Still, if you’re upgrading the sound for your ride, the door speakers are the first thing you want to focus on. The sound from those speakers is the first to reach your ears, and however good the other equipment in your set-up, you’ll still get subpar sound if your door speakers aren’t up to the bass task. Look for speakers with a woofer made of light-weight but rigid materials, like polypropylene or metal-coated synthetics. Focus on a high RMS (the level of power speakers can continuously handle) more than a peak power wattage to find speakers that can produce powerful sound for a long time without wearing out. With those criteria in mind, we’ve selected several products below.
These are our recommendations for the 4 best door speakers for bass on the market:
Polk Audio DB6501 Door Speakers
This Polk model is designed to fit both 6.5” and 6.75” enclosures, making them a versatile option (see full specs) for your door speaker needs. The 6.5” woofers are constructed of a composite of polymer and mica designed not only to withstand the rigors of temperature and moisture changes but to give you powerful bass output. The upper frequencies are produced by a 1” tweeter with a Neodymium magnet that gives you a highly detailed treble response. Polk uses laser imaging to enhance the design, eliminating extra noise and distortion even at high volumes. Without a doubt, these are among the best door speakers for bass.
New Kicker DS693 Car Speakers
This 3-way speaker (see full specs) from kicker uses a stiff polypropylene material for its woofer cones, providing a deep, resonant bass that thumps even without a subwoofer. Partially this is thanks to the ribbed foam surround, which not only protects the woofer from damage but also gives you a higher bass output. With a frequency response from 30 Hz to 20 kHz and a sensitivity of 92 dB, the sound quality stays constant and detailed at every range. The quality of the bass doesn’t mean they neglected the high range, either—the 1/2″ balanced dome tweeter brings out the natural vibrancy of the trebles.
Rockford Fosgate Punch P1462 Speakers
These 4X6” speakers come from the Punch line of audio equipment which was designed for the listener who wants to feel his music, not just hear it. The surround is attached to the woofer cone using Rockford Fosgate’s innovative new Vertical Attach Surround Technique, increasing the cone area by 25% and giving you not only more power but also a fuller and more detailed sound profile in the bass frequencies. This model also comes with adapters to let it fit into 6X8” enclosures, adding to its versatility. For the money, it’s easily one of the best door speakers for bass.
Rockford Fosgate R165X3 Prime 6.5” Coaxial Speaker
Here’s another excellent option from Rockford Fosgate that’s a bit more affordable for those shopping on a budget. The Prime R165X3 is one of the most affordable 3-way car door speakers you’ll find. The polypropylene woofer cones are firm enough to give you an impressive bass response. The mid-range and treble have a nice sound, too, well-balanced and responsive—a definite upgrade over any factory speakers.
Versatility is another great feature of the Rockford Fosgate Prime. They’re available in a range of sizes and have a relatively slim mounting depth of 2.15”, meaning it will fit in most vehicles. They come complete with mounting hardware and protective grilles, giving you everything you need to install them in one convenient package, and at a great value. These should be on any list of the best door speakers for bass.
Complete Your Door Speaker Set-up
These speakers will give you great bass, but if you’re looking for that frame-shaking bass, you’ll need to upgrade your amplifier, improve your wiring, and perhaps buy an external subwoofer—in that order. Even the very best door speakers for bass will only go so far.
Even so-called “premium” audio packages from the factory don’t provide enough power through the amplifier for truly good sound production. Upgrading the amplifier (see a bunch here) with increase both the quality and volume output of your entire stereo system. Choose an amp with enough channels for all your speakers—one channel per speaker. If you have a subwoofer (or plan on getting one later on) make sure to include that in your calculations, as it’ll need its own channel. In terms of power, an amp that produces about 500 watts RMS will work for most car stereo systems. Be wary of anything under 250, as the sound they produce will be weak and distorted. In terms of practical considerations, make sure the amplifier is small enough to fit in your car, and that it’s compatible with the speakers you’re wiring it to.
Once you’ve upgraded your speakers and amp, if you’re still not happy with the sound of your car stereo, check on the quality of the wiring. You ideally want your wires to be made out of oxygen free copper (OFC). Don’t buy wiring made of copper clad aluminum (CCA), which have a center conductor of aluminum sheathed in copper. While they’re cheaper than true copper wiring kits, the aluminum interior is a relatively poor conductor of electricity, and these units will end up not being much of an upgrade over the factory wiring your car came with and ultimately aren’t worth the expense.
Finally, if what you’re looking for is a bass to shake the windows, you’ll probably need an external subwoofer (tons here for you to gawk at). Measure your car’s trunk to make sure a subwoofer will fit before rushing out to buy one. Pick a subwoofer whose impedance matches that of your speakers (this is the number measured in ohms) and that won’t blow out your amplifier (check on the wattage). If it’s big bass you’re going for, what you want is the highest-powered subwoofer that fits your size and equipment limitations. If you’re mostly listening to hip hop, dance, or techno music, two smaller subwoofers may give you a better sound than one larger one—just make sure you have enough channels for them on your amplifier before making that decision.
Other Considerations Re Door Speakers for Bass
Before purchasing any new audio equipment for your car, you want to make sure it’ll fit with your particular model and year. Amazon offers a drop down menu on some of its car audio products where you can input your car’s info and find out at a glance whether or not they can be installed. If you can’t do this, check the audio systems section of your car’s manual to verify that your new speakers can actually go in your doors. If you’re still confused or uncertain, the mechanics at your local auto shop should be able to steer you in the right direction.
