Best Car Speakers for Bass & Stereo Audio

We tested more than twenty of the highest-rated and most popular car speakers on the market. More than 65 hours of continuous comparisons led to the conclusion that the Pioneer TS-A167R was the best car speakers overall. They handle bass and high frequencies really well, they’re budget-friendly and they come in a variety of different sizes – one bound to fit your needs.

Overview

Buying a new set of car speakers is a fun process but there is also a lot of factors to consider, which can get a little bit stressful. We are here to help mitigate some of that stress by providing you with a buying guide that will help to ensure that you get nothing but the very best car speakers on the market.

In the paragraphs that are to come, we will go over what to look for in a car speaker, and we will even take a look at six of the top options out there to see if any of them are right for your situation. Without further ado, read on for your guide to buying car speakers!

Top 6 Best Speakers for Cars

Now that you have a keen understanding of some of the things to look for in a set of speakers here are six of the top choices that are currently on the market today.

Pros

• Amazing sound quality
• Many size options
• High-efficiency cooling
• Great power handling
• Highly affordable

Cons

• Slight bass cut-off

4.5/5

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Pioneer is one of my favorite sound system companies that are currently out there. Why? It’s because of products like this. Quality speakers made with care that, while not exactly cheap also won’t break your bank.

These speakers come in a variety of sizes, so you shouldn’t have to worry about them fitting your situation. They also benefit from plenty of power handling, which as you might recall from our buying tips means that they will be able to make the most out of a powerful head unit, and perhaps most importantly they also just deliver really great audio output.

The set comes with the standard two speakers, and of course, everything that you should need to perform a typical installation.

Who are these speakers good for? Well, to say everyone would be something of an overstatement but if you can afford their midrange price tag, it is definitely a great unit to consider. This isn’t the cheapest set of speakers that we will be highlighting today but in the broader terms of car audio systems, it is one of the more affordable options that are out there.

Ultimately, the Pioneer TS-A167R speakers are great for anyone that wants to get a lot of quality for a moderate amount of money.

Overall, we feel like the Pioneer TS-A167R are the best car speakers on the market. Especially within the budget range.

Pros

• Easy installation
• Very durable
• Heavy-duty

Cons

• Struggles with high frequencies

4/5

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Boss speakers are known by many to be something of a budget option. Of course, that is not a bad thing, but it will sometimes manifest itself in their limitations. While these speakers are great for what they are, you should also keep in mind that this isn’t exactly the unit you buy if you are looking to supe up your cars audio system.

What are they good for? Well, if you have really bad speakers already in your car, these might be a good substitute. Otherwise, they also make great replacements for factory stock speakers.

I know I’m not making these speakers sound extremely exciting, but they are actually a really great set. They have limitations, but they are also meant to. Even despite these limitations, however, they still have plenty of good qualities going for them.

Boss works hard on engineering quality products. Their cones utilize an inexpensive but nevertheless very durable polymer that will keep it in tip-top shape for a long time to come. They also use cutting-edge foam technology that enjoys a lifespan of between eight and sixteen years. Bottom line? These speakers are built to last.

They also happen to deliver good audio. No, they aren’t without their limitations, especially when it comes to higher and lower frequencies, but they are good speakers when it is all said and done. While they might not be the best car speakers for bass, they nevertheless doe excel at other areas.

Who are these speakers for? They are going to make a great buying option for anyone that is looking to replace factory stock speakers.

Pros

• Powerful output
• Crystal clear sound
• Excellent value

Cons

• Somewhat weak bass

4/5

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One of the things that I really like about this set is that you are getting four speakers instead of the standard two. That adds a lot of value to the set and it also provides you with an affordable way to give your car a more comprehensive sound system upgrade.

Of course, this wouldn’t matter at all if the speakers themselves weren’t good. Fortunately, in this case, they are. The sound output itself is very good (though users that enjoy a lot of bass may benefit from the help of some sub-woofers) and they also benefit from a lot of power, with a maximum power rating of 300.

Though these speakers don’t actually have the lowest price tag of anything that we will be looking at on this list they actually may very well be the highest value because of how many speakers you are getting. That being the case, they are another excellent budget option for anyone that wants to get a lot, without spending a lot.

Do however keep in mind that if you enjoy cranking up your bass you might also want to consider building the cost of sub-woofers into your budget.

The final set of speakers that we will be taking a look at today is another Rockford unit. Since these speakers have been produced by the same manufacturer, they are of course going to have a lot in common with that last set. That said, one thing that you might notice right off the bat is that these speakers are a little bit larger than the last unit.

Pros

• Low price
• Nice audio quality
• Easy installation

Cons

• Slightly low volume

3.8/5

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They are also a little bit more powerful, boasting 90 watts of power as opposed to the last unit’s 80 watts of power. Aside from these differences, they are pretty similar. This unit benefits from the same engineering technology as the last and likewise delivers very good sound quality because of it.

Of course, this all bears the question of, “who are these speakers good for?” The answer is going to be the same as the last Rockford unit that we looked at. The truth is, these speakers are fairly similar to one another so it is ultimately going to be a matter of your own personal preference that informs your buying decision.

Both units are similarly priced (in fact, these speakers are actually currently slightly more affordable) and both share a lot of features in common. Either speaker represents a great option for the shopper that values quality, and, of course, a great deal.

Pros

• Low price
• VAST Surround
• Easy installation

Cons

• Low power

3.7/5

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These next speakers are fairly compact, and also very simple in terms of design. For some users, this may be something of a turn-off, but I personally appreciate it. The speakers bear a certain understated look that is given gravity by the fact that they actually perform quite well. They are steady, reliable, and they don’t need a fancy design to show it.

These speakers are able to deliver 80 watts of power. While you will certainly find more powerful speakers out there, this is still a very good showing given the size and the prize.

