Audio Systems: marine audio speakers, odd shape, elliptical shape

Question
hi Robert,This is for a boat. Whats speaker has better  better sound, a 6 1/2" or a 6x9.I inquired to one of the experts on your panel and they pointed me to a 6 1/2". What do your think.

Answer
I'm with that expert. 6x9 is an elliptical shape. An electro mechanical transducer (speaker) is performing a miracle of physics by simply taking an alternating current signal and converting it to mechanical energy. Why complicate matters by making the air created from the mechanical movement of the cone, move forward and backward in an atypical pattern. Round means that the air will be moved evenly in both directions. Add an odd shape and you are distorting the image.