Are you looking for the best 6×9 speakers for bass without amp? Then, you’re in the right place.
You want to upgrade your factory speakers, and you’re looking for a bit more in the power department – especially on lower-end frequencies.
When it’s time to upgrade your car’s speaker system, many people turn to the reliable 6X8 upgrades, and it’s hard to fault them for that.
If you’re looking for a little more punch out of your new speakers and hoping for a bit more bass and some of that low-end rumble, taking your old factory standards out and replacing them with the best 6X9 speakers without an amp on the market is probably the best way to go.
To help you, we’ve created this buyer’s guide.
Top 5 Best 6×9 Speakers for Bass Without Amp:
| Image | Model | Price |
|---|---|---|
 | Polk Audio DB691 (Top Pick) | Check Price |
| JBL GTO938 | Check Price |
 | Rockford Fosgate R169X3 | Check Price |
 | Pioneer TS-A6996R | Check Price |
 | BOSS AUDIO CH6930 Chaos Exxtreme | Check Price |
Polk Audio DB691 Speakers (Editor’s Choice)
For not a ton of money – around 80 dollars – you’re going to get a ton of quality with these Polk Audio DB691 speakers. They have an outstanding balance, and you can play them very loud without losing clarity or having the tones blend into each other.
These speakers will give you plenty of midrange tones, and the highs come across incredibly clear. The silk polymer composite dome tweeter is the reason for that. That’s one of the biggest pros when it comes to evaluating these speakers.
The DB91 speakers have a rubber surround, which helps them hold on to the bass and protects the equipment. Speaking of, these are marine certified so that you can expose them to the elements – like on a motorcycle, jeep, or even a boat – and they’ll be just fine.
The marine certification allows these speakers to stand out, at least on this list, and it offers you, the buyer, a bit more versatility.
Sure, when people think of replacing 6×9 speakers, they think of cars most of the time. However, motorcycle enthusiasts also love to upgrade from the factory standard. Quality is still important when you’re exposed to the wind and elements. And if you have a boat, you’d be wise to upgrade to the Polk Audio DB691’s and make your marine craft the center of attention when you pull up to the sand bar.
They have a maximum power input of 125 Watts RMS. The only downside to these speakers is you won’t get the bone-shattering, booming bass people have come to love from their 6×9’s, but that doesn’t mean the quality of the bass is any less.
Positives
- 3-way speakers
- Polymer/mica composite cone with rubber surround
- 1-inch liquid-cooled silk polymer composite dome tweeter
- Marine certified
Negatives
- For as good as the mids and highs are from this speaker, it may be lacking a bit in the bass department
JBL GTO938 Speakers
For around 60 dollars, these 6×9 speakers will impress you with their performance. They may not look like much, but they sure do pack a punch. The JBL GT0938 speakers provide crisp sound – especially in the high and mid ranges – but they’ll blow you away on the low end.
They feature a Plus One woofer cone, which JBL says gives the woofer more cone area, and a lot of it. That means more bass and higher response. These speakers handle bass well, and they can take 300-watts. So if you’re a fan of booming bass – these speakers are for you significantly since they won’t muddy up the rest of your sound.
As a bonus, these are made to be replacements for the factory OEM speakers. So they should be straightforward to install on your own. The mounting hardware is not included, though, so be prepared to figure that out on your own.
Positives
- Solid, dependable speaker brand
- Plus One woofer cone
- Mylar/titanium composite tweeters
- Compatible with any head unit
- Easy to install
Negatives
- Mounting hardware not included
- The highs can come across as a bit sharp and harsh at times.
In our opinion, these are the best 6×9 car speakers under $100 if you want to get more bass and don’t want to buy an additional amp.
Rockford Fosgate R169X3 Speakers
If you’re looking to replace your factory speakers and want to make the jump to 6×9 speakers, the Rockford Fosgate R169X3 speakers may be the least risky way to go about it.
For under 50 bucks, you’re going to get some nice, clear highs and mids because of the mounted piezo tweeter. The polypropylene cone and rubber surround will keep the sound – and bass – feeling warm and clean. Also, if you’re looking to install on your own, you’ll have all the hardware you need.
These aren’t the highest quality speakers on the market, but they do the job for the price.
Positives
- Vacuum Polypropylene cone and rubber surround
- Silk dome pole mounted Piezo tweeter
- Hardware included for mounting
- Integrated high-pass crossovers
Negatives
- May have a hard time fitting depending on the car
- An underwhelming thump from the bass
- May require an amplifier to get the full experience
Pioneer TS-A6996R Speakers
The price range goes up a bit with the Pioneer TS-A6996R speakers, but they are worth the extra few bucks. There’s a reason these are a bit more expensive, and that’s because they bring a whole lot to the table.
You’re going to notice a massive difference between these speakers and the factory-grade ones. They pack a punch of power but don’t lose any quality or crispness – especially in the mid and high ranges. The bass “thump” can be a bit underwhelming at times, but they still have an excellent response to the lower frequency sounds, and it still is clear. It just doesn’t have that kick that you like to hear.
