What Are the Loudest Speakers for an ATV?

By Joe Sgroi, Knight ATV

You turn the music up, hit the throttle, and the song is gone. It's lost under the exhaust, the tires and the wind. If you've ever ridden like that, you know "loud" on an ATV means something different than it does in your truck. Here's what actually makes ATV speakers loud, what real decibel numbers look like, and how to pick a setup you can still hear at speed.

Quick answer

The loudest ATV speakers pair larger marine-grade drivers (8") with a dedicated waterproof amplifier, boosted voltage, and pods mounted close to the rider. In our 6-foot meter test, 8" fronts read 100.6 dB against 99.5 dB for 6.5". Adding 4" rears and an 8" subwoofer pushed the system to 102.1 dB. In competition, where the meter sits much closer, a Knight ATV system won MONSTERFEST at RATS Offroad Park in October 2026 with a 119.4 dB run.

How ATV speaker loudness works

The loudness you hear comes down to four things:

1. Cone size. A bigger speaker moves more air. That's most noticeable in the low and mid frequencies, where engine noise sits.
2. Amplifier power. A speaker can only be as loud as the power behind it. Small speakers running off a radio's built-in amp run out of headroom fast.
3. Voltage. An ATV runs on a 12-volt system. Knight ATV pods use a power booster that takes that 12 volts up to 24 volts, so the amp can deliver more output.
4. Where the sound goes. Fender pods sit just in front of your knees and point at you. A speaker bolted to a rack behind you has to fight the wind.

What decibel numbers really mean

Decibels are logarithmic. Roughly, +3 dB takes twice the amplifier power, and about +10 dB is heard as "twice as loud." Distance changes everything too. In open air, the reading drops about 6 dB each time you double the distance from the speaker. That's why a number is useless without knowing how far away the meter was.

Real numbers: our 6-foot decibel test

We set a decibel meter 6 feet away and tested four Knight ATV setups back to back:

Each upgrade adds some volume, and the subwoofer adds the most. But more speakers do more than raise one number. They fill in the sound around you, so it stays clear when the engine is working.

Competition numbers: the 119.4 dB run that won MONSTERFEST

In October 2026, Knight ATV won the MONSTERFEST sound competition at RATS Offroad Park in Camden, Arkansas. The winning run hit 119.4 dB on a Polaris Sportsman that had spent the weekend in the mud. Here's that run:

The competition was hosted by The Squatch Box, a builder that makes Bluetooth speaker boxes around the Knight ATV KS23 6.5" waterproof speaker. Knight ATV systems have also been recorded at up to 139 dB by a third party at a sound competition event.

Competition meters sit much closer to the speakers than our 6-foot test, so those readings come out far higher. Use competition numbers to compare competition numbers. Don't compare them with a 6-foot test.

How to choose the loudest setup for your machine

1. Start with 8" if volume is your priority. In our test it beat 6.5" by about 1 dB at the same distance, with more low end. 6.5" is still plenty loud for trail riding and costs less.
2. Make sure the amp is matched and waterproof. Mud and water crossings kill amps that weren't built for them.
3. Check the voltage. Knight kits bought before March 1, 2026 can add the Voltage Booster Upgrade ($49.99). Owners who bought between March 1, 2025 and March 1, 2026 may qualify for 50% off. Email your order number to ask.
4. Add rears for surround and a sub for bass. If you want the music to "hit," those are your next steps, not just more volume.
5. Pick a kit made for your exact model. Pods that fit right sit where they should, don't rattle, and keep your racks clear.

The honest trade-offs

• 8" vs 6.5": The 8" is louder and fuller. It costs about $200 more per kit.
• Bass: Two marine speakers are loud and clear, but some riders want more mid-bass. A couple of our own reviewers said so. That's exactly why we built the subwoofer.
• Fender pods vs universal pods: Fender pods are custom-fit and close to the rider. Universal roll-bar or flat-mount pods work on almost anything, including side-by-sides.

