Buying the Right Tweeters for Your Sound System
Thanks to technology, humans have been able to capture sound as a series of electrical impulses that can be stored as data. To reproduce that sound, you need a playback device, amplifier and a loudspeaker. Vifa creates a multitude of audio speakers and devices that can help you find the right balance of sound.
What is a Loudspeaker?
A loudspeaker is what converts electrical impulses into sound. It is comprised of a metal frame, a diaphragm to push out air and a voice coil that powers the diaphragms vibrations. Different types of speakers can make up a loudspeaker, including:
- Full-Range Speaker: This is the simplest kind, containing only one speaker. Its size determines the quality of the sound it produces. Small full-range speakers excel in reproducing higher frequencies but fall short with lower frequencies. Conversely, larger speakers reproduce lower frequencies well but may not handle higher frequencies.
- Woofer: This speaker is designed to reproduce low to mid-range frequencies so a quality woofer will enhance the bass and kick drums in music rather than vocals or guitar. A woofer can be as small as 4 inches or as large as 15 inches in diameter.
- Tweeter: A tweeter is the opposite of a woofer, in that it is designed to reproduce higher audio frequencies, including some that the human ear can sense, but not directly hear.
- Mid-range: Many speaker enclosures just use a woofer and tweeter to cover the frequency range but some include another speaker to further separate the low and mid-range frequencies, called the mid-range speaker.
How Can the Material of the Tweeter Affect Sound?
The material of a tweeter determines the kind of sound it reproduces. There are three basic classes of materials for tweeters:
- Synthetic: Mylar, polyimide and PET are synthetic films often used. They are light, require less power to drive and resistant to humidity. They are also flimsy and that results in inaccurate audio reproduction and poor damping.
- Textiles: Most tweeters use silk if they use textiles. The sound they reproduce is warm and mellow. Silk is often reinforced with synthetic materials to get the advantages of both: extra stiffness, warm sound and light.
- Metals: Metals such as aluminum and titanium reproduce a crisp, loud high frequency. However, these metals can also give a harsh edge to the music or audio.
What Kinds of Speakers Does Vifa Make?
Vifa, a Danish audio electronics company, makes a variety of loudspeakers with Nordic designs for every occasion, whether it's for a house party or for on-the-go events.
- Copenhagen: The Copenhagen is a larger wireless speaker at about 10 lbs. It has Bluetooth and Wi-Fi capabilites and uses a domed tweeter.
- Reykjavik: This Icelandic themed speaker is designed for portable use. It is small, Bluetooth enabled and uses just a tweeter and woofer.
- Stockholm: At 20 lbs, this is a speaker better suited for home system use. Vifa makes it slightly larger woofer than the Copenhagen but largely shares most of its other specs.
- Helsinki: The Helsinki is unique in that it does not contain a tweeter but rather a full-range speaker and a woofer. It is larger than the Reykjavik but is still small enough to carry.
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