Positives
- 5-way Speakers
- 650-watts max power
- Multilayer Mica Matrix Cone Woofer
- Soft-dome Tweeter
- Waveguide
Negatives
- Need time to break-in
- It could be a tough fit
- May require separate subwoofer for added bass
Boss Audio CH6930 Chaos Exxtreme Speakers
Checking in at just under 30 dollars, these are the cheapest speakers on the list, and you could probably tell if you were to try all of them side-by-side. But, of course, you get what you pay for with speakers, but that’s not to say these are duds.
They’re certainly an upgrade over the factory speakers, and they can provide a good listening experience at much louder levels. You’ll get a full sound out of these, and it will be clear. As a bonus, they look pretty cool.
There is also a dealer warranty, so if something goes wrong within three years, you’re going to be covered.
If you’re looking to fix blown speakers, or perhaps you don’t need breathtaking sound but want an upgrade, these aren’t a bad option. If you want to feel the bass and the low end from your speakers, though, perhaps it would be best to check out one of the other options on this list.
Positives
- 50 Hz to 20 kHz Frequency Response and 92dB Sensitivity-Poly Injection Woofer Cone
- Rubber surround
- 1 tweeter per speaker (3-way)
- 2 midrange cones per speaker
- 3-year dealer warranty
Negatives
- Cheap. Great for the price but won’t stand up to higher quality 6×9 speakers.
- Underwhelming bass
Choosing the Best 6X9 Speakers for Bass (Without an Amp!)
Feel the Bass
For bass but without an amp. Is it a real option at all?
Remember, the reason you’re going after a 6×9 speaker instead of a 6×8 is that you want to get a little bit more “oomph” out of the sound coming from your car.
So with that in mind, if there’s a way you can test the speakers beforehand, make sure that you’re able to feel the bass, and it’s up to your standards. But, again, the feeling is just as important as hearing in this instance.
That may seem like a simple point, but remember, it’s all about your expectations. People expect a good thump from 6×9’s, and bass quality is significant. You may not pick up the lowest tones that you’d expect to be blasted out from a dedicated subwoofer, but the woofer cone on your 6×9 and the way it’s made/what it’s made from can be critical.
An excellent 6×9 speaker makes a separate subwoofer or amp for your car irrelevant. So make sure the set you’re looking at lives up to that standard.
We included different options on our list. So if you need the best 6×9 speakers for bass without an amp, you have something to choose from 🙂
Design/Installation
That is another simple point, but why not consider the design and look of your new speakers? You’re upgrading, aren’t you? And the sound isn’t the only important thing that matters. So if you’re going to spend the money and tell your friends and family that you upgraded the speakers in your car, you may as well make sure they look fantastic.
You want something that’s going to look sleek and look good in your car. Sure, most speakers have that bland “speaker color” that allows them to blend in with your car, but sometimes a pop of color or a fancy design isn’t a bad thing.
It’s also well worth pointing out that not every speaker is going to fit into every car. So you have to do your research to make sure you’re getting a good fit.
The last thing you want to do is get your new speakers and realize they aren’t compatible with the speaker box in your car. So you either have to get a new set or start making some alterations. And all that means is more time and money wasted.
A little research can go a long way in picking out the best 6×9 speakers on the market for your car.
Frequency Response
Different speakers have different frequency ranges, so this is a critical point to consider as a consumer.
You want to make sure that the speakers sound just as crisp and clear when playing lower frequency notes as they do when playing high-frequency notes The way the cones, woofers, and tweeters are designed to play a significant role in that, but so do the materials your speakers are made out of.
Tweeters are essential for relaying the high frequencies in a quality fashion. Your lower tones are all dependent on the material and strength of the woofer. It has to take a ton of power coming out of it, so it needs to be sturdy. If it’s too loose, you’re going to end up getting a rattle and poor-quality bass.
You want your speakers to be able to hold their tones low and blast your tones high, all while maintaining clarity and quality. The bigger the range your speakers have on the Hertz scale, the better. That allows you to listen to different music from your speaker and not worry about adjusting anything or facing the risk of losing sound quality.
The Best 6×9 Speakers Without Amp: Our Verdict
It would be tough to go wrong with any of the speakers we reviewed above, but if push came to shove and we could only pick one to declare the best 6×9 speakers, we’re going to roll with the Polk Audio DB691 speaker. Polk Audio is an excellent brand for audio lovers, and though you’re going to be spending 60-70 dollars, these are well worth the price of admission.
A close runner-up is the JBL GTO938 speaker. Again, at 300-watts and with the Plus One woofer cone, you’re going to be rolling around making people think you’ve spent the money to get a dedicated, separate subwoofer for the car.
The bass is going to be booming, and the low end will be noticeable. You won’t bleed out the mid and high tones either, though. Overall, these are outstanding speakers for people looking to impact their audio quality.
As always, keep your needs in mind. If you’re looking to replace your blown speakers and you don’t care as much about impressing your friends, family, or neighbors with the insane audio quality and bass thump coming from your car, the cheaper options on this list will do.
Still, though, for around 70 dollars, you can’t go wrong with the JBL GTO938’s.
Plus, they’re easy to install, so it’s a win-win. If you’re looking to replace your factory OEM speakers, this product would be a perfect choice.
You’re not going to be spending a ton of money in the long run. However, you’ll see a dramatic increase in quality, sound, and power.
Just remember that the mounting hardware is not included. So be prepared to have to do a bit more digging once these show up at the door.