Hertz MLK 1650.3 Review: The Mille Legend Set With a Five-Switch Crossover
Updated: Oct 6
The Hertz MLK 1650.3 is the 6.5-inch two-way component set that Hertz promotes as the winner of EISA's European In-Car Speaker System award for 2015-2016: ML 1650.3 woofers, ML 280.3 tweeters with 35 mm Tetolon domes, and MLCX 2 TW.3 crossovers carrying five switches, including a bi-amp mode. Hertz rates it at 150 W continuous (300 W peak) into 4 Ω. With an Indian MRP of ₹1,09,990 it is the most expensive Hertz speaker system we list, ₹20,000 above the simpler MLK 165.3. It suits owners who want to tune or bi-amp a passive front stage without a DSP. See today's price on our MLK 1650.3 product page.
Key takeaways
The crossover is the star: two crossover points, Mid-Contour, Hi-Contour, Hi-Boost, tweeter level and a bi-amp switch.
The most reviewed Mille Legend set we found: PASMAG, AudioReview and the EISA jury all speak well of its sound, though Hertz hosts the last two.
The caveats: PASMAG heard slight thickness in the upper midrange, and AudioReview found the Hi-Boost effect light.
Plan the ML 280.3 tweeter's mounting carefully; one reviewer had to build a bracket to hold it.
Hertz MLK 1650.3 specifications
Specification | Hertz MLK 1650.3 |
|---|---|
Type | 6.5-inch (165 mm) two-way component system |
Woofer | ML 1650.3, 36 mm CCAW voice coil, pressed pulp with cotton fibres |
Tweeter | ML 280.3, 35 mm Tetolon fibre dome, neodymium magnet |
Crossover | MLCX 2 TW.3: 6 dB/octave woofer, 12 dB/octave tweeter |
Crossover point | 2.5 kHz (contours on) or 3.5 kHz (contours off) |
Adjustments | Tweeter level +2 / 0 / -2 dB; Mid-Contour; Hi-Contour; Hi-Boost; bi-amp |
Impedance | 4 Ω |
Power handling | 150 W continuous / 300 W peak |
Frequency response | 40 Hz – 25 kHz |
Sensitivity | 92 dB (system); woofer 93 dB |
Woofer Fs / Qts / Vas | 65 Hz / 0.47 / 8.3 litres |
Woofer mounting depth / cutout | 69 mm / 141 mm |
Weights | Woofer 1.29 kg; tweeter 0.1 kg; crossover 0.57 kg |
Crossover size | 195 x 119 x 41 mm |
India MRP | ₹1,09,990 |
Figures come from Hertz's MLK 1650.3 product page, with crossover details from the MLCX 2 TW.3 tech sheet and woofer dimensions from the ML 1650.3 sheet. Hertz quotes 40 Hz to 25 kHz for the set; the 28 kHz figure sometimes seen applies to the ML 280.3 tweeter on its own.
Five switches, and what each one does
The MLCX 2 TW.3 gives you five settings, a flexibility that the EISA citation, published by Hertz, praises for adapting the set to different cars:
Mid-Contour adjusts the mid-bass response to suit the woofer's position.
Hi-Contour adapts the tweeter's high-pass filter to its position and angle. With both contours on, the crossover point drops from 3.5 kHz to 2.5 kHz.
Hi-Boost improves the tweeter's response above 10 kHz when it is mounted off-axis to the listener.
Tweeter level has three steps: +2, 0 and -2 dB.
Bi-amp separates the woofer and tweeter sections so each can have its own amplifier channel.
The woofer section uses a gentle 6 dB/octave slope and the tweeter section 12 dB/octave. Hertz builds the network with bi-metallised polyester capacitors, air-wound copper inductors and wirewound resistors.
The ML 1650.3 woofer and ML 280.3 tweeter
The woofer's pressed-pulp cone with cotton fibres uses Hertz's V-cone profile, on a Boundary Free butyl surround and a three-spoke aluminium basket. A neodymium magnet and a 36 mm two-layer coil on a polyamide former drive it. The tweeter is a 35 mm Tetolon fibre dome with a 900 Hz resonance, rated on its own from 1 kHz to 28 kHz.
Passive, bi-amped or active
Run passively, it needs one stereo pair of channels, up to Hertz's 150 W continuous rating. Bi-amped, each side takes two channels, so a four-channel amplifier drives the front stage alone. Zapco's Z-150.4 AP, rated at 4 x 150 W into 4 Ω, provides those four channels at the set's rated power. Going fully active with a DSP bypasses the passive networks; in that case the ML 1650.3 woofer and ML 280.3 tweeter can be bought separately.
