Best 3.5 Car Speakers Reviews

The majority of us have become extremely comfortable with the mediocre phonics that ooze through the factory-installed speakers of our cars. This is sad.

For those of you seeking a more potent and louder alternative to their 3.5 inch stock speakers, we assembled this collection of the best 3.5 inch car speakers to fill your vehicle with rich filling sound and have your ears ringing.

Disclaimer

It must noted that car speakers’ size does play a major role in how a speaker sound. A tiny set of 3.5 speakers isn’t by any means comparable to a set of 6X9 speakers.

That being said, don’t expect thumping bass and exceptionally crisp highs out of these small speakers. That’s not to say that these speakers aren’t worth it. Quite honestly, despite their small size, these speakers will give you a huge bump in sound quality when compared to your OEM speakers.

Additionally, this is not by any means a comprehensive list. There’s wide array of great 3.5 car speakers out there. However, we did want to give you a few good options.

Any of the following set of speakers would be great buys. Much of it comes down to personal preference. Like with any product, you can get some great speakers if you’re willing to shell out some extra dollars. However, there really are great products in every price range.

With any luck, you’ll find something that works for your car and fits within your budget.

Best 3.5 Car Speakers Reviews

1. Infinity Reference REF-3022cfx

Infinity Reference REF-3022cfx

• Plus One+ polypropylene woofer cones
• Hi-roll rubber surround
• 1/2 inch balanced textile dome tweeters
• Compatible with virtually all factory or aftermarket car stereos

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The Infinity Reference 3022cfx speakers offer the most complete combination of high sensitivity rating, power handling capabilities, and wide frequency range in the genre. However, what really sells us on this set is its outstanding sound quality, which offers rich bass response, pure midrange details, and pristine treble.

Infinity REF3022CFX speakers feature Plus One+ polypropylene woofer cones supported with hi-roll rubber surround which allow for surprisingly strong performance from such a small speaker. Each Plus One+ woofer sports a significantly larger cone than speakers of similar size, and as you might already know, bigger cones means more refined bass and plenty of punch to complement the speaker’s smooth and accurate highs.

Speaking of highs, these 3.5 inch speakers offer exceptional clarity, thanks to their 1/2″ balanced textile dome tweeters that bring out all the details in your music without harshness and distortion.

These speakers can handle up to 25 watts of power RMS — they’ll work well when paired to an outboard amplifier. Their high sensitivity rating also makes them a good match for factory or aftermarket stereo.

Additionally, these 3-ohm speakers combine with the speaker wire in your vehicle so your car stereo sees actual true 4-ohm impedance , so you get a little more volume out of your system.

Dollar for dollar, you cannot go wrong buying Infinity Reference 3022cfx speakers. They’re some of the best 3.5 car speakers on the market, all things considered.

2. JBL GX302

JBL GX302

• Polypropylene Plus One™ woofer cones
• Edge-driven soft balanced dome tweeters
• Rubber surround

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The ultra-modern JBL GX302 3.5 inch speakers are as outstanding in terms of build quality as they’re in sound. These speakers are very well-engineered and are meant for those of you who want a pair of car speakers that looks as good as it sounds.

JBL GX302 3-1/2″ coaxial speakers flaunt a stylish, modern look that’s backed by JBL’s legendary commitment to excellent sound. Speaking of which, these JBL 3.5 inch speakers are designed to produce a clear, open midrange and a surprising amount of bass via the polypropylene Plus One™ woofer cones.

As for the highs, these speakers use an edge-driven balanced dome tweeter which expands the high-frequency range, so you’ll hear musical details that have always been part of your music but have remained hidden when listening on sub-par factory-installed speakers. Additionally, JBL GX302 speakers sport a tweeter deflector to compensate for speaker-mounting variations and for the diversity of car interiors.

JBL GX302 3.5 car speakers are rated for 91 dB sensitivity rating and can handle up to 25 watts of power on continuous basis. That said, you can pair these speakers up to a factory or aftermarket radio, but you’ll get even better results feeding them power from an external amplifier.

While most 3-1/2″ car speakers feature 4 ohm impedance load, these JBL speakers sport low-impedance design of just 4 ohms. This design will safely draw more power from your car headunit or amp to give your music extra punch.

3. Rockford Fosgate Punch P132

Rockford Fosgate Punch P132

• Mineral-filled polypropylene woofers
• Butyl rubber surround
• 3/4 inch polyetherimide (PEI) dome tweeters

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From a name well-known to audiophiles, and deserving of their stellar reputation, Rockford Fosgate offers the P132, great sounding 3.5 car speakers worth every penny.

