A Review and Buying Guide of the Best 6×8 Speakers 2024

Music has always been one of the best forms of entertainment since the early ages. Even when there were no electronic music devices, people would still enjoy music using old-age techniques. Music is also one of the best ways to relieve stress. Today, sound technologies continue improving and new technologies have brought about modern music systems. Speakers are continuously being improved in terms of sound quality. There’re many speaker manufacturers today, with many models being continuously produced. 

As a music lover shopping for new car speakers, you’ll definitely have many options to choose from. While this is good, it also brings about the challenge of making the final decision on the speaker to buy. Most car speakers come with 6×8 speakers that feel less satisfying. They don’t deliver the best sound. Fortunately, you can always replace them with better performing aftermarket speakers. But how will you make a choice with all the models available in the market today? Simply read on for a review and buying guide of the best 6×8 speakers in 2022.

How We Wrote This Review

As a team of sound engineers, we have come across many audiophiles and regular music lovers who face many challenges when shopping for new 6” by 8” car speakers. There’re many car owners who buy speakers and end up regretting about the choices they made. This is because they didn’t know how to choose the best speakers. They simply buy the cheapest or the most attractive model without knowing that there’re more important factors to consider.

To avoid all those problems, we decided to write a review and buying guide to assist all prospective buyers to make better choices. We took time to gather several 6” by 8” speakers and compared them. We used manufacturers’ data to compare various features and also interviewed professional car speaker installers. Moreover, we interviewed car owners who already have such speakers in their possession for views about their performance. We used the research findings to shortlist the top 9 six by eight-inch speakers. Read on for a detailed review of each of these speaker models, including their features, benefits, and shortcomings.

Top Nine 6×8 Speakers in 2022

The market today has a multitude of 6×8 aftermarket car speakers. Choosing the best option is quite challenging. Luckily, we have made the work easier for you by reviewing the top 9 six by eight-inch aftermarket speakers. Each and every review is unsponsored and unbiased. You’ll surely find a great choice for you from the reviews below:

Comparison Table of Best 6×8 Speakers

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1. Rockford Fosgate P1683 Punch

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Rockford Fosgate continues to be among the leading car speaker manufacturers. Their P1683 Punch model tops our list based on its unique features and benefits. If you’re looking forward to listening to powerful soundtracks, then this speaker has all it takes to give you the best listening experience. The features that come with this speaker will surely make your car stand out among others. The speaker is designed to be a perfect replacement unit for the dull-sounding factory speakers. Here’re the key features and benefits of the P1683 Punch that made it top our list of review:

Features and Benefits

• FlexFit speaker basket design– FlexFit speaker basket design is a technology that makes it easier to install aftermarket car speakers in factory speaker holes. The P1683 Punch model utilizes this technology in its speaker such that it allows for some adjustments when mounting it. Thus, you’re assured that it will fit in most cars.
• PEI dome tweeter– Polyetherimide (PEI) dome tweeters are designed to achieve the best highs. The P1683 Punch speaker comes with an integrated tweeter that delivers clear highs. Moreover, the dome tweeter design allows for high stiffness and good damping.
• Inbuilt crossover– A crossover is necessary when having a full-range speaker system. This speaker model comes with an inbuilt crossover that filters the frequencies coming from a receiver to ensure each driver gets the right frequency. As such, you’ll get clean, full-range sound with this speaker.
• OEM adapter plate– The speaker comes with an OEM adapter plate. The term “OEM” means that the adapter plate is made by the same company as the speaker. An adapter plate allows you to mount an aftermarket speaker in a factory speaker hole that is different in shape or size.
• Butyl rubber surround– Rockford Fosgate P1683 Punch comprises of butyl rubber speaker surround. This type of speaker surround material doesn’t degrade with time. It’s a good material for making car speaker surrounds, especially where the speakers are exposed to harsh environments.
• Mineral-filled polypropylene cone– The speaker comes with polypropylene cones. The cones are mineral filled for high performance. Moreover, this type of cone is extremely dampened, thereby delivering clean sound.

