the best way to install car speakers?
First, make sure the speakers are the correct size by comparing them to the old ones or the hole they are about to be installed in. If they look like they are the same size and will fit, follow the instructions on the box if instructions came with them. If they did not and your car manual does not have steps to change your speakers, then you will probably want to find a video on how to do it.
Always make sure to handle them with care, avoid getting them dirty, and be especially careful of the connection area to prevent ruining the speaker before/as you install it.
Precautions for using this type of product.
If you have never installed speakers before and you are unable or uncomfortable with handling electronics, then you should have a professional or mechanic change the speakers for you. If something were to go wrong, you may end up getting seriously injured or damaging your car and/or the speakers, so better safe than sorry.
How to care for your car speakers.
When you are cleaning the inside of your car, you can spray your cleaning cloth with the same cleaner you use on your vinyl. Using this or a car cleaning wipe (they are similar to baby wipes), gently brush over the metal speaker grate. If your speaker does not have this protective grate, you can use a can of air to spray any dust off, but make sure it is at least several inches away from the speaker to prevent damaging it.
Top 8 Car Speakers
While these may be one of the most expensive bundles on this list, the main reason is because it comes with 2 sets of 6.5-inch and 2-inch speakers for a total of 8 speakers in the bundle. It also comes with 4 packs of crossovers that help to provide higher quality sound filtering when compared to the factory speakers.
They are a little less durable than other speakers because none of them come with a metal covering/grate, but they are still very easy to keep clean and install. In terms of style, the larger speakers are nearly all black and would blend in well with a black interior. The smaller speakers, on the other hand, are mostly silver, making them stand out more in a car with a dark interior.
When it comes to sound quality, these are one of the better choices between the sound range (40 to 20,000 Hertz), the volume range (max 90dB), and the fact that they are component speakers.
Pros
Cons
This set of speakers is a little different from most since the sizes that it comes with are a set of circular 6.5-inch and an oval 6 by 9-inch one. They are also available together with 25-foot long speaker wire, too. Like the last set, these are also component speakers, but their technical specs are a little lower than the last set.
They can only support frequencies between 60 to 20,000 Hertz, so the bass is not as good as the last set. It does have the same volume range, though; 90dB.
These also do not come with a metal guard, meaning the speaker is left exposed. Because of the mostly silver center with the black rim, they can match well in a car with a silver or black interior, but when the light hits it a certain way, the silver can look like a cross between silver and brass.
Whether it is because of the lower technical specs or the less popular style in the design, this is one of the less popular speaker models out now.