Hertz CK 165 Review: The Cento Component Set, and How It Differs from the CK 165 L
Updated: Oct 6
The Hertz CK 165 is a 6.5-inch (165 mm) two-way component set from Hertz's mid-range Cento line: C 165 woofers, C 26 tweeters, CCX 2 crossovers and CG 165 grilles, rated at 95 W continuous and 285 W peak with a 92 dB woofer sensitivity. Its Indian MRP is ₹24,990, the same as its sibling, the CK 165 L, and below the Cento Pro CPK 165. It suits owners who want a proper front stage with the tweeter mounted high, on head-unit power to start or with an amplifier. See today's price on our Hertz CK 165 product page.
Quick summary
A true component set: separate 26 mm Tetolon tweeters and outboard CCX 2 crossovers at 2.5 kHz, 12 dB/octave, with grilles included.
The tweeter level switch (0 or +3 dB) helps when the tweeter sits off-axis.
The CK 165 L differs in its woofer cone, crossover design and ratings, not its tweeter; the details are below.
We found no owner reviews of this exact set to report.
Hertz CK 165 specifications
Specification | Hertz CK 165 |
|---|---|
Type | 6.5-inch two-way component system |
Parts | C 165 woofers, C 26 tweeters, CCX 2 crossovers, CG 165 grilles |
Impedance | 4 Ω |
Power handling | 95 W continuous, 285 W peak |
Woofer sensitivity | 92 dB |
Frequency response | 55 Hz – 22.5 kHz |
Woofer | SPP-M cone (semi-pressed paper with mica), 25 mm voice coil on aluminium former, ferrite magnet |
Tweeter | C 26: 26 mm Tetolon fibre soft dome, 20 mm voice coil, neodymium magnet |
Crossover | CCX 2: 2.5 kHz, 12 dB/octave |
Tweeter level | 0 / +3 dB |
Weights | Woofer 0.96 kg, tweeter 0.03 kg, crossover 0.185 kg |
India MRP | ₹24,990 |
Figures come from Hertz's official CK 165 page, with the MRP from our listing. Our listing quotes 93 dB sensitivity; Hertz's page gives 92 dB for the C 165 woofer, and we have used Hertz's figure. Hertz's page lists no woofer mounting depth or cutout.
The three parts of a CK 165
The C 165 woofer uses an SPP-M cone, semi-pressed paper with mica powder, which keeps the cone light while adding stiffness and damping. A 25 mm voice coil on an aluminium former and a ferrite magnet with low-carbon polar plates drive it.
The C 26 tweeter is a 26 mm soft dome in Tetolon fibre with a 20 mm voice coil and a neodymium magnet; soft domes are usually chosen for a smooth rather than sharp top end. The CCX 2 crossover splits the signal at 2.5 kHz with 12 dB/octave slopes, and our listing notes low-loss capacitors and pure copper inductors. Its tweeter level switch offers 0 or +3 dB. The boost is useful when the tweeter has to sit low or aim away from you, and best left at 0 dB when it is high and on-axis, especially if your windscreen already makes highs sound bright.
Factory head unit or amplifier?
A 92 dB woofer sensitivity is good for a component set, so the CK 165 can run from a factory or aftermarket head unit and will benefit from the better tweeter placement immediately. What a head unit can't do is supply clean power at higher volume; when its small amplifier clips, the tweeters are the first to suffer.
The set handles 95 W continuous, so an amplifier giving 65 to 75 W per channel is a comfortable match. The Zapco ST-2B gives 65 W per channel into 4 Ω and accepts OEM speaker-level input, which suits a factory touchscreen. For the whole car, the JL Audio JD700/5 pairs four 75 W channels with a subwoofer channel. Our guide on when a car needs an amplifier covers the basics, and high-passing the woofers around 80 Hz once a sub is added keeps them clean.
What owners and reviewers say about the Hertz CK 165
When we checked in October 2026, we could not find owner reviews of the CK 165 that we could read. OnlineCarStereo's listing shows none, Crutchfield's review section did not load for us, Sonic Electronix blocked access, and Team-BHP and Reddit searches turned up nothing specific to this set.
