Skip to content

What are Woofer vs Subwoofer and Tweeter – Differences & Similarities

Hey there! Some links on this page are affiliate links which means that, if you choose to make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I greatly appreciate your support!

Last Updated on 2 years by On Trends Gear

You’re undoubtedly already familiar with terms like woofer vs subwoofer and tweeter and possibly even full-range and mid-range if you’ve dealt with speakers before.

 There are several specific terminologies for woofer vs subwoofer and tweeter, making it challenging to understand exactly what is being discussed. 

These terminologies will be defined in this article along with their differences.

Table of Contents

What Is A Tweeter?

What Is A Tweeter

A tweeter is similar to the high-pitched sound of a bird. The highest frequencies are reproduced by the tweeter, the smallest of the driver components of a speaker. 

The typical range for this kind of tweeter is between 2 kHz and 20 kHz, while some may go as high as 100 kHz.

A smaller frequency response is achieved when super-tweeters are used since the tweeter is only required to produce frequencies up to 20 kHz. 

Remember that the human ear is sensitive to frequencies between 20 Hz and 20 kHz.

Tweeters typically have a diameter of one inch (25 mm).

 These tweeter drivers are tiny in diameter and light in weight, allowing them to vibrate quickly and faithfully reproduce high frequencies.

As bigger drivers have a far more difficult time vibrating as fast as tweeters, tweeters are the go-to drivers for high-frequency sound reproduction. 

Since tweeters are solely responsible for producing high frequencies, they are not reliant on enclosures to produce sound.

A tweeter is a component of all multi-driver speaker designs, including the ubiquitous 2-way, 3-way, and 4-way designs.

Skar Audio VX35-ST 3.5-Inch 300 Watt RMS High...
  • 3.5-inch High Compression Titanium Bullet Super Tweeters
  • Max Power: 500 Watts

 For less directional and wider high-frequency dispersion, many contemporary tweeters use a dome-shaped diaphragm.

 When compared to higher frequencies, lower ones are more dispersed and less focused.

What Is A Woofer?

What-Is-A-Woofer-Speaker.

The bigger, lower-frequency producing driver in multi-driver speakers is known as the woofer. 

Sounds between 20 Hz and 2,000 Hz are often produced by woofers. Remember that the midrange speaker driver’s higher frequency output may assist ease the load on the woofer. 

In the same way that a woofer may take advantage of a subwoofer for low-frequency output, it is feasible that these two devices do the same thing for each other.

To produce low frequencies, however, woofers are typically paired with either a tweeter (in 2-way speakers) or a tweeter and midrange driver (in 3-way speakers).

Sale
Dayton Audio DA115-8 4" Aluminum Cone Woofer
  • Great looking and sounding woofer
  • Cosmetic stamped steel frame

Massive woofers are required to produce low frequencies. 

A woofer with a diameter of 12 inches or more may likely reproduce frequencies as low as 20 hertz. 

That’s why many subwoofers need to be at least that big.

Alternatively, professional studio monitors typically rely on a separate subwoofer rather than a large woofer to produce low frequencies accurately.

Larger speaker drivers are required for sub-bass frequencies. Compared to a tweeter, a driver has more room and time to cover greater distances. 

It will require greater air pressure because lower frequencies are not as noticeable as higher ones.

Woofers require enclosures to produce sufficient amounts of these low frequencies. The speaker’s enclosure is often built to fit the specific dimensions of the woofer within.

A sealed enclosure speaker prevents low frequencies from “escaping” through the back. 

Improving the bottom end’s concentration is essential because low frequencies are often non-directional. 

The bass quality of sealed enclosures is unparalleled.

What Is A Subwoofer?

What Is A Subwoofer

One way to think about a subwoofer is as something “below” or “sub” a woofer. 

To put together a home theater, you’ll need several different things. Many different parts make up a home theater system. 

Speakers are a necessary component of any home theater setup.

A subwoofer is the best investment you can make in your music system since it will allow you to enjoy the full depth of the bass and feel the power of the song. 

If you want your sound system to rock, you need a powerful subwoofer. A subwoofer, in its simplest form, is a speaker that is made specifically to produce low-frequency sound.

They can generate frequencies higher than 200 Hz, however, 20–200 Hz is where their strengths lie. Normal two-channel speakers have trouble reproducing these frequencies.

Because of this, bass from laptop speakers is often lacking. The bass from a laptop speaker is severely reduced. 

Subwoofers are designed to replicate low frequencies, which are created by instruments like kick drums, bass guitars, and other sound effects with a lot of low-end energy, like explosions.

