Are you looking for the best cheap car speakers? Then, you’re in the right place.
While many cars come with a built-in speaker, they are usually not very good as most built-in speakers produce poor sound.
That is why you will need to buy speakers for your car. However, doing so can be a challenging task if you know nothing about car speakers.
Several big companies make car speakers, which is why you need to be careful when picking one. Unfortunately, they are all not made equal, and picking the wrong speakers can ruin the fun and cause your money to waste.
To help you make the right decision, we have shortlisted five of the best and cheapest car speakers for you. We made this list after much research and attention to factors like sound quality, available options, durability, and affordability.
We tested these five products along with many others and found them of superior quality in many aspects.
The 5 Best Cheap Car Speakers Under $100:
| Image | Model | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Rockford Fosgate R165X3 (Top Pick) | Check Price |
 | Kicker 40CS654 | Check Price |
 | Pioneer TS-A1676R | Check Price |
 | JVC CS-J620 | Check Price |
Rockford Fosgate R165X3 (Editor’s Choice – Best Car Speakers Under $100)
If you search for a car speaker that offers a clear sound and produces minimal distortion even if the road is bumpy, then Rockford Fosgate won’t disappoint you.
Thanks to their dome-like shape and compact size, these speakers are extremely easy to mount and install in a car.
Features
Polypropylene Cone: The speaker material is a polypropylene cone known to have a high manufacturing uniformity. This material makes the speaker produce highly damped and lossy sound, giving you the ability to control frequency as per your taste.
Silk Dome Speaker Piezo Tweeter: This silk dome speaker distributes the damping and compliance of sound throughout the dome and helps localize disturbance. Thus, the sound you hear from the speaker is distortion-free and well distributed throughout the car.
Power Rating: You can judge a speaker’s ability to produce a powerful and amplified sound based on its RMS rating measured in watts. This 6.5” Rockford Speaker has an RMS wattage of 45, which is excellent. That allows the speaker to play music at your desired setting without any issue.
Full Range 3-way Speaker: Being a full-range 3-way speaker, this one has three different speakers embedded in it, the tweeter, the woofer, and the midrange speaker.
The tweeter is designed to produce high-frequency sounds (2000 to 20,000 Hz), the woofer is designed to output low-frequency sounds (40 Hz to 500 Hz), and the midrange speaker is made to cover 250 Hz to 2000 Hz sounds. Thus, this speaker is meant to provide total frequency control.
Pros
- Embedded tweeter crossover – 6dB.
- Mounting hardware included.
- 1-year warranty.
- Stamped steel basket.
- Frequency control – 50Hz to 20,000Hz.
- Sensitivity: 91 dB.
Cons
- The screws that come with the speaker for mounting only work in a few vehicles because they are very long and do not always fit in.
- Bass is not too good.
- No adjustable tweeter.
- Not marine certified (water-resistant).
JBL GTO638
This speaker is unique due to the woofer cone technology it employs. Additionally, it comes with a non-magnetic carbon composite frame with a unique look and added durability.
It’s a 2-way component speaker (woofer and tweeter) with a terrific sound that’s ideal for cars. A 3-way system is also available with a woofer.
Features
Power Range: The speaker can deliver up to 270 watts of power making it perfect for cars. The sound is clear, with no distortions.
Patented Plus One Woofer Technology: This speaker has more area than most cone speakers in this range. A speaker with a greater area can radiate more air resulting in better low-frequency response and good sound quality.
True 4 Ohm Technology: This speaker can produce more output than conventional speakers because of the extra resistance in the speaker wiring.
No Distortion: There aren’t many speakers that can produce distortion-free sound but this one. That is due to the vented magnetic assemblies on the woofer, which keep the sound coil cool.
Wide Frequency Response: It can deliver up to 21 kHz sound frequency.
Excellent Volume And Quality: The speaker has high sensitivity at 92 dB, meaning it restricts the audio system from overdriving.
Improved Imaging: Since it has a soft dome tweeter, the power handling is good, and the distortion is next to none. Its low crossover frequency and good distortion characteristics have improved imaging, which results in neat sound.
Pros
- Octave passive crossovers – The 12 dB octave passive crossover network helps produce quality sound.
- Powerful sound – Produces 270 watts each and 540 watts per pair.
- Ninety watts RMS per speaker.
- 2-way component speaker – woofer and tweeter produce clear and quality sound.
- 1-year warranty
- Perfect for most vehicles.
- Intermount III mounting system for easy installation.
Cons
- No screws are included for the bezel.
- Lacks a little in the bass section.
- The bass quality is not very good.
- Not waterproof.
Pioneer TS – A1676R
Pioneer TS is the ideal speaker for your car if you wish to listen to loud sounds without compromising quality.
It can deliver high RMS watts without disturbing the sound balance.
Features
Power Handling: This speaker can control sound and prevent distortion even at full volume. It has excellent power handling thanks to the air vents it uses and the heat resistance coil to keep the speakers in an excellent sound-producing state by offering rapid cooling.
Multilayer Mica Matrix Cone: The material that a speaker is made up of tells a lot about its durability. Pioneer TS is made of Mica Matrix, water-resistant material, and very light to produce wider dispersion and deeper bass sound.
