A Guide to Buying 6" x 9" Speakers
Your car’s audio system will include factory-made, generic speakers, that are located in the rear deck (behind the rear seats) or on the rear parcel shelf. You may also have speakers on the doors or dashboard. Unfortunately, these speakers are usually made from very rudimentary materials: they’ll have a paper cone, a foam surround, a cheap plastic basket, and a small motor. The sound quality will be mediocre at best. If you want to upgrade to something better, there are 6” x 9” speakers that can enhance your car’s audio significantly.
We’ll see some 6” x 9” speakers that use a larger magnet so that they can handle more power. The cone is also larger, and they’ll have better drivers that are specialized for particular ranges of frequencies. This ensures that they’ll do a better job of reproducing sound, without vibrations or distortion.
We’ll go through some of the 6” x 9” speakers in the Best Reviews Guide list. They’re an inexpensive upgrade that’s easy to install. And you’ll be amazed at the improvement in sound quality!
FAQ
What’s a “two-way”, “three-way”, and “four-way audio speaker”?
A four-way car audio speaker has 4 speaker drivers housed in a single unit. This gives it the ability to handle an extra frequency range, resulting in more precise sound reproduction.
The components of a typical four-way car audio speaker system are as follows:
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Woofer: This is the largest driver in the system for handling low-frequency sounds such as bass and sub-bass. It has a frequency range of 20 Hz to 2 kHz. It produces deep, rich tones and is responsible for delivering an impactful bass response. There is also a subwoofer, which specializes in frequencies from 20 Hz to around 200 Hz.
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Mid-bass driver: The mid-bass driver handles mid-range and lower mid-range frequencies (200 - 500 Hz). It works in conjunction with the subwoofer to provide a smooth transition between the lower bass and mid-range frequencies, ensuring accurate reproduction of drums, bass guitars, and lower frequency instruments.
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Mid-range driver: This driver is responsible for handling mid-frequency sounds, including vocals and instruments such as guitars and pianos. It handles frequencies from 2 kHz to 5 kHz. It produces the majority of the musical content and plays a crucial role in delivering accurate and detailed sound reproduction.
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Tweeter: This is the smallest driver in a speaker system. It focuses on high-frequency sounds, from 2 kHz to 20 kHz, including cymbals, high-pitched vocals, and other intricate details in the music. The tweeter is responsible for producing clear and crisp treble notes. There may also be a super-tweeter, which shares reproducing the higher frequencies with the tweeter.
By dividing the audio spectrum into four distinct frequency ranges and assigning a dedicated driver to each range, a four-way car audio speaker system offers improved accuracy, clarity, and separation of sound.
A three-way system will contain the woofer, mid-range, and tweeter drivers.
A two-way system will only have the woofer and tweeter drivers.
What’s so important about the impedance of a car speaker?
Impedance is a measure of its resistance to electrical current It’s given in the units of Ohms. The impedance of a speaker tells you how the speaker interacts with the audio amplifier or receiver to which it is connected. You should have the speaker’s impedance match the stereo system’s amplifier output impedance. That will ensure efficient power transfer and optimal performance. Using speakers with a significantly different impedance than the amplifier's rating can lead to distortion, reduced power output, or potential damage to the amplifier. You’ll see car speakers with an impedance of 2, 2.5, or 4 Ohms.
Types of 6x9 Speakers
There are two main types of 6x9 speakers available on the market: coaxial and component speakers:
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Coaxial Speakers: These are the most basic and commonly-used 6x9 speakers. They consist of a woofer and a tweeter mounted on top of it. Coaxial speakers are relatively affordable and provide a decent range of sound reproduction. An example is the JBL 300 W 3-Way Coaxial Audio Speakers.