Too many Americans are dissatisfied with the factory made speakers in their cars. More than often, the sound quality of the already installed speakers is nothing close to our expectations. And the search for a credible sound system thereafter is no less. Well, worry no more. We have brought you the best 3.5 speakers in America that’ll get your car pumping music as smooth as our beloved routes.
3.5 speakers are often misjudged to be low in quality just because they are cheaper than other varieties. How has capitalism tricked us into spending more money in the hunt for quality! 3.5 speakers will form a full-range component of your car. While they will not produce bass that will shake up the neighbourhood’s windows, or the high pitched sound that can wake up people sleeping in the backseat, they will definitely improve the quality of your system’s music output.
You may not be aware of the fact that 3.5 speakers are known to produce the smoothest sound that’ll have you discerning the lyrics of all your favourite songs. Such high clarity often goes amiss in many high-end speakers of the large variety in their world. But you have landed at the perfect spot. We have got you tried and tested 3.5 speakers that promise to deliver the most amazing sound you can sing along to on all your journeys.
Best 3.5 Speakers for the year 2020
Polk Audio DB351 3.5 Speakers
Do not let the size of these speakers mislead you. These very compact speakers will blow your mind with the high quality sound they are capable of producing. By high quality, we mean clear sound with zero distortions and fine balance which is just set to put you in the right mood.
It is rare to come across excellent bass in small 3.5 speakers. To amaze you more, these speakers have an excellent bass response. The one that makes your car strum on the road like a smooth jockey.
Well, such good things are of no use if they don’t last long. That is why these speakers are built to sustain even harsh weather conditions and exposure to water. This implies that these 3.5 speakers will keep working well even when water is splashed on them or when they are used in rain. This feature enables these speakers to remain functional and just as good as new for a very long time.
Another resistance feature of these speakers is the durability to harmful UV light exposure. Most speakers get damaged on prolonged exposure to the sun. Well, these little ones are tough.
Besides being incredibly wonderful in delivering quality sound, these speakers are very easy to install too. They are small in size and relatively shallow in depth. In addition, there are multiple holes in the pattern for installation which let you fit them snugly into the vehicle with ease.
You must know how much the sound quality of speakers is influenced by their materials of construction. The incredible bass output for these speakers is the result of solid rubber surrounds on polymer 3.5 woofers. The tweeters are made of 12 mm liquid cooled silk to make the sound distortion free. There are also neodymium magnets in the speakers to further enhance the quality of sound.
The essentially balanced design of these speakers is the result of advanced and impressive laser imaging techniques. Such a high quality design ensures that these speakers will not produce distorted sound or get caught in resonance, thus delivering music as smooth as you like it.
Pros
- It is extremely rare to find good 3.5 speakers that also emit high quality bass
- The sound produced by these speakers is of high quality and clarity and does not get distorted whatsoever
- There are special bass blockers that let you fine tune into required frequencies of sound
- These speakers are resistant to most factors that commonly damage car speakers
- Polk Audio DB351 can well sustain harsh weather, direct sunlight, as well as splashing of rainwater and ensure longevity to your investment
- The shallow depth and easy installation pattern makes it superbly easy to accommodate these speakers in your vehicle
- The unique classy silk and black design never goes out of fashion
Cons
- These speakers may be extra heavy for some car models
- The additional weight of these speakers is imparted by the bass blockers
JBL GX302 3.5 Speakers
Few 3.5 speakers are as dedicated to both the design and sound quality as JBL GX302. The unique cup design of these speakers is coupled with an incredible sensitivity which makes it compatible with almost all vehicles that may wanna have it.
The makers have paid due consideration to the versatility of use of its design by incorporating tweeter deflectors. These work as waveguides and let the speakers be installed in an angled as well as rotational manner. This unique quality of their tweeters has earned these speakers widespread love. The tweeters for these speakers are also soft-domed to enable extra-smooth sound and high-frequency outputs along with a more able power-handling capacity.
There are some unique components in these very able speakers. One of these are the 3-ohm DCR voice coils. The high sensitivity of these speakers is also the result of enough thickness of their wiring system. These speakers are able to easily acquire the required amount of power from the external amplifier. That is why they emit such clear high quality sound.
You must already be aware how solid JBL is about the toughness of their products. It is mandatory for these speakers to undergo the OEM-level reliability testing that all JBL speakers are put through. The speakers are subjected to extreme conditions and environments which can surely render any low quality speakers useless. The test involves subjecting the speakers to UV radiation, freezing, or baking them to assure that they are reliable and will uphold the quality of the brand.
