It is plain to see that the selection of speakers in any audio system has a proportional impact on tonal performance. Commonly known include Full Range Speaker (FRC) and Tweeter, each designed to fulfill closely related but different functions. It’s time to answer another question: What is the major difference between these two types of speakers? What advantages do they bring? And finally, what are the selection considerations? This article will answer these questions in detail- from a wide range of viewpoints.
What Is a Full-Range Speaker?
A speaker that can reproduce a full range of sounds is a full-range speaker. Full-range speakers can play low, mid, and possible high frequencies. These speakers are usually deployed in compact spearlers, transportable stereo systems, car stereos, etc. for complete sound reproduction in one package.
What Is a Tweeter?
Tweeters reproduce high-frequency sounds, between usually 2kHz to 20kHz, allowing a listener to hear fine treble details such as teeth in singing, overtones from string instruments, and airiness in ambient sounds. Tweeters are usually paired with another speaker, such as a bass/midrange unit, to have an extended frequency response.
What’s the Difference?
With full-range speakers, the frequency range is often stated as being anywhere from 50Hz to 15kHz. Most tweeters handle frequency ranges from 2kHz to upwards of 20kHz. Full-range speakers are good for portable audio systems, small PA systems, or even background music; tweeters are best suited for high-end audio systems, Hi-Fi systems, or PA systems. Full-range speakers allow for balanced sound; however, per high and low frequency detail. In turn, tweeters allow for solid and consummate exponents of high frequency, but aren’t able to reproduce content at lower frequencies. Lastly, full-range speakers can be used independently, and tweeters are normally used along with a woofer or midrange unit.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Certainly the most important feature to a full-range speaker which may be noted is the simplicity of construction, which would infuriate the defeat of the suggestions for luxury in sound systems by incorporating too complicated “crossovers”; it is therefore used as a standalone system for compact sound systems. In addition, its natural frequency articulation reduces the phase distortion associated with crossovers. However, due to the need to balance low, mid and high frequencies, the overall performance may not be as good as a specialised unit, with weaker high and low frequency performance, and in particular the treble detail is not as good as that of a professional tweeter, and distortion may occur at high volumes.
The advantage of the tweeter is that it can show clear and transparent high-frequency details, which is suitable for high-end audio systems to make the sound more layered. For Hi-Fi or professional audio systems, tweeters are indispensable. However, tweeters cannot be used alone, but must be paired with a bass/midrange unit and require a suitable crossover to control frequency articulation, otherwise they are prone to distortion.
How to Choose the Right Speaker for You?
The choice of full-range speakers or tweeters depends mainly on the applicable scene, sound quality requirements and budget.
If it is the original car audio upgrade, daily commuting to listen to songs or car owners who do not have high requirements for sound quality, full-range speakers are a good choice. If it is audiophile level modification, hi-fi audio system or pursuing a richer sound field, the combination of tweeter with woofer will provide better sound quality.
If you pursue simple, easy-to-use, balanced sound, full-range speakers are a more suitable choice, especially suitable for direct replacement of the original car speakers, easy to install, basically no additional adjustments. If you need more delicate treble details and a wider soundstage, it is recommended to choose a tweeter with a suitable bass/midrange unit and amplifier, suitable for car owners who like high-fidelity music or big dynamic music.
Full-range speakers are suitable for those who have limited budget and want to reduce the complexity of matching, while tweeters usually require additional crossovers, mid-woofers and amplifiers, so the budget is higher, suitable for professional modification or sound quality seekers.
Is a Tweeter Necessary?
Whether it is necessary to use a tweeter in a car audio system depends on the sound quality demand, system configuration and personal listening preference. Most of the original car speakers are full-range speakers with weak high-frequency details, which can easily lead to blurred sound. If vocal clarity, instrument detail, and better soundstage effects are your desire, you will always have tweeters on the list to consider. On the other hand, if you just use your stereo for daily driving and aren’t demanding about sound quality, the stock full-ranges meet basic needs anyway. There’s no immediate need to also have tweeters. Wherever there is a crossover network or DSP, which tweeters may call for to optimise frequency articulation, a tweeter might need to be powered by an amplifier-an additional cost in this modification.
Full range speakers are good enough for such users that do not have very high demands for sound quality, but tweeters are definitely one of the keys to achieving high performance in car audio. MR Audio makes premium quality car speakers and is committed to providing a complete professional series of car audio solutions. MR Audio products exist in a wide array of full-range speakers, tweeters, mid-woofers and other series, and have earned a big following among enthusiasts of car audio modifications for their accuracy of sound reproduction, superior dynamics, and reliability factors. If you’re going for some high quality car speakers, surely, MR Audio is quite the right choice.