Choosing the best speakers for your dream audio setup requires consumers to understand the differences between the various speaker types. There are significant differences between the best subwoofers, woofers, and tweeters, and each type plays an essential part in forming a stellar listening experience. Below we’ll compare tweeters vs woofers and help you understand what to expect.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Tweeters are smaller-sized speakers that produce a high-range frequency of up to 20,000 Hz.
- Woofers cover a wide range of sounds, starting at lower ranges, like 40 Hz, up to midrange speaker levels of 500 Hz.
- Subwoofers specialize in the lowest degree of sound, 20-200 Hz.
If you finish this piece and want to continue your audio education, we’ve got another article comparing woofers vs subwoofers.
Insider Tip
When dealing with a woofer or subwoofer, ensure the speaker enclosure is sealed correctly. A properly sealed cabinet is critical to achieving the best audio performance.
Differences Between Tweeter vs Woofer
The quickest way to understand the differences between these two speaker types is by considering the animal noises indicated in each name.
A tweeter represents a bird’s tweet, meaning it produces frequencies covering the higher range of the spectrum, typically 2,000 Hz – 20 kHz. On the other hand, a woofer represents a dog’s woof, indicating that it covers the lower end of the spectrum.
There are regular woofers and subwoofers. Woofers produce both a low and mid-range frequency, ranging from 40 Hz to 500 Hz. Meanwhile, subwoofers specialize in low-frequency sounds, 20-200 Hz.
Although they specialize in various frequency ranges, each speaker produces sound similarly. This is because they convert electrical signals from amplifiers into audio signals through moving air via a voice coil. As the voice coil moves, the speaker cone produces sound waves.
When it comes down to it, the speaker’s size determines what frequency range a speaker can produce. The smaller the speaker, the faster it moves the speaker cone to create a higher range of frequencies. And likewise, the larger the speaker, the more successful it is a producing a low audio frequency.
For those in the market for a home audio system, we have a helpful guide on how to choose a soundbar.
Warning
Always confirm that your amplifier has enough Ohms to power the speakers connected to it. Otherwise, it can burn out the amp.
Bass
Woofers tend to be 4 to 8 inches in size, and subwoofers reach up to 21 inches. Because of this, the woofer-style speaker’s bass sound will outperform tweeters ranging from 2 to 4 inches. For more info on the differences between low-range speakers, we have an article comparing speakers vs subwoofers.
Treble
Conversely, tweeters produce excellent high-frequency sounds, whereas woofers only reach so far. Incorporating tweeters creates a great crossover frequency that enhances the overall sound of music and movies.
STAT: 20,000 Hz is typically the highest frequency range audible to the human ear. (source)
Well-Roundedness
Of course, you need all types of speakers for a full orchestra of sound frequencies. But if you can only go for one speaker, a woofer is your best bet, as it produces the frequencies most important to the human ear.
