Why Trust Our Opinion on Car Speakers?
CarAudioNow is an award winning automotive blog, founded and built from the ground up by car enthusiasts over a decade ago. Between our editor, Kameron, and a few selected qualified writers, we’ve installed and tested a wide variety of speakers in cars, boats, golf carts – you name it. We know our speakers, how they should sound and perform and what’s a good value for your dollar. We get our hands on every product that we test in person – many of which are purchased and some provided by a manufacturer. It’s a combination of these tests and extensive research that lead us to our recommendations. And we’re frequently testing new speakers for our lists.
CarAudioNow and its writers don’t use AI to throw regurgitated information about a few car speakers on a list and say they’re “the best” either. We’re focused on providing meaningful lists, with accurate and useful information that will help you make an informed decision on a product. And we do this because we genuinely enjoy or highly regard the stuff we add to our lists. Our readers and our reputation are both more important to us than a quick buck or the top rank on Google – although both of those would be nice! Read more about how we choose our top lists here.
Best Overall 6.5″ Component Car Speaker Pick:
Focal PS 165 FXE Video Review
Join us for an exclusive unbox and first look at the Focal PS 165 FXE speakers in our latest video. We'll walk through the key features that make this speaker a great choice.
Focal PS 165 FXE Review
Focal is serious about creating high-fidelity sound in the car audio marketplace. Their newest 6.5-inch component set is the PS 165 FXE, which incorporates the French company's iconic use of flax fibers and some of the highest-end technology in the business to produce the best sounding component speakers in the world. We know these have a high price tag, but it's for a reason. Ask anyone in the stereo industry – home and automotive – and they'll know Focal. We did a first look and feature overview of this the PS 165 FXE and loved what we saw and heard.
Flax Woofer Cone and TMD Surround
The woofer cone is made of a sandwiched flax fiber core with glass layers. Flax is a highly rigid, lightweight, and hollow material that allows these speakers to be among the most rigid and responsive with very low harmonic distortion. It’s one of the features that’s unique to Focal’s lineup of speakers, including the PS 165 FXE. Focal says that the unique properties of flax give the speaker the ability to produce a more natural sound with rich midrange and clear bass.
The cone surround is another innovative design using ‘tuned mass damper’ technology. This is the same tech used to stabilize skyscrapers in earthquake-prone areas, so it is more than capable of handling all kinds of abuse without fail. The combination of a rigid cone and a balanced surround provide excellent response and a pure sound.
A central ogive surround allows for the natural dissipation of unwanted noise and helps to provide the full and rich sound you expect from Focal.
TAM Tweeters
Focal uses a unique “M” profile tweeter that offers a wide diffusion area. In other words, you don’t have to be as precise when trying to directionally install them to still benefit from a directional speaker. The angle-mount tweeters are easy to install and are specifically designed to provide off-axis listening typical of an in-car environment. The inverted dome design allows for harmonic balance and clean treble.
Crossover Network
The bi-amplified design of these speakers allows you to configure your setup to take full advantage of the high-quality crossovers included in the kit. The crossovers direct the proper frequencies to the proper speakers, so you don’t have overlap and wasted energy when a speaker attempts to recreate a frequency that it can’t.
Power Handling and Frequency Response
Focal rates these components at an RMS of 80 watts and a peak of 160 watts. The bi-amp design performs best when power is amplified. The aluminum and magnesium frame stabilizes and balances the speaker to prevent distortion.
Key Features
| Make | Focal |
| Model | PS 165 FXE |
| Size | 6.5″ Component |
| Power (RMS) | 80 watts |
| Power (Peak) | 160 watts |
| Frequency Response | 55 – 28,000 Hz |
| Sensitivity | 90.5 dB |
Reasons to Buy
- Natural and warm sound unlike anything else on the market
- Audiophile grade stereo equipment
- Flax cone looks incredible
Reasons Not to Buy
- Somewhat deep mounting distance may not work in some factory locations
Runner Up, Best Overall 6 1/2 Component Car Speaker
Hertz CK 165 F Review
Proving that high-end sound doesn’t require a massive price tag like the Focals, this component set from Hertz provides crystal clear sound across a full range of frequencies. Not only are these speakers an excellent way to improve the sound quality in your car, they also feature a slim profile making it easy to install in a wide variety of cars. We’ve had a lot of experience with Hertz. All the way back to the early 2000s when the Hi Energy lineup was our pick for a quality, high performance speaker that wouldn’t completely break the bank. They’ve been featured on our lists for years. The CK 165 F is our latest recommendation from the lineup at Hertz.
Flat-Profile Woofer Cone
The secret to these speakers is the unique flat profile of the mica-infused, semi-pressed paper cone. It provides plenty of rigidity for lower frequencies while requiring only one and three-quarter inches to mount. The cone is a good compromise between rigidity and lightness to give you excellent, warm sound.
