Are you wondering whether super tweeters are a better alternative to tweeters? Read on to get more details on super tweeter vs tweeters. However before we get there, first things first.
Super tweeters are much louder than traditional tweeters since they produce ultra-high frequencies (over 20 kHz) and the majority of the treble is done by the mid-range in a multi-driver loudspeaker system. However, they need to be crossed over at higher frequencies and are big and bulky. Regular tweeters get distorted at very high frequencies, so so super tweeters are used to supplement them.
Read on to get more details on tweeters and their high-frequency counterparts, super tweeters.
Super Tweeters Vs Tweeters Comparison Table
| Feature | Regular Tweeters | Super Tweeters |
|---|---|---|
| Loudness | Loud | Very loud |
| Distortion | Prone to distortion at high frequencies | Do not distort at high frequencies |
| Design | Coil/motor | Piezoelectric diaphragm |
| Size | Small | Large and bulky |
| Power ratings | Standard power handling | High power handling and loud volume |
| Crossover frequency | Standard - 3.5 kHz | High - 10 kHz or more |
| Distortion | High distortion at high frequencies | Little distortion at high frequencies |
| Diaphragm | Ultra-light ribbon diaphragm | Heavy |
What Are Tweeters?
Tweeters, also well known as treble speakers, are a special kind of loudspeaker. The term treble describes musical elements in the upper tones whose frequency or range is at the higher end of human hearing such as cymbals soprano voices, flute tones, and piccolos.
They are designed with features that permit high audio frequencies usually at the uppermost limits of what human ears can perceive – from 2 kHz to 20 kHz. Most tweeters use capacitors to help filter out the frequency range. Check out this guide on how to add a capacitor to a car tweeter to learn more.
Tweeters are commonly used in speakers for two reasons – to generate a sound that cannot be produced by both 2-way and 3-way speakers and to add treble to the sound generated.
What Are Super Tweeters?
Super tweeters are ultra-high-frequency versions of normal tweeters. They require and drive extraordinary power and are built to deliver higher volumes and frequencies.
Super Tweeter Frequency
This is why these tweeters are designed with a very high low-frequency cutoff so they require very high crossovers, i.e their crossover frequency is high (10 kHz and higher). Super tweeters are known to work perfectly from 6kHz going up. In fact, they extend the frequency response up to 90 kHz.
By driving high frequencies, super tweeters supplement tweeters by reproducing frequencies that the tweeter may produce only with a narrow polar output, or may produce with distortion. This is why they have greater power ratings compared to regular tweeters.
Super Tweeter Size
In terms of size, super tweeters are big and bulky due to the fact that they use a coil/motor design vs the piezoelectric diaphragm design used in most regular tweeters.
One example is ribbon tweeters and some horn tweeters.
Advantages of Super Tweeters
Super tweeters extend to frequencies beyond the normal human range, but by doing this, they reveal great detail in the bass.
This extended detail you hear from the deep bass does wonders for sound quality. Moreover, they help you enjoy both digital and analog sound formats by revealing high frequencies.
Because of the high-frequency response, it is easier for them to make a system more naturally relaxed. This is because these tweeters can easily respond to signals quicker and with increased precision than regular tweeters. With this, super tweeters reveal a tremendous degree of harmonic detail.
How Do Super Tweeters Work?
Super tweeters are built with an ultra-light ribbon diaphragm that responds more rapidly compared to tweeters. Tweeter diaphragms are generally heavier.
Super tweets are designed to naturally integrate with high-quality and high-fidelity speakers using simple 1.5m link cables.
Super tweeters are generally good for situations that require high power handling or loud volume. However, super tweeters are not practical for playing standard music at regular volumes such as cool indoor music.
Super Tweeters vs Tweeters
Super Tweeters vs Tweeters Volume
While normal tweeters give you a normal range of musical output, super tweeters can get much louder.
That is why super tweeters have to be crossed over higher to regulate the output signal into a mid-range that is good for your ears. If not crossed, super tweeters won’t work well with midrange loudspeakers.
Super Tweeters vs Tweeters Size
Super tweeters use a coil together with a piezoelectric diaphragm. As a result, they are bulky and much heavier than regular tweeters
Super Tweeters vs Tweeters Speaker Systems
Super tweeters are mostly found in high-fidelity speaker systems and sometimes even in home theater systems. Regular tweeters are normally found in a standard multi-driver audio system.
Super Tweeters vs Tweeters Frequency Ranges
A super tweeter is generally intended to respond well to ultrasonic frequencies over 20 kHz, the commonly accepted upper-frequency limit of human hearing.
This is why super tweeters have been designed for things like psychoacoustic testing, super audio for audiophiles, ambient sound systems in zoos, and so on.
Do Tweeters and Super Tweeters Need Crossovers? Why?
Crossovers are important audio devices because they transfer different frequencies to the correct drivers in a multi-driver speaker system.
For example, a crossover helps in transferring bass to the subwoofer and treble to tweeters. But why is this important?
Crossovers are used to shield the tweeter, block sound contortion and restrict the overriding bass power from overriding the tweeter system. Tweeters, therefore, require crossovers to:
- Prevent sound distortion
- Prevent damage by low-frequency sound leakage
- Reduce power input and protect it from damage
Many tweeters are fitted with capacitors. These are wired in series on the positive terminals and act as a single-stage sound crossover.
Now because super tweeters handle very high frequencies, they are crossed over very high – like 10k or more. On the other hand, regular tweeters are crossed over at 3.5 kHz.
Benefits of Super Tweeters
Super tweeters can enhance your music including the sound stage. However, they seem to work better with some speakers versus other speakers.
However, why are super tweeters necessary since most of us can not hear past 16-17K hertz?
Well, a lot of instruments produce frequencies way higher than even 20K hertz. When super tweeters handle these high frequencies, they produce a tidying up and organizing effect to the entire frequency range which of course includes the frequency band that we can all hear.
Super Tweeters and Analog Sound
The effects of super tweeters are rather profound when you play analog audio sources as they do allow much higher frequencies than 20K hertz.
Are Super Tweeters Better?
If you’re looking for more detailed and natural high-frequency sounds to blend into your speaker’s sound quality, you should absolutely go for a super tweeter.
Why Use A Super Tweeter?
Since super tweeters are designed specifically to reproduce extremely high frequencies, they are able to perform highly defined sound augmentations by producing those frequency ranges that would otherwise result in sound distortion if attempted by a regular tweeter.
Which Type Of Tweeter Is Best?
For cars with aftermarket sound systems, it is best advised to connect with tweeters that have higher sensitivity ratings- at least 90 decibels. However, cars with factory-designed sound systems should be paired with lower-rating tweeters for the best sound optimization.
Do Tweeters Make Music Louder?
Tweeters produce high-pitched sounds that balance out the lower frequencies reproduced by woofers and the midrange frequencies produced by midrange speaker drivers. They have smaller cones than other drivers and produce more narrow soundwaves so they are not necessarily louder but higher pitched. Using tweeters helps the speaker create a more natural overall sound by complementing the bass from the woofers.
Should I Add A Super Tweeter?
Most of the frequencies produced by a super tweeter are not entirely perceptible to the human ear, however, the high-Frequency energies they reproduce have a wonderful effect of helping reinforce and focus the usually omnidirectional sound produced by the tweeter and lower frequency drivers. The resulting effect is a balanced, more natural sound that gives the listener an immersive sound experience.
Conclusion
Normal tweeters are essential in audio systems for handling high frequencies. Super tweeters add additional dynamic to the overall;l soundstage by handling ultra high frequencies and cleaning up the frequency range in high fidelity, high power radio systems.