Pros
- The sound quality that these speakers produce is incredible
- These speakers don’t let their quality sound distort
- The design of these speakers is very attractive and the clarity of sound is stupefying
- There are built-in bass blockers
- Even weak audio signals can be raised by the supremely capable and quality features of these speakers
Cons
- Many users report that the mounting hardware wasn’t included in the set when they first ordered these speakers
- Because of this reason, these speakers often require modifications in the vehicle to be properly fit
- The low impedance of these speakers can put the electric system of your vehicle under undue load
Infinity REF3022CFX 3.5 Speakers
The high quality sound produced by Infinity REF3022CFX is incomparable. You’ll notice that it is definitely better than your pre-installed speakers and also way better than most other 3.5 speakers you’ve come across. This is owed to their amazing sensitivity and excellent frequency response. Built with tough materials, these speakers are also very compact and the frame is surprisingly customizable which lets them be installed in a variety of vehicles without the need for any modifications.
The installation of these speakers is unique because it involves the use of adhesive foam gasket strips which allow them to fit just anywhere. Another versatile feature of these speakers is their ability to work well with different power supplies. They also do well with a wide variety of audio systems.
The enhanced clarity of these speakers is also the result of their balanced textile tweeters. It is possible for these speakers to emit smooth music irrespective of the power supply. In addition, the tweeter’s output level can also be easily adjusted.
The unique Infinity Plus technology feature has provided these speakers with a larger cone area for the woofer than is usually allotted for 3.5 speakers. This is the reason these speakers have high sensitivity, more low frequency output, and such excellent quality of sound.
Moreover, the solid and durable construction of these speakers is set to amaze you. The woofer is made of polypropylene. There is a solid rubber surround and the loudness can be enhanced to a much larger extent with an external amplifier.
Pros
- These speakers are compatible with a vast variety of vehicles
- The design of these speakers is very attractive with special silver details
- The sound quality is superb and distortions are minimum
- These speakers produce well-balanced sound at a wide range of frequencies
Cons
- These speakers require separate external amplification
- Many users report that they are also very sensitive to physical shock or mishandling
Way to choose the best 3.5 speakers
Pay attention to the clarity of sound your new speakers emit. The stereo imaging needs to be breathtaking and the voice clarity ought to be as perfect as you are told. While all speakers may not have this feature, many 3.5 speakers significantly enhance the bass output.
In order to ensure that you select the best 3.5 speakers, you must pay attention to certain important physical aspects that direct a speaker’s performance. There is speaker sensitivity, it’s power handling capacity, compatibility with your vehicle, materials of construction, and the two or three-way type.
Sensitivity of a speaker is the measure of its loudness
The loudness of speakers is measured in decibels. And the loudness of your speaker is in turn governed by the power that goes into it. All automobiles are not configured to provide high power to their speaker systems. This is where sensitivity of speakers comes into play.
A speaker with high sensitivity will produce admirably loud sound even with low power input. Contrary to this, speakers with low sensitivity work equally well in automobiles that provide high power.
Depending on how much power your automobile supplies its stereo system, you must select the appropriately sensitive speakers.
Check whether your 3.5 speakers are two-way or three-way
3.5 speakers are generally of two types, two-way or three-way. There are only two integral components in two-way speakers while three-way speakers have three main parts.
The two main parts in two-way or coaxial speakers are a standard woofer and a tweeter. While the third main feature in three-way speakers is a unique ability to produce both high and low-frequency sounds. This unique quality makes these speakers capable of producing much more rich and engrossing sound than simple coaxial ones.
You must know how much power your speaker can handle
The power-handling capacity of a speaker influences the quality of sound it creates. The maximum RMS and the maximum amount of power your speaker can handle will directly affect its performance and whether it produces distortion of sound or delivers a continuously smooth output. This feature is also important to recognize whether the said speakers will be easily supported by your automobile or not.
The longevity of your speakers relies solely on the material of construction
Different brands of speakers use different materials owing to their unique mode of delivering quality sound. Materials such as silk, polypropylene, ceramics, metal, and graphite are commonly employed in the construction of 3.5 speakers. These materials directly impact the quality of sound as well as the time your speakers can stay functional. Generally, hard materials tend to produce a higher sound quality.
See whether the speakers are compatible with your vehicle
You wouldn’t want to install cheap or low quality speakers in a car with a soaring high value. At the same time, you must also see that the said speakers go with your car model in terms of size and other specifications.
If you are going to get new speakers, you owe your car the right size along with the right quality. And definitely better than the factory-made ones.
While there have been far-reaching developments in 3.5 speakers over the past years, the ones mentioned above are just right for your needs as well as your budget. Get ready to glide through roads as your new speakers take you away with the music.