The Best Component Speakers to Get Your Car's Audio Sounding Better
If you’re looking to seriously upgrade your car’s stereo system, you’ll want to invest in a set of component speakers. Unlike coaxial speakers, which combine the tweeter and woofer into one speaker, a component system separates the woofer and tweeter. Even though it’s a bit more difficult to install the woofer and tweeter separately, the addition of an in-line crossover with a component system allows each speaker to perform better on its own. The result is cleaner and better sound, since the woofer and tweeter can each focus on delivering their frequencies.
Another benefit of component speakers are their versatility, with different options on how you mount your tweeters. Some vehicles, straight from the factory, have their tweeters at an elevated level to enhance the listening experience. Since the tweeter is separate from the woofer in a component system, you can find a more ideal location when installing the tweeter.
Please note that all of our recommendations have 6.5″ woofers, so if your vehicle uses a different speaker size, check for other options for that particular model.
For more information on the best component speakers, refer to our table of contents.
Table of contents
1. Editor's Pick: JBL GTO609C 6.5" Component Speakers
These component speakers handle 270-watts peak or 75-watts RMS, making them an ideal match to car stereo systems with head-unit or factory-amplifier power levels. To compensate for added resistance from factory-installed speaker wiring, these component speakers feature 3-ohm voice coils that provide more output than factory speakers. Helping cool the voice coils are vented magnet assemblies on the woofer/midrange driver, which also increases reliability and helps reduce speaker distortion.
On the woofers, you'll find Plus One carbon-injected cones that are larger than others in their class, helping move more air and produce more bass. The soft-dome tweeters deliver smooth highs, while the patented I-mount system offers flexibility when it comes to installation. Sensitivity on these speakers is rated at 92 dB, while frequency response is 67 Hz to 21 kHz.
Product features:
- Handles 270-watts peak or 75-watts RMS
- Vented magnet assemblies
- Plus One carbon-injected cones
- Soft-dome tweeters
- Patented I-mount system
- Nominal impedance: 3 ohm
- Sensitivity: 92 dB
- Frequency response: 67 Hz to 21 kHz
2. Polk Audio DB6501 2-Way Component Speakers
Designed to work with OEM factory car audio systems or high-powered aftermarket head units and amplifiers, these component speakers handle up to 300-watts peak or 100-watts RMS. Providing clear, detailed highs are 1" liquid-cooled silk/polymer composite dome tweeters with neodymium magnets. A durable butyl rubber surround can be found on the 6.5" woofers, which feature a dynamic balance polymer/mica composite mineral-filled cone. Helping ensure high power handling and reliability is a low-mass, two-layer 1" Kapton voice coil.
The tweeters can be surface- or flush-mounted with the swivel-mount cups, allowing you flexibility in the install. ABS grilles add style to your interior and each set includes stainless steel mounting hardware. Sensitivity is rated at 92 dB, while frequency response is 35 Hz to 23 kHz.
Product features:
- Handles 300-watts peak or 100-watts RMS
- 1" liquid-cooled silk/polymer composite dome tweeters
- Neodymium magnets
- Butyl rubber surround
- Dynamic balance polymer/mica composite mineral-filled cone
- Low-mass, two-layer Kapton voice coil
- ABS grilles
- Stainless steel mounting hardware
- Nominal impedance: 4 ohm
- Sensitivity: 92 dB
- Frequency response: 35 Hz to 23 kHz
3. Pyle 2-Way Component Speakers
Sporting a yellow-colored poly-injection cone, these component speakers handle plenty of power. The mid-bass speakers handle 400-watts max or 200-watts RMS of power, while the 1/2" silk dome tweeters with neodymium magnets handle 100-watts peak or 50-watts RMS. The passive crossover networks are used to separate the signal from your head unit between the mid-bass speakers and tweeters, resulting in a richer, more accurate sound.
The mid-bass speaker features a high-temperature aluminum voice coil, special electroplated steel basket, 40-ounce magnet structure, and a non-fatiguing butyl rubber surround. Frequency response on the mid-bass speaker is 50 Hz to 5 KHz. The tweeters can be flush-, surface-, or angle-mount and have a frequency response from 1.3 to 22 kHz.
Product features:
- Yellow poly-injection cone
- Non-fatiguing butyl rubber surround
- High-temperature aluminum voice coil
- Special electroplated steel basket
- 40-ounce magnet structure
- 1/2" silk dome tweeters
- Speakers handle 400-watts max or 200-watts RMS
- Speakers impedance: 4 ohm
- Speakers frequency response: 50 Hz to 5 KHz
- Tweeters handle 100-watts peak or 50-watts RMS
- Tweeters impedance: 4 ohm
- Tweeters frequency response: 1.3 to 22 kHz
4. Kenwood Performance Series 2-Way Component Speakers
Capable of handling 280-watts peak or 80-watts RMS, these component speakers feature 1" swivel dome tweeters and 6.5" woofers with injected polypropylene cones sporting a diamond array pattern. A rubber surround on the woofer provides reliable support and is backed by a black stamped steel basket. The in-line crossover ensures the correct frequencies are sent to the woofer and tweeter, resulting in balanced and clear sound.
Frequency response on these speakers is rated at 63 Hz to 24 kHz while sensitivity is 86 dB. These speakers have 4-ohm nominal impedance.
Product features:
- Handles 280-watts peak or 80-watts RMS
- 1" swivel dome tweeters
- Injected polypropylene cones with diamond array pattern
- Rubber surround
- Black stamped steel basket
- In-line crossover
- Nominal impedance: 4 ohm
- Sensitivity: 86 dB
- Frequency response: 63 Hz to 24 kHz
5. Rockford Fosgate Prime 2-Way Component Speakers
Designed to be factory replacement speakers, this component set handles 80-watts max or 40-watts RMS. The 6.5" woofer utilizes a mica-injected polypropylene cone for extended frequency response, backed by a stamped steel basket and foam surround. The 1/2" Mylar-balanced dome tweeters produce clear highs and accommodate flush, surface, and angle mounting. Like all component systems, an in-line crossover is included to simplify the installation and separate the frequencies.
Frequency response on this set of component speakers is rated at 60 Hz to 20 kHz, while sensitivity is 89 dB. They have 4-ohm nominal impedance.
Product features:
- Handles 80-watts max or 40-watts RMS
- Mica-injected polypropylene cone
- Stamped steel basket
- Foam surround
- 1/2" Mylar-balanced dome tweeter
- Nominal impedance: 4 ohm
- Sensitivity: 89 dB
- Frequency response: 60 Hz to 20 kHz
What are Component Speakers?
If you're shopping for replacement car speakers and you're new to the market, it's likely you're overwhelmed by all the different available options. There are coaxial speakers, which combine the woofer and tweeter into one speaker; and then there are component speakers, which separate the woofer and tweeter, while adding a crossover so each independent speaker can perform better.
Coaxial speakers have the benefit of packaging both the woofer and tweeter into one speaker opening, but as you can imagine, there are compromises. This is why component speakers are popular among audio enthusiasts who want better, clearer sound.
Installation of component speakers might be troublesome on some vehicles, and could involve custom work depending on your factory speakers. Keep that in mind when you're shopping for component speakers—you may have additional costs for labor, whether that comes in the form of paying for installation, or the additional time you need to do it yourself.
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Main photo credit: Alexandru Nika / Shutterstock.com
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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