Pros

• Easy to install
• Adjustable during mounting
• Comes with mounting hardware
• 3-way speaker system
• VAST surround technology

Cons

• Doesn’t come with grilles
• Some distortion at high volume
• Not ideal for very powerful receivers

Verdict:

If you’re out there shopping for affordable car speakers that will deliver decent and clear highs, midrange, and lows, then the Rockford Fosgate P1683 Punch will be your best bet. It’s also ideal to use with a stock head unit.

2. Pioneer TS-A6880F

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Pioneer, as a leading sound systems manufacturer, has not been left behind in our review. The Pioneer TS-A6880F is featured in our review based on its great sound concept that offers smooth midrange and highs, with seamless lows. What more would you want? Simply read on for its features and benefits and learn why it’s a worthy replacement for your old, factory car speakers.

Features and Benefits

• Cellulose fiber midrange– The midrange that comes with this speaker is made of cellulose fiber. This material offers high sensitivity. Thus, it’s able to perform excellently even under low power. You’ll not require an amp to drive it. You’ll simply hook it up to your stock or aftermarket head unit and enjoy powerful performance.
• PET dome tweeter– The tweeter that comes with this speaker is made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) material. It’s tough in nature and delivers clear highs. The tweeter measures 11 mm in size and is ideal for crisp, powerful highs.
• Custom-fit adapter- In addition, the speaker comes with a custom-fit adapter plate for enhanced ease of installation. The adapter is optimized to fit in factory speaker holes. Thus, you’ll find it easier and quicker to install this speaker. With this adapter, you won’t have to make new holes.
• Full-range sound- Pioneer’s TS-A6880F speaker features a 2-way driver system that includes a midrange driver for lows and mid, and a tweeter for highs. It’s designed to allow for a seamless transition between highs, mid, and lows. Thus, you’ll get full-range sound with this speaker such that you won’t miss hearing any music details. 
• Heat-resistant voice coil– You’ll rest assured of great performance from this speaker even under heavy usage. This is because its voice coil is made of a heat-resistance wire. As such, it can’t overheat or burnout easily even when used for prolonged periods of time.

Pros

• Very affordable
• Comes with free earbuds
• Near-universal fit
• Clean treble and midrange, with crisp highs
• Easy to install

Cons

• May rattle at high volume
• Highs may be too harsh for some people
• A bit challenging to equalize

Verdict:

The Pioneer TS-A6880F 6” x 8” aftermarket speaker delivers clean sound. It’s a great choice for anyone looking for full-range sound without spending a lot. While it’s bass is not booming, it’s way better than what you can get from factory speakers.

3. Pyle PL683BL

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Pyle has designed a speaker that looks great, yet it sounds superb. The speaker is unique in that it comes as a 3-way speaker. Pyle has also used some of the best materials to manufacture this speaker, all at an affordable price. As such, Pyle has been able to rise to the ranks of the top 6 by 8 speaker systems. Learn why this speaker is a great replacement speaker for your stock speakers by reading through its features and benefits.

Features and Benefits

• 3-way driver system– As a car owner who loves listening to music while driving or camping, you definitely want to get all music details from your favorite soundtracks. Pyle PL683BL is designed to do exactly that. It features a 3-way driver system for full-range sound. Thus, expect the best highs, mid, and lows from this speaker.
• 4-ohm Impedance– Most cars come with undersized speaker cables. As such, the cables have high resistance. Luckily, this speaker comes with a 4-ohm impedance, making it ideal for use with the undersized car speaker wiring. With this speaker, you can use factor speaker wiring without any problems.
• Heavy-duty voice coil– Pyle has designed this speaker with an ASV voice coil. This voice coil works well under high-temperature. It’s ideal for heavy-duty speaker use. You can play your favorite music for several hours without any performance issues.
• Butyl rubber surround– The surround that comes with this speaker is made of butyl rubber. It’s non-fatiguing and keeps the cone secured well in place. In addition, butyl rubber resists moisture and minimizes distortion. It also has superior damping properties.
• Piezo tweeter– High frequencies demand a driver than can resist overloads. The piezo tweeters that come with this speaker are designed to resist overloads. They’re able to withstand extremely high frequencies and are power efficient.

