Hertz DCX 690.3 Review: Three-Way 6x9 Speakers for Rear Decks and Doors
Updated: Oct 7
The Hertz DCX 690.3 is a 6x9-inch three-way coaxial speaker from the Dieci range: a paper woofer, a 60 mm paper midrange and a 15 mm PEI-dome super-tweeter on one frame. Hertz rates it at 90 W continuous (180 W peak) into 4 Ω, with 93 dB sensitivity and a 45 Hz to 21 kHz response. The India MRP is ₹10,990, which sits between the Uno X 690 and the larger 7x10 DCX 710.3 in our Hertz range. It suits sedan owners replacing rear parcel-shelf speakers, and any car with 6x9 openings that needs more body and clarity from the back. See it on our Hertz DCX 690.3 product page.
Quick summary
A true three-way: the 60 mm paper midrange takes vocals off the woofer, and the 15 mm super-tweeter handles the top octave.
90 W continuous and 93 dB: fine on a head unit, comfortable on a 60 to 75 W-per-channel amplifier.
Free-air woofer parameters suit a rear shelf that uses the boot as its enclosure.
Three UK buyer reviews from 2015 and 2016: two positive, one middling and unexplained.
Hertz DCX 690.3 specifications
Specification | Hertz DCX 690.3 |
|---|---|
Type | 6x9-inch three-way coaxial |
Drivers | Paper woofer; 60 mm paper midrange; 15 mm PEI-dome super-tweeter |
Power handling | 90 W continuous, 180 W peak |
Impedance | 4 Ω (Re 3.4 Ω) |
Sensitivity | 93 dB |
Frequency response | 45 Hz – 21 kHz |
Woofer cone and surround | Water-repellent pressed paper; TPU |
Voice coil | 25 mm pure copper on Conex former |
Woofer magnet | Ferrite, 80 x 40 x 15 mm |
Xmax | 2 mm |
Fs / Qts / Vas | 66 Hz / 1.12 / 25.7 litres |
Weight | 0.95 kg |
India MRP | ₹10,990 |
Figures come from Hertz's official DCX 690.3 page, which agrees with our listing. Hertz prints its dimensions only as lettered figures (264, 192, 98, 77 and 28 mm) without a legend, so measure your opening and the depth below it before ordering.
Why a 6x9 three-way works on a rear shelf
A 6x9 offers more cone area than a 6.5-inch round speaker, and a rear shelf usually has room for it. The catch in a two-way 6x9 is that the big woofer also has to cover the vocal range, where its size makes it increasingly directional. The DCX 690.3 hands that range to a dedicated 60 mm paper midrange, leaving the woofer for bass and lower mids and the 15 mm PEI dome for the top octave.
The woofer parameters support the classic rear-shelf installation. With a Qts of 1.12 and a Vas of 25.7 litres, it suits free-air use, where the boot acts as a large, leaky enclosure behind the shelf. Hertz describes a large motor assembly for voice coil control and a TPU surround for wide excursion and resonance damping. The 2 mm Xmax is the same as the Dieci 6.5-inch coaxial's, so the bigger cone, rather than extra travel, is where the 6x9's added output comes from.
Factory head unit or amplifier?
At 93 dB, a pair of DCX 690.3s will play happily on a head unit's rear channels. For rear fill, that can be enough. Add an amplifier when you upgrade the front speakers too, so the whole system gains headroom together. The Dieci Hertz DP 4.300 delivers 60 W per channel into 4 Ω, well within the 90 W continuous rating, and its speaker-level inputs suit factory head units.
Balance matters more than power. Rear 6x9s sit closer to the rear passengers and use the boot for bass, so they can easily overpower the front doors and pull the sound backwards. Set the fader, or the amplifier gains, so the front speakers lead and the rear adds body. If you want deep bass, a subwoofer does it with less compromise than turning up the rear shelf.
What owners and reviewers say about the Hertz DCX 690.3
Feedback is limited and old. This is what we found when we checked in October 2026.
