Tech Article: Marine Tweeter Materials
Marine tweeters produce high audio sound frequencies that will cut through the elements that are out in the marine environment. Marine grade tweeters typically come in three styles: silk, polyetherimide (PEI), and aluminum. Here’s how they compare:
Silk-Dome Tweeters Silk-dome tweeters are not found on many marine speakers, but there are some, like the JL Audio M3 and M6, that come with specially treated, silk-dome tweeters. A silk dome tweeter is going to be rich, warm, and well- balanced. Typically silk-dome tweeters tweeters are found on higher-end speakers that require more power than PEI and aluminum dome tweeters. Many home theater speakers use silk-dome or other soft dome materials as they tend to play more accurate than hard dome tweeters.
PEI Dome Tweeters PEI dome tweeters are lightweight and and made of a plastic material. PEI tweeters are going to play brighter than silk-dome tweeters, but not as bright as aluminum. Speakers with PEI dome tweeters usually do not require as much power as speakers with aluminum and silk dome tweeters. Speakers with PEI dome tweeters are usually more affordable than silk dome and aluminum dome speakers. PEI dome tweeters give you a nice bright sound that will cut through the ambient noise of the marine environment at an affordable price point.
Aluminum Dome Tweeters Aluminum dome tweeters are the most popular among higher end marine speakers. Usually these tweeters are larger, they play louder, and they play brighter. The loud, bright, high-frequency response is ideal in a marine environment because your speakers tend to play louder and the highs really cut through any wind, water, and engine noise. The aluminum material also stands up to the marine environment really well. Since they are made of non-corrosive metal, they tend to last longer than PEI tweeters.
Silk-Dome Tweeters Silk-dome tweeters are not found on many marine speakers, but there are some, like the JL Audio M3 and M6, that come with specially treated, silk-dome tweeters. A silk dome tweeter is going to be rich, warm, and well- balanced. Typically silk-dome tweeters tweeters are found on higher-end speakers that require more power than PEI and aluminum dome tweeters. Many home theater speakers use silk-dome or other soft dome materials as they tend to play more accurate than hard dome tweeters.
PEI Dome Tweeters PEI dome tweeters are lightweight and and made of a plastic material. PEI tweeters are going to play brighter than silk-dome tweeters, but not as bright as aluminum. Speakers with PEI dome tweeters usually do not require as much power as speakers with aluminum and silk dome tweeters. Speakers with PEI dome tweeters are usually more affordable than silk dome and aluminum dome speakers. PEI dome tweeters give you a nice bright sound that will cut through the ambient noise of the marine environment at an affordable price point.
Aluminum Dome Tweeters Aluminum dome tweeters are the most popular among higher end marine speakers. Usually these tweeters are larger, they play louder, and they play brighter. The loud, bright, high-frequency response is ideal in a marine environment because your speakers tend to play louder and the highs really cut through any wind, water, and engine noise. The aluminum material also stands up to the marine environment really well. Since they are made of non-corrosive metal, they tend to last longer than PEI tweeters.