If you like music enough to care about the kind of speakers that are in your car, you know that factory speakers often don’t cut it. Factory speakers are often run of the mill and can only handle mild volume levels, mid-range highs, and low-level bass.
Purchasing a new car with a high-end speaker package is often overpriced and not a reasonable option for many people. Installing after-market speakers is a great way to get the sound you need at a fraction of the price.
The main question is: how to decide which speakers to purchase and install? Finding the best 6×9 component speakers for your car is without a doubt a challenging task which is why we provide the JBL CLUB 9600c Review below.
JBL CLUB 9600c Review
- Edge driven PEI tweeter
- High quality product
- Manufactured in Mexico
- Package Weight: 2.744 kilograms
The JBL CLUB 6x9s are a full set of car speakers that includes two woofers, two tweeters, and two crossovers. JBL has been in the speaker game for decades and is a well-known name. Founded in 1927 by James Bullough Lansing and his business partner Ken Decker in the city of Los Angeles, CA the company was initially called Lansing Manufacturing Company.
After a few partner and name changes, JBL, as we know it today, became a household name brand in the 1970s when it produced studio monitors and household loudspeakers. The rest, as they say, is history and JLB has been providing top of the line audio equipment for professional and personal use since then.
Choosing the right pair of 6x9s for your car is an important decision. If you pick speakers that can’t handle the music you are playing, you will be disappointed when they sound strained and eventually blow. There is a wide range of price points for 6×9 component speaker sets and choosing the right one can be a tough decision.
The JBL CLUBs are right in the middle of the road when it comes to price, with several other sets offered at a lower price and many others offered at a higher price. However, JBL is a well-known name, and as far as name-brand options go, you can’t go wrong at this price point for a decent set of 6x9s.
What We Liked
- Definite improvement over factory speakers.
- Great mid-bass.
- Clear sound even at high volume levels.
- Great sound with low wattage, factory receivers.
What We Didn’t Like
- Some users say that they can’t handle powerful amps.
- Not enough bass – a lot of customers say the bass is not what they are looking for in terms of heavy bass.
- Additional wires and connectors need to be purchased separately for installation. Several users complained that the tweeters were hard to install without modification.
PEI Balanced Dome Tweeters
Most stock speaker systems are not equipped to handle high tones at high volume levels. The JBL 6x9s play smooth, precise high frequencies that are dispersed evenly. This feature makes for an excellent sound that remains clear at high volumes.
Plus OneTM Woofer Cone Architecture
The JBL 6x9s have patented Plus OneTM cones that provide a larger overall speaker-cone area than other comparable speakers which results in higher sensitivity, increased low-frequency output, and accurate music reproduction. This feature is evident when listening to music with a lot of bass.
High-Sensitivity Design
These speakers produce a ton of sound from the power that is supplied to them. This means they are ideal for most applications, even low-powered factory stereos. This is a nice feature if you want to improve the sound, but not spend a ton of money on a new receiver.
Reduced Critical Dimensions
The CLUB speakers come in a wide range of standard sizes and are compact enough to fit into almost any vehicle. This makes installation easier and requires less fabrication.
Specifications
| Description | 6”x9” (152mm x 230mm) component speaker system |
| Power Handling | 180W RMS, 540W peak |
| Sensitivity (@2.83V) | 93dB |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz – 20kHz |
| Impedance | 3.0 ohms |
What Customers Are Saying
After reading and analyzing all the reviews on the online retailers’ sites, it is evident that the overall feedback for the JBL 6x9s is very good. Most customers give the product five out of five stars, but there are a few one-star reviews. For the price, the JBL 6x9s seem to be one of the best sets of speakers on the market.
Customers report that these speakers are the perfect upgrade for stock speakers. There are some complaints that they cannot handle very much power, but other users say that the speakers can handle their amps.
Some users report wishing there was more bass as well, but this also is a matter of choice and can be achieved by adding a subwoofer to the vehicle; 6×9 component speakers are designed to provide an overall sound system, not pump out bass like woofers.
Also, customers report that the mid-range accuracy is outstanding, especially when compared to other models in this price range.
Many of the reviews we read stated that customers bought these speakers as an upgrade to their stock car speakers. Not surprisingly, most users report that the JBL 6x9s are a significant improvement from their factory sound system.
It should also be noted that the JBL 6x9s fit in almost any vehicle. There were reports of customers having a hard time getting the tweeters to sit flush or fit properly. However, this will differ with every car and was not reported consistently enough to be considered a real worry.
Overall, most customers give these speakers 4 or 5 stars. For the price, the speakers rank among the best. JBL is a well-known name that customers trust, and these speakers seem to support this belief.
This YouTube video details some of the above-mentioned features:
Final Verdict
If you are looking to upgrade your stock speakers, the JBL CLUB 6×9 system is a good choice. These speakers are not going to shake your car with bass, but they have a great mid-range bass output. The high-frequency sound is excellent and not so high that it gives you a headache.
They are relatively easy to install and will sound great with your stock receiver or with a new receiver and amp. Overall, these speakers are well-rounded and rank well in all categories. For the price, these speakers are a good choice.
If you are still not convinced by this set of speakers, you may look into RF9620CX which is at about the same level of price-performance and is made by Infinity which is also a popular brand. For more about this one, you can read our related article here.
However, if you are looking for a reasonably priced upgrade to your factory speakers, the JBL CLUB speakers are an excellent choice.