Four Car Audio, a UK Hertz dealer, lists three reviews. A July 2015 buyer says the sound is really good and scores it one step below the top. A July 2016 buyer gives the top score. A May 2016 buyer gives a middling score and doesn't explain why, so we can't tell whether that reflects the speaker, the car or the installation. None gives the car, the mounting position or the amplifier. The retailer's description, which comes from Hertz, calls it very efficient and suitable for any source in any car; that is promotional. If you run DCX 690.3s, tell us how they sound.
DCX 690.3 vs X 690, DCX 710.3 and JL C1-690x
The cheaper Hertz X 690 from the Uno range (₹8,990 MRP) takes a different route: a four-way layout with a 40 mm PEI tweeter and two piezo super-tweeters, rated at 85 W continuous and 94 dB. Its woofer uses a foam surround, where the DCX 690.3 has TPU. On paper the two are close in power handling; the choice is between Hertz's two approaches to the upper range, and ₹2,000.
If your car turns out to have 7x10 openings, the Hertz DCX 710.3 (₹14,990 MRP) uses the same-size midrange and super-tweeter with a woofer rated at 150 W continuous and 4 mm Xmax. Outside Hertz, the JL Audio C1-690x (₹19,990 MRP) is a two-way 6x9 with a 25 mm aluminium-dome tweeter, rated at 60 W RMS and down to 39 Hz.
Who should buy it, and who shouldn't
Buy the DCX 690.3 if your car has 6x9 openings, on a rear shelf or elsewhere, and the factory speakers sound muddy or rattle. It suits head-unit power now and an amplifier later, and pairs naturally with Dieci speakers up front such as the DSK 165.3 component set.
Look elsewhere if your front speakers are still factory units; upgrading the front first does more for the sound you hear from the driver's seat. And if deep bass is the goal, put the money towards a subwoofer.
Installation notes for Indian cars
Rear shelves sit under the rear glass and take the full force of the afternoon sun, so materials matter; the TPU surround and water-repellent cone are sensible choices there. Remove the factory speaker, measure the opening and the depth below the shelf, and check that the magnet clears the boot hinges and any wiring. Seal the gap between speaker and shelf with foam gasket so the front and rear waves don't cancel, and damp a thin metal shelf to stop it buzzing; our sound damping guide covers the basics of applying damping material. Grilles matter on a shelf where bags get thrown, so confirm what your car's trim allows. VA3 Car Studio in Ghaziabad offers professional installation.
Price and where to buy
The Hertz DCX 690.3 has an India MRP of ₹10,990 for the pair. Check today's price on our DCX 690.3 product page. Every pair we sell is a genuine Hertz product.
The bottom line
The DCX 690.3 is a sensible rear-shelf upgrade: a real three-way with a dedicated midrange, materials suited to a sun-baked shelf, and modest power needs. Owner feedback is sparse and mixed, so judge it on its specification and on how well it is installed. Keep it in balance with the front speakers, and let a subwoofer handle the deepest bass.
Hertz DCX 690.3 FAQ
Is the Hertz DCX 690.3 a two-way or three-way speaker?
It is a three-way coaxial: a paper woofer, a 60 mm paper midrange and a 15 mm PEI-dome super-tweeter. The midrange takes the vocal range away from the large woofer.
Can the DCX 690.3 run on a factory head unit?
Yes. Its 93 dB sensitivity suits head-unit rear channels. An amplifier of around 60 W per channel adds headroom, ideally when the front speakers are upgraded at the same time.
Should rear 6x9 speakers be louder than the front ones?
No. Rear speakers should add body for passengers while the front speakers lead the sound. Set the fader so the stage stays in front of you, and use a subwoofer for deep bass.
Buy the Hertz DCX 690.3 Dieci in India
Check the Hertz DCX 690.3 Dieci price in India, browse more Hertz speakers or compare all 6x9 car speakers in India. Want it fitted properly? Book rear speaker installation at our Ghaziabad studio.
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