If you are looking for the best 4×6 speakers, the most important things to consider are the power handling capacity, sensitivity rating, and woofer cone material. I’ve summarized my favorite products below based on these features. Keep reading if you want to know more about why these features are so important.
Most cars are equipped with standard audio speakers that allow you to listen to the radio or even connect them to many gadgets, including your mobile phone or mp3 player. However, not all cars come with the most up-to-date audio systems, and their stock speakers are mostly not up to par. Since you’re reading this article, you may be finding the best 4×6 car speakers for your newly purchased vehicle.
Music, as we know it, is one of the significant necessities during driving. Most seasoned drivers know that driving alone can get way too tedious and monotonous, especially when you have to go long hours each day. It is too easy to fall asleep while driving, specifically when all you get to hear is the breeze whooshing against your windshield, and you’re in the middle of an empty highway. Heavy traffic may also be highly annoying, especially when you’re running late for work, or you’ve just gotten out of your daily nine-to-five, doing your best to reach home. Having an efficient car audio system can help keep you both awake and relaxed, allowing you to concentrate on your driving so that you get to reach your intended destination in no time safely.
While there are many car speakers available in the market, not all these speakers are compatible with your car’s model and size. Most of the newer car models do not have substantial extra spaces for those giant speakers you usually use at home. 4×6 speakers, on the other hand, get to fit tiny allocated spaces easily, and you can find a variety of brands and models to choose from.
To help you with your quest, I went through the different audio stores and found the best 4×6 speakers based on their performance. Read on and identify one—or two—that best suits your audio needs.
Top 3 4×6 Speakers Comparison
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Best Overall |
| View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
| View On Amazon →Read Our Review | |
| View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
The Best 4×6 Speakers Reviews
Pioneer TS-A1370F A Series – Best Overall
Key Features
- Peak power: 300 watts
- RMS: 50 watts
- Frequency response: 40-36,000 Hz
- Sensitivity: 87 dB
- Impedance: 4 ohms
Pioneer is one of the best audio equipment manufacturers. Most of their offerings are some of the most popular audio devices in the market. The Pioneer TS-A1370F uses the same spider innovation that is most prominent in their PRS series. Packaged as a pair, these 4×6 speakers are lightweight and small. Thus, they can easily fit any of the designated speaker spaces in your car without you having to make any kind of modifications to accommodate them.
This unit’s cone is developed with a multilayered mica matrix that deftly improves audio quality even at maximum volumes. These speakers have a peak power rating of 300 watts and an RMS of 50 watts. Thus, they are compatible with most stock car amps or, if your car doesn’t have one yet, you can easily find a car amplifier that’d make these babies work.
While their sensitivity rating isn’t as spectacular as other speakers I found, you can conveniently improve hearing capacity by turning up the volume notch. These speakers also have a frequency response range of 40 to 36,000 Hz, which is good enough since most people can merely detect a range of 20 to 20,000 Hz anyway.
Pros • Multilayer mica matrix offers top-quality audio • Compatible with most stock car amps • Lightweight • Easy to set up • Compatible with most car models and audio systems • Affordable | Cons • Low sensitivity rating as compared to alternatives • Merely handles 50 watts continuously • No grilles provided in the package |
BOSS Audio Systems CH4630 – Best Budget Choice
Key Features
- Mounting depth: 1.8”
- Impedance: 4 ohms
- Frequency Response: 100Hz – 18KHz
- Sensitivity: 90 dB @ 1 W/1 m
Boss Audio is another go-to audio brand for most people. While their units may not be up to par with Pioneer or even Rockford Fosgate, this manufacturer offers several units that do not cost as much. Plus, their speakers are way better than your car’s stock speakers.
These speakers come with a three-year warranty that allows you to have better peace of mind if you still aren’t sure about their performance. They have a maximum joint power of 500 watts which makes them powerful speakers for their 4×6 size. They can adequately provide you with both high and low tones, as well.
Constructed with durable materials, these speakers can last long. Their black-and-red ensemble is also quite stunning, especially when your car has the same interior upholstery to complement it. The cone plays a significant role in the provision of top-quality audio. Despite the pair’s low price, these speakers aren’t your run-of-the-mill kind. They are also lightweight and do not consume much space when installed in your car, although you have to be extra careful because these features make them more fragile than the usual alternatives.
Pros • It offers better sound than your stock speakers • Aesthetically attractive • Durable assembly • Easy to install • Fit small spaces • Affordable | Cons • Pairing the speakers up with an amp may blow them up |
Kicker 43DSC4604 – Best Car Amp Compatibility
Key Features
- Frequency range: 50-20,000 Hz
- Impedance: 4 ohms
- 4×6 inches polypropylene woofer
- ½ inch PEI dome tweeter
Another famous go-to brand in the market, Kicker, provides us with one of its more affordable alternatives. The Kicker 43DSC4604 4×6 speakers are extensively known to improve the sound output of any audio source. Despite their current low price that’s just shy of fifty bucks, these speakers can capably offer you premium-grade audio feedback. This pair features a polypropylene woofer and a PEI dome tweeter that adequately provides you with a most enjoyable listening experience.
