DS18 GTX1 Review: 3-Inch Titanium Super Bullet Tweeter, 98 dB, 3 kHz High-Pass
The DS18 GTX1 is a 3-inch (75 mm) die-cast aluminium compression super bullet tweeter with a neodymium magnet, a titanium diaphragm and a 1-inch voice coil. DS18 gives it three power ratings, 60 W AES, 120 W program and 240 W peak, and our listing writes the 120 W figure as 120 W RMS (program). At ₹5,990 MRP, sold as a single piece, it suits a buyer who is building an active front stage and wants a small flush-mount tweeter for a pod or baffle. You can see it on our DS18 GTX1 product page.
Quick summary
DS18's page title calls the 120 W figure RMS, but its spec table and manual label it program power, and the manual never says RMS. The 60 W AES and 240 W peak figures are not RMS.
The published response is 3 kHz to 20 kHz at 98 dB, with a recommended 3 kHz high-pass. DS18's page and manual do not state that a crossover is supplied.
It is a flush mount with a 57.3 mm (2.26 in) cut-out and 37 mm of mounting depth, and DS18 lists a grille.
DS18's shop shows two reviews, one enthusiastic and one reporting a crossover problem, and we found no independent reviews.
DS18 GTX1 specifications
Specification | DS18 GTX1 |
|---|---|
Type | 3-inch compression super bullet tweeter, sold as a single piece |
Impedance | 4 ohm |
Program power (our listing: 120 W RMS (program)) | 120 W |
AES power (DS18 rating) | 60 W |
Peak power (DS18 rating, not RMS) | 240 W |
Sensitivity (1 W / 1 m) | 98 dB |
Frequency response | 3 kHz – 20 kHz |
Recommended high-pass crossover | 3 kHz |
Voice coil | 25.4 mm (1 in), Kapton former, KSV winding |
Diaphragm | Titanium |
Magnet | Neodymium |
Body | Die-cast aluminium |
Mounting | Flush mount with grille |
Cut-out diameter | 57.3 mm (2.26 in) |
Mounting depth | 37 mm (1.46 in) |
Overall diameter / depth | 75 mm (2.95 in) / 49.9 mm (1.96 in) |
Replacement part | DS18 GTX1VC (per DS18's page) |
Crossover or capacitor supplied | Not stated by DS18's page or manual |
India MRP | ₹5,990 |
Figures come from our listing, checked against DS18's GTX1 product page and its owner's manual (manufacturer material, so promotional).
Reading 60 W AES, 120 W program and 240 W peak
DS18 labels this tweeter's power in more than one way. Its page title and key features say 120W RMS with 240 Watts Peak, but its spec table and manual call the same 120 W Program Power Handling, and the manual never uses the word RMS. That is why our listing writes 120 W RMS (program). The manual also gives 60 W AES, and the 240 W peak figure is not an RMS number.
Our own view, not DS18's, is that the lowest of the three, 60 W AES, is the figure to keep in mind when setting gain, and that a clean signal matters more than any rating. DS18's help page describes clipping as the distortion that follows overdriving an amplifier, and its warranty page lists use outside recommended parameters (overpowering is its example) and distortion or clipping from improper tuning among its exclusions.
The 3 kHz high-pass and the crossover question
DS18 publishes a 3 kHz to 20 kHz response and recommends a 3 kHz high-pass. Neither its page nor its manual states that a crossover or capacitor is supplied, so plan the filter yourself: a DSP, an amplifier with an adjustable high-pass, or a separate passive crossover. We would treat the high-pass as part of the setup, not an option.
Our article on why a DSP matters in a car system explains what a DSP adds, and VA3 Car Studio does DSP tuning. The 98 dB figure is DS18's rating under its own test conditions; we have not measured it. The mid-range drivers we list publish upper limits of 8 kHz to 16 kHz, so a mid-range and this tweeter overlap, and where they hand over is a tuning decision.
