1. JBL GTO609C Premium 6.5-Inch Component Speaker System
Channel type 2 way
Speaker Type Component
Speaker size 6.5 inches
Performance. These speakers have low impedance but produce rich sound quality. The imaging improves than the other options, and the staging is perfect. They also have a frequency range of 53Hz-21KHz that enables them to produce high-quality sound even in noisy areas.
Tweeters. They have a 3/4 inch edge-driven silk dome tweeter. The silk is used to disperse sound hence maintaining the tweeter’s spontaneous tone. It also enhances the maintenance of a warm sound and reduces distortion.
The tweeter uses a large voice coil that emits loud sound using little power. The size of the coil is not affected by high power handling hence effective for excessive heat loss.
Woofer cone. They have a carbon-injected plus one woofer cone that makes it compact and durable even with powerful low waves. The cone surround is made of butyl rubber that creates a stiff and flexible sound. The new basket style makes the cone surface wider. The large surface creates space for more air and produces accurate loud bass with precise details.
Crossover. The crossover network always maintains the frequency’s originality for a component speaker. The JBL GTO609C Premium 6.5 inch component speakers have two external crossovers that create a balance between the pair of woofer cones and tweeters.
The crossovers control the frequencies by connecting spade connectors. They also come with screw terminal output and input. The crossovers also feature a sound adjustment that controls the tweeter’s sound level.
Impedance.
The voice coils impedance is not more than 3ohms. Aftermarket and factory speakers with undersized wires can’t produce powerful sound with higher impedance. However, the JBL GTO609C Premium 6.5 inch component speaker’s voice coils are a solution to this problem due to its low impedance and ability to produce excellent and loud sound using a shorter gauge.
In addition, the sound volume can be boosted for modern cars by adding an extra amplifier.
Power. Their RMS power is up to 90watts. The power handling rate and sensitivity can handle stronger waves.
Durability. These speakers have a carbon injected woofer cone. The carbon makes sure that the speakers remain intact even with solid sound waves.
The butyl rubber on the outside of the woofer cone makes the speaker flexible.
They have a well-made system that lasts long.
Installation. Because it is a component speaker, it requires a custom set up. The woofer is created with fiberglass- reinforced plastic frame, which allows easy and convenient installation even on a rough surface. It is designed to fit 6.5 openings, but a few 6-3/4 openings can work too. They come with metal brackets for oversized openings.
On the other hand, the tweeter can be installed in various ways. The speakers include a JBLs patented I-Mount system and starfish mounting bracket. The tweeters, therefore, can be either surface-mounted or flush-mounted using the I-Mount system. The starfish brackets permit behind-grille mounting.
The crossover is supposed to be mounted on the base.
[su_row] [su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=”Pros” box_color=”#009906″ radius=”0″] [su_list icon=”icon: check” icon_color=”#009906″]- Tweeter volume is adjustable.
- Well balanced sound output.
- Flexible tweeter mounting options.
- TheyWell made speaker system hence durable.
- High sensitivity.
- Requires an additional amp.
- The use of a starfish bracket could be problematic.
- The woofer alone can’t produce shaking bass due to the low impedance.
2. Twoway Custom Component Speaker System 6.5″; 400 Watt Component with Electroplated steel
Channel type 2 way
Speaker size 6.5 inches
Performance. This component speaker has a high-temperature ASV voice coil that provides a vibrant sound, allowing low distortion and offering an open sound stage.
Listening to music while driving has never been any better with any other speakers. It comprises one pair of 6.5 mid-bass speakers, one pair of 0.5 tweeters, one pair of passive crossover devices, a wiring kit, grills and installation hardware.
Tweeters. They have 0.5 inches 100 Watt tweeters, which offer three mounting options and a frequency of 1.3 to 22KHz.
The tweeters are constructed in a neodymium magnet and silk dome that enhances them to produce a clear, detailed high-end.
To get the best possible treble focus, select from the surface, flush or angled mounting to optimize your vehicles mounting locations.
Crossovers. It consists of a pair of passive crossover networks with a 12dB octave that separates the signal from your stereo between the mid-bass and tweeter speakers for a richer and more exact sound.
This ensures that you will hear every detail you were meant to hear.
