Best Budget Car Speakers: The Better to Hear Jams With
These speakers are inexpensive, but they still sound great
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You’re in your car, and your favorite song comes on. You know, the one with the incredible bass line. You crank up the volume, and crack! You’ve got that annoying rattle of a busted speaker ruining your groove. It's a story that’s been told time and again since cars first rolled off the lot with built-in audio systems.
But a busted speaker doesn’t have to screw up your daily commute. The market for good audio equipment has become so big that there are tons of great options out there that fit almost any car. And you don’t have to spend a fortune to get better sound quality than you had before.
Although, with so many options there are a few things you need to look for when trying to find the right speakers. Have you ever considered factors like frequency response, sensitivity, and wattage? Probably not. To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of the best budget car speakers in our guide below.
Pyle PL63BL
These 6.5-inch speakers have a 4-ohm impedance, an 89dB sensitivity rating, and a 100 Hz-20 kHz frequency response. They can handle 360 watts of power.
They are just as good as speakers that cost twice/three times as much. They produce a rich sound with minimal distortion and are a great replacement for factory speakers.
Without a subwoofer, they don't produce great bass response, and there's not a lot of tonal clarity in the mid range. Installation can be tricky in some vehicles.
Rockford Fosgate R165X3
These 6.5-inch full-range speakers have a frequency response of 52Hz-20kHz, a 91 dB sensitivity, and they can each handle 90 watts of max power.
You get four R165X3 speakers in this package as well as all hardware necessary for installation. They produce great sound and are designed to deliver high-performance audio.
While the highs and mids are good, there's little to no bass. They are also likely to blow out if your music punches too hard.
JBL CLUB6520
These 3-ohm, 6.5-inch speakers have a sensitivity of 91 dB and a frequency response of 55Hz–20kHz. They operate well even with thin factory wiring.
They're constructed out of high-quality materials and produce good bass, mid-range, and highs. They sound great with a factory head unit and even better with an amplifier.
The speaker grills aren't included. To get good bass, you need a subwoofer. They may also sound a little tinny.
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Types of Low Cost / Budget Car Speakers
Coaxial Speakers
Most factory-installed sound systems have coaxial speakers in which all the components are contained in one structure. They typically feature a woofer and tweeter and have basic, built-in crossovers. Coaxial speakers, which are also known as full-range speakers, are the most common. They also don't take up a lot of space, so they're popular in cars.
Component Speakers
As for component speakers, they have separate drivers (mid-bass and tweeters), so you can install different "components" in different locations in your vehicle. These speakers have a network of crossovers that help the woofers and tweeters better handle different frequencies, so they produce clear, high-quality sound.
Top Brands
Pyle Audio Inc.
Located in Brooklyn, New York, Pyle Audio has been around since the 1960s. The company initially produced high-quality woofers before expanding its line of audio components. It makes equipment for cars as well as home entertainment. One top product is the Pyle PL63BL speakers.
Rockford Fosgate
In the early 1970s, Jim Fosgate tinkered with car audio equipment in his Arizona garage and built the first car amplifier. The company currently manufactures amplifiers, speakers, subwoofers, signal processors, and more. We recommend its Rockford Fosgate R165X3 speakers.
JVC
This consumer electronics company was founded in Japan in 1927. It's largely known for creating Japan's first televisions, and these days produces a lot of equipment, such as car entertainment, headphones, speakers, camcorders, and projectors. One of its popular speakers is the JVC CS-J620.
JBL
JBL got its start as Lansing Manufacturing Company in Los Angeles, California, in 1927. It produces a wide range of audio equipment for both the consumer and professional markets. We recommend its JBL CLUB6520 speakers.
Infinity Systems
Infinity Systems, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics, got its start making loudspeakers in Stamford, Connecticut, in 1968. The company has since expanded its operations to include car audio amplifiers, subwoofers, in-wall home speakers, and marine applications. One popular product is the Infinity REF-6522EX.