First and foremost, it’s worth mentioning that Rockford Fosgate products come in three categories. There’s “Prime” series which represent the entry-level models, “Punch” series which the perfect mix of power and value, and “Power” series which represent the brand’s most advanced series of products developed to provide the ideal listening experience.

The speakers at hand belong to the “Punch” series. They hit the sweet spot when it comes to balancing performance and price. They’re very well-built and deliver a well-balanced sound throughout the audible spectrum.

These speakers come equipped with a responsive polypropylene woofer cones coupled with butyl rubber surround that’ll stand up to hours of high-volume jams, and 3/4″ Polyetherimide (PEI) dome tweeters. They present a 120Hz to 22kHz frequency response and 85 dB sensitivity. They can handle up to 20 watts of power on continuous basis.

On the debit side, despite being relatively pricey compared to the rivals, these speakers can only reach as low as 120Hz. In other words, these Rockford Fosgate 3.5 speakers don’t offer the full spectrum of depth that some of the competition give you.

4. JL Audio C2-350x

If you’re looking for something that can bump out extra power and you don’t mind shelling out some serious money, JL Audio C2-350x might be the speakers to look at.

These speakers are built from the ground up with quality in mind. They deliver a great mid-range, crisp highs, and respectable bass. Though to get well-articulated lows, consider pairing with a subwoofer.

JL Audio C2-350x 3.5 speakers are fitted with rugged polypropylene cones that can handle plenty of power without distortion, and 3/4″ silk dome tweeters deliver smooth-sounding high frequencies, adding a satisfying dose of realism to your soundstage.

Furthermore, the built-in crossover networks ensure that the tweeters and woofers reproduce only the frequencies that they were designed to handle, so your tracks play smoothly across the whole musical spectrum.

These speakers operate at 25 watts of power RMS and 75 watts of power at peak. They sport 83 dB sensitivity and present 130Hz to 22kHz frequency response.

5. Kicker 46CSC354

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Kicker 46CSC3541

• Polypropylene woofer cones
• Polyester foam surround
• 1/2 inch polyetherimide (PEI) balanced dome tweeters

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The 46CSC354 from Kicker are superb. With their excellent build quality and immersive audio, they’re undoubtedly the best 3.5 speakers available at this price point.

Kicker designed 46CSC354 speakers to get your sound system rockin’ without breaking the bank. Despite their relatively low price tag, these speakers will bring out all the details that your muddy-sounding factory speakers couldn’t begin to reproduce.

These 3-1/2″ speakers are featured with polypropylene woofer cone with polyester foam surround for punchy lows. Their 1/2″ PEI balanced dome tweeters on the other hand take care of the vocal and instrumental details that’ll really bring your music to life.

As for cons, it’s really difficult to think of any. If anything, I’d say that these speakers can get a little distorted at high volume. Additionally, don’t expect much bass from 3 1/2 inch speakers because they can’t provide it, and are not meant to, but for the size these speakers are amazing.

Kicker 46CSC354 3.5 speakers are rated for a sensitivity rating of 88dB and can handle up to 30 watts RMS. They’ll sound great running off a factory or aftermarket stereo, but they’ll truly come into their own when hooked up to an external amplifier.

6. JBL GTO329

There are a million 3.5 car speakers on the market but JBL has always stood near the top. They’ve always been a trusted brand when it comes to blasting out well-balanced sounds. The company has released everything from portable speakers to headphones and maintained a level of quality throughout. The same goes for its selection of Bluetooth speakers.

The speakers at hand are some of the best 3.5 inch speakers that JBL has to offer. They’re designed to breathe life into your music by bringing out all of its excitement and detail, making time spent in your car seem more like a concert than a commute.

These JBL 3.5 car speakers’ Plus One woofer cones provide more overall speaker cone area than others in the class. With such increase in cone area, the speakers are capable of radiating more air. The result is a better low-frequency response to complement the crystal clear highs produced by the edge-driven silk balanced dome tweeters.

Because all vehicles are designed differently, these tweeters are featured with JBL proprietary tweeter deflector which acts a waveguide, allowing for an angled, rotating speaker, thus optimizing the off-axis sound performance.

JBL GTO329 speakers present 85Hz to 21 kHz frequency response. They boast 91dB sensitivity and can handle up to 25 watts RMS, and bursts up to 75 watts at peak. Because these speakers are quite efficient, they’ll do pretty well running off your factory radio, but they’ll truly shine when driven by an aftermarket receiver or an external amplifier.

7. Polk Audio DB351

The dB series of speakers from Polk Audio deliver on all fronts, easily making them the top pick for most audiophiles. These speakers provide extremely full, crisp sound, whether they’re paired to a simple headunit or hooked up to an outboard amplifier.