Power. They are mid-bass speakers which pump out 400 watts of power.
Durability. They include a brilliant yellow poly injection cone that enhances firmness and resistance to harsh weather conditions. They also have a non-tiring butyl rubber surround and a high aluminum voice coil, which assures you long years of performance without wear and tear.
The speakers are contained in electroplated steel baskets and boost a 40-ounce magnet.
Installation. The speakers are easy to install. They have a 6.5-inch sizing that makes it fit in most OEM locations. They also allow for multiple mounting options: flush: flush, surface, and angle. It features a mounting depth of 2.65 that enables the speakers to remain intact.
They are packaged with a complete wiring kit and all the installation hardware you will require to mount this system to your car. They also include a wiring diagram to illustrate.
[su_row] [su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=”Pros” box_color=”#009906″ radius=”0″] [su_list icon=”icon: check” icon_color=”#009906″]- Rich sound at an affordable cost.
- Multiple mounting options.
- Long-lasting.
- Wiring kit included.
- We need an external amp to power them.
3. RECOIL REM65 Echo Series 6.5- inch Car Audio Component Speaker System
Channel type
Speaker size 6.5 inches
Performance. RECOIL REM65 is an example of when the work output exceeds the price.
The RECOIL REM65 comes in an electric blue color that appeals to the eyes.
Both the speakers have neodymium magnets that add subtle details to the sound.
Tweeters. Are silk soft-dome that feature oversized voice coils that enable excellent heat dispersion and high power handling causing smooth, clear highs. They have a mount that allows unparalleled flexibility, whether flush or surface mounted.
They also have a triple-level volume adjustment which compensates for excellent speaker placement and can be set to match your listening taste and musical preference.
Woofers. It has light thermal-formed Polypropylene cones that give them a faster midrange response. The cone surround uses a high-temperature adhesive, ensuring that the cone and surround do not separate while using high power.
Crossovers. They have a 12dB crossover with a small footprint for easy installation.
Ferrite Magnet motor. They have a Ferrite Magnet motor which provides a strong magnetic field while staying small enough to fit in nearly every application.
Durability. They have an oversized coil that cancels out heat dispersion while handling high power.
The butyl rubber surround ensures a long work life without fail. Has steel mesh grilles that protect the drivers.
Power. The RMS power of 100 watts makes the audio remain crafty and loud throughout.
Installation.
They are built to enable easy installation. They have a 12dB crossover with a small footmark for easier
mounting.
- Multiple mounting options.
- Easy installation due to the simple crossover network.
- Steel mesh grills packaged for protection.
- Butyl rubber surrounds for deeper mid-bass sound.
- They are not packaged with speaker wires for installation.
4. Rockford Fost gate T1650-S Power 6.5 “; 2-way Compatible Component Speaker System
Channel Type
Speaker Type Component
Speaker size 6.5 inches
Performance. These are a superb set of component speakers that deliver high output capabilities than other speakers with the same dimensions.
It includes a pair of 6.5″; mid-range with grills, a pair of 1″ tweeters with dedicated external crossovers and installation hardware.
Sound quality. They include a Vertical Attach Surround Technique (VAST surround) developed by people at Fost gate that makes them more efficient and permits better response and audio dispersion. This surround offers the woofer an extra 25% area to radiate, making it 6.75 inches the same size counting in the surround as a typical 6.5″.
Woofers. The woofer cones are injection-molded carbon fiber filled polypropylene. This design ensures a uniform thickness for superior linearity and clear sound. They are also light and rigid, enhancing decreased distortion and improved bass response.
Tweeters. The tweeters have clear highs that balance out the heavy bass well. Have treated cloth dome tweeters with a high tech installation system to help quickly and mount. Usually designed with a cooling method as they perform to tolerate high temperatures much more skillfully than others.
Crossover. They use an external crossover that enhances the production of more audio detail and a more natural sounding between high and low-end frequencies. Also, the external crossover network has selectable tweeter levels with axis switching that adjusts your high frequencies.
- The tweeter levels – they have a switch on the side of each crossover that permits you to adjust the output level of the tweeters to -2dB, 0dB or +2dB.
