tweeter capacitor
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=98406
Printed Date: May 16, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Topic: tweeter capacitor
Posted By: datspeed77
Subject: tweeter capacitor
Date Posted: October 28, 2007 at 8:18 PM
Guys, I'm getting ready to install some Ambient Tweeters up high in my doors. I need to find out what microfared cap I need to run to get a 10k crossover point at 6db. The crossover chart states for 4ohm it's 4 microfarads and at 2ohm it's 8 microfarads. Here's the problem, I have a 4 ohm tweeter, but my amp is at a 2 ohm load. So do I run a 4 or 8 microfarad? I forget if the value is from the tweeter or what the load on my amp is!!! :errr: Any help would really be appreciated! Thanks in advance.
Replies:
Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: October 28, 2007 at 9:26 PM
The amp load does not factor into the equation. Only the impedance of the tweeter.
Posted By: datspeed77
Date Posted: October 29, 2007 at 11:53 AM
i am an idiot wrote:
The amp load does not factor into the equation. Only the impedance of the tweeter.
Thanks for the info! I was almost sure that it was the impedence of the tweeter, but wanted to make sure! Thanks again!
Posted By: jmelton86
Date Posted: October 29, 2007 at 9:53 PM
Isn't 10kH kindof high? That's going to be a bit harsh on the ears 'up high', IMO.
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2013 Kia Rio -90a alternator
DDX470HD GTO14001 GTO1014D (x3)
Big3 in 1/0G
1/0G to GTO14001
Posted By: datspeed77
Date Posted: October 30, 2007 at 12:13 PM
Actually 10k is where it should be due to the fact that I'm using the tweeters as an ambient set. That's what's recommended by Polk Audio. I believe the Boston Acoustic Ambient Tweeter kit is crossed over at 10k as well.
Posted By: jmelton86
Date Posted: October 30, 2007 at 7:05 PM
I've never heard of anything like this before, why not? Why should you have an ambient set? Shouldn't the tweeter in a basic 2way set take care of 10+kH? ------------- 2013 Kia Rio -90a alternator
DDX470HD GTO14001 GTO1014D (x3)
Big3 in 1/0G
1/0G to GTO14001
Posted By: datspeed77
Date Posted: October 30, 2007 at 7:44 PM
The main reason for an ambient tweeter set is to raise the imaging in your car. That's why you want to put it at 10k and above.
Posted By: jmelton86
Date Posted: October 30, 2007 at 8:12 PM
Does anyone have some kind of documentation on this? Wouldn't this prevent good a good point source... or... SQ system?
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2013 Kia Rio -90a alternator
DDX470HD GTO14001 GTO1014D (x3)
Big3 in 1/0G
1/0G to GTO14001
Posted By: datspeed77
Date Posted: October 30, 2007 at 8:19 PM
jmelton86 wrote:
Does anyone have some kind of documentation on this? Wouldn't this prevent good a good point source... or... SQ system?
https://www.bostonacoustics.com/Manuals/Neo5Tech.pdf
Posted By: stevdart
Date Posted: October 30, 2007 at 9:43 PM
CDT audio put out a set of those, too. The high-mount tweeters come with a control that connects to the auxiliary tweeter output of the CDT crossover that's used for the components. The idea is to raise the front stage if you don't feel it is "in front of you" using just the regular components in door locations. Here's something on this: https://www.cdtaudio.com/pdf/Image_Enhancement_flyer.pdf And there is a more expensive unit available that provides far greater crossover slope with a complete two-way 24 db crossover. This effectively cuts the sound at ~10K from the regular door-mounted tweeters and sends that information to the dashboard mounts. ------------- Build the box so that it performs well in the worst case scenario and, in return, it will reward you at all times.
Posted By: haemphyst
Date Posted: October 31, 2007 at 12:20 AM
Or, just do it right the first time... A good 3-way system with fantastic amounts of time-delay!
*I* have no need for "supertweeters". ROFL
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It all reminds me of something that Molière once said to Guy de Maupassant at a café in Vienna: "That's nice. You should write it down."
Posted By: jmelton86
Date Posted: October 31, 2007 at 12:28 AM
haemphyst wrote:
Or, just do it right the first time... A good 3-way system with fantastic amounts of time-delay!
*I* have no need for "supertweeters". ROFL
Won't even a good 2way system suffice? I mean, as long as the tweeter can reproduce freq's above 10kH, right? Time delay will probably eliminate the need for them also, correct? It's just that i've never even heard of 'ambient tweeter' systems. I figure it would be in the comprehensive front stage sticky if it was necessary. ------------- 2013 Kia Rio -90a alternator
DDX470HD GTO14001 GTO1014D (x3)
Big3 in 1/0G
1/0G to GTO14001
Posted By: audiocableguy
Date Posted: October 31, 2007 at 12:54 AM
Efforts would be better spent on aligning your comp set than adding spitters up high.
