Is it time to upgrade your car stereo system? You will be surprised by the numerous car speaker brands available in the market. An even greater challenge is if you have no brand preference. You are likely to make a misguided choice.
A top trusted and highly recommended car speaker brand is Kicker. Their car speaker series never disappoints. Launched way back in 1973, Kicker has progressed to be one of the most reliable producers of top-notch car stereo systems.
Initially, their main focus was on trucks and cars. But over time, their expertise has expanded to produce a wide variety of sound system accessories including noise-canceling headphones and their car speaker quality only gets better.
Many car owners swear by the amazing sound experience from any Kicker speaker. All their car speakers are made with the highest level of expertise and precision to provide an unmatched listening experience.
On top of that, all Kicker car speakers are specially made to accentuate each music note to replicate a live performance. They are keen to include modern touches and upgrades to all their car speakers for a flawless listening experience regardless of your type of car.
Whether you love to listen to music with very high notes, or you are all about the bass, Kicker has got you covered.
In this Kicker spirit, below is a comprehensive review of the best Kicker car speakers guaranteed to give every music tune on your playlist a Kicker vibe.
5 Best Kicker Car Speakers
Below is an in-depth review of the best kicker car speakers. You’ll find an exhaustive review of each of the 5 options, plus the pros and cons of each.
Want to know more? Let’s dive in.
1. Kicker 41DSC654 D-Series
Key Features & Specifications
- 6.5 inches
- 4 speakers
- Max power of 240 watts each pair
- RMs of 60 watts each pair
- Mounting Hole Diameter 4-13/16inch, 123mm
- Top Mount Depth 3/8inch, (9mm)
- Bottom Mount Depth 1-11/16inch, (43mm)
- Domed tweeters with 13mm polyethylene naphthalate
- Acoustic foam surround
Most factory car stereos are dated with terrible sound output. Thus, there is a need to upgrade to a better car speaker. If you are looking for a car speaker option that will provide a much better listening experience without being too loud, then the Kicker 41DSC654 is a perfect choice.
With a 6.5-inch car speaker, it is damn obvious that the bass won’t punch as hard as a sub or a larger speaker. However, as with other kicker products, the treble and bass of this Kicker car speaker are still very impressive.
That’s not all. The installation process of these speakers is a breeze. They fit perfectly in most car models. And, you can install them and start listening to music from your new speakers in less than 10 minutes.
If you want to experience a better sound experience and forget about the terrible stock speaker, search no more. These speakers sound great and offer great value for your hard-earned dollars.
Pros
- Low power intake with loud audio output
- Minimal tweeter protrusion
- Great bass, treble, and midrange
- Simple installation
- Clean and crisp highs
Cons
- Bass could have been better
- Slight sound distortion on high volumes
2. Kicker 40CS6934 6×9 inch 3-Way Speakers
Key Features & Specification
- Max power handling: 450 watt
- RMS: 150 watt
- Sensitivity: 92dB
- 6 x 9 inch
- 3-way design
- Impedance: 4 ohm
- Top-mount depth of 3 ¼ inches
- 2 speakers
Next on this list, we have another of the best kicker car speakers, the kicker 40CS69334 6 x 9-inch full-range speaker. As with all other Kicker speakers, it is well made and is produces clear and clean sound. The mid-range and high-frequency music are crystal clear.
However, as you would expect with any other car speaker within this price range, the bass is not as deep and punchy. This is not to mean that the bass is horrible, but the bass from this speaker is not loud enough to wake the neighbors up.
If you are searching for a speaker that will give bass that is deep enough to make the entire car tremble, a good idea would be to add an amp or sub for your car stereo. And since this speaker can handle a max power of up to 450 watts, its optimal performance is impressive.
- 450 Watt MAX
- 150 Watt RMS
- Best value drop-in upgrade
- Reliable, remarkable-sounding coaxial for easy drop-in, factory upgrades
- Reduced-depth baskets allow fitment into virtually any vehicle application
Pros
- Durable
- Great sound even on high volumes
- Excellent mids and highs
- Quick installation
Cons
- Bass could have been deeper
- Tweeters could have been better
3. New Kicker 43DSC69304 D-Series 6×9
Key Features & Specification
- 360 watts max
- 70 watts of RMS
- 2 speakers
- 4-ohm impedance
- 92dB sensitivity
- 3-way speaker
- 6 x 9 inch
- Top-mount depth of 3 ¼ inch
- Frequency range: 30 to 20 000Hz
The New Kicker 43DSC69304 is the newest car speaker entry in the DS series, thus its performance in music output only gets better.
This 3-way speaker includes an extra sound driver referred to as the super tweeter that is designed to handle the high frequencies of any music tune. Therefore, the speaker produces clear sound even on music genres with very high frequencies.
The PEI dome tweeters and the huge polypropylene woofers work together with the super tweeters to ensure you get a smooth listening experience with no (or very little) sound distortion.
Overall, these are not the greatest speakers out there but they are way better than most stock speakers. Plus, the performance of these speakers outdoes most other options in the same price range.