Although these 3.5 inch speakers don’t pack the same punch as larger speakers, such as the DB651 (6.5) or DB691 (6X9), we feel the DB351 3-1/2″ speakers hit that sweet spot for small car speakers, striking the perfect balance between size, price and audio quality.

Polk Audio speakers feature 3-1/2″ Dynamic Balance polymer/mica composite woofers which are supported with durable butyl rubber surrounds for long lasting performance. Additionally, these speakers sport 1/2″ liquid-cooled silk/polymer composite dome tweeters which use powerful Neodymium magnets to deliver precise high-frequency reproduction, immersing you in a live concert atmosphere with bright musical detail.

These speakers use built-in two-way crossovers to keep the high and low frequencies flowing to the proper drivers for seamless, and well-balanced sound throughout all the audible frequency range.

All db Series speakers are marine certified. They’re built with high-grade materials that can withstand harsh conditions such as extreme temperatures, sunlight, UV rays…etc, which makes them perfect for use in boats of all types. Additionally, they also feature rustproof baskets and stainless steel mounting hardware.

The db351 are truly some of the best 3.5 speakers that Polk Audio have to offer. They can handle up to 35 watts RMS and are rated for 91dB sensitivity rating. Their The high-efficiency rating means less power is necessary for the same quality output. So, Whether you’ve got a factory or aftermarket stereo, these efficient speakers will spice up your daily drive.

8. Pioneer TS-A878

If our collection of 3-1/2″ inch speakers has been way too expensive for you so far, here’s a budget-friendly option that nonetheless impresses. For less than $40, these 3.5 dash speakers will give you balance, powerful sound that’s great to complement your door and rear deck speakers output, so you’ll be fully immersed in a pleasurable atmosphere of sharp highs and refined, punchy lows.

Pioneer A series of speakers are quite popular on today’s market. They seem to hit the sweet spot for a lot of guys, probably because they sound relatively good for what they are and don’t cost an arm and a leg.

Pioneer TS-A878 3.5 dash speakers feature IMPP Carbon-graphite composite cone woofers and 1″ PEI Dome tweeters. They don’t require a ton of power to run as they’re quite efficient.

Speaking of efficiency, these speakers are rated for a sensitivity rating of 88dB and can handle up to 15 watts of power on continuous basis. These speakers can deliver crispy and clean sound. You’ll hear details that you couldn’t have heard with stock speakers. However, these speakers are bit lacking in terms of bass.

9. Skar Audio TX35

Skar Audio TX35

• 1 inch Copper Voice Coil
• Elite Fiberglass Cone
• Premium TPE Surround
• 0.8 inch Silk Dome Tweeters
• Rugged Steel Basket
• Premier Kapton Former
• High Grade Ferrite Magnet

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While Skar Audio might be one of the younger companies in the car audio industry, it has been able to carve out a place for itself as a viable competitor.

One way Skar Audio has been able to make a name for itself in the market is thanks to a product like the TX35.

For their size, the Skar Audio 3.5 speakers at hand are quite powerful and efficient, delivering an unrivaled listening experience at the loudest volumes. They come equipped with high quality 1-inch copper voice coil as well as a high-grade ferrite magnet, which provide more than enough power to breathe life into your sound system.

These speakers provides 60 watts of continuous power and 120 watts at peak, with premium TPE surrounds supporting fiberglass woofer cones. They sport 84 dB sensitivity and have a frequency range of 145Hz – 20kHz.

10. Kenwood KFC-835C

Kenwood KFC-835C

• Water-resistant cone woofer
• 5.6oz. High-energy strontium magnet

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Kenwood has made quite the name for itself when it comes to quality car audio components. The company offers everything from car speakers and subwoofers to different kinds of receivers and amplifiers. It seems there’s very little the folks at Kenwood can’t do well when it comes to making more ambitious, high-performance components.

The Kenwood KFC-835C are some of the cheapest 3.5 car speakers that you can buy. They’re designed to be a decent replacement to stock speakers. At this price point, I wouldn’t expect pristine and sharp highs, or chest thumping bass. That’s not to say that these speakers aren’t anything to write home about. Quite honestly, they sound relatively good for the price and offer a better overall sound quality than most factory-installed speakers.

These speakers have 96Hz to 20kHz frequency response, and 89dB sensitivity. They can handle 10 watts RMS and up to 40 watts at peak.

That said, you wouldn’t need an external amplifier to drive these speakers as the power output of most factory or aftermarket receivers is more than enough to power these Kenwood 3.5 speakers.