The only commentary we found is promotional. BestCarAudio's 2019 Cento speakers spotlight, a sponsored post, describes the 1-inch Tetolon tweeter and CCX 2 crossover and gives the conventional C 165 woofer's mounting depth as 2.46 inches. It describes the tweeter adjustment as 0 and -3 dB, which doesn't match Hertz's own 0 / +3 dB. We won't invent a verdict; if you own a CK 165, tell us how it sounds in your car.
CK 165 vs CK 165 L and CPK 165
The CK 165 L shares this set's ₹24,990 MRP and the same C 26 tweeter, and Hertz rates both woofers at 92 dB. The differences are in the woofer and the filtering. Its C 165 L woofer has a non-pressed paper (NPP) cone, where the CK 165 uses the mica-filled SPP-M cone. Instead of one CCX 2 network crossing at 2.5 kHz, the L uses separate woofer and tweeter crossovers that cross at 3.8 kHz, with a gentle 6 dB/octave woofer slope and a 12 dB/octave tweeter slope. Hertz rates the L at 100 W continuous and 300 W peak, against 95 W and 285 W, and quotes it down to 50 Hz, against 55 Hz.
The Cento Pro Hertz CPK 165 (₹29,990 MRP) is the step up: a pressed-paper CP 165 woofer on a butyl rubber surround, a larger 29 mm CP 25 tweeter, a CPCX 2 crossover at 2.8 kHz with a three-step tweeter level (-2, 0 or +2 dB), 105 W continuous and a 45 Hz lower limit. If separate tweeters are more work than you want, the Cento CX 165 coaxial costs about half as much.
Who should buy it, and who shouldn't
Buy the CK 165 if you want a component front stage with the tweeters up high, plan to start on head-unit power or a modest amplifier, and like a set that arrives with grilles and a simple level switch.
Look elsewhere if you need a drop-in replacement with no tweeter mounting (the CX 165), or want more power handling and a deeper rated low end (the CPK 165).
Installation notes for Indian cars
Hertz doesn't publish the C 165's mounting depth; the 2.46 inches (about 62.5 mm) quoted in BestCarAudio's spotlight is a useful guide, but measure your door, including window-glass travel, before ordering. Many installs need an adapter bracket. Damp the door skin while the trim is off, because a resonant door wastes the woofer's midbass and rattles on broken roads; our guide to applying sound damping explains how.
The tweeters are where a component set earns its price. If your car has a factory tweeter position in the A-pillar, sail panel or dash, it may take the C 26 with a little work; otherwise surface or custom mounts aimed across the cabin lift the soundstage to eye level. Mount the CCX 2 crossovers somewhere dry, not at the bottom of the door where water collects in the monsoon. VA3 Car Studio offers professional installation in Ghaziabad.
Price and where to buy
The CK 165 has an MRP of ₹24,990 in our listing, which includes woofers, tweeters, crossovers and grilles. Check today's price on the CK 165 product page. Every set we sell is a genuine Hertz product.
The bottom line
This is the classic Cento component set: a mica-filled paper woofer, a soft-dome tweeter you can mount high, a straightforward 2.5 kHz crossover and grilles in the box. It can run on head-unit power, and a modest amplifier gives it cleaner power at higher volume. With no owner reviews to report, you are buying on Hertz's specifications, and if you are choosing between this and the CK 165 L, the woofer cone and crossover design are what separate them.
Hertz CK 165 FAQ
What is the difference between the Hertz CK 165 and CK 165 L?
Both use the C 26 tweeter and cost ₹24,990. The CK 165 has a mica-filled SPP-M woofer and one CCX 2 crossover at 2.5 kHz. The CK 165 L has a non-pressed paper woofer, separate crossovers at 3.8 kHz, and slightly higher ratings: 100 W continuous and 50 Hz.
Can the CK 165 run on a factory head unit?
Yes. Hertz rates the woofer at 92 dB, which is efficient enough for head-unit power. An amplifier giving 65 to 75 W per channel lets the set play louder without the tweeters suffering from clipping.
Are grilles included with the CK 165?
Yes. Hertz includes CG 165 grilles with an ABS frame, metallic finish and protective metal mesh, along with the woofers, C 26 tweeters and CCX 2 crossovers.
Buy Hertz Speakers in India
You can buy the Hertz CK 165 Cento 6.5 Inch 2-Way Component Speaker online from VA3 Car Studio with pan-India shipping. See more Hertz speakers, compare other component speakers, or book component speaker installation in Ghaziabad.
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