It’s hard to think of anything as nice as listening to music through the proper speakers. If listening to tunes in your vehicle is something you value, then high-quality speakers are probably up there on your priority list.
No matter the sound that suits your style, the fidelity of your music should never have to suffer.
Regardless of whether you listen to bass-fueled metal, vocal-focused pop, or experimental genres, you’ll likely appreciate the experience more with the best 5.25 inch speakers.
That’s why a speaker is such a key aspect of your vehicle’s sound system. While there are other helpful specific parts, like a subwoofer and tweeter, a speaker can cover the full range.
But the right balance of output power for the space inside your vehicle for the price is hard to find. What fits in your vehicle is a very real concern, even while putting sound quality first.
That’s why 5.25-inch speakers are so popular among car audio enthusiasts. These speakers handle bass and midrange far better than smaller speakers, but they fit comfortably in the vast majority of vehicles.
Speakers come in many shapes and sizes, but we’ve compiled the best 5.25-inch speakers on the market. Check our reviews and buying guide next.
The Best 5.25 Inch Speakers in 2023
Let’s get into our hand-selected list of top rated 5.25 inch sound systems. These are the best car speakers available across the internet. Here we go!
1. JBL CLUB5020 5.25″ – Best Budget-Friendly Speakers
JBL CLUB5020 is a 2-way car speaker that is a surprisingly affordable addition to a sound system. Coaxial just refers to how it’s wired and mounted in your vehicle. It covers a wide range and has retained a high customer rating since its release in 2016.
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Brand | JBL |
| Peak Power | 120 watts |
| RMS Power | 40 watts |
| Frequency response | 75Hz – 20kHz |
| Dimensions | 10.5 x 1.5 x 2.8 inches |
Being coaxial means they benefit from the efficiency of multiple speakers at the same time. Rather than separate the subwoofer for the low end and the tweeter for the high end, the two overlap a bit and provide a more full range of sound.
However, JBL CLUB5020 doesn’t come with any speaker harness. You’ll have to look for specific cabling for the make, and possibly model, or your car or truck.
The JBL CLUB5020’s default design has a simple style that should suit a wide variety of interiors. Black is a versatile shade and the primary color of this device.
This JBL CLUB5020 powerful speaker will sound great at loud volumes thanks to its 120-watt output and sensitive design. JBL has the listener with longevity in mind, so if you want to take things easy after installation, this is for you.
2. Polk Audio DB522 – Best for Boats and Bikes
Polk Audio is a household name in sound, from cars to the home. They have deep experience helping people listen how they want to what they want. These high-powered speakers back up that knowledge in any vehicle. The Polk Audio DB522 pair specializes in offering surround sound for a comfortable price. You can hardly find anything better in terms of material.
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Brand | Polk Audio |
| Peak Power | 300 watts |
| RMS Power | 100 watts |
| Frequency response | 55 Hz → 22,000 Hz |
| Dimensions | 16 x 14.2 x 9.7 inches |
These two Polk Audio DB522 speakers are also Marine certified. This testing means that the speakers are water-resistant, dirt-resistant, and put through rigors like UV exposure, salt fog, and high humidity.
That doesn’t mean Polk Audio DB522 are just made for boats: If you like to drive hard in all weather conditions, and go off the beaten path with the music blasting, these are with taking a look at. Installation is as easy as possible—the design features drop-in technology to avoid any complications.
The classic innovation of Polk Audio DB522 comes shining through with this duo ranking higher in all of Amazon’s coaxial car speakers. This Polk Audio DB522 pair has been around since 2016 and has continued product support from a classic company in the business.
The cut-out diameter is 4.76 inches, with the bottom mount being 2.01 inches and the top coming in at 1.74 inches.
Despite the premium brand, you get to avoid the premium price tag normally attached. The high-performance audio provides a sound anyone can appreciate. If durability and a long life matter to you, these Polk Audio DB522 speakers beat out a lot of competition.
3. Rockford Fosgate R1525X2 – Most Popular Mid-Range Audio Speaker
This Rockford Fosgate R1525X2 speaker pair is the most rated product on our list. Retaining a 4.5 out of 5 after more than 10,000 customer reviews is no small feat – and we understand why these speakers are so popular.
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Brand | Rockford Fosgate |
| Peak Power | 80 watts |
| RMS Power | 40 watts |
| Frequency response | 62Hz – 20kHz |
| Dimensions | 14.3 x 8.3 x 3.6 inches |
The vacuum polypropylene cone with rubber surround and silk dome flush mounted tweeter is a stylish build. The visual flair comes along with grilles and mounting hardware for a faster installation as well.
