- 1. Kenwood Two-Way 4×10 Car Speakers
- 2. Pioneer 2-way 4×10 Car Speakers
- 3. KICKER 47KSC41004 KS Series Low Profile 4×10
- 4. BOSS Audio 4×10 Car Speakers
- 5. CERWIN-Vega Mobile H7410 HED(R) Series 2-Way Coaxial Speakers
- 6. Pyle Car Three Way 4×10 Car Speakers
- 7. Planet Audio 4×10 Car Speakers
- Best 4×10 Car Speakers Buying Guide
Factory car speakers are often mediocre at best, so connoisseurs of in-car entertainment are seldom satisfied with them. There may be a lack of clarity or a lack of power and distortion at higher volumes. The most cost-effective way of getting a huge improvement in your sound quality is to install some branded 4 x 10 speakers. The problem is choosing the best 4 x 10 car speakers for your vehicle.
The design and materials are important as is compatibility with your car’s audio system. The sensitivity and power handling are also important considerations. If you are getting a little overwhelmed by the choices and all of the technical terminology, read our quick guide to the best 4×10 speakers.
The Best 4×10 Car Speakers
This is a superb set of 4 X 10-inch two-way car speakers by Kenwood with a 2-7/16 inch depth top mount. You get injection-molded poly woofer speakers featuring a foam surround. They can deliver 160 watts of power at peak, which will give you plenty of volume for the low notes.
They have a frequency response of between 40Khz and 25Khz and have a 91 dB sensitivity. The rated power of these 4×10 car speakers is 40Watts and they feature a 2-3/8″ balanced dome polyamide tweeter for the high notes. Set up is easy and the sound quality is superb.
- Peak power is 160 watts
- 2-3/8 inch polyamide dome tweeter
- 2-7/16 inches top mount
- Brand Kenwood
- Model KFC415C
- Weight 2 pounds
Great bass response
Mids and highs both excellent
Well-rounded sound delivered
Easy to install
Will distort at full volume
Need to be spaced out from the mounting plate
You’ll notice a huge improvement on your factory speakers with these A-Series 2-way Pioneer 4×10 speakers. They feature an injection molded polypropylene composite woofer and a 1-5/8 paper cone tweeter with internal cross-over. They operate on a 2-35 watts RMS and have a frequency response of 38 Hz to 23,000Hz.
You’ll hear and feel every beat thanks to the large cone and experience a booming bass output in these 4×10 car speakers. Because the tweeters of Pioneer 4×10 speakers are so sensitive, they can handle the higher frequencies and strong audio signals so the vocals are clear even when the volume is turned up.
- 2 way 4 x 10 inch speakers
- Injection molded polypropylene composite woofer
- 2-35 watts RMS
- Brand Pioneer
- Model TSA4103
- Weight 4 pounds
Fit well in most dashboards
Crisp and clear sound
Plenty of power on bass notes
You may need to damp the resonance
Do not come with speaker covers
The Kicker 47KSC41004 KS Series Low Profile speakers can handle a peak of 75 watts RMS and have a 4-ohm voice coil. They are well built, have high-power handling, and feature polypropylene cones and a neodymium tweeter magnet. The midrange and midbass are very clear, while the highs are precise and detailed.
These speakers are easy to install in most vehicles and feature a 2.5-inch mounting depth, so you likely won’t have to modify your factory speaker holes. Also, their low-profile design accommodates most factory grilles.
- 15 to 75 watts RMS power
- 4-ohm voice coil
- 0.5-inch silk dome tweeter
- 300 watts
- Brand Kicker
- Model 47KSC41004
- Weight 2.3 pounds
Fit well into factory holes
Good construction
Clear, precise, and detailed audio
Easy to install
Pricier than many rival brands
Fits most vehicles but not all
This is a set of full-range 400 Watt 3-way speakers that measure 4 x 10 inches and which can handle a peak of 200 Watts each. They have durable polyurethane cones and the one-inch voice coil can cope with high temperatures and so facilitates longer playing times.
The rubber construction will withstand a lot of wear without showing signs of damage. Each of the speakers has piezoelectric tweeters which resists overloads and does not need a crossover. They have a sensitivity of 90 dB at W/1 and the frequency response is 100Hz – 18KHz.
