What’s the best 4x6 speaker ?

[Wh4t3v3rs]

I've never heard a Kicker speaker that didn't irritate my ears, regardless of the level. Now, the last time I listened to a set was many moons ago. At that time I was pretty impressed with Pioneer's Basalt cone speaker series, whatever the F it was. If JBL still made their Power Series 4x6 Plate, I would recommend that. I have JBL Power Series in my Town Car and Fireturd, best bang for your buck around.

I'm gonna have to agree with the JBL plate comment. A store i worked for was a JBL dealer, and those plates were pretty impressive

The Kicker comment, agree to disagree maybe..... I've done some pretty impressive stuff with Kicker in customer's and personal vehicles.

But once again, just my opinion......

 

[DerekTheGreat]

They were just too bright and thin sounding for me. I'm drawn to warmth, vibrancy and depth. Maybe they've changed in the last seven or so years but I'm still skeptical. Nowadays though, I don't think I'd bother putting a sound system in another car. Home audio has ruined me.

 

[Frank Enstein]

I have the Kicker 4x6 and 4x10 in Frank (modified the C pillar). Crisp and clean but weak on bass mostly due to cone size. I put in a FREE! amplified 10" sub and it sounds full and nice even with the windows down on the highway. I listen to classic rock and not very loud as a rule but I'm happy with them.

 

[DerekTheGreat]

"..crisp and clean.." Ehhh those are probably synonymous with "..thin and bright.." over in my world. I listen to lots of classic rock myself, as well as other strange stuff now that I've got a decent home audio set up. Before that, I thought I was getting the full picture, thought I knew what "good" sounded like. Now I'm hearing things I never heard before, its pretty much like hearing stuff for the first time. Music is now something to me which no longer plays in the background, but something I actively listen to.

Try the home audio game and then revisit car audio. Get yourself a nice pair of three or four way biampable (not biwire) floor standing full range speakers, at least two meaty amps capable of 200+ watts RMS into 8 ohms, a nice preamp to drive them and then a dividing network to split the frequencies accordingly.

 

[dave s]

I picked up four of the Kickers over winter on sale at Crutchfield for my 94. Old ones were original and toasted.
I'm content to just have music again. Lol. They sound fine to me. But then I'm an ex jet fighter mechanic so my ears are near shot. I do like DerekTheGreats comments about home audio. I think most military guys back in my day had a kickass stereo system and I did as well. Sold it to finish a big block Nova back in the 70's though. Always thought of getting something awesome for the house but every time I look at home audio it seems to be pretty complicated now! Lol.

 

[DerekTheGreat]

LoL yup, I hear that a lot about military dudes. What did you have?

If a fella just wants to replace something toasted, sure. But if we're talkin' "Best" then I'm going to get pretty picky.

All of my home audio stuff is old. It's JBL/Adcom/Ashly. Although the speakers were something nifty when they were new. Certainly the best I've heard. I can still hear every nuance, it's just I've got tinnitus setting in. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

 

[PlayingWithTBI]

it's just I've got tinnitus setting in. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Yeah I have it too from shooting. My left is worse, I can't hear highs like symbols anymore. My right can pick them up though. Years ago, in high school (1968), I built my own receiver, a Heathkit AR-206 IIRC. Then got a Pioneer 737 and BIC Venturi Formula 6 speakers (picture from web). I loved them.

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Now I have an older Onkyo TX-DS797 home theater receiver with 12" Infinity sub (with 350 Watt plate amplifier), Infinify center, and Bose cubes for surrounds. In my shop I have an even older Technics receiver with 10" Jensen sub (100Watts plate amplifier), Infinity center, BIC 2 way Bookshelf left/right front speakers, and 4 Samsung surrounds (left over stuff laying around).
I too love listening to classic rock!

 

[df2x4]

All of my home audio stuff is old. It's JBL/Adcom/Ashly.

I'm still hunting for a deal on an Adcom GFA555 II and a decent preamp to go with it. One of these days...

 

[jaywestfall]

Plenty of threads on this already but yes, the Infinity Kappas are the way to go. Higher sensitivity and more audiophilic in terms of sound reproduction and design, ie circular woofers and non coaxial design.

That's what I have, as well. Excellent sound.

 

[DerekTheGreat]

...Years ago, in high school (1968), I built my own receiver, a Heathkit AR-206 IIRC. Then got a Pioneer 737 and BIC Venturi Formula 6 speakers (picture from web). I loved them.
I too love listening to classic rock!

Oh wow, my dad still has a set of BIC Venturi Formula 6's. Only the woofers and maybe one of the mids still work though. Baby me tore the grilles to pieces. The Marantz 2275 he originally drove them with? Sadly, that's gone. Although I tried out a Marantz 510M driven by a Marantz 3600 for awhile and that was rad.

I'm pretty certain my tinnitus came from an ear infection and then the home stereo stuff I've got. Unlike the crap from my past which hurt my ears as it got too loud, this stuff is very deceptive in that it's already around 115dB and I'm still trying to hit the gas pedal...

I'm still hunting for a deal on an Adcom GFA555 II and a decent preamp to go with it. One of these days...

That's the exact same amplifier I've got, in tandem. Great amp, you won't be disappointed. Of all the stuff I've put it up against, it still reigns supreme soundwise. I also recommend the pre amp I'm using, an Adcom GFP 555. They're not super expensive and don't get much love from the audiophile circles, yet mine sounds better than the Marantz 3600 it replaced and Dynaco PAT-5 I tried out.