You won’t have to worry about long silent drives any longer since these speakers have an impedance rating of 4 ohms, allowing them to produce a frequency coverage of 50 to 20,000 Hz—sufficiently covering most of the humanly detectable sounds in your favorite audio playlist. Their RMS power handling capacity is at 120 watts which can reach up to 240 watts.
Just like most 4×6 speakers, these beauties are easy to set up. They can fit most tight spaces and are highly recommended for most modern cars. You don’t even have to hire extra help as these speakers can be installed in a few minutes.
Compatible with most stock car radio equipment, these speakers can provide a huge sound difference when compared to the audio quality of your car’s factory-provided speakers. These speakers are excellent investments, especially if you want to replace your stock car speakers without having to spend a fortune to do so.
Pros • Compatible with most stock car radio units • Excellent audio feedback • Vibrant highs and distinct lows • Easy to install • Fit small spaces • Affordable | Cons • May produce a crackling sound after lengthy use |
Skar Audio SK46 – Best Treble Response
Key Features
- Peak Power: 120 Watts (Pair)
- RMS Power: 60 Watts (Pair)
- Speaker Impedance: 4 Ohms
- Frequency Response: 110 – 20,000 Hz
- Sensitivity: 84 dB
While we’re at it, Skar Audio is another famous audio equipment brand. The SK46 belongs to the tempting offerings of this manufacturer, especially highlighted because of this pair’s affordable price. This pair functions at an RMS power handling capacity of 60 watts which can peak at 120 watts. They have an impedance rating of 4 ohms, featuring a 1-inch copper voice coil. For improved durability and stability, these speakers use a butyl rubber surround and a pulp fiber cone, which guarantees fantastic audio quality. These speakers have a frequency response range of 110 to 20,000 Hz.
The Skar Audio SK46 speakers are exceptional when it comes to their sound quality. They are highly capable of reproducing the exact audio file you want. Hence, they are reliable enough when you’re driving alone and heading towards your intended destination. You get to play whatever song you like and deftly appreciate the sounds these speakers get to produce.
This speaker’s cushiony silk dome offers you crisp and clear sounds, specifically when you’re listening to the higher-end frequencies. You can even opt to connect them to your car’s stock radio unit and still deem a vast improvement audio-wise. If you choose to connect them to an efficient amplifier, you can improve their performance further.
While these speakers aren’t audiophile-grade, they are suitably appropriate for a car audio system as they get to satisfy your cravings for music while stuck in the middle of heavy traffic or while hurriedly rushing towards home. What’s even better is that these speakers do not cost you that much as they are only less than fifty dollars a pair.
Pros • Better sound quality than most stock car speakers • Clear and crisp higher-end frequency sounds • Distinct bass response • Affordable | Cons • Low sensitivity rating |
Infinity Kappa 64CFX – Best Mid-Level Alternative
Key Features
- Frequency Response: 75Hz-25kHz
- RMS Power Handling: 51-75 watts
- Peak Power Handling: 176-200 watts
- Impedance: 2.5 ohms
- Sensitivity Rate: up to 96dB @ 2.83V/1m
While most 4×6 speakers on this list are relatively affordable as they all belong to the below-fifty-dollar price range, this pair of Infinity Kappa 64CFX speakers currently cost $95.95. However, they make up for the higher cost by providing you with better speaker specifications. If you have a bigger budget to work with, these 4×6 speakers are an excellent investment.
They have a frequency response range of 75 to 25,000 Hz, which covers the standard coverage of its alternatives but offers you that extra higher-end frequency capacity, allowing clearer production when it comes to those frequency levels. They have a higher sensitivity rating, which assures you that they get to effectively offer you solid sounds even when you decide to turn up the volume notch on max.
Because they have a peak power rating of up to 200 watts, they are fully compatible with most car amplifiers. If you already have an existing amplifier, you can connect these beauties to that amp and have a most enjoyable car ride even when you’re in the midst of the usual rush-hour traffic.
With the Infinity Kappa 64CFX, you get to have almost twice the performance that you would expect from the cheaper alternatives and deftly improve your stock car radio unit’s performance.
Pros • Higher sensitivity rating than its alternatives • Compatible with most car amplifiers • Easy to install • Fit most tight spaces | Cons • More expensive than most on this list |
NVX NSP46 N-Series – Best Audio Accuracy
Key Features
- Peak Power: 150 watts
- RMS Power: 50 watts
- Impedance: 4 ohms
- Frequency response: 90-20,000 Hz
- Sensitivity: 87dB
The problem with most manufacturers is that they do not provide you with the actual specifications of their units. As it happens, most brands merely estimate their units’ various capacities, which can be frustrating, especially when you want to find the exact 4×6 speaker pair for your car.
The NVX NSP46, however, offers you exact numbers starting from the number of speakers you get with the low price of $39.99.m In fact, this is the price for a single NVX NSP46 4×6 speaker. So, of course, you’ll need to multiply that twice if you plan to purchase a pair of these. Each speaker has an RMS power handling capacity of 50 watts that can reach 150 watts.