Tweeter Technologies
The tweeter uses unique faceplate geometry to reproduce sound accurately in an off-axis environment common to your car. Like the Focals, this gives it a wider dispersion area. Hertz uses Finite Element Modeling to generate the perfect range of sounds to enhance your experience. It is a soft-dome fiber design measuring one inch in diameter.
Crossovers
The included crossovers make it simple to wire your speakers to get the ideal frequencies directed at the proper speaker. Low-loss capacitors and low resistance inductors use pure copper connections for the best sound and frequency response. The crossovers offer a tweeter balance switch for properly tuning the treble for your application. In our experience, this is necessary to prevent super harsh highs in most vehicles.
Power Handling and Frequency Response
Hertz designs these speakers to handle plenty of power but adding a car amplifier is almost always needed to get the most out of them. Hertz rates the woofers at an RMS of 90 watts with a peak of 270 watts. The speakers are intended to cover frequencies ranging from 65 Hz to 22.5k Hz.
Key Features
| Make | Hertz |
| Model | CK 165 F |
| Size | 6.5″ Component |
| Power (RMS) | 90 watts |
| Power (Peak) | 270 watts |
| Frequency Response | 65 – 22,500 Hz |
| Sensitivity | 93 dB |
Reasons to Buy
- Excellent at providing good bass response
- Very good frequency response with low distortion at all volumes
- Clear tweeter audio that’s not too bright
Reasons Not to Buy
- A little bass-heavy for some systems
- Cone material may not be as long-lasting as a poly or flax material
Best Hybrid 6.5″ Car Speaker
JL Audio C3-650 Review
A component system is ideal when you want to elevate the treble of your music and separate it from the midrange and bass frequencies. Coaxial speakers are more practical from an installation perspective and when keeping the high-frequency tones close to the midrange frequencies is necessary.
The unique feature of this system that we love, and one of the main reasons why it’s on this list is the ability to convert from a coaxial design to a component design with ease. The tweeter can easily be located on the center of the woofer or removed and placed elsewhere for the perfect tuning. When mounting the tweeter as a component, an included phase plug balances the sound and frequencies out.
Woofer Design
JL Audio uses a tried-and-proven mica-injected polypropylene woofer cone that is rigid and lightweight to produce deep percussion notes accurately. The basket is specially designed to absorb vibration and prevent unwanted distortion.
Optimized Motor
Back in the 1990’s, JL Audio began experimenting with new dynamic modeling maps to produce a more enhanced listening experience. They called the technology Dynamic Motor Analysis, or DMA, and it produces a more stable and accurate frequency response. The process allows the sound engineers to significantly reduce distortion and improve overall performance, particularly when a speaker is driven hard and at higher volumes.
Cool Air Vented Frame
The C3-650 uses a patented extruded aluminum frame design that features air channels cast into the body direct air across the voice coil windings and into the spider cavity. The action of the spider helps to push air through the voice coil windings to keep everything cool.
Key Features:
| Make | JL Audio |
| Model | C3-650 |
| Size | 6.5″ Convertible Component |
| Power (RMS) | 75 watts |
| Power (Peak) | 150 watts |
| Frequency Response | 48 – 25,000 Hz |
| Sensitivity | 90 dB |
Reasons to Buy
- Convertible design is one of the most versatile systems you’ll find
- Accurate and powerful frequency response is ideal for an amplified system
- Low distortion characteristics
Reasons Not to Buy
- Some reviewers have mentioned harsh highs, however this can be eliminated via tuning in most applications.
- May require additional components for mounting tweeters
Best High Resolution 6 1/2 Car Speaker
Sony XS-162ES Review
We recently did an in-depth review and installation of the recently released audiophile-grade speakers from Sony, upgrading a MK7.5 GTI stereo with all of the latest Sony equipment. The 162ES is the component version that uses the same cutting-edge technology and adds the flexibility of a remote tweeter. This line has become one of our favorites because it offers excellent performance at a reasonable price. They look great too.
Aramid Woofer Cone
Sony builds these speakers starting with an aramid fiber matrix that is filled with injected mica. The design allows for an incredibly lightweight surface that is also highly rigid. This material is known to produce more natural and deeper low frequencies while virtually eliminating distortion from unwanted vibrations.
A unique notched surround adds to the stability of the woofer cone and adds to the excursion abilities, giving the 162ES plenty of ability to power through even the most aggressive music with ease. A progressive rate height spider adds stability to the cone and ensures accurate woofer movement to further perfect the sound.
Tweeter Details
The tweeters are 1-inch synthetic fabric tweeters that are audiophile-grade. They produce frequencies beyond that of the human ear, so you’ll get every possible frequency from your music. You’ll particularly notice how clean and crisp the tweeters are when playing music with fine instrumentation.