Subwoofers are created to give you a physical sensation of the sound, taking your auditory experience to a whole new level. 

Although ordinary speakers are capable of reproducing low frequencies, their accuracy and efficiency pale in comparison to subwoofers. You won’t get any low-end sensation from them.

The speakers excel in the upper-frequency range. Subwoofers are designed to improve the bass response of an audio system. 

Polk Audio PSW10 10" Powered Subwoofer –...
  • POWERED SUBWOOFER FOR EXTRA BASS and PUNCH – A 10-inch Dynamic Balance woofer and a...
  • LOUDER CLEARER SOUND EVEN AT HIGH VOLUME – Enjoy a thrilling yet balanced music...

In other words, if you don’t utilize a subwoofer, you’ll get the full, authentic experience that the composer or filmmaker intended.

The subwoofer is a piece of bass-thumping equipment that is required for a full audio experience. 

Using a subwoofer will make the sound’s dynamics more palpable and obvious. The stereo image will expand, letting you pick out individual instruments and sounds, and you’ll have a better idea of what they are.

Difference Between Woofer vs Subwoofer and Tweeter

woofer vs subwoofer and tweeter
Tweeters Subwoofers Woofers 
High-end  frequency generation
typical range: 2 kHz – 20 kHz
Mid-range frequency production
typical range: 20 – 200 Hz
Low-end frequency generation 
Typical range: 20 – 2,000 Hz
The diaphragm is small
typically 1″ or less
The diaphragm is large
typically 12″ or more
The diaphragm is large
typically 5″ or more
Common in 2-, 3-, and 4-way loudspeakersTypical in a single speaker Common in 2-, 3-, and 4-way loudspeakers
Most directionalMost omnidirectionalMost omnidirectional
requiring less enclosuredependent on the enclosure the mostdependent on the enclosure the most

How do I Choose a Tweeter Woofer and Subwoofer?

Choosing a quality woofer and tweeter involves thinking about many factors. Taking into account the room’s dimensions and intended use of the woofer and tweeter is key.

Subwoofers and woofers with more output power are available for bass fans, while tweeters with more output power are a good choice for vocalists.

 Start with a single piece of equipment and construct the rest of your home theater around it. Below is our favourite subwoofers speaker

Preview
BUDGET PICK
Klipsch 12" 400 Watts Wireless Subwoofer...
TOP CHOICE
Klipsch Reference R-112SW Subwoofer, Black
EDITORS CHOICE
Klipsch SPL-150 15-inch Powered Subwoofer...
Product Name
Klipsch 12" 400 Watts Wireless Subwoofer...
Klipsch Reference R-112SW Subwoofer, Black
Klipsch SPL-150 15-inch Powered Subwoofer...
Customer Rating
-
-
-
Item Weight
37.40 lbs
48.75 lbs
75.18 lbs
Speaker Nominal Output Power
200 watts
300 watts
-
Speaker Type
Subwoofer
Outdoor
Subwoofer, Wireless
Item Dimensions
18.5 x 14 x 16 inches
18.3 x 15.5 x 17.4 inches
24 x 27 x 27.5 inches
Price
$214.99
$369.99
Price not available
BUDGET PICK
Preview
Klipsch 12" 400 Watts Wireless Subwoofer...
Product Name
Klipsch 12" 400 Watts Wireless Subwoofer...
Customer Rating
-
Item Weight
37.40 lbs
Speaker Nominal Output Power
200 watts
Speaker Type
Subwoofer
Item Dimensions
18.5 x 14 x 16 inches
Price
$214.99
Buy Now
TOP CHOICE
Preview
Klipsch Reference R-112SW Subwoofer, Black
Product Name
Klipsch Reference R-112SW Subwoofer, Black
Customer Rating
-
Item Weight
48.75 lbs
Speaker Nominal Output Power
300 watts
Speaker Type
Outdoor
Item Dimensions
18.3 x 15.5 x 17.4 inches
Price
$369.99
Buy Now
EDITORS CHOICE
Preview
Klipsch SPL-150 15-inch Powered Subwoofer...
Product Name
Klipsch SPL-150 15-inch Powered Subwoofer...
Customer Rating
-
Item Weight
75.18 lbs
Speaker Nominal Output Power
-
Speaker Type
Subwoofer, Wireless
Item Dimensions
24 x 27 x 27.5 inches
Price
Price not available
Buy Now

Final Thoughts 

It’s important to get your money’s worth out of whichever audio entertainment system you buy. 

The highest return on investment may be obtained by selecting speakers per their intended purpose.

Last update on 2024-10-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Share This