Pros

• Very affordable
• Comes with mounting hardware
• Loud and clear
• 3-way driver system
• Attractive design

Cons

• May rattle at high volume
• Lows may distort when volume is turned all the way up
• Not suitable for a powerful amp

Verdict:

Any car owner out there who doesn’t want to break the bank when shopping for aftermarket speakers should go for Pyle PL683BL. The speaker is inexpensive yet it delivers decent full-range sound.

4. Rockford R168X2 Prime

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In case you want to replace your stock speakers or build a new car music system, Rockford R168X2 Prime should be one of the top speakers to consider. It’s designed for powerful sound and comes with great features that any music lover would appreciate. Moreover, it’s affordable despite its quality. Here’s why this speaker made it on our review.

Features and Benefits

• Integrated crossover– The speaker comes with an inbuilt tweeter crossover. The crossover ensures that the tweeter driver is powered with high-frequency signals. You’ll be guaranteed of receiving crisp highs due to the dedicated crossover. It also guarantees full-range sound.
• Silk dome tweeter– If you love crisp highs, you’ll appreciate that this speaker comes with a 0.5 inches dome tweeter. This type of tweeter offers smooth frequency response and amazing performance. The dome design also allows for more flexibility with respect to the listening position.
• Polypropylene cone-The kind of cone material in a speaker matters a lot when it comes to performance. Rockford has taken care of this by designing this speaker with a polypropylene cone material. Polypropylene is a highly dampened and rigid material. Thus, expect excellent midrange.
• Stamped steel basket– Rockford has designed this speaker with a stamped steel basket. The basket is hard and sturdy enough to keep the speaker components in place. 
• Zero protrusion tweeter- The tweeter that comes with this speaker is flush-mounted. It does not protrude outside, making it more concealed. As such, you can mount a grille after installation without any issues.

Pros

• Excellent midrange
• Very affordable
• Comes with installation hardware
• Flush-mounted tweeter
• Easy to install

Cons

• Doesn’t come with grilles
• Not very ideal for bass lovers
• Not ideal for powerful amps

Verdict:

When it’s time to upgrade your car speakers and you need an affordable speaker with excellent midrange and treble, look no further than the Rockford R168X2 Prime. However, if you’re a bass enthusiast, you might want to consider another model.

5. Kenwood KFC-D681C

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Kenwood has for many years now manufactured some of the best sound devices including amplifiers, speakers, head units, and more. We couldn’t fail to recognize the Kenwood KFC-D681C speaker based on its high-quality build and great features. The materials making the speaker are extremely durable. Thus, you’ll rest assured of investing in a speaker that will give you many years of quality service. Here’re more reasons why we couldn’t fail to include this speaker in our top 9 review of the best 6×8 speakers.

Features and Benefits

• Custom-fit design– This speaker is oval in shape with a custom fit design. It’s designed in such a way that it can fit in most custom speaker holes. The screw holes on this speaker are adjustable during installation such that you can slide it to fit the existing holes. As such, it allows for an almost universal fit.
• Sound field enhancer tweeter design– The tweeter that comes with this speaker is designed using the sound field enhancer technology. This technology develops a tweeter shape that delivers powerful sound towards the front and in a wider field of sound. It’s also able to deliver crisp highs.
• Diamond array speaker cone– Kenwood has designed this speaker with a diamond array pattern cone. This technology enhances sound reproduction to ensure the listener gets clean sound. It also reduces distortion, thereby delivering clear sound. As such, it brings out the best music details.
• Heat releasing mechanism– The speaker plate and yoke are painted black. They’re able to release heat from the voice coil. As such, they enhance the performance of the voice coil especially when it’s under heavy usage. This also enhances the coil’s durability.
• Acoustic sound harmonizer– Another unique feature about this speaker is its acoustic sound harmonizer. It controls the frequencies reproduced by the woofer cone to guarantee smooth lows and mid. It also ensures that the tweeter only receives high frequencies. As such, you get harmonized sound.

