Have you ever got in your car, heard your favorite song, and turned the volume up as loud as it could go? If you answered yes, you may also have experienced the disappointment of blowing a speaker shortly after the jam session begins. Factory speakers are often not capable of handling the maximum volume and therefore end up needing to be replaced.
There are so many different brands of speakers on the market; it can be daunting to figure out the best component 6×9 speakers for you. The Polk Audio DB691 6-by-9 Inch 3-Way Speaker Review below can help you navigate the wide world of speakers and make the correct choice for your car audio needs.
Polk Audio DB691 Review
- Pair of 6x9 inch 3 way component speakers
- Equipped with a polymer/mica composite cone with rubber surround
- Maximum input power: 125 Watts RMS, 4 Ohms, 93 dB efficiency
- Equipped with one 1 inch liquid cooled silk polymer composite dome tweeter and a neodymium magnet
- Durable butyl rubber surround stands up to the stress of extreme temperatures, sunlight and time
The Polk Audio 6x9s come with two 3-way speakers, 2 grilles, 2 bottom-mount brackets, 8 self-tapping screws, 8 speed clips, an owner’s manual, and online registration sheet. These speakers are marine certified, which means they can be used on the water and in powersports applications.
Polk Audio has been in the speaker game for decades and is a household name. Founded in 1972 by Matthew Polk, George Klopfer, and Sandy Gross who met each other while attending The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. Now headquartered in San Diego, CA, Polk remains a leader in the production of soundbars, wireless speakers, outdoor speakers, and vehicle audio equipment, among other items.
Unless you listen to talk radio every time you are in the car, speakers are important. Choosing the correct 6x9s for your car (or boat, or motorcycle) can be tough depending on the desired results. Sound quality, bass, highs and lows, and price are all factors to be considered when choosing a set of 6x9s.
The Polk 6x9s 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, Polk is a well-known name, and after sifting through hundreds of reviews, 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
- Clear sound even at high volume levels.
- Much better than factory speakers.
- No distortion.
- Good highs and lows.
What We Didn’t Like
- Some users say they had to adjust mounting holes to complete the install.
- Many customers don’t like the design and color of the grills.
Dynamic Balance
Dynamic Balance is Polk Audio technology that is used to determine the speaker materials that create the least amount of reverberance. The result is sound that is deep and full.
Woofer Cone Architecture
The Polk 6x9s have a Dynamic Balance polymer/mica composite mineral-filled cone. This makes for a stiff cone that is lightweight which creates big sound and low distortion.
Marine Certification
As mentioned above, these speakers are marine certified, as are all Polk speakers. This makes them an excellent choice for boats, convertibles, motorcycles, ATVs, and any other application where the speakers may get wet. The speakers have coated steel baskets which makes them waterproof. They are not, however, recommended for use in saltwater environments.
Specifications
| Description | 6”x9” (152mm x 230mm) component speaker system |
| Power Handling | 100W RMS, 300W peak |
| Sensitivity | 93dB |
| Frequency Response | 35Hz – 22kHz |
| Impedance | 4.0 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 Polk 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 Polk 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 in their cars and boats and even on their motorcycles.
Some users report wishing there was more bass while others state that the bass output is fantastic. Ultimately, this is a matter of preference and comes down to the type of music being listened to; 6×9 component speakers are designed to provide an overall sound system, not pump out bass like woofers. Overall, most customers report that they love these speakers and that they are super loud without distortion.
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 Polk 6x9s are a significant improvement from their factory sound system.
It should also be noted that the Polk 6x9s fit in almost any vehicle. There were reports of customers having to modify screw mounts or holes to get them to fit. 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. Polk is a well-known name that customers trust, and these speakers seem to support this belief.
This video talks about the Polk DB series of speakers, and it gives some detail regarding the Dynamic Balance feature we mentioned above.
Conclusion
If you are looking to upgrade your stock speakers, the Polk DB691 6×9 system is a good choice. These speakers are not going to shake your car with bass, but they have a tremendous mid-range bass output. Being that this is a 3-way system, the sound output of the highs is excellent.
They are relatively easy to install and will sound great on your car, boat or motorcycle. Overall, these speakers are well-rounded and rank well in all categories, basically a great upgrade for your factory speakers. For the price, these speakers are a good choice.