Car Speaker Pricing
If you’re looking for a good set of affordable car speakers, there are options available for as little as $25. However, spending more money brings higher-quality components and enhanced features. The differences between high-end speakers and budget options are very noticeable. However, price increases alongside quality and some individual speakers can go for as much as $100 or more.
Key Features
Size
Speakers come in a variety of sizes. Some of the smallest and most affordable speakers are 4 x 6 inches. They're easy to install in your dashboard. There are also 5.25-inch speakers that are typically installed in a vehicle's back doors but sometimes in the rear hatch or package tray. Other options include 5 x 7 speakers, 6 x 8 speakers, etc. It's important to choose the right size when it comes to the sound it produces and to ensure it will fit properly in your vehicle.
2-Way vs. 3-Way Speakers
If you plan on upgrading your sound system yourself, then 2-way speakers are a great option. They are easy to install and are very popular. They only have one tweeter, but these speakers are still better than factory-installed ones. As for 3-way speakers, they feature a woofer, tweeter, and super-tweeter. Neither is really better; it's a personal choice.
Power Handling
Power handling is measured in watts, and if you have a low-powered system you don't need a speaker that handles a lot of power. With a high-power system, however, it's critical to consider the power in order to ensure optimal performance. Check out the RMS, which is the median amount of power the speakers can tolerate over a consistent period of time.
Other Considerations
- Sensitivity: A speaker's sensitivity is measured in dB, and it dictates how much power your speakers need in order to produce a certain amount of volume. Speakers that have a higher sensitivity don't need as much power to generate a higher volume of sound. If you have a factory sound system or low-end unit, choose speakers with greater sensitivity.
- Frequency Range: The frequency range refers to the musical tones that a speaker reproduces. Audio frequencies are measured in hertz (Hz), and humans can generally hear frequencies from 20Hz (low bass tones) to 20Khz (high treble notes). A wider frequency range is better because the speaker is able to more efficiently reproduce sound.
- Construction: Factory speakers aren't usually made with the highest quality materials, so they eventually start to degrade. The good news is that many low-cost aftermarket speakers are a huge improvement over OEM speakers. Look for speakers with rubber surrounds, which are durable, sound good, and are much better than foam and paper surrounds.
Best Budget Car Speakers Reviews & Recommendations 2021
Tips
- Full-range speakers with pivoting tweeters are a good choice if you're replacing your door units. You can "aim" the tweeters towards the listener for a better, more realistic sound that has greater depth.
- If you're looking for cleaner, more efficient sound, consider component speakers that have external crossovers. Those with extra input terminals can accommodate bi-amping, which is a good idea for a high-performance audio system.
- For even better sound, and to boost bass levels, invest in a subwoofer. You don't have to spend a lot of money to get great audio in your car or truck.
FAQs
What are the best cheap car speakers?
A: There are several affordable car speakers on the market, including those featured in this review. They all come from reputable brands, so you know you’re getting good-quality components for your audio system.
2-way vs. 3-way?
A: As we already noted, 2-way speakers have two drivers: a woofer and a tweeter. They produce more clarity than single-speaker drivers but don't produce deep bass. Three-way speakers have three speaker drivers: a woofer, mid-range, and tweeter. Three-way coaxial systems do not outperform 2-way coaxial systems. However, they make a difference when it comes to component systems.
Coaxial or component?
A: Most vehicles come stock with coaxial speakers, which are also called full-range speakers. The tweeter is mounted onto the woofer cone, so it takes up minimal space during installation. Component speakers are also known as separates. A component system usually features two woofers, two tweeters, and two external crossovers that are each mounted separately. Component speakers sound better, but they cost more and are more complicated to install than full-range speakers.
Final Thoughts
Our pick for the best budget car speaker is the Pyle PL63BL. These 6.5-inch speakers sound great and cost much less than some of their higher-end rivals. The Pyle speakers are a great option if you want to upgrade your stock speakers. If you want a set of four speakers at an affordable price, consider the Rockford Fosgate R165X3.
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