It has an impedance rating of 4 ohms and a frequency response range of 90 to 20,000 Hz. While it has an average sensitivity rating of 87 dB, this unit makes up for that by offering you clear and defined sounds. It produces a warm treble response, although it doesn’t do well with the lower-end bass sounds.
Nevertheless, it is incorporated with a silk dome tweeter and a polypropylene cone that ensures precise notes and rich feedback. This unit makes use of a high-temp KSV voice coil that permits a balanced distribution of current and a fast heat dissolution—this is a critical point to take note of as it is related to the safety precautions you need to take when using such small speakers that are highly prone to damage and overheating.
This unit is also incorporated with a nitrile butadiene rubber surround that further improves audio accuracy. Honesty and accuracy are a couple of serious ideals that the company makes sure of. Thus, they prefer to give their customers the actual number when it comes to the capacity of their units. You have to remember that a high standard ensures you that you are purchasing a product that completely performs just as you expect it to, and the NSP46 should be one 4×6 speaker alternative to consider.
Pros • Honest manufacturer sales talk • KSV voice coil for balanced current and heat distribution • Accurate audio feedback • Warm treble response | Cons • Limited bass • Low sensitivity rating |
Skar Audio TX46 – Best Speaker Construction
Key Features
- Peak Power: 140 Watts (Pair)
- RMS Power: 70 Watts (Pair)
- Impedance: 4 ohms
- Frequency Response Range: 80 Hz – 20,000 Hz
- Sensitivity: 86 dB
Another from Skar Audio, the TX46 is a pair of 2-way coaxial speakers that have a combined peak power of 140 watts. They also have a combined RMS power handling capacity of 70 watts. While their frequency response range is pretty standard with only 80 to 20,000 Hz capability, these speakers are equipped with a high-performing silk dome tweeter that allows you to have superb audio quality. These speakers also use a copper voice coil and a TPE surround, which further aids in improving sound quality and stabilizing the system.
These speakers produce crisp, vibrant high notes and clear low notes. They can also manage loud volume levels and are excellent alternatives to most 4×6 speakers in the market. In fact, audiophiles will appreciate this pair for its capacity to produce top-quality sounds despite its low price and tiny size. Nevertheless, these speakers are limited in the sense that they do not handle midrange tones well. However, for a starter set, these speakers perform much better than the usual factory-installed speakers of most cars.
Pros • Vibrant highs and distinct lows • High-quality construction • Can manage top volume levels | Cons • Limited midrange response |
What to Look for in 4×6 Speakers
It can become overwhelming when you are suddenly faced with a myriad of technical terms that leave you with the possibility of purchasing the wrong speaker. You need to understand some of the speaker terms you get to read so that you can identify the best 4×6 speaker—or speakers—for your car.
Sensitivity Rating
Sensitivity refers to the 4×6 speaker’s sound ratio concerning the power that it gets to handle. This element is measured in decibels (dB). Because most 4×6 speakers are merely developed to manage a low RMS power capacity, there is a need to provide them with a high sensitivity rating. By doing so, your speaker gets to have the ability to produce loud—and still solid—sounds even when you decide to turn up the notch. A 4×6 speaker must have a sensitivity rating of about 90 dB and have reliable audio feedback even at max volume levels.
Power Handling Capacity
In relation to a speaker’s sensitivity rating is its power handling capacity. This element is measured in watts. Most car stereo or radio units are low-powered ones. Hence, you do not really need high-powered speakers to maximize their performance. Nevertheless, your speakers must be able to match the power capacity of your amplifier for them to work effectively.
Woofer Cone Material
Car speakers are typically smaller in comparison to your home studio-bound ones. Thus, their woofer cones are comparatively smaller as well. Car speaker manufacturers attempt to transcend this limitation by trying out different woofer cones materials to improve woofer sound feedback deftly. Hence, the better the material and built of your woofer, the more able it is to produce clear and distinct lower-end tones. When purchasing 4×6 speakers, you need to pay attention to their woofer quality. This permits you to have speakers that capably offer not only superb higher-end tones but lower-end ones as well.
Price
Most 4×6 speakers do not cost much. This doesn’t mean, however, that you can just pick some generic, low-priced unit if you want to replace your car’s stock speakers. The need to read in-depth reviews of your candidate option is beneficial as most customer comments offer you excellent insight into the different capacities of each speaker unit. Bear in mind that price doesn’t always equate to quality.
Brand and Model
Likewise, various brands offer a plethora of 4×6 speakers to choose from. While most go-to brands like Pioneer, Rockford Fosgate, and Skar Audio offer you high-quality alternatives, some of the less known manufacturers offer premium-grade units as well. It would be best if you had proper discernment so that you get to obtain the best speakers irrespective of model and brand.
Our Verdict
To sum up our in-depth review of the different 4×6 speakers in the market, here are our top picks:
- Best Overall—Pioneer TS-A1370F A Series
- Best Budget Choice—BOSS Audio Systems CH4630
- Best Car Amp Compatibility—Kicker 43DSC4604
- Best Treble Response—Skar Audio SK46
- Best Mid-Level Alternative—Infinity Kappa 64CFX
- Best Audio Accuracy—NVX NSP46
- Best Speaker Construction—Skar Audio TX46