Specialized Frame Technology
Sony is using a newly designed five-beam frame with the ES series that’s engineered to eliminate flex. Like many other features on this speaker, this helps to prevent unwanted distortion. The unique frame adds a ton of strength without adding bulk, so these speakers will still fit in most factory stock locations without modification.
| Make | Sony |
| Model | XS-162ES |
| Size | 6.5″ Component |
| Power (RMS) | 90 watts |
| Power (Peak) | 270 watts |
| Frequency Response | 40 – 40,000 Hz |
| Sensitivity | 89 dB |
Reasons to Buy
- Among the best sounding speakers on the market at the price point
- Very low distortion even with maximum amplification and volume
- More compact than some designs
Reasons Not to Buy
- Instructions for hooking up the crossover network are poorly explained
- Requires amplification to get the most from the speakers
Best 6.5″ Car Speaker for Bass
Rockford Fosgate T2652-S Quick Review
Rockford Fosgate's T2652-S is our top pick 6 1/2 component speaker for bass. Now, 6.5in speakers aren't exactly known for bass reproduction, but this component set features Rockford’s legendary VAST technology which allows the woofer cone to be up to 25% larger than other speakers. The larger the cone, the more efficient it covers lower frequencies and bass. Numerous other fun features set these carbon fiber poly cone woofers apart too, including the machined aluminum phase plug that improves dispersion while looking cool.
Tweeters are aluminum-dome and are somewhat oversized from factory component tweeters. The component kit includes a crossover network to allow bi-amplification. The entire package is supported from a billet aluminum frame that resists distortion while reducing weight.
Key Features
| Make | Rockford Fosgate |
| Model | T2652-S |
| Size | 6.5″ Component |
| Power (RMS) | 100 watts |
| Power (Peak) | 200 watts |
| Frequency Response | 55 – 22,000 Hz |
| Sensitivity | 89 dB |
Reasons to Buy
- Excellent option for bass response
- Phase plug design is unique and very cool
Reasons Not to Buy
- Tweeters can be too bright
- May require modification to install in some vehicles
- Crossovers are somewhat bulky
Best Factory Replacement 6.5″ Car Speaker
Infinity REF-6530cx Quick Review
The Reference-series from Infinity are among the most popular choices on our list for replacing factory components. They offer an unbelievably good sound for a mid-price speaker while offering excellent, natural treble that isn’t washed out or harsh. On top of all that, they have a high-end appearance that steps up any interior space if you're planning on showing them off.
These speakers feature a polypropylene woofer cone and a high-roll surround that allows tremendous excursion while keeping the cone stable. Edge-driven tweeters are responsible for the unmistakable Reference sound. True 3-ohm speakers mean you’ll get the most out of a factory head unit while making them ideal for a custom installation as well.
Key Features
| Make | Infinity |
| Model | REF-6530cx |
| Size | 6.5″ Component |
| Power (RMS) | 90 watts |
| Power (Peak) | 270 watts |
| Frequency Response | 53 – 21,000 Hz |
| Sensitivity | 93 dB |
Reasons to Buy
- Excellent sound quality for the price
- Natural sounding tweeters
- Great factory speaker upgrade or replacement choice
Reasons Not to Buy
- Not as broad of a frequency response as some options
Best All Weather 6 1/2 inch Car Speakers
Polk Audio DB6502 Quick Review
Rich, clean, full-range – these are some of the terms that are describing Polk's DB6502 speakers across the web. Superseding their prior model, the DB6501 (who happened to be on our list prior), they come from a line of great performing components. What really stands out about this set in our opinion is their versatility. Polk made them to perform well in all environments. Whether you own a Jeep and like to play in the mud with the top off, or if you have a daily driver that just needs a great upgrade to the OEM speakers. They're an excellent performing set of speakers that are perfect for almost any application.
Did we mention that they're also water resistant too? With waterproof inner and outer surrounds, they have an IP55 rating, making them both dirt and water resistant. A polypropylene UV tolerant cone also makes it a great choice for outdoor use. We'd recommend these speakers for boats and cars alike. And for price tag, the DB6502 is by far one of the best value speakers on our list.
Couple key features worth noting:
- Water resistant – Marine IP55 certified
- Polypropylene UV tolerant cone
- Waterproof inner and outer sounds
- Non corrosive plastic speaker grilles included
| Make | Polk Audio |
| Model | DB6502 |
| Size | 6.5″ Component |
| Power (RMS) | 100 watts |
| Power (Peak) | 300 watts |
| Frequency Response | 35 – 23,000 Hz |
| Sensitivity | 92 dB |
Reasons to Buy
- The speakers feature waterproof inner and outer surrounds
- Perfect for outdoor use and we recommend them for use on cars and boats alike
- Price tag is on the affordable end
- Great sound quality
Reasons Not to Buy
- Might be a little more difficult to install than others
- Highs are a bit harsh
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