- Size: 6x9"
- Impedance: 4 Ohms
- Peak Power Handling: 360W
- Sensitivity: 92
- Frequency Response: 30-20k hz
Pros
- Super crisp highs
- Better performance than other D series speakers
- Durable and well made
- Zero to minimal distortion
Cons
- Bass could be deeper
- Could have been louder
4. Kicker 2 New 41KSC6934 6×9 Car Speaker
Key Features & Specification
- 3-way design
- The peak power rating of 300 watts
- RMS of 150 watts
- Rubber surround
- Mid woofer made of polypropylene
- 6 x 9 inches
To add to the list of the best Kicker car speakers is another equally great 6 x 9 inches full-range speaker that is worth considering. The Kicker 41KSC6943 is carefully made with you, the listener, in mind. By the mere look, these speakers are often mistaken for component speakers due to their design.
The speakers can handle a continuous power of up to a whopping 150 watts and max power of up to 300 watts. On top of that, these 3-way car speakers have an impressive sensitivity of 92dB which is healthy for your eardrums and will as well produce clear sounds for all music genres.
Their bass quality is also great. Are you searching for an affordable car speaker with the decent sound quality? These speakers will not disappoint you.
- 2) New Kicker 41KSC6934 6x9" 3-Way 300 Watt Car Audio Coaxial Speakers KSC693
- Peak: 300 watts
- RMS: 150 watts
- Polypropylene midwoofer
- Rubber surround
Pros
- Decent punch on the bass
- Great design
- Easy to install
- Excellent power handling
Cons
- Sound quality could have been better
5. Kicker DSC650 DS Series
Key Features & Specification
- 6.5 inches
- 4 ohm impedance
- 2 speakers
- Doomed tweeters made from polyethylene-naphthalate
- Power rating of 240 watts
As you can see from this list of top 5 Kicker car speakers, speakers from the Kicker’s D series are the most popular. And to wrap up is yet another of the best Kicker car speakers from the D series. It has a power rating of up to 240 watts and an impedance of 4 ohms.
The sound quality is amazing for its price tag. Plus, the speakers are well made and will last you for years.
As expected, the bass from this pair of speakers is not very throbbing. But, their performance is better than that of factory speakers.
You can connect them to an appropriate external amp to get better sound and more pumping bass.
- Polyethylene-Naphthalate domed tweeters
- Colour Value : black
- Country of Origin : China
- Loud, incredible performance
Important Features to Consider When Choosing Car Speakers
There are so many different types of car speakers on the market these days. The variety can make it hard for you to decide on the right pair to choose for your sound system upgrade.
Here is a quick look at some of the other important features to keep in mind when you go shopping.
Speaker Dimensions
If you are worried about your upgrade then the easiest way to choose new speakers is by removing the old pair so you can measure them. This way you can find a pair that is the same size and you can easily replace your old speakers without making too many modifications to your speaker box or vehicle. While measuring your speakers, you should also keep the speaker depth in mind. If the speaker is in the wrong depth, it might not fit into the existing housing.
Subwoofers, Tweeters, and Mid-Range Speakers
In these modern days, one speaker is no longer enough to reproduce all the sounds included in the music. Modern speakers are designed to handle or reproduce a specific part of the music or sounds from certain musical instruments. It is usually better to install a variety of speaker types in your vehicle.
Tweeters are ideal for handling higher musical notes while subwoofers are designed to bring in those lower frequencies.
It can also be good if you include a pair of mid-range speakers to add vocals and other middle-range sounds that are too high for subwoofers and too low for tweeters.
The Source and Signal
The speaker you select should have a conventional wire with a positive and a negative lead. If you choose a speaker with an optical cable then you should consult an expert because you will likely need to include a line output converter in your sound system.
Prioritize
Replacing your car’s entire sound system can be a pricey process. If you are doing your upgrade on a tight budget then it is best to prioritize and get the most important speakers first.
It is usually best to start with the largest speaker in your vehicle since these huge speakers are responsible for producing most of the sound in your cabin.
For drivers, it is usually also better to focus on the front speakers of the car before moving on to the speakers in the rear of the car. Many drivers also prefer to add larger speakers towards the front than the back because sound systems tend to be quieter towards the front of the cabin while it might be too loud for those sitting in the back.
Final Thoughts
From the above review, you’ll see that car speakers are not geared to producing a lot of basses. Rather their focus is to provide a better listening experience. They are ideal for anyone looking to replace their factory stereos.
All the top 5 options reviewed above are well made and are designed to give crisp and clean sound. The sound has no (or very minimal) distortion on high volumes.
Also, note that car speakers are not generally designed for a punching base. Thus, if you want to boost the bass of your system, you may have to invest in an amp or a sub.
We certainly hope this article helps you to choose the best Kicker car speaker. Happy shopping!
If you also need a new car stereo or amp to go with your brand-new Kicker speakers then you should have a look at some of the other guides we have on RideBass. With our guides, you can redo your entire sound system and get your hands on all the latest and best audio equipment.
