What are the best 6×8 car speakers?
For me, it’s quite clear that the JL Audio C5 are the undisputed champion for this size, but others may think otherwise.
I’ve personally spent uncountable hours testing speakers, blown a few and thrown a few more to the trash out of pure frustration.
I’ve created a list of my favorite 6×8 speakers which is a result of this massive study I did on the best car audio speakers earlier this year.
Let’s jump right into it:
List of Top 6×8 Car Speakers
Comparison Chart
1. CERWIN VEGA V468
If you are ready for some monstrously powerful sound, these are going to be the speakers you want to look at first.
The aggressive styling combined with premium sound and materials make Cerwin-Vega on of the top heavyweight contenders in the car audio world. Here’s what I love about these 6”x8”s:
Specifications:
- Sensitivity: 94 dB
- RMS: 75 Watts
- Peak Power: 200 Watts
- Frequency Response: 55Hz-20kHz
- 2way/3way/4way: 2-Way Coaxial
The Good:
First of all, these speakers are loud even when you are running them on a lower wattage channel.
This is largely due to the fact that their sensitivity response is a whopping 94 dB, which is significantly higher than about 90% of the competition.
Add to that an RMS power rating of 75 watts and a maximum capacity that peaks at 200 watts, and there is not a car audio setup on the market that would not benefit from a set of these V468s.
They also feature integrated crossovers, which means less wiring and mounting work for first time DIY installers.
So, bottom line: they’re loud, they have excellent frequency response range, and their black and red high contrast styling adds a nice aftermarket touch to any vehicle.
All in all, these are the best sounding 6×8 car speakers available on the market.
The Not-So-Good:
Again, as with most speakers in this particular size and class, these speakers will perform best with a more powerful aftermarket stereo driving them.
The V468s perform better than most speakers of their type due to their excellent sensitivity rating, however, some listeners may find that their midrange and lows suffer a bit on factory head units.
It may be worthwhile to consider upgrading your stereo in addition to these particular 6”x8”s. Beyond that, there really isn’t much to criticize about this particular speaker pair.
Pros
- Powerful sound even at low power output
- Exceptional frequency response range for superior audio performance
- Integrated crossover network for easier installation
- Gorgeous red on black styling
Cons
- Consider upgrading your existing stereo to take full advantage of these speakers
2. JBL 6×8 Coaxial Car Speaker
If you are interested in getting a clean and accurate speaker, you should consider the J.B.L. 6×8 Coaxial Speaker. It comes with UV-resistant polypropylene, which delivers exceptional performance even in extreme environmental conditions.
The following is what we love about the J.B.L. 6×8 Coaxial Car Speakers:
- Good factory gear4wheels1-20nt
- Good base
- Unique, accurate, and precise sounds with crisp mids and highs
Specifications:
- Sensitivity: 93 dB
- RMS: 60 watts
- Peak Power: 180 watts
- Frequency Response: 65-20,000 Hz
- 2way/3way/4way: 2-Way Coaxial
The Good:
The speaker is meticulous. It allows you to hear musical nuances unheard of before from other speakers.
This is made possible by the edge-driven silk dome tweeter that expands the high-frequency range. As a result, the sounds are life-like, warm, and realistic.
The Not-So-Good
In cold weather conditions, the speakers may take some time before they warm up; they tend to sound cheap then, and as a result, the base does not sound good in the first 15 minutes when you start driving.
Pros
- Precise sounds and music detail
- Good base
- Crisp mids and highs
Cons
- Sound output is affected in cold weather
3. Kicker 40CSS684
Bassheads love Kicker’s speakers, and with good reason. In terms of overall bass performance, it’s hard to beat any pair of Kicker brand subwoofers or component speakers.
Their 6”x8”s really deliver the goods when it comes to balancing power with audio fidelity. Check these out:
Specifications:
- Sensitivity: 90 dB
- RMS: 75-watt
- Peak Power: 225 Watts
- Frequency Response: 40Hz-21kHz
- 2way/3way/4way: 2-Way Component System
The Good:
True to form, the bass performance of these speakers really brings some thunder to your car audio, and they balance out nicely thanks to their 1” tweeter cones.
They’ve got plenty of power handling whether you want to run your factory car stereo or an aftermarket amp.
Even on low power, theses 40CSS684s can really crank out volume thanks to their exceptional 90dB sensitivity.
These speakers really are an exceptional value, and if you want to upgrade your car’s audio for a minimal cost, Kicker is definitely the brand to buy. In my humble opinion, the best 6×8 component speakers you can get.
The Not-So-Good:
There are a few things you should be aware of if you think this might be the speaker set for you.