The black speaker is powered by 40 watts and can have a somewhat subdued sound. While the audio isn’t overwhelming by any means, if the price is of great concern, these are a great choice.
The Rockford Fosgate R1525X2’s overall sound lacks bass and higher-end sensitivity compared to other speakers on this list, but it’s still good compared to stock models.
Rockford Fosgate R1525X2 comes with the standard coaxial integration of tweeter and subwoofer to fill out every range of your music: it’s a solid, stylish option if you value the look as well as the sound of your set-up. The visual style for the affordable price might matter to you if you love how your ride looks.
Rockford Fosgate R1525X2 is well-known for its high-end and durable audio technology. The company has a wide selection of sound options for a multitude of vehicle types, and the experience shows.
4. 2 Kicker 43DSC504 D-Series 5.25″ – Best for Big Bass
These Kicker 43DSC504 D-Series quality speakers could be just the thing for the discerning listener wanting to add a bit of boom to their low end.
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Brand | KICKER |
| Peak Power | 200 watts Per Pair |
| RMS Power | 50 watts Per Pair |
| Frequency response | 45-20k |
| Dimensions | 7.8 x 6.5 x 7.4 inches |
How do the Kicker 43DSC504 D-Series subwoofers compare to the rest of our list? These act as an almost perfect middle-ground for the collection.
The pair of Kicker 43DSC504 D-Series speakers is not going to break the bank but retains a powerful sound and a good rating for its exceptional performance.
The build materials and overall design don’t’ skimp on quality either. The rigid polypropylene cone and polyester foam surround combine to deliver a smooth tone while looking sleek.
Each of the two can pump out songs at 200 maximum watts, and 50 watts RMS (root mean squared) – solidly powered for the price range. And the upshot of Kicker 43DSC504 D-Series speakers that aren’t overpowered is you can run them off your OEM (original equipment manufacturer) amplifier, saving you the hassle and expense of a new amp.
Although there are fewer reviews for this set than other speakers on our list, Kicker 43DSC504 D-Series retains our confidence with their audio technology. They’ve got experience building tough products for cars, marine vehicles, power sports, and more.
5. Pioneer TS-G1320F 5.25″ – Best Overall Value
This Pioneer TS-G1320F pair of speakers come from a premium brand at a super low price. These two PIONEER products are suited especially well for smaller vehicles or as accents for other audio equipment.
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Brand | Pioneer |
| Peak Power | 500 watts |
| RMS Power | 70 watts |
| Frequency response | 33Hz 24kHz |
| Dimensions | 8 x 8 x 7 inches |
The two Pioneer TS-G1320F speakers have earned an Amazon’s Choice label in the category of coaxial car speakers and retain a solid 4.4 out of 5-star rating after more than 1,500 users have tried them out. And if you don’t trust 1,500 strangers, trust us instead: this is one great value set of speakers.
Naturally, there’s a compromise. For extreme affordability, they have to squeeze a lot from their materials. But the power of the speakers is quite impressive for the size and components.
The Pioneer TS-G1320F speakers are newer, coming out in 2018, and they use this advancement in technology compared to some 2016 entries to this list effectively. These two have a nominal music power appropriate for 35 watts RMS and a peak wattage of 250.
With a weight of 1.54 pounds, the speakers make a tiny addition to a great Pioneer TS-G1320F car stereo system or act as a serviceable audio source on their own.
Pioneer TS-G1320F’s all about getting a powerful sound for value. If you’re interested in stretching your budget as far as you can, it’s hard to go wrong with this hard-working pair of speakers.
6. Infinity Reference 5032CFX 5-1/4″ – Best Splurge Speaker
A very powerful speaker pair with a normal wattage of 45 and a peak wattage of 135. Infinity Reference 5032CFX is the most expensive of our recommendations, and it shows.
- Enhanced performance across the low, mid, and high ranges
- High-quality build materials
- The pricing is listed as competitive, but it’s still spendy
While Infinity Reference 5032CFX might not be for everyone, the luxury of using these Infinity speakers is hard to overstate. The overall design and capability of the two black speakers are enhanced by custom baskets and cutting-edge textile tweeters.
There is great care taken to ramp up the power from the higher bass output to smooth high-end. Infinity Reference 5032CFX’s a powerhouse sound fit for any song that utilizes a rich range.
And Infinity Reference 5032CFX are robustly built speakers that are easy to install too. The more modern 2018 releases quickly impressed users, and took advantage of newer technology to deliver a smooth overall sound.
Before You Buy: The Buyer’s Guide To Car 5.25 Inch Speakers
You’ve seen our opinions. The top-of-the-line options for this size are all out there, but that doesn’t mean that’s all there is to explore.