Knight ATV speaker kits

I'm a mechanical and aerospace engineer, and I design our speakers and amplifiers to survive the way I ride, which is a lot of mud and water. The speakers went through about two years of testing before release. The pods are fully waterproof, and the whole pod can be submerged and keep playing. The fenders are laser-scanned, so each pod fits perfectly, stays out of your way, and takes up no rack space. Everything is plug and play, with no wire cutting.

Each fender kit includes:

• Two marine-grade speakers (6.5" or 8")
• A Bluetooth marine amplifier
• A handlebar remote
• A waterproof on/off button
• RGB LEDs you can control from an app
• A 2-year warranty

Knight ATV pods are sold here on knightatv.com and through resellers, including Wild Boar ATV Parts.

Building your own?

The KS83 8" waterproof speakers ($249.99/pair) fit anywhere an 8" speaker fits, with 3.25" mounting depth. The KS23 6.5" waterproof speakers are the same driver The Squatch Box builds its speaker boxes around. Kits are also available for Kawasaki, Yamaha, CFMOTO and others. See all fender speaker kits.

Built to take it: mud, water, heat and cold

Loud doesn't matter if the system quits on the second water crossing. We print our pod housings on industrial 3D printers in ASA, a UV- and weather-resistant engineering plastic. We've tested that material in real elements for over 10 years, from -40°F on a frozen lake in upstate New York to 115°F in the Arizona desert. Our 3D-printed products have never failed.

Printing also lets us build each housing to the laser-scanned shape of your fenders, instead of making one universal box fit everything.

Fitment

Choose your exact model and year on the product page. Each page has a fitment guide. Fender speaker installation is the same on every make and model. Not sure what you have? Call or text 732-737-7761.

Install video

Follow the step-by-step Speaker Pod Installation Guide. Adding rears? See the Rear Fender Speaker Kit Install Guide.

What riders say

• "These are by far the best speaker I've ever used on an ATV, they are submergible, and they are the loudest speakers I've experienced." Cole Griffith, Honda Foreman/Rubicon kit
• "Plays clear and loud! … I can barely hear my bike running!" Welton LeJeune, CFMOTO CFORCE kit
• "8" for the win!! Super loud and super clear sound no matter the conditions!" Nolly Padilla, Yamaha Kodiak kit, Puerto Rico
• "Fully submerged numerous times." Greg, Honda Foreman/Rubicon kit
• "Speakers are extremely loud! … Joe himself even answered a bunch of questions via phone call." Mario Anderson, Can-Am Outlander surround system

FAQ

What is the loudest speaker size for an ATV?

In our 6-foot test, 8" speakers were louder than 6.5". They read 100.6 dB against 99.5 dB. An 8" front set with 4" rears and an 8" subwoofer was loudest at 102.1 dB.

How many decibels are ATV speakers?

At 6 feet, a Knight ATV kit measured 99.5–102.1 dB depending on the setup. At sound competitions, where meters sit much closer, a Knight ATV system won MONSTERFEST at RATS Offroad Park with a 119.4 dB run, and Knight systems have been recorded at up to 139 dB by a third party.

Can you hear ATV speakers over the exhaust?

Yes, with enough power and pods that point at the rider. Fender pods sit right in front of you. Riders with loud exhausts report they can still hear their music clearly.

Are Knight ATV speakers waterproof?

Yes. The speakers and amplifier are marine-grade and sealed, and the pods can be fully submerged and keep playing.

Will 3D-printed speaker pods hold up?

Knight ATV prints its housings on industrial 3D printers in ASA and has tested them for over 10 years, from -40°F to 115°F. Knight's 3D-printed products have never failed.

Do I need to cut wires to install ATV speakers?

Not with Knight ATV kits. They use a plug-and-play wiring harness and come with mounting hardware.

Can I add more speakers later?

Yes. You can add 4" rear pods or the 8" subwoofer to an existing Knight ATV system.

Ready to get loud?

If you're not sure which kit fits your machine, or whether 6.5" or 8" is right for how you ride, text us a photo of your ATV at 732-737-7761. We'll point you to the exact kit.