The tweeter uses a lighter and smaller design than a woofer; often a convex dome (1 inch or less in diameter). This allows the speaker to move quickly to create higher frequency sounds. In this case, only sounds above 6000Hz are being played by the tweeter.

Midrange speaker have a diameter from 3 to 5 inches, to reproduce higher-bass and lower-treble frequencies. In this case, between 1000 and 6000Hz, making up the difference between the woofer and tweeter. Some speaker systems have woofers and tweeters with wider frequency response and therefore don't have this speaker.

A woofer is designed to move the large volume of air necessary to reproduce low frequencies. The cone is large (usually in a range from 8 to 12 inches) and/or able to make large movements. This bulk prevents the speaker from adequately reproducing higher frequencies. This speaker is only playing sounds below 1000Hz.

This is the original sound, with all frequencies intact. To see a demonstration of how multi-driver speaker systems work, click the ‘Speaker System Sound‘ play button to the right.

This demonstration mirrors how a multi-driver speaker system works, with 3 speakers. Right now you are hearing all three speakers play at the same time to reproduce the original sound exactly. Click on the different speakers to toggle their sound on or off and hear what each speaker contributes to the final sound.