What you want to listen to is the deciding factor on what type of speakers to get. Are you going straight for EDM and beat-driven tracks with bass at the forefront? Do you love to hear the clarity of minute details in classical compositions?
There’s a lot to think about, and you deserve to treat your ears to the best experience you can get for your budget.
Here’s everything you need to know about speakers to find the best choice for your vehicle and your musical wants.
What Size Of Speaker Should I Buy?
The best car audio speakers come in a wide range of sizes, from the petite 5.25-inch sets we’ve covered in this topic, up to blaringly loud 6×9 car audio speakers. But which size is right for you?
While 5.25-inch speakers are small and versatile, the next size up is the popular 6.5-inch speaker. 6.5-inch speakers still fit into a wide range of vehicles and can provide a like-for-like upgrade of factory speakers with a good overall sound across the frequency range.
The best 6.5 component speakers are especially common among audiophiles – component speakers split the woofer and tweeter, thereby providing a better sound quality in these frequencies. They can be a headache to install, however.
Bigger again are the impressive 6×8-inch car audio speakers and 6×9 speakers. These oval-shaped speakers are 6 inches tall but wider in their diameter: the increased size means they move more air and they’re louder as a result.
So what size of speaker should you buy? It all depends on your priorities: your budget, demand for top-tier sound quality and bass response, and the space you have for installation. 5.25-inch speakers are a great choice for a budget upgrade. Let’s take a closer look.
What To Look For In A 5.25-inch Speaker
5.25-inch speakers have different specs compared to speakers of different sizes. Here’s what to look for in your next set of 5.25s.
Power
The more power your system can handle, the more you can crank your music. This includes not just raw volume, but the lengths your frequencies can go in low and high directions.
How much power you need depends on what you’re going to be listening to in many cases.
Plenty of music doesn’t revolve around high volume and super-defined bass. You can enjoy your music however you like, but it’s hard to deny the identity of punk and techno to hit high amplitude and extremely heavy basslines.
The more you can physically feel the reverberations in your vehicle, the more you’ll want a high-powered 5.25 inch speaker. This will spread to the other implementations into your system as well. The amplifier and head unit, for example, should also be capable of controlling this heavy sound.
Wattage is a decent measure of what the power you can expect to come from your speakers is. This should include a nominal wattage and a peak for the heavier songs you could put through your system.
In the world of 5.25-inch speakers, the output power is usually around 200 watts, with an RMS between 75 and 100 watts. This is plenty of power to give you full mid-range sound.
Range
The frequency range on a 5.25 inch speaker determines the range of sound you’ll get, from the lowest lows to the highs. The type of 5.25 inch speaker you get determines a lot of this, and if you want to further customize, you’ll probably be looking at getting more equipment.
A new subwoofer working with your existing speakers can make a whole lot of difference if you find your low-end frequencies aren’t up to snuff, as an example.
The right tweeter working with the mid-range of your existing speaker can bring out high-range sounds that can get lost easily.
It’s all a balancing act when you’re customizing your ride for the right sound. Using other sound systems when listening to the types of music you favor can help you determine what ranges are particularly important to what you love.
The bigger the range, the more you can enjoy music from all kinds of artists, eras, and genres. Other than the cost, there’s no waste in improving the range of your sound system. Getting a proper 5.25 inch speaker that can cover a wide spectrum of sounds is always a good decision.
5.25-inch speakers have a frequency range from around 100Hz to 22 KHz. This is great for mid-range sound, but not so great for deep bass. A two-way 5.25-inch speaker includes a tweeter and woofer to help fill out the lower and higher frequencies, giving a fuller sound all around out of a small speaker package.
Sensitivity
The efficiency of your 5.25 inch speakers will determine how much power you can use in exchange for volume increases. The more granular the changes you can make, the better for customizing your listening experience.
Looking for the sensitivity of products offered in aftermarket scenarios is a great step into optimizing your sound system. It’s the type of issue you won’t even think about until it’s too late.
The average sensitivity rating across all speakers to give adequate loudness is around 88 decibels, and the best speakers have a sensitivity of 92 decibels or more. 5.25-inch speakers have a sensitivity range of around 83 to 92 decibels, which is definitely adequate.
The problem with looking for sensitivity specifically is that it doesn’t have the same kind of measurement as something like power or volume. Extra research will be warranted if you decide to look at options outside our list.
Be aware that more and more manufacturers are aware of the importance of this concept, so they’ll be likely to mention it as a highlight.
Impedance
The impedance of a speaker, measured in ohms, tells you how much resistance the internal materials put up against the current from the amplifier. The lower the impedance, the less resistance – and therefore the greater output with the same amount of power.
