What Does A Tweeter Do? [Everything To Know]

Are you building your car’s audio system? Have you already finished it, and are you not satisfied with the result? You may need to pay a little attention to the tweeter speakers and know what a tweeter does.

Moreover, are you interested in improving the sound at home? Tweeters can be the solution for you.

Before that, you need to know some basics related to the tweeter. Don’t worry! Below, you will find information about what a tweeter is, its importance in sound, and what does a tweeter do. So, let’s start

WHAT IS A TWEETER?

Did you know that the human ear can hear a frequency range from 20 Hz (lowest tone) to 20 kHz (highest tone)? A speaker is capable of transforming electrical signals from some equipment into sound frequencies that our ears can pick up.

Interestingly, the speakers are classified according to the frequencies they can reach. For example, you can talk about woofers, which are typically the most significant speakers, ranging from the lowest sounds (50-100 Hz) to the vocal range (1000-4000 Hz).

On the other hand, tweeter speakers reproduce the highest frequencies, which start from 2,000 Hz to 20,000 Hz. Their high frequencies can exceed the human range of hearing, and even not all people can capture the sound of this device to listen to music.

What Does A Tweeter Do?-In 4 Step

1. If you look closely at a speaker from your home stereo, you will notice the three types of cones –best Subwoofer, medium, and tweeter – inside.

2. Thanks to this, they have the right speakers for bass, mid and treble. And this is vital so that all the frequencies of the music can be reproduced.

3. Tweeters help to listen to sound properly. What do tweeters do? Tweeters are used to produce upper-range sound. They also can complement other speakers that aren’t suited for producing such types of sound.

4. Additionally, it contributes to the separation of the different types of frequencies. So the tweeter speaker prevents all sounds from coming out of one place, creating a surround effect.

Types of Tweeter

There are two most popular types of tweeters on the market:

Dome: As its name implies, it has a dome shape, which can be concave or convex. They generally have a diameter of 1 inch (2.54 cm), although they can be foundable in a smaller size. They have a precise level of sonic detail, and their breaking frequency can be well above human hearing.

Ribbon: they have a flat, rectangular surface and are smaller than those with a dome. Besides, ribbons feature a more comprehensive frequency response and are more dynamic in sound delivery.

Which is better? There is no single answer, but it will depend on the listener’s tastes and preferences. Here is a proper elaboration of these two types of tweeters:

RIBBON TWEETERS

Ribbon tweeters are considered to be the most responsive to vibrations and the ones that produce the sharpest sound due to their design. They have a reasonably thin metallic tape (often made with aluminum alloys), light, and flexible.

It remains suspended over the magnetic field of the tweeter. Because the tape can move quickly, this tweeter is ideal for reproducing high-frequency sounds clearly and promptly. However, it has some cons that you should take into account:

They do not adapt to all amplifiers due to their low impedance levels. It is why, in many cases, it requires a transformer.

They can only reproduce high-frequency sounds, leaving out low-frequency sounds. Due to the complexity of manufacturing them, they are more expensive than dome tweeters.

DOME TWEETERS

Now, dome tweeters (as the name implies) are similar to a dome, with a semi-sunken or concave shape. They are made of 3 types of materials: metal, fabric, or cardboard, with the structure being the best quality. So that you can differentiate them, I will explain a little the advantages that each material offers:

Metal: Metal or metal alloys stiffen the dome and require less electricity for better sound pressure. However, they tend to be less potent when they reach frequencies above 10 kHz.

Fabric: Generally, they are made of silk to improve sound quality. While silk reduces power due to its softness, it helps produce a soft sound that is ideal for indoors.

Cardboard: The quality provided by the cardboard is much lower than that of metal or fabric. But, it is a cheap tweeter option that reduces the cost of tweeters.

How To Choose The Best Tweeter For Your Car?

First, think about what your needs are. If you like to make noise on the street and get noticed, bullet tweeters made of metal mixes will do.

But if instead, you prefer to listen to music with the windows closed, the dome tweeters made with silk will give you a smooth, but quality sound.

On the other hand, look at the specifications of the tweeter in what is its frequency range. Also, look at the speaker impedance to ensure that the power from the amp you use in your car can power the tweeters to install.

Otherwise, they may not sound, or the speakers may be damaged. Also, during installation, keep in mind that the sound will vary greatly depending on your location.

So it is better to locate them in the highest areas and away from our ears, but focused on them. Although it is sometimes unappreciated, you should not forget those tweeter speakers are vital to be able to reproduce all frequencies of the sound of music.

So don’t wait any longer, find the right tweeter for you, and take your vehicle’s sound system to another level.

Conclusion

Tweeters are becoming very popular day by day. Why? Because they are a handful to enrich the sound system of a speaker. Moreover, they are pretty cheap too.

Remember, know about types of tweeters correctly and then decide on which one suits you. So, that’s it on what does a tweeter do. Hopefully, it will help you in your cause if you follow the guide carefully!