Perhaps most importantly, these are just well-engineered speakers. They deliver quality sound output, and thanks to their VAST (Vertical Attach Surround Technique”) which works to make the cone radius 25% more efficient than other comparable speakers that are currently out on the market.

So, who are these speakers good for? I would say that they are truthfully good for most people. While they are a little bit more expensive than some of the other speakers that we have seen on this list, they are still available at a price that is very competitive with other comparable models in its class. As a result, they represent a really great buying opportunity for anyone that values quality but doesn’t want to have to spend a ton of money in order to get it.

Pros

• Decent sound quality
• Very Affordable
• Durable

Cons

• Struggles with high frequencies

3.7/5

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This Boss set of speakers is actually quite similar to the first set that we looked at. With this unit, you are still going to benefit from the same durable construction, as well as pretty much every other feature that we saw on the last set.

Like the other Boss speakers, these are going to work best as a set to replace stock speakers. This option is actually going to be a little bit more affordable, however, as it is offered with a little bit less power (300 watts as opposed to 600) and it also is a little bit smaller (6.5 inches as opposed to 6.9).

Obviously, these are differences that are going to affect the way that these speakers perform. The audio output isn’t quite as good on this set as it was on the last Boss set that we looked at. Like the last Boss set, they make a great option for anyone that is looking to replace factory stock speakers, but they probably won’t be good for much else.

Audio aficionados, in particular, are probably going to want to look elsewhere. While it would not be fair to say that these speakers perform poorly, there are definitely better options out there for the connoisseur.

Buying Considerations: The Best Car Speakers

Here are a few buying considerations that are essential to picking the best speakers for your car that you can find. Let’s take a look.

Power Handling

If you’ve never heard the phrase “power handling” before you probably will not be surprised to learn that it means pretty much exactly what you would assume it does. Power handling refers to how much power your speakers can handle.

Generally, power handling is measured in RMS (root-mean-square.).

Not only do you want to get a speaker system that has a high RMS, but you also want to make sure that it is coordinated with your head unit.

The reason that this is important is of course fairly straightforward. If your head unit is capable of more than your speakers, you aren’t getting the most out of your head unit. Conversely, if your speakers are capable of more power than your head unit you aren’t getting the most out of them either.

If you are replacing your entire system you can enjoy a lot of freedom in terms of selecting your ideal power handling because you can match both your speakers and your head unit to your exact specifications. If you are only buying speakers, you will, of course, want to keep in mind the limits of your head unit before you make your ultimate buying decision.

Design

You want them to look cool, right? Of course, you do. Upgrading your car speakers is about more than just improving your audio capacity. It’s about improving your car’s aesthetic as well. The good news is that there is no tried and true method of getting a really elegant looking set of speakers. The matter is entirely based on your own personal preferences. Just remember that you don’t have to settle on an ugly set of speakers. The perfect combination of appearance and function is definitely out there.

Price

You know the phrase, “you get what you pay for?” it doesn’t necessarily entirely apply to speakers. You can get pretty decent sets at a reasonable price, and conversely, you can also get disappointing speakers that cost a lot of money.

There are a lot of factors that go into the price of a speaker. Generally, pricier speakers are going to be built from more durable, higher-quality materials. As a result, they are going to be able to maintain better sound output even when you are really cranking up your music.

They are also going to do much better job handling lower and higher frequencies.

You can’t count on that though. The best way to determine how well a speaker is going to perform really is to do your research. Take a look at what professional critics have to say about the speakers in question, and perhaps even more importantly take a look at what people who have owned and used the speakers think of them.  If users are saying that they perform well and hold up over time, that will tell you a lot more about the speakers than its price tag will.

Durability

There are a lot of parts and pieces to a set of speakers, and when you start cranking up your music they tend to start rattling around a lot. Obviously, you want your speakers to last for a long time. In order to make sure that happens you are going to want to pay attention to the components of the speakers.

Do some research on the projected life expectancy of some of the speaker’s key parts such as the cone, or even the foam. The manufacturer will probably list this information in their product descriptions, but of course, their estimates are going to be a little more optimistic than reality might actually reflect. In order to get a more realistic estimate of what you can expect you might again want to consider consulting professional and private reviews.

Sensitivity

Sensitivity refers to how much power your speakers require to project a certain volume level. This number is ultimately going to be influenced a good deal by what sort of stereo you are using. Factory issued stereos generally are going to require speakers with a higher level of sensitivity to project louder volumes.

Conversely, speakers that have a low level of sensitivity should work fine with high-powered amps. To make the most of this component of the speaker, you are again going to need to pay attention to the capabilities of your head unit.

Your Car

Not every speaker is going to work with every car (at least not naturally). Make sure that the speakers that you are looking at are going to be compatible with whatever you are driving. The good news is that to do this is fairly simple. Many websites that sell car speakers will offer a directory of some sort that should tell you what you need to know. Otherwise, you can always do some research to see if the speakers you are interested in have worked for people that drive your model of car.

The best car speakers for you are obviously some that match your car.

Conclusion: Best Car Speakers

There is a lot to keep in mind when you start looking into buying speakers. The good news? While it can be a little bit stressful considering all of this data points, they are only designed to help you get the best product possible. Now that you know about power handling, sensitivity, and other important buying considerations, you can use that information to choose a set of speakers that is perfect for your needs.

Whether you decide to buy one of the awesome sets of speakers that we have highlighted today, or you decide that you would like to do some of your own research at the end of the day you can be confident and comfortable in the fact that you are getting a great set of audio equipment.

You will be glad that you have done all of your research when you are riding around listening to your favorite new music with an awesome new set of speakers.

Go ahead and get the best car speakers for your ride today!