Music lovers almost always prefer an aftermarket speaker in their vehicles because factory speakers may be adequate but they’re not impressive. Fortunately, there are plenty of excellent options out there, depending on your requirements. We’ll let you know about one of the most popular sizes on the aftermarket car speaker sphere—6×8 inches.
Speakers sized at 6×8 inches are a popular choice because they fit into most vehicles with simple installation. Leading models provide a high power handling capacity that ranges from 130 watts to 360 watts—an output for enjoyable in-car sound.
These 6×8 speakers also come with excellent tweeters and crossovers for an accurate, clean, and clear sound. Most of the units also have a good high-frequency response and great mid-range mixing.
So, if you’re considering upgrading or replacing the old car speakers, 6×8 speaker sets are an excellent choice.
The Best 6×8 Speakers in 2023
- Clear high & lows with powerful bass
- Built to last
- Easy installation
- Expensive
- 300 watts peak power speakers
- Excellent for handling low frequency sounds
- A little expensive
- High quality treble response
- Provides up to 8 Ohms of impedance
- Excellent performance overall
- Easy to fit
- Tweeter delivers better crisp highs
- Smooth sound reproduction
- Guarantees 100 watts of RMS power
- Crystal clear vocals
- Ensures distortion-free soundscape
- Delivers excellent low, mid and high end sounds
- Top quality construction
- Fits easily into most places
- Excellent quality sound without distortion
- Fits easily into stock stereo spaces
- Budget-friendly
So, let’s check them out one by one.
1. Rockford Fosgate Punch P1683 – Best Sound Quality
Rockford Fosgate Punch P1683 features a tri-axial system for exceptional power handling. The speakers have a built-in PEI (polyetherimide) dome tweeter, built-in crossover, and polypropylene cone.
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Brand | Rockford Fosgate |
| Peak Power | 130 watts |
| RMS Power | 55 watts |
| Frequency response | 65Hz – 24kHz |
| Dimensions | 15 x 9.5 x 4 inches |
Rockford offers audio enthusiasts high-quality speakers, amps, and subs. And yet again, they offer us another product for sonic in-car excellence with this Rockford Fosgate Punch P1683 speaker pair. The speakers are for anyone who enjoys loud music in their vehicles with clear highs and lows and impressive bass quality.
While Rockford claims installing Rockford Fosgate Punch P1683 pair of speakers is easy, you might need to call in a professional. Removing factory speakers and installing the Rockford Fosgate Punch P1683 speakers can take a long time – the included OEM (original equipment manufacturer) adapter plate helps though.
These Rockford Fosgate Punch P1683 speakers feature a FlexFit basket design, so you can make slight adjustments after mounting the set. The butyl rubber surround is excellent for sound dampening, durability, and wide frequency response.
The polypropylene cone on this set of Rockford Fosgate Punch P1683 speakers doesn’t absorb moisture and has low distortion. The two woofers are mineral injected, filled molded polypropylene for uniform thickness. Material thickness contributes to the product’s superior clarity and resistance.
Each Rockford Fosgate Punch P1683 speaker has two tweeters made from polyetherimide materials, which boost sounds for various tones. An embedded Vertical Attach Surround Technique (VAST) surround system helps increase the speaker effective radiating cone by up to 25%.
Thanks to premium build quality and top-tier materials, you’ll spend a considerable amount of cash on these speakers, but Rockford Fosgate Punch P1683 promises a long and satisfying service.
The modern, sleek design adds a clean and minimalist statement to your vehicle interior. Each speaker doesn’t feature highly stylized designs, but they offer nothing to dislike in style.
These Rockford Fosgate Punch P1683 6″×8″ speakers are Klippel-verified, so the brand only uses Klippel hardware during the manufacturing process. Further, hardware is a critical component in quality checking every speaker before packaging and shipping.
2. Infinity KAPPA-86CFX – Best For Looks
The Infinity Kappa line of products takes a top position in the car audio segment. This brand boasts contemporary, state-of-the-art speakers, including the Infinity KAPPA-86CFX.
