Hertz CX 165 Review: A Sensitive Cento Coaxial for Factory Head Units
Updated: Oct 7
The Hertz CX 165 is a 6.5-inch (165 mm) two-way coaxial speaker from Hertz's mid-range Cento line, rated at 70 W continuous and 210 W peak with 93 dB sensitivity. Its Indian MRP is ₹12,990, the lowest of the Cento and Cento Pro speakers we sell. It is aimed at owners replacing factory door speakers who want a clear step up on head-unit power, with the option of adding an amplifier later. See today's price on our Hertz CX 165 product page.
Quick summary
A drop-in coaxial with a 24 mm Tetolon dome tweeter on a pivoting RHFC mount that can be aimed at the listener.
At 93 dB, it is the most sensitive of the Cento and Cento Pro speakers we sell, which suits factory head units.
Hertz lists 62.5 mm for both of its depth dimensions, against 84.5 mm and 65.5 mm printed for the Cento Pro CPX 165 without saying which is the mounting depth.
We found no owner reviews to report, only sponsored commentary.
Hertz CX 165 specifications
Specification | Hertz CX 165 |
|---|---|
Type | 6.5-inch (165 mm) two-way coaxial |
Impedance | 4 Ω |
Power handling | 70 W continuous, 210 W peak |
Sensitivity | 93 dB |
Frequency response | 55 Hz – 22 kHz |
Tweeter | 24 mm Tetolon fibre dome, neodymium magnet, 13 mm ferrofluid-cooled voice coil |
Woofer cone | SPP-M (semi-pressed paper with mica) |
Woofer voice coil | 25 mm on an aluminium former |
Magnet | Ferrite, 85 x 32 x 15 mm |
Xmax | 3.5 mm |
Mounting depth | 62.5 mm |
Weight | 0.95 kg |
Grille | Optional CG 165, sold separately |
India MRP | ₹12,990 |
Figures come from Hertz's official CX 165 page, with the MRP from our listing.
What you get in a CX 165
The woofer cone is SPP-M, semi-pressed paper with mica powder blended in. Paper keeps the cone light, and the mica adds stiffness and internal damping, so the cone is less prone to ringing in the upper midrange where voices live. It is driven by a 25 mm voice coil on an aluminium former and a ferrite magnet with low-carbon polar plates, in a three-spoke basket with a rubber magnet cover.
The tweeter is a 24 mm soft dome in Tetolon fibre with a neodymium magnet, and its 13 mm voice coil is cooled with ferrofluid to cope with heat. Hertz's RHFC (Rotary High Frequency Contour) mount lets the tweeter be rotated towards the listener, and the faceplate shape is FEM-optimised for off-axis installation. That matters because a coaxial in a lower door panel fires at your knees, and aiming the tweeter is often the difference between dull and clear vocals.
Factory head unit or amplifier?
Sensitivity decides how loud a speaker plays from a given amount of power, and 93 dB is high for a 6.5-inch. On a factory or aftermarket head unit, that sensitivity makes the most of limited power. The limit is the head unit itself: its small built-in amplifier runs out of clean power at higher volume, and the first sign is harshness as it clips.
An amplifier removes that ceiling. With 70 W continuous handling, a small two-channel amp such as the Zapco ST-2B, at 65 W per channel into 4 Ω, is a sensible match for a front pair, and it accepts OEM speaker-level input. For front, rear and a subwoofer from one chassis, the Zapco ST-5B offers four 70 W channels plus a 250 W sub channel at 4 Ω. Once a sub is added, high-pass the CX 165 around 80 Hz so the 3.5 mm of Xmax goes into midbass rather than deep bass it can't reproduce.
What owners and reviewers say about the Hertz CX 165
When we checked in October 2026, we could not find owner reviews of the CX 165 that we could read. OnlineCarStereo's listing has none, Crutchfield's review section did not load for us, Sonic Electronix and Amazon blocked access, and Team-BHP and Reddit searches found nothing specific. One blog post titled as a CX 165 review described materials this speaker doesn't use, so we disregarded it.