Pros

• 2-way driver system
• Non-protruding tweeter design
• Durable construction
• Responsive highs
• Durable rubber surround

Cons

• Needs an amp for better bass performance
• Requires a lot of tuning to balance sound
• Highs might be a bit extreme for some people

Verdict:

As a car owner looking for an affordable and basic aftermarket speaker, you should check out the Kenwood KFC-D681C. Although it won’t boom to the liking of an audiophile, it still sounds great for basic music needs.

6. Kicker 40CS684

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Kicker boasts of offering its 40CS684 speaker model as a set of four similar speakers. Thus, you’ll have a speaker set to fit in all your car doors. Isn’t that a great deal? Well, there’s more to this speaker and that’s why it made it in our review list. If your stock speakers sound muddy and cannot deliver the kind of sound experience you need, then this Kicker speaker is exactly what you need. Read on to know more about this amazing speaker set.

Features and Benefits

• Polyester foam surround– This speaker comes with a polyester foam surround. This type of surround material is tough and can withstand heavy movement from the cone. It’s built for durability and keeping the cone in place.
• Balanced tweeter design– The speaker comes with PEI dome tweeters in a balanced design. Expect clean instrumentals with this tweeter design. Moreover, you’ll get details vocals from the tweeter. This way, you’ll get to hear all the music details seamlessly.
• Near-universal compatibility– What more would you want from an aftermarket speaker if not a speaker that is compatible with both stock and aftermarket head units? Well, this speaker is ideal for use in both stock and aftermarket head units. If you’re still using your old, factory stereo, you can still use it with this Kicker without any worries.
• Usable with external amps– If you need even better sound from this speaker, you can connect it to an external amp without any worries. It can handle the power that comes from external amps so long as you power it within its limits.
• Four, 2-way speakers– Are you in search of true full-range sound? If so, your search ends here. The Kicker 40CS684 is designed as a 2-way speaker system and comes as a set of four speakers. Each speaker comes with a woofer cone for lows and mid and a tweeter for highs and treble. This way, you’ll enjoy true full-range sound.

Pros

• Comes with a speaker wire harness
• Mounting hardware is provided
• Easy installation
• Fits in most cars
• 4 speaker set with zero protrusion tweeters

Cons

• Higher price range
• The cable connectors are not sturdy enough
• Bass is decent but not the best for a bass enthusiast

Verdict:

Music enthusiasts who love true full-range sound can trust in the Kicker 40CS684 for the best highs, treble, mid, and decent lows. While its bass may not be ideal for bass enthusiasts, you won’t miss any music details with this speaker.

7. Pioneer TS-G6845R

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If you love listening to high-quality music and your factory car speakers are disappointing, then it’s time to upgrade with new, aftermarket speakers. The Pioneer TS-G6845R is one of the best 6” by 8” speakers available today. It’s actually one of the most affordable speakers of its size. Thus, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t get it as a replacement for your underperforming factory speakers. Learn more about this speaker below.

Features and Benefits

• Piezoelectric tweeter– Piezoelectric tweeter design is one of the best tweeter designs based on its numerous advantages. This speaker actually comes with a piezoelectric tweeter. This tweeter design is able to handle high-frequency overloads. Thus, it’ll deliver crisp highs without distorting.
• Ferrite magnet design– The speaker features a ferrite magnet. This type of magnet material is ideal for low power input and high frequency. A ferrite magnet is also resistant to corrosion. It doesn’t require any special coating and resists demagnetization from external fields.
• Polypropylene and mica composite cone– This speaker comes with a speaker cone made of a composite of polypropylene and mica. The composition enhances the performance of midrange and bass. It reduces distortion, thereby offering cleaner sound. Moreover, it doesn’t absorb moisture, making the speaker ideal for use in environments with high moisture levels.
• High-quality conex damper– Another key feature of this speaker is its conex damper. The damper offers high power handling such that the speaker can withstand heavy usage within its limits without problems. The damper also enhances low-frequency response.
• Expansive voice coil– It’s worth noting that this speaker features an expansive voice coil. Its expansive nature enhances its ability to dissipate heat. As such, the speaker can be used for prolonged periods of time without the coil overheating or burning out.

