1 soft dome tweeter

Types of 1 soft dome tweeter

A 1 soft dome tweeter is a soft dome-shaped speaker that plays high-frequency sounds. It is commonly known as a soft dome horn or soft dome horn tweeter. Manufacturers make soft dome tweeters with different materials, including fabric, silk, and rubber.

There are several types of soft dome tweeters, including:

• Silk dome tweeters: These tweeters are made from soft, lightweight silk materials. They are smooth and highly regarded for their ability to produce natural and accurate high-frequency sounds.
• Fabric dome tweeters: Just like the silk dome tweeters, these soft dome tweeters are made from soft and lightweight fabrics. They have much control over their movement and are less likely to distort the sound.
• Rubber dome tweeters: These dome tweeters are made from a soft rubber material. Compared to their silk and fabric counterparts, rubber dome tweeters are more robust and less likely to get damaged. However, they lag in the quality of sound production.
• Active tweeters: Active soft dome tweeters have built-in amplifiers. They can produce high-frequency sounds without needing additional external amplifiers.
• Passive tweeters: Passive soft dome tweeters do not have built-in amplifiers like their active counterparts. Consequently, they depend on external amplifiers to work.
• Coaxial dome tweeters: Coaxial soft dome dome tweeters combine midrange drivers and tweeters. Their design enables them to produce an entire sound while taking up a dome cone's space.
• External crossover dome tweeters: These are specialized soft dome tweeters with an external crossover network. The network helps separate high-frequency signals and sends them to the tweeter for better high-frequency reproduction.
• Marine dome tweeters: Marine soft dome dome tweeters are made to resist wetness and corrosion. Often, they are made from corrosion-resistant materials.

Function and Features

• Frequency Response:

  The frequency response characteristic highlights how soft dome tweeters perform at different frequencies. This parameter shows how the dome extends lower frequencies compared to other tweeter builds. As a result, soft dome tweeters have better versatility. They can adequately represent high notes and a few mid-range sounds that hard domes might struggle with.

• Sensitivity:

  Sensitivity tells how loudly a tweeter can play based on its input power level. Soft dome designs tend to have a higher sensitivity than hard dome models. Higher sensitivity means soft dome units will produce sound more powerfully. This is important in cases like public address systems where high volume is needed. Higher sensitivity means that more sound can be produced with less amplifier power.

• Power Handling:

  This design refers to the maximum power level that a soft dome tweeter can take without getting damaged. Soft dome designs usually have a good power handling capability. This means they won't get easily damaged even at higher power levels. The hard dome models can be less tolerant of power and more prone to failure if too much power is put through them.

• Material Quality:

  The material quality of a soft dome tweeter affects its performance and durability. Domes made from high-quality materials provide better frequency response and are more long-lasting. There is a wider range of quality among hard dome tweeters than with soft designs.

• Mounting Options:

  Soft dome tweeters can be flush-mounted, surface-mounted, or installed in screens. Mounting options are more limited with hard dome tweeters.

Scenarios

• Home audio systems:

  Soft dome tweeters are utilized in the construction of multi-channel home audio systems where users intend to achieve a surround sound output. It is usually integrated with midrange drivers and woofers within speakers mounted on media consoles or within cabinets.

• Multimedia production:

  In typical professional studio setups, multiple soft dome tweeters are found within the monitors for accurate mixing and mastering when producing music, podcasts, or other audio intended for public consumption. So, producers rely on soft dome tweeters for low distortion at high volume levels.

• Live sound reinforcement:

  Soft dome tweeters can be found in large PA speakers that also have midrange drivers and woofses. The goal is to deliver clear highs for audiences at venues where music or speech is performed live.

• Automotive audio systems:

  OEM Tweeter speakers in car doors or dashboards use soft dome materials to produce pleasant high frequencies for drivers and passengers. Some aftermarket speaker systems also have soft domes that are installed in the same way for an upgraded listening experience.

• Portable Bluetooth speakers:

  While less common, some small battery-powered speakers aimed at younger audiences might have soft dome tweeters as part of their multipoint stereo pairing capability. Such speakers also have other connectivity options to help users connect the speakers to devices quickly.

How to choose a 1 soft dome tweeter

Multiple factors come into play when deciding which type of 1 soft dome tweeter to purchase in bulk. This list can help narrow down choices based on quality and price.

• Sound quality

  Before buying anything, it is important to know more about its sound quality. How well a soft dome tweeter delivers high-frequency sounds should always be tested first. Some questions could guide testing sessions when trying to determine how well a product delivers sounds. Do vocals sound clear and natural? Is there any sibilance or harshness? How well do small details in music get reproduced? Asking these questions will help measure the sound quality of the soft dome.

• Build quality

  Next on the list is the build quality of the soft dome. Because how well the soft dome tweeter is built could affect how long it would last, it is important to pay attention to the materials and construction used. Metal and rubber materials are much more durable than plastic ones. Join the seams of the soft dome together using glue instead of just pressing them together to improve durability. Soft domes should also be thick and tightly woven for optimal longevity.

• Size and power handling

  Buyers should choose soft domes with large sizes and excellent power-handling capacity to meet a wide range of customers' demands. Usually, soft domes have 1-inch (25 mm) and ¾-inch (19 mm) as standard sizes. However, larger soft domes provide a wider dispersion of high-frequency sounds, so more people can hear it clearly no matter where they are. Additionally, larger soft dome tweeters can also handle more power from the amplifier without being damaged. This is because larger voice coils and diaphragm materials are used to make them.

• Impedance and sensitivity

  The impedance and sensitivity of soft dome tweeters affect their performance, effectiveness, and compatibility with amplifiers. As a general rule of thumb, choose 8-ohm variants since they are more compatible with most home and professional audio systems. When it comes to sensitivity, go for soft domes with high sensitivity ratings. That way, they will produce more volume even when less power is supplied.

• Mounting options

  Different mounting styles, including recessed (flush or surface) and excited (active and passive), affect a soft dome tweeter's appearance and performance. Surface-mount tweeters appear to be the best option because they can fit into almost any kind of space. However, the installation requires a secondary mounting ring to secure the tweeter.

1 soft dome tweeter Q & A

Q1: What is a suitable crossover point for 1-inch soft dome tweeters?

A1: A good starting point for the crossover frequency is around 3000Hz to 4000Hz.

Q2: Are there additional materials other than silk that soft dome tweeters use?

A2: Yes, in addition to silk, some soft dome tweeters use other materials like polyester or samochrome foam.

Q3: What is the purpose of the tweeter in a speaker?

A3: The purpose of the tweeter is to reproduce high-frequency sounds, which are crucial for understanding speech and musical instruments.