- Tweeter axis- there is also another switch on each crossover that adjusts the tweeter output for on and off-axis mounting.
- Bi-amping- these crossovers have separate inputs for the woofer and tweeter along with an on/off switch for bi-amping so that an individual amplifier channel can power each component.
Durability. They are constructed from carbon fibre and polypropylene cone with Santoprene-type rubber surrounds that allows you to blast your music for as long as you want without blowing them.
Installation. They have a new flex fit basket which allows easy and secure installation into an OEM opening. In addition, you get both flushes- mounting and surface- mounting hardware with the purchase.
It is packaged with grills and installation hardware.
[su_row] [su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=”Pros” box_color=”#009906″ radius=”0″] [su_list icon=”icon: check” icon_color=”#009906″]- It has excellent crossovers.
- High output and high power handling.
- Technologically advanced design.
- Requires you to get an extra amp to power them.
Buying Guide
If you are a novice in the car audio market, it would be not easy to choose the best car speakers for replacement because of the vast different options available in the market nowadays.
Types of speakers
There are two main types of speakers;
- component speakers
- coaxial speakers.
Coaxial speakers combine the tweeter and woofer into one speaker while the component speakers separate the woofer and tweeter and add a crossover so that each speaker can work better.
Component speakers are advanced speaker systems made up of a separately mounted woofer, tweeter, and crossover. The inline crossover with a component system enables each speaker to perform better on its own. They provide better audio quality than coaxial speakers because the woofer and tweeter (each)focus on delivering their frequencies.
They also have better sound accuracy and frequency response. To top up on the advantages, component speakers are versatile, with different options for mounting the tweeters.
How to install component speakers to enhance sound performance?
The tweeters handle the high-frequency range. Therefore, it is advisable to mount the tweeters close to the one listening ear because higher frequencies are more directional than lower frequencies. It would be best to place the tweeters close to the woofers to ensure that the different frequencies don’t reach your ears at different times.
On the other hand, external crossovers ensure that frequencies above the set limit go to the tweeters and those below go to the woofers. These can be placed wherever there is space in your doors or dash.
Lastly, the woofers are installed in your car’s factory location, most preferably the doors. Here, the low frequencies will create a solid foundation for detailed highs.
Factors to consider when selecting the best component speakers
1. Type
Component speakers are categorized into 2-way and 3-way speakers. Where the 2- way system focuses on directing and splitting the sound between the tweeter, the high-range and the woofer while the 3-way works like the 2-way systems, but they add to the mid-range of the sound aspect.
2. Price
Different speakers come at different prices. It is always wise to make a budget before considering any purchase. Get a speaker that fits your budget. Component speakers might need an extra cost of installation. It is necessary to count that in before going to pick the best.
Component speakers are classified into three price ranges
Below 60$ – these are budget-friendly component speakers. They can handle a maximum power output of around 100 watts or less. Despite the price and vulnerability to overheating, most have good sound quality.
- 60-80$ – the speakers in this range can work as good as the high brand ones and give higher quality sound. They have unique designs, colors and are made of long-lasting materials.
- Above 80$ – in this category, you will come along speakers from the top companies that deliver perfect sound that makes you feel like you are at a concert.
- They provide differentiated sound levels(from low to high frequencies) on different cones without distorting. They are made to be durable and deliver the best sound for your listening pleasure.
3. Frequency response
It is the range of frequency the speaker can produce. The higher the frequency range, the better the sound output. Different speakers produce different frequencies. A woofer focuses on deep, low sound while the a tweeter is for high pitched sounds.
A human being can hear frequencies of between 20 to 20,000 Hz. However, many car speakers extend their frequencies to above the 20,000HZ limit with the high notes harmonizing with the notes we hear thus modifying our listening experience.
Looking at the frequency response before picking the best is important because it enables one to know how low or high the speakers can go.
4. Size
It matters when it comes to music reproduction. Most speakers come in sizes ranging from 3.5 to 12 inches.
A speaker with more size can move more air for a specific amount of power. Commonly, a more prominent speaker produces more bass than a small speaker. This is due to the weight of the speaker cone and the flexibility of the speaker’s suspension components.
However, it is essential to note that speakers shouldn’t be installed too deep because they risk rubbing or bumping against each other against the underlying surface.