What owners and reviewers say about the DS18 GTX1
When we checked in October 2026, the only buyer feedback we could read was two undated reviews on DS18's own shop page. One reviewer is enthusiastic, saying they are the best tweeters ever and that they will buy only DS18 from now on. The other says they are great except that the crossover did not work, without saying which crossover was used.
The rating breakdown splits the two reviews 50% and 50% across two bars that the text does not label. Neither review says which amplifier, crossover or enclosure was used, two reviews are a very small sample, and DS18's shop does not say how it moderates reviews. We found no forum threads or independent retailer reviews we could read, and large marketplaces such as Amazon block automated reading. If you own one, tell us how it behaves in your car.
DS18 GTX1 compared with the PRO-X6.4BMPK tweeters
The tweeters in the DS18 PRO-X6.4BMPK combo (₹17,990 MRP for the package) are the PRO-TWX1/BK. They carry the same three power numbers, 60 W AES, 120 W program and 240 W peak, but list 103 dB, a 3.5 kHz to 20 kHz response, a 2 kHz recommended high-pass and an aluminium diaphragm, against 98 dB, 3 kHz to 20 kHz, 3 kHz and titanium here. The combo's package manual lists a 3.3 uF filter as included, and its tweeter cut-out is 70 mm against 57.3 mm for the GTX1.
If you are choosing a mid-range to go with it, our reviews of the DS18 6XL600-4 and DS18 6XL650NB-4 cover 6.5-inch drivers whose published response reaches 12.5 kHz.
Who should buy it, and who shouldn't
Buy it if you have a DSP or an amplifier that can set a high-pass at or above DS18's recommended 3 kHz, and you want a small flush-mount tweeter with a titanium diaphragm for a pod or baffle.
Look elsewhere if you need a crossover supplied in the box, since DS18's page and manual do not say one is, or if you want a matched pair in a single listing, since this one is a single piece.
Installation notes for Indian cars
Measure before ordering. DS18 lists a 57.3 mm cut-out, 37 mm of mounting depth, a 75 mm overall diameter and 49.9 mm of overall depth, flush mounted with a grille. Tweeter positions such as an A-pillar, dash corner or door sail panel often need a custom pod or baffle, and VA3 Car Studio builds speaker pods and door baffles and offers professional installation in Ghaziabad.
Keep the wiring tidy, keep the polarity the same on both tweeters, and have the level set during tuning. DS18 says the GTX1 can be repaired with its GTX1VC replacement part.
Price and where to buy
The DS18 GTX1 carries an India MRP of ₹5,990 and is sold as a single piece, so a pair means two (₹11,980 at MRP). VA3 Car Studio often sells below MRP, so check the current offer on the GTX1 product page. Warranty terms are DS18's own, and its warranty page does not say how they apply to purchases outside the US, so confirm the India terms with us before you buy.
The bottom line
The GTX1 is a small flush-mount tweeter with a titanium diaphragm, and the care it needs is mostly in reading its labels and filtering it. Keep 60 W AES, 120 W program and 240 W peak apart, plan the 3 kHz high-pass yourself, and measure the 57.3 mm opening before you order.
DS18 GTX1 FAQ
How much power does the DS18 GTX1 handle?
DS18's spec table and manual give 60 W AES, 120 W program and 240 W peak, and its page title calls the 120 W figure RMS. The 240 W peak figure is not RMS, so do not compare an amplifier's output with it.
Does the GTX1 come with a crossover?
Neither DS18's product page nor its manual states that a crossover or capacitor is supplied. DS18 recommends a 3 kHz high-pass, so plan to set one with a DSP, an amplifier filter or a separate crossover.
What cut-out does the GTX1 need?
DS18 lists a 57.3 mm (2.26 in) cut-out, 37 mm of mounting depth and a 75 mm overall diameter for the flush-mount design. Check them against your mounting position, and ask us about fitment before ordering.
Is the GTX1 sold as a pair?
No. Our listing is for a single piece at ₹5,990 MRP, so a stereo pair means buying two, which comes to ₹11,980 at MRP.
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