Pros

• Very affordable
• Shallow mounting depth
• Easy to install
• Custom-fit speaker basket
• Rubber coated cloth woofer surround

Cons

• Speaker grilles are not provided
• Bass pops at high volume
• It bass and clarity are not ideal for an audiophile

Verdict:

Want to upgrade your factory speakers with better-sounding yet very affordable speakers? Then consider checking out the Pioneer TS-G6845R speaker.

8. Alpine Spr-68

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If loudness is your priority, then you have landed on the right speaker. The Alpine Spr-68 is designed for loudness. If you love turning the volume up for loudness, this speaker is meant for you. While this speaker can work well with a factory or aftermarket stereo, they sound much better when powered using an external amplifier. Besides that, this speaker comes with many more features and benefits including:

Features and Benefits

• Hybrid fiber woofer– The speaker comes as a pair and each woofer cone features a multilayer hybrid of a fiber material. The hybrid material allows for stronger bass response. As such, you’ll enjoy decent lows with this speaker.
• Ridged speaker surround– Alpine has integrated its special ridged speaker surround technology into this speaker. This speaker surround technology allows for consistent cone vibration. It also allows for extended cone vibration. Consequently, more air is pushed, hence enhanced sound.
• Silk tweeters– Each speaker in this pair comes with a silk tweeter. The tweeters feature a ring-dome design. This design allows for smoother high-frequency response. As such, you get enhanced highs with depth. Also, the design allows for focused highs towards the listening position in a car.
• Neodymium magnets– This speaker is made with the neodymium type of magnet. The magnet is smaller in size than older types of magnets. It’s powerful despite its small size. Moreover, its smaller size makes it possible to fit well into most car doors.
• 2-way driver system– Each speaker comes with a 2-way driver system, including a tweeter and a woofer cone. The tweeter reproduces high frequencies whereas the woofer cone delivers mid and lows. As such, you’ll enjoy full-range sound from this speaker.

Pros

• Dual-layer coil
• Swiveling tweeter
• Installation hardware is provided
• Santoprene rubber surround
• Great clarity

Cons

• Higher price range

Verdict:

Anyone willing to pay more for quality should check out the Alpine Spr-68 speaker. It’s built using the latest sound technologies with high-quality materials. It guarantees clarity and loudness.

9. CERWIN VEGA V468

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Cerwin-Vega has been manufacturing audio equipment for several decades now. Considering the company’s experience in this industry, it manufactures great audio equipment, including the Cerwin Vega V468 6 by 8 speaker. If you’re looking for style and power, this speaker is built for you. It has many more great features to boast of besides style and power. Here’s why this speaker made it into our list or review:

Features and Benefits

• Red rubber surround– While a great sounding speaker is something to boast about, you would also want a good looking speaker. This speaker combines both style and power. Its red rubber surround makes it decorative while its performance is incredible. Thus, it’ll enhance the interior décor of your car.
• Mica-filled poly cone– Cerwin Vega has made this speaker using a composition of polypropylene and mica for greater performance. The cone is highly dampened for enhanced sound reproduction. This composition also allows for smoother frequency response.
• High power handling– The speaker comes as a pair and each speaker can handle 75 watts RMS and 400 watts peak power. As such, it can handle a lot of power for the best sound experience. You can use it with your factory stereo or an aftermarket stereo.
• Titanium dome tweeter– This speaker features a metallic tweeter made of titanium and a dome design. Titanium is light yet extremely rigid. It also works as heat sink such that it dissipates heat away from the tweeter when it’s under heavy usage. Thus, it makes the tweeter more durable.
• 2-way coaxial speaker– Another key feature about this speaker is that it’s designed as a 2-way coaxial speaker. Each speaker in this set features a driver for lows and a driver for highs. The woofer cone reproduces lows and the tweeter reproduces highs. Thus, you’ll get to enjoy full-range sound.