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Brand | Infinity |
| Peak Power | 300 watts |
| RMS Power | 100 watts |
| Frequency response | 40Hz – 25kHz |
| Dimensions | 14.21 x 9.84 x 3.62 inches |
This Infinity KAPPA-86CFX pair is a sure way to rattle your vehicle while adding style. Expect a relishing sound experience after installing these speakers.
The peak power of the Infinity KAPPA-86CFX speakers is 300 watts, while the RMS rating stands at a super solid 100 watts. The sensitivity of this Infinity KAPPA-86CFX 6×8 speaker is 94 dB, and combined with an effective impedance of 2.5 ohms, every unit of power is put to use. The 40 Hz to 25 kHz frequency response range is excellent for handling the lower frequency sounds.
These Infinity KAPPA-86CFX speakers are costly, but they make up for the price tag with a tremendous low-frequency response. Patented Plus One glass fiber woofers feature more cone space for increased low-frequency output. Edge-driven textile dome tweeters provide a smoother and broader high-frequency response. A large voice coil helps improve the thermal handling capabilities of the speaker.
The system crossovers on this Infinity KAPPA-86CFX are gap-selectable, so they accommodate a midrange upgrade. Upgrading this two-way system into a three-way unit is easy using the band-pass crossover for a complete soundscape.
Potent hi-roll rubber surround backs up the cone to improve quality. Each Infinity KAPPA-86CFX speaker features a level control button for adjusting the sound to your preference. The function provides a worthy effect, especially if you’re looking for a sound that sends chills down your spine.
Each pair undergoes a Harman Standard reliability testing process. The process involves freezing speakers, baking them, and even shaking them to confirm their durability – these bad boys can tolerate life on any of the world’s most adventurous roads!
3. Rockford Fosgate Prime R168X2 — Best Full-Range 6×8 Speakers
If you’re looking for a well-balanced audio performance at a reasonable price, this Rockford Fosgate Prime R168X2 should be at the top of your list. Experience good clarity at high-frequency bands and high sensitivity.
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Brand | Rockford Fosgate |
| Peak Power | 110 watts |
| RMS Power | 55 watts |
| Frequency response | 51-20,000 Hz |
| Dimensions | 12 x 8.8 x 3.5 inches |
The Rockford Fosgate Prime R168X2 is a two-way coaxial speaker with an 87 dB sensitivity and 55 watts RMS power output with 110 watts peak power. You also get a frequency response of 51 Hz to 20 kHz.
The durability and strength of these Rockford Fosgate Prime R168X2 speakers come from their strong polypropylene cones. The cones sit inside a rubber surround to dampen them, and the drivers on the speakers are efficient and ensure you get a full-range stereo audio experience.
A rubber surround also prevents needless extra wiring for crossover, saving you money and time. The result is a coherent sound that makes you feel like the symphony is in your vehicle.
The Rockford Fosgate Prime R168X2 speakers have a nominal 4 ohms of impedance but with the additional provided speaker wire you can hook them up in series for 8 Ohms of impedance. While a higher resistance means it won’t handle top volumes, the fidelity of sound will be superb.
Rockford Fosgate Prime R168X2’s music features many frequencies playing at once. A clear nominal impedance lets you get a sharp, clear frequency, so each music note is crystal clear.
You also get a dedicated silk dome tweeter that’s flush-mounted and an integrated high-pass crossover. The Rockford Fosgate Prime R168X2 speaker set comes with a generously long speaker cable with spade terminals for easy installation and grilles.
4. Kenwood KFC-D681C Speakers – Excellent Distortion Reduction
Kenwood has been manufacturing leading sound devices, including head units, speakers, amplifiers, and more. We couldn’t fail to recognize these Kenwood KFC-D681C in-car speakers because of their high-quality build and exceptional features. They’re also decently powered with 81 watts RMS and 360 watts of maximum power.
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Brand | Kenwood |
| Peak Power | 360 watts |
| RMS Power | 30 watts |
| Frequency response | 58Hz -24khz |
| Dimensions | 11.4 x 9.1 x 3.5 inches |
Materials used in making Kenwood KFC-D681C speakers are durable and high-quality, so investing in them means years of quality service. These Kenwood KFC-D681C speakers come in an oval shape for a custom fit design to fit most custom speaker holes. Adjustable screw holes on the speakers allow effortless adjusting to fit current holes for a universal fit.