First, the tweeters and crossover networks are all external. That means separate wiring and mounting for both the tweeters and crossovers in addition to the big 6”x8” woofer cones.
This means some tapping and drilling into the interior panels of your car in order to mount the tweeters (unless your car came with punch-out panels for high end audio), and you will be fishing wires under,over, and around your dash assembly.
It’s not impossible, but if you don’t have a lot of DIY experience it could prove to be challenging to get everything setup correctly.
Pros
- Thunderous bass performance and crystal clear highs
- Powerful 75 watt RMS/200 watts peak means excellent performance with factory or aftermarket amps
- Superior audio fidelity thanks to excellent frequency response range and 90 dB sensitivity
Cons
- Crossovers, tweeters, and woofer cones all must be wired and mounted separately.
- Some factory car stereos may not necessarily be optimal for driving these speakers in terms of watts per channel.
4. Pioneer TSD6802R
If you want to replace a 6″ x 8″ speaker, the Pioneer TS-G6820S is a viable option. It can handle higher power and deep base courtesy of the damper.
Specifications:
- Sensitivity: 92 dB
- RMS: 80 watts
- Peak Power: 250 watts
- Frequency Response: 72Hz-14 kHz
- 2way/3way/4way: 2-way
The Good:
The speaker comes patented with the Progressive Flex Suspension System (P.F.S.S. Spider), which enhances sound production’s linearity by dampening the significant cone vibration.
The soft part ensures smooth movement and reproduces clear and crisp sounds. During excessive input, the hard part regulates excess vibration and aids in preventing movement error.
The Not-So-Good
Even though it has good sound quality, increasing the volume can sometimes result in violent crackling. The Pioneer TS-G6820S is, however, an okay product for its price.
Pros
- Amazing performance
- Easy installation
- Improved sensitivity
Cons
- Produces crackling sounds when the volume is too high
5. Rockford Fosgate Punch P1683
Rockford Fosgate brings the noise with the best of them, except few can deliver the clarity and exceptional punchiness that has made them a household name in car audio circles. Check out these excellent 3-way 6”x8” speakers.
Specifications:
- Sensitivity: 90 dB
- RMS: 65 watts
- Peak Power: 130 watts
- Frequency Response: 65Hz-24kHz
- 2way/3way/4way: 3-way Coaxial
The Good:
Where to begin? There is a lot to love about these 3-ways. Their crystal clear highs, powerful midrange, and booming bass all make them some of the best sounding speakers in their class.
Crossovers are integrated so they don’t require any additional mounting or wiring, and at 65 watts RMS they are compatible with most factory car stereos without sacrificing any of their clarity or power. If you want to upgrade the overall quality of sound in your vehicle, this speaker set is going to do the trick.
There aren’t any cheaper or closely priced options that are worth buying, so I’d recommend these as the best 6 by 8 speakers for the money.
The Not-So-Good:
The lower end of the frequency response for theses speakers is not quite as good as some comparable models.
The 3-way coaxial design compensates for this by boosted midrange, but some listeners may hear a difference in the low end when comparing speakers.
It’s a small criticism, but worth mentioning. Beyond this nitpicky problem, it’s an excellent speaker set. In this video you can see an overview of this series which is one of my go-to speakers when the available budget isn’t a lot.
Pros
- 3-way coaxial speaker design delivers superior audio quality
- 65-watts RMS provides powerful sound even on factory car stereos
- Integrated crossovers allow for easy installation
- 90 dB sensitivity means excellent volume even at low power
Cons
- Lower end frequency response is sub-par compared to other speakers in its class
Final Verdict
There are certainly many factors to think about when you are buying a new speaker set. Here are a few questions to ask yourself before making a purchase:
Do these speakers fit my existing speaker enclosures for my car?
Does your factory car stereo have enough power to drive your new speakers?
Do you need to upgrade the stereo as well as the speakers?
How difficult will it be to install your new speaker set?
Are all installation materials included, or do I need to purchase some items separately? Going over these questions often helps to eliminate difficult choices between different speaker sets, and it gives you confidence in your decision since you know that you have considered all the options.
Now for my recommendation. For my money, I’d definitely buy the CERWIN VEGA V468 6-Inch x 8-Inch 400 Watts Max/75 Watts RMS Power 6”x8”s.
They offer the best overall performance and sensitivity, and they also won’t break the bank in terms of cost.
The V468s also sound every bit as good as they look, with some serious bass kicking and flawless mid and treble range performance.
They are also constructed of the toughest, highest quality materials, ensuring that your investment lasts for many years to come. If you are seeking to upgrade your car speakers to get that “In the studio” sound from all of your music, then these are the speakers for you.