Hertz ML 1650.3 Review: The MLK 1650.3's Woofer, Sold Alone for Active Builds
Updated: Oct 6
The Hertz ML 1650.3 is the 6.5-inch (165 mm) Mille Legend woofer sold on its own, without tweeters or crossovers. It is the woofer in Hertz's MLK 1650.3 kit, which Hertz promotes as an EISA award winner. It has a neodymium motor, a 36 mm voice coil and 93 dB sensitivity, and is rated at 125 W continuous (250 W peak) into 4 Ω and from 40 Hz to 6.5 kHz. Its Indian MRP is ₹69,990, and it is sized for standard 6.5-inch locations, needing 69 mm of depth. It suits active builders who want a Legend woofer for a DSP-run front stage. See today's price on our ML 1650.3 product page.
Key takeaways
The woofer from the MLK 1650.3 kit, sold alone: you need a DSP with an amplifier channel per driver, or a passive crossover.
Standard 6.5-inch fitment: 69 mm of depth and a 141 mm cutout on Hertz's drawing.
AudioReview's lab, in an article Hertz hosts, measured a 62.8 Hz resonance, close to Hertz's 65 Hz, and 91.47 dB sensitivity, below Hertz's 93 dB.
We found no owner reviews of the bare woofer; the magazine verdicts cover it as part of the kit.
Hertz ML 1650.3 specifications
Specification | Hertz ML 1650.3 |
|---|---|
Type | 6.5-inch (165 mm) woofer, sold without crossover |
Impedance | 4 Ω |
Power handling | 125 W continuous / 250 W peak |
Sensitivity | 93 dB |
Frequency response | 40 Hz – 6.5 kHz |
Voice coil | 36 mm, two-layer CCAW on a polyamide former |
Magnet | Neodymium |
Cone | Pressed pulp with cotton fibres, V-cone profile |
Xmax / Xmech | ±5 mm / ±9 mm |
Fs / Qts / Vas | 65 Hz / 0.47 / 8.3 litres |
Mounting depth | 69 mm |
Cutout diameter | 141 mm |
Weight | 1.29 kg |
Grille | Die-cast aluminium, included |
India MRP | ₹69,990 |
Figures come from Hertz's official ML 1650.3 tech sheet. Depth and cutout are dimensions D and B on Hertz's drawing; the depth matches our listing.
Why buy the woofer on its own?
There are two good reasons. The first is an active system, where a DSP divides the signal and each driver has its own amplifier channel. Here the bare woofer is exactly what you need, paired with the ML 280.3 tweeter in a two-way or with the ML 700.3 midrange and ML 280.3 in a three-way. JL Audio's VX600/6i, a six-channel amplifier with built-in DSP rated at 75 W per channel into 4 Ω, covers an active front three-way.
The second is replacing or adding to an existing Legend system. If you simply want a passive two-way, though, look at the MLK 1650.3 kit first. It pairs this woofer with ML 280.3 tweeters and Hertz's MLCX 2 TW.3 crossovers (MRP ₹1,09,990 for the set).
How it is built
Hertz developed the motor with FEA simulation: a neodymium magnet between low-carbon CNC-machined plates, and an aluminium-covered pole that, Hertz says, keeps impedance linear and distortion low. The 36 mm coil is wound in two layers of copper-clad aluminium on a polyamide former, and Hertz says it handles high power without compression.
The cone is pressed pulp with cotton fibres, which Hertz says limits break-up at high frequencies, in Hertz's exponential V-cone shape, which it says is optimised for linearity and dispersion in the midrange. Hertz says the Boundary Free butyl surround gives better efficiency and a wider mid-bass range. The three-spoke aluminium basket is vented, and a die-cast aluminium grille is included.
Crossover points and power
Hertz rates the woofer to 6.5 kHz. In the MLK kit its passive network crosses at 2.5 or 3.5 kHz with a 6 dB/octave woofer slope, and Hertz rates the matching ML 280.3 tweeter with a 1.8 kHz high-pass. An active crossover between about 2 and 3.5 kHz therefore keeps both drivers within published limits; tune by ear and measurement from there. With 125 W continuous handling, a 75 W channel of the kind the VX600/6i offers leaves headroom. If you are new to processors, our guide to why a DSP matters explains the basics.