Each Kenwood KFC-D681C speaker has a sound field enhancer technology tweeter. The technology reshapes the tweeter for powerful sound delivery towards the front and a wider sound field. Tweeters also deliver better crisp highs.
This Kenwood KFC-D681C speaker features a diamond array pattern cone that enhances sound reproduction for a clean auditory experience. The technology also helps reduce distortion, bringing out the best details in your music.
The yoke and speaker plate on this Kenwood KFC-D681C speaker set are black for more heat release from the voice coil. Better heat dissipation improves the voice coil performance, especially under heavy usage, while enhancing coil durability.
Another unique feature of Kenwood KFC-D681C is the acoustic sound harmonizer for controlling frequencies reproduced by the woofer cone for smooth mids and lows. The harmonizer also ensures the tweeter receives high frequencies only for a harmonized sound.
These Kenwood KFC-D681C car speakers produce a 4-Ohm impedance, 58 Hz to 24 kHz frequency response, an 88 dB sensitivity rating and a slim 2.35-inch mounting depth. Inside the kit are two 14.5 feet wires, 8-speed clips, and 8 sheet metal screws – everything you need to get these speakers mounted.
5. Alpine R-Series R-68 – Best Volume
These Alpine R-Series R-S68 speakers are the perfect choice if you have some extra cash for a car audio system upgrade and volume. The Alpine brand is a classic audio choice because it focuses on quality and attention to detail.
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Brand | Alpine |
| Peak Power | 300 watts |
| RMS Power | 100 watts |
| Frequency response | 63-29,000 Hz |
| Dimensions | 14 x 11 x 6 inches |
The Alpine R-Series R-S68 is one of our favorite mid-range 6×8 car speakers for car audio bass. The secret is Alpine’s multi-layered fiber woofer cone.
However, the Alpine R-Series R-S68 kit is not excellent for bass alone. Ring-type tweeter coils help increase their overall efficiency for exceptional tonal balance across the sound band. Silk in the tweeters adds the right amount of smoothness to prevent shrill highs, evening out the sound and bringing out all the depth and details.
These Alpine R-Series R-S68 speakers are compatible with most factory car stereo systems, but incorporating an outboard amplifier offers more power. The 100 watts of RMS power guarantee a dynamic and huge sound with an insane volume level that’ll rock your vehicle.
WaveGuide technology in the Alpine R-Series R-S68 speakers helps enhance the overall sound dispersion quality and eliminates phase distortion for an excellent in-car experience. Each Alpine R-Series R-S68 speaker in the set boasts an eXpander ring that stiffens the cone and prevents flexing, which leads to sound distortion.
The aesthetics of the Alpine R-Series R-S68 design will give your vehicle’s interior a fresh look. Metal mesh construction offers a classic look we love. A mesh design also adds extra sturdiness to the grille’s edge to prevent intrusions and increase longevity.
These Alpine R-Series R-S68 speakers offer 600 watts of peak power and 200 watts RMS, making them super-powerful for the size range. Expect these guys to go seriously loud. You also get a frequency response between 63 through 29 kHz. A 90-dB sensitivity rating ensures a distortion-free soundscape, no matter how high you crank up the volume.
While the performance is incredible, expect extra installation work. Further, with all that power, consider using an amp and a subwoofer alongside the Alpine R-Series R-S68 for the best results.
6. Pyle PL683BL – Budget-Friendly Choice
You don’t need hundreds of dollars to replace the undesired factory speakers in your vehicle. The Pyle PL683L offers an impressive balance of cost and quality.
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Brand | Pyle |
| Peak Power | 360 watts |
| RMS Power | 180 watts |
| Frequency response | 70Hz – 20Khz |
| Dimensions | 13.25 x 9.5 x 3.75 inches |
This Pyle PL683BL speaker set features a high-quality build and low-cost materials to keep prices low and maintain quality. A poly-injected cone adds a warm natural sound to your in-car music and rolls over to the soft frequencies of a silk dome tweeter.