5. Bi-amping capability
Some crossovers have extra input terminals that allow bi-amping. This is the ability to use different amps to customize your woofers and tweeters sound output.
Technically, you connect two sets of wires, with each carrying the power from a separate amplifier or channel. This method enables the tweeters and the woofers to receive dedicated amplification. If you plan to build a severe high-performance system, look for this feature.
6. The number of speakers
Installing speakers at the front and back will give you a thriving- rounded sound system in your car. Getting an even number also helps in beautifying the car.
7. Sound quality
This judgement could be made from a personal perspective. Everyone has a different preference and taste such that what sounds good to one person may vary on the other. However, everyone wants to listen to music that sounds good and comfortable to the ears.
Therefore, have no rush when choosing the best component speaker. You can carry your CDs to play them on the various speaker and listen if the sound output is what you want. Make sure that you try different types of music.
The more comprehensive the frequency range, the better the sound. The standard frequency is at 20,000Hz, while the lowest is 10Hz.
8. Sensitivity
This is measured in how well your speakers can utilize the RMS power. Usually measured in decibels. Most factory stereos are lowly powered. If yours is lowly powered (typically 10-15watts RMS per channel or less), you need a component speaker with higher sensitivity (more than 90 dB) for the best sound output. However, most aftermarket stereos or external amplifiers have enough power to produce decent sound in any speakers.
9. Power handling
This is how much power the speaker can handle. It is measured in Watts. It is indicated as the RMS power, defined as the power the speaker can handle continuously. RMS power differs from peak power because the peak power is the maximum power the speaker can manage instantly without any damage being caused.
High RMS power means that the loudness of your speaker will increase; hence it is important to identify whether your stereo system will handle the power of the speakers. If the RMS power is too higher, you must get a more powerful amplifier.
For instance, a speaker rated “up to 50watts RMS” will match your low-powered stereo than the one rated “10-80watts RMS”.
This means that if you are using your factory stereo for power, look for speakers with low RMS wattage and a sensitivity of 90dB or higher. On the other hand, if you are using aftermarket systems, look for Speakers with power handling that is not higher than 75watts RMS. You will desire to match the RMS power handling to the specifications in your amplifiers manual for these aftermarket ones.
10. Build materials
It is also vital to consider the type of material used to make the speaker. Simply because the type of material used to make the speaker contributes a lot to the speakers sound quality and durability. Therefore, tweeter’s made of silk, polyurethane or textile blends enable them to produce a warm sound.
However, tweeters made of ceramics, graphite or metal that enable them to produce pop
sounds with higher tones.
The speaker also surrounds the casing, the woofer made to withstand heat and humidity. The best-preferred material for the speaker surround is rubber, even if some feature cloths or foam, which are cheaper but still work well. The woofers are mostly made of polyurethane due it provides an accurate bass, but other materials like woven fabrics should be used.
11. Compatibility and configuration
Installing speakers in your car enhances a better driving experience. It is hence essential to get a speaker that matches your car.
The speaker’s power handling and sensitivity should be compatible with your cars internal amplifier. On the other hand, the external amplifier will give you an idea of the volume level your speakers need to reach to determine their sensitivity.
The RMS of the speaker should also match with your car’s amplifier that uses the RMS power.
To sum up, we recommend you follow and consider these aspects before going out to choose the best component speakers.
In addition, it is essential also to note that installing component speakers might be rugged on some cars and could involve professional work depending on the type of factory speakers you have.
Therefore, when shopping for component speakers, you might incur extra labor costs, whether paying the professional or the added time; you will need to do that by yourself.
Therefore, if you are looking forward to upgrading your car sound system, component speakers will be part of the investment.
Conclusion
In the last decade, the modern manufacturing sector has reduced its cost of production considerably, giving you the chance to buy more with less money on the current market. This has also enhanced the availability of many component speakers in the market.
Having a set of component speakers improves your listening experience as well as allowing a better crossover adjustment.
Selecting the best for yourself is influenced by the type of amplifier you are using, your budget and, of course, your taste and preference. This then places the purchasing decision on the buyer’s hands, and my hope is that these reviews will serve as a guide to your search.
