5. Rockville RT6
In designing the RT6, Rockville focused on sound quality over big power and volume, so while the 60-watt continuous power rating is relatively modest, you can expect these tweeters to sound better than their affordable price suggests.
This 1-inch speaker has a silk dome, ferrofluid cooled voice coil, and neodymium magnet designed to deliver peak power handling of 240 watts. Frequency response ranges from 1.3 to 24 kHz and impedance is rated at 4 ohms.
While the speaker itself measures 1 inch in diameter, you’ll need a 2-inch opening for flush-mount applications. However, a 0.75-inch flush mounting depth makes it easy to install these tweeters in door and dashboard locations with limited clearance. Rockville also includes hardware for flat and angle surface-mount installation. The ABS housing material is built to prevent warpage no matter how hot it gets inside your car.
Each kit comes with mounting brackets, screws and washers, and double-sided tape so that you can install them straight out of the box.
- Pros/Very attractive price for the sound and build quality, versatile mounting options
- Cons/The included crossover doesn’t filter out all low-frequency sounds, not as loud as the 93-dB sensitivity rating suggests
6. Rockford Fosgate Prime R1T-S
Rockford Fosgate says its R1T-S tweeter’s mylar dome was designed to minimize distortion while dispersing your music’s high notes so that everyone in your car gets to enjoy clear sound. They’re designed to handle between 2 and 40 watts of RMS power, with peak power handling of up to 80 watts.
Sensitivity is lower than the average here, at just 72.5 dB, and the frequency response range is a bit narrower, at 2.5 kHz to 22 kHz. Impedance is rated at 4 ohms, and the kit includes high-pass crossovers that are built in, so you don’t have to worry about finding space for them.
The mounting depth is a bit less than an inch, but if that’s not shallow enough, Rockford Fosgate includes hardware for surface and angle mount installations. The nicely done black trim rings should look good in most vehicles. Each tweeter comes with 6 feet of speaker cable with quick-slide connectors.
- Pros/Good-looking design, good sound quality for the price
- Cons/Some buyers complained about harsh sound at high volume, non-standard housing size makes flush-mounting difficult in some vehicles
7. Kenwood KFC-ST01
Kenwood is a well-known name in both home and car audio, and like many brands, the company makes products to appeal to a wide variety of price points. Case in point: the KFC-ST01 is aimed at buyers seeking something that provides better sound quality than its accessible price might suggest.
These 1-inch tweeters are rated for 2 to 40 watts continuous power, and a peak of 160 watts, at 4 ohms of impedance. Frequency response starts at a relatively high 5 kHz, and the 25 kHz top end is among the highest on this list. Sensitivity is middle-of-the-pack at 90 dB, and some buyers wished for the extra volume that comes with sensitivity ratings near or better than 100.
To keep things simple, Kenwood designed the KFC-ST01 for surface-mount applications only, which means you can’t use these to replace flush-mount factory tweeters. That said, if you’re buying these to augment a sound system that didn’t include tweeters, you won’t have to cut holes to install these Kenwood units.
These tweeters come with 6 inches of wire attached to each speaker, and the kit also includes two 80-inch (nearly 7 feet) lengths of wire in case your chosen mounting points are a particularly long way from the head unit or amplifier.
- Pros/A strong value for a good-sounding tweeter, comes with nearly 8 feet of wiring for each speaker
- Cons/A few buyers complained these tweeters aren’t loud enough, some others said the electrical connectors weren’t compatible with their vehicles’ wiring, can only be surface-mounted
8. Kicker KST250
If you’re looking for a set of aftermarket tweeters to replace factory units while maintaining good sound quality, the Kicker KST250 is a good bet. Like nearly all of the other tweeters here, this one measures 1 inch in diameter, so it will be an easy fit in most vehicles. These speakers deliver your music’s highs via silk domes and neodymium magnets.
The KST250’s nominal power rating is 75 watts, but can handle peaks of up to 150 watts. Frequency response starts a bit higher than some of the other tweeters listed here, at 3.5 kHz, and tops out at 21 kHz, which is about average. The sensitivity rating is 94 dB.
This Kicker tweeter’s 4-ohm impedance is suited to standard car stereo wiring. Each speaker comes with 6 inches of speaker wire attached, plus a five-foot length of speaker wire with an in-line 12 dB crossover.
Kicker includes hardware for flush mounting, which requires a relatively shallow 9/16-inch clearance. If flush mount installation isn’t possible, these tweeters also come with hardware for surface and angle mounting, including two sizes of mounting nuts, front and back angle rings, and screws to secure the housings to the vehicle.
- Pros/Clean, crisp sound, easy fitment as replacements for factory tweeters
- Cons/Pricey, average power handling for the cost
9. DS18 PRO-TW220
DS18 is not shy about what it designed the PRO-TW220 tweeters to do: play your music’s high-frequency sounds loudly. These 1-inch units are rated for an impressive 225 watts RMS and a max power capacity of 350 watts, making them one of the most powerful units in our list. A sensitivity rating of 106 dB is also the highest of any tweeter here, which backs up DS18’s volume claim.
The PRO-TW220’s frequency response range is 2.2 kHz to 19 kHz. That’s a narrower range than many of the other tweeters we’ve listed, which suggests DS18 sacrificed some high-end sound reproduction capability in favor of big volume.
The PRO-TW220 is a 1-inch tweeter, but its aluminum frame and diaphragm add a lot of bulk. According to DS18’s specifications, you’ll need a 2.75-inch cutout for flush mounting and nearly 2.3 inches of space behind the mounting surface. There’s no option for surface or angle mounting. On the other hand, the PRO-TW220’s crossovers are built into the tweeters themselves, which eliminates the worry of finding a place to mount external units.
- Pros/Robust power rating, good sound output at a mid-range price
- Cons/Some buyers say they’re skeptical of the advertised power rating, may be too loud for many applications, large size makes flush mounting difficult in some vehicles
10. Rockford Fosgate Punch P1T-S
The Punch P1T-S is the second Rockford Fosgate product to make our list of aftermarket tweeters. These 1-inch units are rated to handle 60 watts continuous, and 120 watts maximum. Frequency response is mid-pack here, ranging from 3.5 kHz to 22 kHz, and the same goes for the 90 dB sensitivity rating. The speaker domes are made of polyetherimide, a polymer that Rockford Fosgate says generates superior audio imaging.
These tweeters are one of just two here that have an adjustable crossover; the others are the more expensive Alpines we named as our best pick for audiophiles. The crossover has three settings to let you tailor the sound to your preferences and/or the acoustics of your vehicle.
Rockford Fosgate includes hardware for the flush-, surface- and angle-mount options you expect from a well-designed aftermarket tweeter kit. The two angle-mount housings set the tweeters to 10 and 30 degrees from the horizontal. The flush-mount bracket fits a 1.75-inch hole.
The kit also includes wiring, mounting screws, and zip ties.
- Pros/Good performance at a mid-range price point, adjustable crossover to tailor performance to a variety of vehicles and listener preferences
- Cons/Crossover units are large, so finding inconspicuous mounting points could be difficult, sound quality won’t satisfy the most discerning audiophiles
If you're searching for crisp, clear audio from your car's stereo, you'll want a set of quality tweeters. Check out the best car tweeters at AutoGuide.com.
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