10K and up, those freqs become very directional and harsh off hard surfaces.
Posted By: haemphyst
Date Posted: October 31, 2007 at 8:52 AM
The frequency response isn't as important as is the integration between drivers and low distortion. Careful alignment (TD notwithstanding) and proper placement to start with will do FAR more than adding a "supertweeter". I have to agree with audiocableguy... Fix the issues that are present, rather than masking. Those are gonna sound pretty bad. BTW, I like this: Theories go unproven. I'm a conspiracy truthist. Hope for America! Support Ron Paul!------------- It all reminds me of something that Molière once said to Guy de Maupassant at a café in Vienna: "That's nice. You should write it down."
Posted By: datspeed77
Date Posted: October 31, 2007 at 1:33 PM
haemphyst wrote:
The frequency response isn't as important as is the integration between drivers and low distortion. Careful alignment (TD notwithstanding) and proper placement to start with will do FAR more than adding a "supertweeter".
I have to agree with audiocableguy... Fix the issues that are present, rather than masking. Those are gonna sound pretty bad.
BTW, I like this: Theories go unproven. I'm a conspiracy truthist.
Hope for America! Support Ron Paul!
The reason why I'm putting in ambient tweeters is because my speakers are very low in my doors. I don't have any space to put in kick panels in my car with the speakers I have to acheive better imaging. I'm using the Polk Audio SR 6500 and need the ambient tweeters to lift my imaging. Ambient tweeters have been used in many SQ cars and don't believe that they will sound bad. As a matter of fact, you'll rarely hear them at all in my opinion. The JL Audio, Boston Acoustic, and Polk Audio SQ cars all have them. I'm not saying you guys are not right on having better speaker placement to fix my problem, but in my situation I don't have a choice but to put in the Ambient Tweeters. I'll show you a picture of the interior of my car so that you can see why I need them. Any other input by you guys would be great! Lastly, now this is all theory again:) The engineer at Polk Audio told me to use a 6db crossover to get a smoother roll off curve. Where as there's other companies that offer 24db ambient tweeter sets. Wow! What a difference. Maybe it's because of the SR tweeters itself. I know it can go down to 3k. Maybe that's why they told me to run a 6db for the ambient set. Who knows? Anyhow, here's the picture. 
Posted By: stevdart
Date Posted: October 31, 2007 at 3:44 PM
He probably told you to build a 2nd order crossover because it's so far superior to using 1st order, and less expensive than building 4th order. HERE is an assortment of calculators. Your tweeters should likely perform to another octave below 3K. ------------- Build the box so that it performs well in the worst case scenario and, in return, it will reward you at all times.
Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: October 31, 2007 at 4:20 PM
Is that a center channel in the middle of the dash? Get a grill on that thing! I hate the sound of so-called "ambient" tweeters. You will most certainly want to include a pad on those things unless you like harsh sibilance in your face. ------------- Support the12volt.com
Posted By: jmelton86
Date Posted: October 31, 2007 at 6:26 PM
I've been thinking about them. I figure they would help in a low powered system or even to add them to factory systems where a single fullrange driver is used. This, BTW, is what you call a theory. ------------- 2013 Kia Rio -90a alternator
DDX470HD GTO14001 GTO1014D (x3)
Big3 in 1/0G
1/0G to GTO14001
Posted By: jmelton86
Date Posted: October 31, 2007 at 6:29 PM
datspeed77, you never did say what amp you're using for your component set. Maybe you're just lacking power.?
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2013 Kia Rio -90a alternator
DDX470HD GTO14001 GTO1014D (x3)
Big3 in 1/0G
1/0G to GTO14001
Posted By: datspeed77
Date Posted: October 31, 2007 at 8:54 PM
Yes that is a center channel. It's 5.1 Dolby Digital using the alpine processors. I didn't want to use the grill because I highly doubt anybody will damage them up high like that. I guess and acquired look!
Posted By: datspeed77
Date Posted: October 31, 2007 at 9:00 PM
jmelton86 wrote:
datspeed77, you never did say what amp you're using for your component set. Maybe you're just lacking power.?
I'm definitely not underpowered. I have 150 rms to each speaker. I guess I'm going to put them in and I'll let you guys know if it's too much. Don't know, I've won 14 car audio events last year and decided to retire the car. It's a sponsored Polk Audio car, so they wanted me to try these tweeters up high to see if it will raise up the imaging. Their engineers wanted me to try it with a 1st order crossover. Which was a bit odd, but they assured me that they've done lots of research already. BTW, this is all "theory" I like to call it trial and error. lol
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