New Kicker DS693 Review

Features

Installation

Sound Quality

Price

I had recently bought a new car, and I was really excited to get driving in it. Everything about it was great but the speakers weren’t as good as I’d hoped. I thought about getting some aftermarket speakers installed and decided to do some research before choosing the ones I wanted. I didn’t want to need someone to install them for me, I wanted ones that were easy to install myself. I also didn’t want to have to spend a huge amount of money, but I still wanted good quality sound. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to overhaul the whole system so I wanted speakers that would work with both the in car factory system, or a new one. I also knew I wanted one from a reputable brand. I found the new Kicker DS693 speakers and they were everything I wanted. They had great reviews and at a price that wouldn’t break the bank, I was thrilled.

Who are these speakers designed for?

Kicker designed these speakers for anyone who:

• Has a very strict budget
• Wants better sound quality than stock speakers
• Wants to replace old speakers
• Has 6” x 9” speakers
• Wants to be able to self install

Kicker have been designing, developing, and manufacturing speakers since the 70s, and the years of experience they have is evident in the range of speakers they have available. Their slogan is “Livin’ Loud’’, and all of their speaker live up to it. The DS693 speakers are considered to be low end speaker, but Kicker have put their experience in sound technology and design into even their lower priced products. This means that these speakers are capable of incredible sound improvements over stock factory speakers, both with the stock audio system, or with an aftermarket system, while remaining one of the most affordable speakers on the market.

Wattage

The new Kicker DS693 speakers have 280 watts of peak power per speaker, so 560 watts per pair. They have 140 watts of RMS power per speaker, so 280 watts for the pair. This is at the lower end of wattage, but it is quite impressive for the price range that these speakers fall into. It does mean that if you want to use an amplifier then you need to be careful to make sure that the amp is compatible, and not too powerful for the speakers.

Installation

New Kicker develop speakers to be very easy to self install, so as long as the speaker hole is 6”x 9” then the DS693 speakers will drop in, for one of the easiest installation processes of any speaker. They come with all the hardware you will need to wire them and secure them in place.

The whole process is quick and simple to complete. You don’t need any specialist tools, and you can install the speakers yourself.

Compatibility

New Kicker DS693 speakers are compatible with a wide range of make and model of vehicle. They will fit most 6” x 9” speaker ports. They have a mounting depth 3 and 1/4 inches. As long as your vehicle has enough port space to accommodate the depth and size, then they will be compatible.

Sensitivity

The sensitivity rating is what will tell you how the speaker will respond to power. The higher the sensitivity rating, the less power that the speaker needs to maintain the same volume level. These Kicker DS693 speakers have 92dB.

Construction

The new Kicker DS693 speakers might be consider to be a budget speaker, but this doesn’t show in their construction and design. All the components are well made, sturdy and durable. They have a polypropylene woofer cone which vibrates the air, 2” polypropylene dome mid range for mid range frequencies, and a 1/2” PEI (polyether imide) dome tweeter for high range frequencies. They also incorporate Kicker’s Extended Voice Coil, or EVC technology. This means that Kicker designed the components to produce decent bass, and good overall sound quality.

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What I Like

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• They have a good sound quality
• They have a frequency response of 30 – 20,000 Hz
• They have an impedance rating of 4 ohms
• They use a Neodymium magnet
• They are very durable, as long as they have been broken in correctly then they will last for years.

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What I Don’t Like

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• They’re a little bulkier than other speakers
• You need to follow the manufacturers instructions exactly
• They work better with a custom built speaker box
• There is room for improvement

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Frequently Asked Questions

What comes in the box?

These speakers come as a pair and all the hardware is included. The box has two Kicker DS693 6” x 9” 3 way speakers, 2 speaker grilles, 2 12” lengths of speaker wire, 4 red butt connectors, 8 1” self tapping screws, 8 speed clips and an owners manual.

Will they fit my vehicle?

If your speaker ports are 6” x 9” and can accommodate a 3” depth, then they will fit your vehicle. If you don’t have the correct speaker size speaker ports then you will need to modify your vehicle for installation

What is the bass quality?

These speakers don’t need an amplifier to work, but they do have more potential and offer a higher sound quality if they are run through an amplifier. But they do still give impressive improvements over the stock speaker when run through the audio system.

Do they have a warranty?

Yes, they have a one year manufacturers warranty.

Are the Kicker DS693 speakers Marine grade?

They aren’t part of Kicker’s marine grade line of speakers.

See More Questions and Answers

Also Read: Pioneer TS-A6996R Review

Verdict

The new Kicker DS693 speakers are highly recommended. They are in the low end price bracket, but they perform like speakers that cost much more. They are made from high quality, extremely durable materials, and are designed to give much better sound quality than your factory speakers. They work well with the factory audio system, but they do so much better with a compatible amplifier. They’re easy to install, and don’t need any extra tools. They have been known to blow if they aren’t allowed to break in. To break in your speakers, set them up, and for the first 30 – 40 hours play them at a reasonable volume. Then they will continue to break in for the next hundred hours. You can get playlists that are specifically designed for breaking in speakers, but almost any music will be suitable. If they are properly broken in, then there shouldn’t be any problems with them. Overall, they’re incredible speakers for someone with a very tight budget.