What owners and reviewers say about the Hertz MLK 1650.3
When we checked in October 2026, the best evidence came from magazines. In a December 2018 listening test, PASMAG described the sound as very smooth and warm, with bass guitar and drums carrying natural timbre. After raising the tweeter level and engaging Hi-Boost and Mid-Contour, the top end became better defined while staying free of harshness. The review praised the build and said the crossover offered more adjustment than any the reviewer had tested in a while. The caveat was a slight chestiness in the upper midrange on female vocals and acoustic guitar, plus a personal preference for more sparkle up top.
Italy's AudioReview tested the set in April 2015; Hertz hosts the article, so read it as a favourable selection. Listening in the reviewer's car, it found full, generous sound with deep, fast and well-controlled bass, precise imaging and a tweeter that blends in without fatigue. It thought the Hi-Boost effect a little light, and its lab measured the woofer at 91.47 dB sensitivity, below Hertz's 93 dB. The tweeter opening in the reviewer's car could not hold the ML 280.3, so about two hours went into making a bracket.
The EISA citation on Hertz's site praises low distortion, a natural and warm sound and wide dynamics; that is manufacturer-published. We found no owner reviews: OnlineCarStereo listed none and Crutchfield's review page would not load. If you own a set, tell us how it performs.
Hertz MLK 1650.3 vs MLK 165.3 and JL Audio C6-650
The Hertz MLK 165.3 (₹89,990 MRP) shares the power rating and quoted response but uses different drivers and a simpler crossover, fixed at 3.5 kHz with tweeter level and Hi-Contour only and no bi-amp switch listed. The extra ₹20,000 buys the switchable network and the set the magazines actually tested. Hertz also designed the MLCX 2 TW.3 to work with its 7-inch ML 1800.3 woofer if your doors can take one.
JL Audio's passive C6-650 (₹1,24,990 MRP) is rated at 100 W continuous, and JL lists a tweeter level control for its crossover. The Hertz costs ₹15,000 less, carries a higher power rating and offers more passive adjustment.
Who should buy it, and who shouldn't
Buy the MLK 1650.3 if you want a passive set you can genuinely tune to your car, you may bi-amp it later, and you value a smooth, natural presentation of the kind PASMAG describes.
Look elsewhere if you like a bright, sparkling top end, or you want Mille Legend drivers for less, in which case the MLK 165.3 is the obvious step down.
Installation notes for Indian cars
The woofer needs 69 mm of depth and a 141 mm cutout; check window clearance and use an adapter ring where the factory opening differs. A damped, sealed door makes the most of its mid-bass, and our sound damping guide covers the job.
Plan the tweeter mounting first. The ML 280.3 needs 13.5 mm of depth and a mount that holds it firmly, as AudioReview's bracket shows; set the Hi-Contour and Hi-Boost switches to suit its final position. Mount the large crossovers somewhere dry, accessible and free of rattles. VA3 Car Studio offers professional installation in Ghaziabad.
Price and where to buy
The Hertz MLK 1650.3 carries an MRP of ₹1,09,990 for the full set of woofers, tweeters, crossovers and grilles. VA3 Car Studio often sells below MRP, so check the current offer on the MLK 1650.3 product page. Every set we sell is a genuine Hertz product.
The bottom line
The MLK 1650.3 earns its place at the top of the Hertz speaker range we sell through its crossover as much as its drivers. PASMAG, AudioReview and an EISA citation (the last two Hertz-hosted) describe a smooth, natural, well-controlled sound, with a slightly full upper midrange as the main reservation. Give it good power, careful tweeter mounting and time with the switches.
Hertz MLK 1650.3 FAQ
Is the Hertz MLK 1650.3 worth the extra over the MLK 165.3?
If you want to tune or bi-amp a passive system, yes. The extra money buys a crossover with Mid-Contour, Hi-Boost, a 2.5 kHz option and a bi-amp switch, plus different drivers. If a DSP will do your tuning, the cheaper MLK 165.3 may be enough.
What do the MLK 1650.3 crossover switches do?
Mid-Contour shapes the mid-bass for the woofer position, Hi-Contour adapts the tweeter filter to its placement, and both together lower the crossover from 3.5 to 2.5 kHz. Hi-Boost improves off-axis treble above 10 kHz, tweeter level moves 2 dB either way, and the bi-amp switch splits the sections.
Can I bi-amp the MLK 1650.3?
Yes. The MLCX 2 TW.3 crossover has a bi-amp switch, so each woofer and tweeter can have its own amplifier channel. A bi-amped set needs four channels, one for each woofer and tweeter, which a four-channel amplifier can provide.
Buy Hertz Speakers in India
Check the Hertz MLK 1650.3 Mille Legend 6.5 Inch 2-Way Component price in India, browse more Hertz speakers or compare all component speakers in India. Want it fitted properly? Book component speaker installation at our Ghaziabad studio.
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