- 400 Watt 3-way speakers
- Durable polyurethane cones
- Piezoelectric tweeters
- Frequency response is 100Hz – 18KHz
- Brand BOSS Audio Systems
- Model CH4330
- Weight 3.4 pounds
Good bass sound
Clear sound
They add balance and surround sound effect
Not as crisp as some other speakers
Sound may not be clean enough for some customers
The Cerwin-Vega Mobile 2-Way Coaxial Speakers feature stamped-steel basket frames with vented airflow. They also have a graphite-injected reinforced spun cone and black anodized balanced dome tweeters. They are 320 watts. These speakers are a great inexpensive replacement for stock speakers.
They are well made, easy to install and produce great sound for the price. Cerwin-Vega has been around for over 65 years and has a reputation for producing high-quality audio products, such as these 4×10 speakers. There have been some complaints, however, that they don’t produce much bass and the highs are muffled.
- 320 watts
- 2-way coaxial speakers
- Black anodized dome tweeters
- Graphite-injected cone
- Brand CERWIN-Vega
- Model H7410
- Weight 3.6 pounds
Inexpensive replacement
Easy to install
Well made
Not much bass
Highs may sound muffled
These three-way 4 x 10 inch speakers have been engineered to give you the high performance you expect. The two-inch cone is made from bright yellow poly injected material to give it plenty of structure without too much weight and a mid and a high temperature voice coil. They have an impedance of 4 ohms which compensates for the undersized wires that are a feature of many modern cars. The speakers have a peak power of 300 Watts.
The system has a 45-ounce magnet structure for a smooth yet detailed sound and has a frequency of 60-22KHz. Thanks to the butyl rubber surround, the speakers are durable and will always look great.
- Two inch poly injected cone
- Peak power of 300 Watts
- Impedance of 4 ohms
- 45 ounce magnet structure
- Brand Pyle
- Model PLG41.3
- Weight 2.54 pounds
Sound clean with a 300 Watt amp
Better than factory-installed speakers
Great clarity and bass response
Don’t always fit correctly
Build quality could be better
A high-quality set of die-cast three-way speakers that have an impedance of four Ohms and a frequency response of between 70 Hz and 20 kHz. The sensitivity is 86 dB.
The speakers have black poly injection cones with an aluminum voice coil whilst the surround is constructed of rubber. The grills and the magnets are included with the speakers. Each speaker has a peak power of 200 Watts.
- Frequency response of between 70 Hz and 20 kHz
- Sensitivity is 86 dB
- Grills and the magnets are included
- Peak power of 200 Watts
- Brand Planet Audio
- Model TRQ413
- Weight 2 pounds
Easy to set up
Sound good even with a cheap amp
Gives plenty of bass
Comes with everything you need to install them
Tweeter sticks out from the top of the speaker
Some reliability issues
Best 4×10 Car Speakers Buying Guide
Things to Consider When Buying the Best 4×10 Speakers
Once you have decided that you want to invest in some new 4 x 10 speakers for your car, there are a few things that you should consider when you are buying them. When you read the specification for 4 x 10 speakers there is a lot of technical terminology relating to power output and sound quality. Here are the main things you should consider explained in non-technical language.
Sensitivity
This is a measure of how much sound your speaker will give out from the power that goes into it. Check the power of your existing car stereo. If it is below 15 Watts RMS per channel, you will need speakers with a high sensitivity value so look for something over 90 dB. However, if your car audio system is a high-power one of over 16 watts RMS, perhaps because you have an external amplifier, you should get speakers with a low sensitivity ratings. This will give you the best sound quality.
Power Handling
As the name suggests, this tells you how much power the speakers can cope with. The value is given in Watts. Low-powered car audio systems don’t need speakers with very high power but if you have installed powerful amps externally, you will need powerful speakers to go with them. Check out the value of the RMS power-handling at the maximum but note this is not the same as the value for peak power. RMS is more about the level of power of that the speaker can realistically handle over a prolonged time not just as a one off. Therefore, speakers that are rated 2-50 watts RMS often make a good match for a low-powered standard car stereo.