Pros

• Decorative look
• Powerful audio
• Durable speaker components
• Works well with an external amp
• Loud and clear

Cons

• Low frequency is not the best
• You may need adapters to install in some factory speaker holes
• May need an external amp for better sound

Verdict:

Car music lovers who love both power and style should definitely consider checking out the Cerwin Vega V468 aftermarket speaker. While you might need adapters or spacers to fit it in some cars, it’ll enhance your music experience and interior car décor.

Factors to Consider When Buying the Best 6×8 Speakers

Before buying a 6” by 8” replacement speaker, there’re certain factors you’ll need to consider. Not all speakers are made equal. There’re certain factors that make some speakers sound better than others. Now that you know the top nine 6 by 8-inch speakers, it’s time to learn more about the factors to consider before buying an aftermarket speaker. These factors include:

Ease of Installation and Compatibility

The main aim of investing in aftermarket speakers is to replace the muddy, poor-sounding factory speakers. This means removing the factory speakers and installing new aftermarket speakers in place. As such, you should invest in speakers that are easy to install. The best speaker is the one that can fit in the existing factory hole without drilling a new one. If you’ll have to drill new holes, it will mean more work and this may be quite complicated especially for the first-timers. Thus, invest in a speaker that can be installed easily and quickly.

Also, ensure the speaker you’re choosing is compatible with your existing car stereo unit. If you’re still using a factory car stereo and your budget won’t allow you to buy an aftermarket head unit, then choose a speaker that can work with the factory head unit. This way, you won’t spend much on the upgrade. If you prefer connecting car speakers to an external car amp, then consider choosing a speaker that can work well with the amp without distorting.

Component Vs Coaxial

When buying speakers, you’ll come across component and coaxial speakers. Component speakers are speakers that come as a set of separate driver systems. For instance, component speakers come with a separate woofer cone and a separate twitter. They require installing a separate crossover to direct different sound frequencies to the correct drivers. Component speakers are best for dynamic sound but may require more work to install since they’re installed separately.

On the other hand, coaxial speakers come with multiple drivers built into one speaker unit. For instance, coaxial speakers come with a woofer cone and tweeter all in one speaker. Coaxial speakers are often 2-way or 3-way driver systems. Two-way coaxial speakers have two different drivers in one speaker such as a woofer and tweeter driver. Three-way coaxial speakers have three different drivers in one speaker such as a woofer, midrange, and tweeter driver. Coaxial speakers are advantageous in that they’re easy to install and you’ll get full-range sound all from one speaker unit. However, they’re not the best choice for dynamic sound.

Power Handling and Sensitivity

While shopping for new replacement speakers, you need to be careful with power handling and sensitivity ratings. The last thing you’ll want is to burn out your brand new speakers as soon as you install them. Thus, ensure you know the maximum amount of power that a speaker can handle before making a purchase. If your existing stereo is not very powerful, then you shouldn’t worry much.

If you’ll be connecting the new speakers to an external amp, then ensure the power handling (in watts) of your new speakers is approximately equal to the output power of the amp. Here, look for the power rating given as watts RMS. Also, if you’ll be connecting the speakers to an external amp, choose speakers with a low sensitivity rating, usually denoted in decibels (dB). If you won’t be using an external amp, then the sensitivity rating won’t be a major issue.

Construction Materials

Another crucial factor to consider when shopping for aftermarket speakers is the materials used in constructing the different speaker components. Ensure the speaker cone, surround, basket, and tweeter are made of durable materials. For instance, speaker cones that are made of composite materials are more durable.

Conclusion

Shopping for replacement speakers can be extremely confusing due to the availability of multiple models to choose from. Luckily, with this review, you’ll be assured of choosing among the best 6” by 8” speakers available in the market today. Thus, this review makes it easier to make a better choice. Also, the factors to consider when buying the best 6×8 speaker should be kept in mind when shopping. Use this review to your advantage and stand a better chance of getting the best value for your money.