What owners and reviewers say about the Hertz ML 1650.3
When we checked in October 2026, we found no owner reviews of the woofer sold alone; Crutchfield has a review page for it, but it would not load for us. The magazine coverage comes from tests of the MLK 1650.3 kit and the 7-inch ML 1800.3, so read it as related evidence.
AudioReview's April 2015 kit test, which Hertz hosts, measured this woofer at 62.8 Hz resonance, 11.74 litres Vas (Hertz quotes 8.3) and 91.47 dB sensitivity, and its listening notes for the full kit describe deep, fast, well-controlled bass and precise imaging. PASMAG's December 2018 review of the kit praised natural timbre on bass guitar and drums, but heard slight chestiness in the upper midrange. In AudioReview's 2015 test of the 7-inch ML 1800.3, also hosted by Hertz, the reviewer heard more control and freer bass from the bigger woofer than from this one. If you run the ML 1650.3 on its own, we would like to hear from you.
Hertz ML 1650.3 vs ML 1800.3
The ML 1800.3 (₹89,990 MRP) is the 7-inch alternative, with a 50 mm coil, a 200 W continuous rating and a 60 Hz resonance. It needs 76 mm of depth and usually a custom mount in a 6.5-inch door. The ML 1650.3's strengths are fit and price: it suits standard 6.5-inch locations with less depth and costs ₹20,000 less. Its ±5 mm Xmax is also slightly more than the 7-inch's ±4 mm, although the larger cone of the ML 1800.3 offsets that.
Who should buy it, and who shouldn't
Buy the ML 1650.3 if you are building an active two-way or three-way with a DSP, your doors take a standard 6.5-inch driver, or you are adding to a Legend system you already own.
Look elsewhere if you want a passive two-way, since the MLK 1650.3 kit includes the crossovers, or if your doors can take a 7-inch driver and you want more power handling from the ML 1800.3.
Installation notes for Indian cars
Measure the opening and depth before ordering: Hertz's drawing gives a 141 mm cutout and 69 mm depth, and many doors need an adapter ring. Check window clearance with the glass fully down. Damp the outer door skin and seal large holes in the inner panel so the woofer is not fighting its own back wave; our sound damping guide covers this. Choose moisture-resistant rings, as doors let in water during the monsoon. VA3 Car Studio offers professional installation in Ghaziabad.
Price and where to buy
The Hertz ML 1650.3 carries an MRP of ₹69,990. VA3 Car Studio often sells below MRP, so check the current offer on the ML 1650.3 product page. The listing includes the die-cast grilles; tweeters, crossovers and amplification are separate. Every unit we sell is a genuine Hertz product.
The bottom line
The ML 1650.3 is the woofer from Hertz's 6.5-inch MLK 1650.3 kit, offered on its own for builders who want to choose their own crossover. It suits standard locations, but the listening impressions we found, from PASMAG and a Hertz-hosted AudioReview test, describe the full kit rather than this woofer alone. If you want a passive system, the kit is the simpler route; for an active front stage built around a DSP, this is the woofer to start with.
Hertz ML 1650.3 FAQ
Is the Hertz ML 1650.3 the same woofer as in the MLK 1650.3 kit?
Yes. Hertz's MLK 1650.3 kit is made up of ML 1650.3 woofers, ML 280.3 tweeters and MLCX 2 TW.3 crossovers. Buying the woofer alone makes sense for active systems or for adding to an existing Legend setup.
Does the ML 1650.3 need a crossover?
Yes. It is rated from 40 Hz to 6.5 kHz and comes without a crossover, so it needs either a DSP with its own amplifier channel or a passive network such as Hertz's MLCX 2 TW.3, which is designed for it.
Will the ML 1650.3 fit a standard 6.5-inch door location?
In most cases, with an adapter ring. Hertz's drawing gives a 141 mm cutout and 69 mm mounting depth. Measure your door's opening and the window clearance first, or ask us to check fitment for your car.
Buy Hertz Speakers in India
You can buy the Hertz ML 1650.3 Mille Legend 6.5 Inch Component Woofer online from VA3 Car Studio with pan-India shipping. See more Hertz speakers, compare other midrange and midbass speakers, or book a speaker upgrade in Ghaziabad.
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