The Pyle PL683BL set also provides another Piezo tweeter for a super-high frequency spectrum, completing your audio system’s overall sound. The resulting blend of sounds is enjoyable and non-fatiguing.
This 3-way Pyle PL683BL 360-watt 6″ x 8″ speaker set delivers the low, mid, and high end for a full-range sound. Silk dome tweeters feature an effective magnet motor structure and offer frequencies as high as 20 kHz.
With Pyle PL683BL, you also get a 1-inch high-temperature ASV voice coil for a rich sound and an open soundstage. The technology also ensures there’s little to no sound distortion, so long as you stick to reasonable volumes.
A neodymium film powered by a 40 oz. magnet structure offers the midrange, and a Piezo tweeter allows Pyle PL683BL to set a 70 Hz to 20 kHz frequency response. The kit comes with mounting hardware, wires, and grilles.
The grille helps add protection to the butyl rubber surround, so the Pyle PL683BL speakers last longer. This Pyle PL683BL kit is beautiful, making your vehicle’s interior more attractive while improving audio quality.
7. Kenwood KFC-C6866S – Best Mids and Highs
If you’re looking for great mids and highs on speakers powered by your factory amp, then the Kenwood KFC-C6866S is the answer. The modest power rating and impressive build quality, these are a great swap for your factory car speakers.
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Brand | Kenwood |
| Peak Power | 250 watts |
| RMS Power | 30 watts |
| Frequency response | 40Hz – 22kHz |
| Dimensions | 11.4 x 9 x 3.3 inches |
The Kenwood KFC-C6866S speaker pair brings you a max peak power of 250 watts, and a consistent and solid 30 watts RMS power with crystal clear stereo. Combined, the speakers add 500 watts peak power and 60 watts RMS to your in-car stereo system.
These Kenwood KFC-C6866S are coaxial speakers that have 4 Ohms of impedance and work effortlessly with standard vehicle head units. The speaker’s woofer has a 6×8-inch paper cone construction that moves more air for deeper bass response.
A one-inch balanced dome tweeter provides clear sound and crisp highs. The pair of Kenwood KFC-C6866S speakers have a wide frequency response of 45 Hz through 22 kHz, and 90 dB sensitivity. We recommend this Kenwood KFC-C6866S if you’re on the market for a decent car speaker kit on a budget.
Experience nice vocals, detailed mids, and crystal clear highs that feel smooth. The Kenwood KFC-C6866S speakers are easy to install and will fit into stock speaker spaces in the car door without making complicated adjustments.
Best of all, you can push the volume up on the speakers without distortion. Adjusting the high-pass filter lets you play in-car music at a high volume with no harshness.
What to Look for When Buying a 6×8 Speaker Kit
There are a lot of all-time car audio speakers on the market, of all sizes. So before buying a 6×8 car speaker, there are several considerations to keep in mind. We share critical factors that will help improve your car’s stereo system sound quality below.
Component vs. Full-Range Speakers
Full-range coaxial speakers have all their elements in a single package. The woofer outputs the lows while the tweeter mounted onto the woofer offers the highs. Some models, high-end units, have extra drivers such as a super tweeter or mid-range.
The full-range models are an ideal choice if you’re looking for better sound quality compared to factory speakers. These speaker kits are easy to install, and some are installable into factory speaker locations directly.
The component 6×8 speaker range comes as a set with different speakers, such as tweeters, woofers, and midrange drivers. Each speaker comes with a driver for a specific frequency range, so you get a fuller sound in-car environment and clarity. The best reviewed 6.5-inch component speakers are also exceedingly popular among car audio enthusiasts.
Installing component systems can be tricky because you need several locations. Some models may involve making new openings in your vehicle.
Since you’re looking for 6 by 8 speakers, all the models on this list are coaxial units. But each brand on the list makes coaxial and car component speakers.
The Frequency Range
This range, in Hertz (Hz), shows the low and high frequencies a speaker emits. Products on the market show the frequency range from low to high. For example, you’ll find a unit with 40 Hz to 40,000 (40 k) Hz.
A wide range means the speaker offers more clarity. We recommend choosing a speaker model with the highest frequency range within your budget.
