Polk Audio DB651 6.5"/6.75" 2-Way Marine Certified db Series Car Speakers with Liquid Cooled Silk Tweeters

First of all, these speakers are NOT capable of handling 180 watts. According to the manufacturer, they are rated at a MAXIMUM of 60 continuous RMS watts per speaker. Peak power is an irrelevant number that anyone with at least half a brain discards. These Polk Audio DB651 speakers sound great! They have very clear highs, and solid lows. These are not going to produce any astounding bass like a larger or good set of component speakers, but for what they are, I've yet to come across anything that can beat them. Also and maybe most importantly, they have great (perhaps the best I've heard) tonal balance. In comparison, I also own a pair of the Polk Audio MM651, which sound great (lows/highs) and are even slightly louder (more efficient) than the DB651 series, but the MM651 have an overly present midrange that takes a good equalizer to somewhat tame. Even equalized however, the MM651 series doesn't sound overall as well as the DB651 series. If you're looking for a great set of 6.5" speakers that have a balanced, warm and clear sound, and also perform well at higher volume levels, then I recommend the DB651. Especially, if they are under 70 bucks a pair! Furthermore, I'd highly recommend using an amplifier in conjunction with these speakers.I am currently using a Kenwood DPX-701 headunit and Kenwood KAC-X542 amplifier that produces 80+ continuous watts RMS @ 4 Ohms X 4 in tandem with two pair of the DB651 speakers and they sound great. Unfortunately, I have to significantly attenuate the level and gain controls on the amplifier so I don't blow the speakers, and with the amazing sound quality, it's very tempting to crank it up. Matter of fact, one of the local officers was so intrigued by the intensity of my car stereo that he came over to where I was sitting (in my driveway) and wrote me a little white certificate of authenticity that I had to take to the courthouse and proudly display.Edit - Personal Preference Notice:I've encountered a few debates about "clarity" when it comes to speakers (these DB651s in particular) of which neither is wrong nor right, it's just personal preference. As I mentioned earlier in the review, these speakers have a warm yet clear sound. The treble is clear and plentiful, but it's not sharp, glass shattering, nor ear drum piercing. That is thanks to the "Silk Dome" tweeters. Silk Dome tweeters are typically not as efficient nor as loud as metal dome ( titanium, aluminum ect) tweeters, but they have a better balanced, soft, clear and warm sound. To me metal dome tweeters are uncomfortable to listen to because they have an untamable resonating tinny sound. I have a few friends, however, that disagree with my silk dome tweeter preference and actually prefer the flamboyance of the metal tweeters. So if you have a similar tonal taste as they do, you may be disappointed with the DB651 series high frequency performance and want to look further for a set of speakers with metal dome tweeters. Anyway to each there own; these Polk DB651 series speakers replaced my Eclipse SP6500 series (that had metal dome tweeters) and I can say it was a very noticeable improvement in sound quality and balance.

This is the girl's ghetto guide to car stereo electronic upgrades.Yes, I'm striving to be that person who's stereo costs more than the car. With a low low income and a do-it-yourself attitude, you can be that person too!I bought these to replace my front door speakers on my Corolla.Unless your front speakers are blown, I highly recommend leaving them alone. Replacing these speakers yourself is not an easy task.If you have a '99 Corolla, these speakers will fit, as well as clear the window when you roll it all the way down.No need to buy the shallow version of these speakers...save the bass!Installation:You will need to literally rip off the door panels which will likely never go back on exactly the same way, but that is the price you may have to pay....you're driving a 15 year old car anyway, just give it some love.You have to pry off the armrest on the door to access a screw that is underneath. You also have to unscrew a screw where the handle is. If you have manual windows, you must get this metal C clip off in order to take the window handle off. You don't need a special tool, you can use a piece of cloth to shimmy it off. There are Youtube videos online, showing you this trick. After everything is unscrewed, grab the door and rip that baby off. Force required.The factory speakers are riveted on, so I hope you have a power drill. Drill those baby's out and cut the speaker wire.I don't know if this is the best approach, but I drilled new holes for the speakers and hammered in some drywall anchors. Old holes didn't line up. Connect the speaker wire, test those babies out and screw 'em in to your anchors. Pop the door back on and you are good to go. When I say pop, I mean look at where the plastic clips in the door panel line up with the holes in your door and punch that baby. Use the force!Sound Quality:I was going to buy something else and then I went to Best Buy to test out their speaker selection. I am glad that I did because these pretty ladies sang to me. I would not be ashamed to install these speakers in a much nicer car.The speakers do sound amazing. She swiveling tweeter is a huge selling point and it makes a difference when the speakers are down by your ankles. The highs are nice and clear and the lows sound way better than the Pioneer 6x9's in my trunk. Just remember, they're in a door, not a box...this matters.If you don't have an aftermarket stereo, do yourself a favor and buy one. These speakers like power and many factory stereo's don't bring it. You can get something totally decent on here for $65. Stereo's are simple to install on these cars. Toss some Dynamat in your door panel if you're a freak about it. Just think of it like playing music in a symphony hall vs. a two car garage. Nevertheless, the bass does thump...like a 6.5" should thump anyway. If you want more, do yourself a favor and install a subwoofer...then you will know thunder.In these little cars, you could get away with a 300 watt 10" or 12" with a sealed box and still have room in the trunk for under $300. I am afraid to stick my L7 in here.Unless you live in your car, no need to buy more expensive speakers than these. Save it for your home system, it'll be more impressive.Jah Bless.