Type of Speaker
If you choose full-range speakers, you get all the elements you will need. Even the simplest speakers will have a woofer and a tweeter. More advanced devices will come with further drivers such as a midrange. To replace the speakers that your car came with simply and quickly, this is the best option. If you choose component speakers, you’ll get separate woofers, tweeters and external crossovers that work together to deliver superior sound quality. They are more complicated and require a higher level of knowledge to fit them.
Materials
Woofers need to be strong, light, and able to withstand hot, cold, and humid conditions. Most are made from polypropylene but if it is mixed with mica it gives a better bass sound. Other options are woven fabrics coated with aluminum. Tweeters are made from soft materials such as poly blends or silk. These give a mellow sound. However, if you like snappy sounds, a hard material such as metal may be a better option for your new speakers.
Why You Should Invest in New 4×10 Speakers
It’s a sure bet that your car will already have speakers so you may be wondering why you would bother going to the hassle of replacing them! In fact, there are some compelling reasons for why you should replace your factory fitted speakers even if they are still working properly.
Cheapest Way to Get Better Sound
If you don’t have a huge budget but want to improve the sound quality of your car music system, investing in 4 x 10 speakers is the best option. You will get crisper and brighter high notes and more solid bass notes. In fact, you’ll probably detect elements in the music that you haven’t heard before! New speakers offer a flexible alternative to factory-fitted equipment and will bring out the best in your audio equipment.
Superior Design
When you invest in a new set of 4 x 10 inch speakers, you’ll get equipment that has a better design. This is because they will be made by speaker designers and not by general car designers. Car audio manufacturers will be willing to experiment and will have the latest in groundbreaking technology. Brand-name speakers are always superior to the factory-installed originals. You’ll hear the benefit of the multiple drivers such as woofers, tweeters and midranges. They each reproduce a particular segment of sound. Woofers are for the lows and tweeters are for the highs.
Superior Circuits
Brand-name 4×10 speakers are more likely to have advanced crossover circuits. These are filters which ensure that the right frequencies go to the appropriate driver, giving the most efficient operation and the best sound quality.
Superior Materials
New 4 x 10 speakers will be made from state-of-the-art materials so they will have improved resistance to very hot and very cold temperatures as well as humid conditions. This will make your speakers more durable at the same time as improving the sonic performance. By making this investment, you will enjoy low bass notes that are deeper and tighter and high notes that are cleaner and crisper. However, you also have the peace of mind of knowing that your speakers will last for a long time.
How to Install 4×10 Car Speakers
To install your new 4 x 10 car speakers, you will need some basic tools including a wire cutter, screwdriver, drill and crimping tool. Some electrical tape and a drill may also be needed. Here are the basic steps.
- Disconnect your car battery’s negative terminal. This will make sure that you don’t damage the delicate electronic systems of your car and that you don’t get a nasty shock.
- Take a good look at the detailed instructions. All 4×10 speakers are different and will come with their own instructions.
- Remove the speaker grilles by prying them off with a screwdriver and removing bolts and screws that were holding it in place.
- Remove the factory speaker taking care not to rip out the wire harness. There may be bolts and adhesive foam to remove.
- Connect the new speaker by plugging it into the car’s wiring harness. Sometimes, it is more complicated and you’ll need to create a soldered or crimped connection. The polarity of the car and the speaker need to be matched. You can usually identify the speaker’s positive terminal because it is larger and has a “+” or a small dot marked on it.
- Test the 4×10 speakers by reconnecting the battery and turning on the stereo. You should hear sound coming out of the speakers and see them vibrating at high volumes.
- Secure the new speaker into the factory speaker’s housing. If it won’t fit, you may need to make some modifications using mounting brackets and drilling new screw holes. Often, some hardware is included with the speaker.
- Replace the speaker grilles using the original screws if possible.
Our Top Pick
Our top pick of the best 4×10 speakers is a superb set of two-way Kenwood speakers with a 2-7/16 inch depth top mount. The woofers are injection-molded poly featuring a foam surround and deliver 160 watts of power at peak.
They have a frequency response of between 40Khz and 25Khz and have a 91 dB sensitivity. The rated power is 40Watts and they feature a 2-3/8″ balanced dome polyamide tweeter.
Sources:
- Car Audio Speakers – HowStuffWorks
- How to Set up Car Speakers – HowStuffWorks