Power Handling
A unit’s power handling tells you how well the components are powered. Advanced speaker systems require more power to perform well. So, if you have an outstanding system but without the power, the speakers won’t sound as good as they should and will burn out fast.
The three power handling ratings to consider are:
- Peak (max): The max wattage the voice coils in the speakers can handle in short peaks.
- Continuous (RPM): A baseline wattage the speaker can handle without damage to parts such as the voice coil. This measurement considers long periods of use, such as during a road trip.
- Program rating: A representation of the maximum watts a speaker can handle in bursts.
The Speaker Sensitivity
We’re all sensitive souls at heart – so sensitivity is a good thing to look out for in a speaker! Sensitivity is the amount of sound produced per unit of amplifier power in decibels (dB). The higher the figure, the more efficient the speaker is in functioning.
The sensitivity level you choose depends on your current car stereo’s power source. A common sensitivity rating is around 88 dB. However, a rating of 90 dB and above offers excellent results.
Impedance
While a tricky concept to explain fully, impedance is the amount of power flowing, and ease, into a speaker unit. A lower number shows electricity (the music or signal) flows through the speaker easily. However, you can’t depend on selecting the lowest impedance on the market because it will not help if the overall power level does not match it. We took a deep dive into 2 ohm vs 4 ohm speakers to help you understand the difference.
Crossover
The crossover device splits a single input signal into multiple output signals depending on low-, mid-, and high-range frequencies. Splitting your frequencies this way allows them to get to different drivers within your car’s audio system. The function helps minimize distortion and improve sound quality.
Tweeters
A tweeter is an audiophile gadget for reproducing the high frequencies in your music. Choose a 6×8 speaker set that uses a high-quality material in its tweeter drivers. Fabric and titanium tweeters offer better performance.
Woofers
The woofer reproduces deep bass. The best woofer can convert low- and mid-range frequencies effectively. Consider the woofer quality of a speaker in terms of zero interference, bass quality, and durability.
Compatibility
A critical consideration for choosing 6×8 speakers is their compatibility with your vehicle model. Not all speakers work with all vehicles.
Compatibility involves not only size but your audio system as well. Speakers that are not compatible with the car’s audio system are not usable. You’ll either have to choose other compatible speakers or adopt your entire audio setup to the new 6×8 speakers.
Ease of Installation
You want to install the speakers ASAP. You have the option of professional help, but you can save up the money on labor costs by installing the unit yourself. But such savings are only possible if the speaker set is easy to install.
Opt for popular speakers or those that have a detailed guide. Popular speaker units have many instructional installation videos available online.
Speaker Durability
While not a critical factor for some vehicle owners, durability is still important. After all, I don’t think you want to change your speakers often, right?
So, you’ll want a unit that lasts a long time. Speakers that come with quality components also provide excellent performance.
Speaker Brands
Many brands have a reputation for producing quality car audio gear. Choosing these brands means you’re less likely to end up with the wrong product and you are free from any worries. Such products are also great for reassurance.
A few popular brands in the 6×8 speaker market include Rockford Fosgate, Pioneer, Alpine, Kenwood, and so on. Choosing these brands yields excellent results most of the time.
You also need to consider pricing. But the best thing to do is to choose quality rather than the cheapest unit. Because your drive music will sound terrible on bad quality speakers.
Other Speaker Sizes To Consider
Aftermarket speakers aren’t a one-size fits all – there are multiple sizes to consider and while 6x8s are a popular option, you don’t want to overlook something smaller if you’re worried about space. Top rated 5.25 car audio speakers are favored where size and budget takes priority over volume.
If you’re worried that 6x8s are too big for your vehicle, elite 6.5-inch speakers offer a perfect compromise. They can provide great mids and highs while still producing respectable bass.
And if volume is the first and last thing on your mind? You might want to consider one of our favorite 6×9 speakers.
A Few Final Words…
There are plenty of 6×8 speakers available on the market, but we recommend one of these top seven best ones. All the speakers on the list offer a better sound quality, and they are excellent replacement units for factory-installed speaker sets.
But buying the best 6×8 speaker is about finding an option that matches your needs. You can go with the ones we list above, and you’ll end up with guaranteed quality.