What remains is promotional. BestCarAudio's 2019 Cento speakers spotlight, labelled a sponsored post, describes the mica-filled SPP-M cones and says the rotary tweeter mount lets an installer angle the tweeters towards the driver and passenger. It makes no listening claims. If you own a pair, we would like to hear how they perform in your car.
CX 165 vs CPX 165 and CK 165
The Cento Pro Hertz CPX 165 (₹19,990 MRP) is the step-up coaxial. Hertz rates it at 95 W continuous and 285 W peak, quotes a deeper 45 Hz lower limit, and uses a pressed-paper cone, a 20 mm tweeter voice coil and a vented motor. The trade-offs are a 92 dB sensitivity, slightly below the CX 165, and more depth: Hertz prints 84.5 mm and 65.5 mm without saying which is the mounting depth, against 62.5 mm for the CX 165. It makes most sense with an amplifier and a door that can take the depth.
The Cento Hertz CK 165 (₹24,990 MRP) is the component alternative: a separate 26 mm C 26 tweeter and an outboard CCX 2 crossover at 2.5 kHz, rated at 95 W continuous, with grilles included. Mounting the tweeter high on the dash or A-pillar lifts the soundstage in a way a door-mounted coaxial can't, at the cost of more installation work. If the budget is tighter, Hertz's Uno X 165 coaxial costs less.
Who should buy it, and who shouldn't
Buy the CX 165 if you are keeping the factory head unit and want a straightforward replacement for front or rear door speakers. It is also a good base for a system that gains an amplifier later.
Look elsewhere if you already plan a strong amplifier and want more power handling and deeper bass (the CPX 165), or care most about stereo imaging, where a component set such as the CK 165 places the tweeter higher.
Door fitment and installation in Indian cars
Check that your door takes a 6.5-inch speaker, then measure the depth behind the mounting surface, including window-glass travel; at 62.5 mm, it has a better chance of clearing the glass than deeper speakers. Factory openings and screw patterns vary, so many installs need an adapter bracket, and we can confirm what your car needs.
Door damping is the cheapest performance upgrade you can make with any 6.5-inch speaker. A thin, resonant door skin robs midbass and adds rattles, especially on rough roads; our guide to applying sound damping explains the process. Seal the speaker to the panel so the back wave stays inside the door, and keep water away from the rear of the cone during the monsoon. Aim the RHFC tweeter towards the listening position before closing the door trim. VA3 Car Studio offers professional installation in Ghaziabad.
Price and where to buy
The Hertz CX 165 carries an MRP of ₹12,990 in our listing. Check today's price on the CX 165 product page. The CG 165 grille is sold separately, and every speaker we sell is a genuine Hertz product.
The bottom line
This is the simplest Cento upgrade: a sensitive, shallow coaxial with a tweeter you can aim, priced below the rest of the Cento and Cento Pro speakers we sell. It won't match the imaging of a component set, and there are no owner reviews to lean on yet. In a damped door, on head-unit power or a small amplifier, it should be a clear improvement over factory speakers.
Hertz CX 165 FAQ
Can the Hertz CX 165 run on a factory head unit?
Yes. At 93 dB it is the most sensitive of the Cento and Cento Pro speakers we sell, so it makes good use of head-unit power. An amplifier delivering up to its 70 W continuous rating per channel lets it play louder without clipping.
What is the difference between the CX 165 and the CPX 165?
The Cento Pro CPX 165 handles 95 W continuous against 70 W, has a 45 Hz lower limit against 55 Hz and uses a pressed-paper cone. The CX 165 is slightly more sensitive (93 dB against 92 dB), cheaper and shallower (62.5 mm, against 65.5 mm or 84.5 mm for the CPX 165, as Hertz does not say which is its mounting depth).
Does the CX 165 come with grilles?
No. Hertz lists the CG 165 grille as an optional extra, sold separately. In most cars the factory door trim covers the speaker, so a grille is only needed where the speaker is exposed.
Buy the Hertz CX 165 Cento in India
You can buy the Hertz CX 165 Cento online from VA3 Car Studio with pan-India shipping. See more Hertz speakers, compare other coaxial speakers, or book a speaker upgrade in Ghaziabad.
Comments