However, with power comes responsibility – and some speakers can’t handle the responsibility of all that power without generating more distortion. A well-built pair of 4-ohm speakers can produce a higher fidelity response, albeit at lower volumes.
Impedance will generally be 2-ohm, 4-ohm or sometimes 8-ohm. We’ve broken down the difference between 2-ohm and 4-ohm speakers in a detailed guide.
Longevity
The components of 5.25 inch speakers change a lot from year to year. There are more and more options as time goes on. Although certifications exist to test the limits of different parts, it can be pretty confusing without looking a bunch of stuff up.
Generally, metallic parts have the most heavy-duty longevity while still producing a powerful sound. There are plenty of specially-treated plastic options that can give aluminum a run for its money, however.
The combination of parts and the overall design of your 5.25 inch speakers will play a big part based on how you like to listen.
The demanding nature of your commute or the weather where you live makes a big difference in addition to the types of music you listen to. Different vehicles protect their internal components better than others.
The shaking of heavy bass can loosen and wear on speaker components quickly if they aren’t made to handle it. Just basic use can be enough to blow out speakers after short periods if you aren’t careful.
Generally speaking, a less expensive speaker is going to have a shorter life span than a more expensive speaker. For example, our Best Value speakers on this list, the Pioneer 2-Way speakers, have great sound quality but wear out faster than other models.
If you want to keep your speakers sounding great for longer, you may want to invest in a more expensive model. Otherwise, you might find yourself replacing them sooner than you’d like.
Design
The materials also play a big part in another big aspect of the DIY experience. The look of your 5.25 inch speakers.
Brands take a lot of pride in presenting the same innovations in technology in new-looking ways. The visual aspects of a speaker are incorporated into the look of your ride.
Going along with the aesthetics of your vehicle, the importance of a speaker’s look could be a big deal to you. While it’s unlikely that anyone will notice from the outside, it’s another part of customizing a DIY sound system.
Sometimes, there are visual customization options for 5.25 inch speakers, but more often than not, they come in black. You can always try your hand at personal detail work or painting to further mesh your ride with your sound.
By default, most vehicles have their speakers obscured by parts of the interior. This can include plastic grills or cloth surfaces that don’t affect sound quality too much.
5.25-inch speakers, because of their size, are often tucked away in places where they’re not as visible, such as inside car doors. Still, some speakers on this list have attractive grills and housing included, to give your sound system a stylish edge.
Price
A full sound system can be expensive, but compared to larger speaker sizes, 5.25-inch speakers are actually very budget friendly.
You can find a single 5.25-inch speaker for as little as $20.00 and still get good quality sound from it. If you’re willing to spend a little bit more, you can get crystal clear highs, mids, and lows for around $60.00.
Support
One of the worst feelings in the world is having an issue that feels entirely localized to your car. Surely, there has to be someone else that’s had the same problem? Or maybe the manufacturer has some helpful advice?
Trusting the company you buy from beyond having a warranty or detailed manual can make all the difference in the world. Do they still have an open channel for asking questions? Have they discontinued making that model?
Sometimes, you can get lucky with a dedicated forum, but having more options to fix problems as they might come up is always the best.
This narrows the brands you might be able to work with, but it’s worth considering when you want your audio system to last you for years to come.
Installation
Anyone interested in elevating their car sound system should consider DIY installation for their 5.25 inch speakers. Stock components tend to be lackluster compared to many aftermarket and professional options.
Familiarity with your vehicle’s wiring is a must but does not require too much time thanks to the simple hook-up of coaxial speakers. Component speakers are a little more complicated to install, but shouldn’t be too challenging for most car audio fanatics. After all, 5.25-inch speakers are often installed in doors, which are easy enough to get into.
Some speakers on this list come with custom grills and wiring components to make things extra easy, but not all speaker installations are alike. In the worst case scenario, you may need to take your new speakers to be professionally installed. The installation cost can be pricey, but buying your own speakers can help you save money.
Wrapping Up…
A speaker is an integral part of any vehicle’s sound system. For the 5.25-inch sized models, you can expect a lot of focus on getting a bang for your buck.
Thanks to in-built amps and easy wiring options, you can get whatever you choose installed without any hassle. DIY installation is a great way to get to know your sound system’s inner workings and optimize the music-listening experience.
No matter what genre and what volume you like to enjoy, the speaker is central to helping you hear what you love. Don’t underestimate the value of having the proper combination of sound equipment for a vehicle when you’re on the go.
When it comes to the core of your ride’s sound, take it slow and enjoy the final decision you make.