Acceptable Sound Range: The speaker can handle power watts ranging from 50 watts to 320 watts.
3-way Speaker: Produces enhanced sound quality using the woofer, tweeter, and speaker.
High Sensitivity: Has a sensitivity of 90 dB. The sensitivity of a speaker determines the amount of power needed to operate a speaker.
Pros
- 1-year warranty.
- Clear sound.
- Lightweight.
- It comes in different sizes to fit many vehicles.
- Oval speakers come with square plates to fit different vehicles.
Cons
- Has a slightly distorted bass.
- Not waterproof.
Kicker 40CS654
The heavy-duty magnet structure and EVC technology make it stand out among many rival speakers.
They are UV resistant and quite durable as well.
Features
Polyester Foam Surround On Propylene Cone: Propylene cone is meant to control the frequency and maintain a good balance in the sound produced. Plus, the polyester foam on it makes the woofer produce an even better and crispier sound.
Good Power Handling: The speaker can handle power range watt from 100 watt RMS to 300 watt RMS at peak. Also, it has a frequency response of 40 Hz to 20,000 Hz.
Ideal Sensitivity: Speakers with low sensitivity find it hard to operate because a lack of sensitivity requires more operational power. This speaker has a sensitivity of 90 dB, which is perfect for car speakers.
4 Ohm 2-way Speaker: 4 Ohm technology provides a good wire resistance and ensures that the speaker runs smoothly for a long period. The sound quality is also viable as it’s a 2-way speaker, having a woofer and a tweeter.
Pros
- 1-year warranty.
- Easy fitment thanks to the reduced depth baskets.
- Coaxial speakers
- 6.5” speaker.
- 2-week return policy.
Cons
- The four 90 degree brackets that come along for mounting purpose are very of cheap quality.
- The bass is not very good but can be paired with a subwoofer for improved bass.
- You cannot move tweeters.
JVC CS – J620
If you are searching for a car speaker with a detailed high range and a good mid-range, bring home JVC CS J620 for your car as it has an exception hybrid sound.
With a power handling of 30 watts RMS, they also allow adding an amplifier for extra sound.
Features
Polyether Imide Dome Tweeter: A speaker is said to be exceptional if it can handle high-frequencies. This one has a one-inch polyetherimide, enabling it to reach 22,000 Hz at peak and a mid-low range to 35 Hz, making it a perfect speaker with excellent sound quality.
Full Range Sound: The combination of mica cone, rubber, cloth, and hybrid makes it a full range sound-producing speaker, far better than OEM speakers.
Power Handling: It can handle RMS watt from 30 Hz to 300 Hz per speaker.
Easy To Install: The speaker comes with pre-arranged holes for easy mounting.
Pros
- Sensitivity – 92 dB
- Very light in weight.
- 1-year warranty.
- Black ABS composite grills.
- 2-way coaxial car speaker.
- Come with connectors.
Cons
- Poor bass production.
- Do not fit all vehicles.
Do I Need Car Speakers?
An average American drives more than a thousand miles each month, making it 13,474 miles each year. That is the minimum an average American travels on a car. That is a lot of driving, and one can begin to get frustrated by driving this much every day. Therefore, it is necessary to make the driving experience enjoyable.
An easy solution to this is listening to music that can make your journey feel shorter and make it enjoyable. Plus, music can also help reduce stress. The right music can even change your mood and make you feel happier and relaxed.
Many people indulge in musical therapy, and some experts even suggest listening to music on your way to work so that you can start your day with a smile. Plus, the right set of speakers can also come in handy when you are on a long road trip or going out with your gang.
How to Pick the Best Car Speakers if You’re on a Budget
To clear your confusion on which cheap car speaker to pick for your car, given below are certain factors you must consider. These include:
Coaxial vs. Full-Range Car Speakers
You need to pay attention to all factors influencing your experience, with sound quality being the most crucial factor to consider when buying car speakers. You will mainly have to pick between coaxial and full-range speakers.
Coaxial speakers are two or 3-way speakers that are popular due to their small size. However, they typically obscure the woofer thanks to the placement of the tweeter right in front of it.
On the other hand, full-range speakers are known to reproduce as much audible frequency as they can. Therefore, they typically use Whizzer cones and other such tools to improve their frequency range.
Power Rating
It involves the RMS watt a speaker has. Speakers with RMS watt greater than 40 Hz can amplify more sound and produce better quality, so look for speakers with at least 40 Hz sound.
Sensitivity
The speakers’ sensitivity should be equal to, or more than 90 dB as this value makes it easier for a speaker to operate.
Wide Frequency Range
The speaker should have a wide frequency range (30 Hz to 20,000 Hz) to control high, mid, and low-frequency sounds.
Distortion-Free Sound
Polypropylene silk dome speakers are good at producing distortion-free sound.
So, What Are the Best Budget Car Speakers Under $100?
For us, both Rockford Fosgate R165X3 are outstanding and among the best cheap car speakers with valuable features. If you want powerful sound, then we recommend Rockford as it is a 3-way speaker. JBL is the right choice, too, as it operates on 4 Ohm and woofer technology.