Hertz SV 165 NEO – 6.5" SPL Neodymium Midrange Speaker

Hertz SV 165 NEO — Lightweight 6.5″ SPL Midrange for High-Output Harley Systems

The Hertz SV 165 NEO is a high-efficiency 6.5″ SPL midrange built for Harley riders who want strong, focused vocal projection without adding unnecessary weight to the fairing. At just 0.9 kg (1.98 lb) per driver, with a lightweight neodymium motor, a genuinely shallow 57.1 mm mounting depth, and outstanding sensitivity, it is ideal for multi-amp front stages and custom high-volume touring builds.

Key Features

• High-efficiency SPL midrange designed for loud, clear vocals at highway speeds.
• Lightweight neodymium N38 H magnet brings the driver down to 0.9 kg (1.98 lb) — about 51% lighter than the 1.85 kg ferrite SV 165.1, or roughly 1.9 kg saved per pair off the fairing.
• Shallow 57.1 mm mounting depth (65.2 mm total depth including the flange) for easier installation in tight Harley fairings.
• 97 dB sensitivity provides high output with moderate amplifier power.
• 100–10,000 Hz response covers the essential vocal and instrument band.
• Pressed-paper cone with treated surround delivers controlled midrange at volume.

Why It Works on Harleys

• Reduced magnet weight lowers stress on Street Glide and Road Glide fairings — a pair of NEOs puts around 1.9 kg less hanging mass on the fairing than a pair of SV 165.1s, which matters for both mounting hardware and handling.
• Excellent clarity cuts through wind, pipes, and open-road noise.
• Ideal for active systems using separate tweeters and mid-bass drivers.
• Genuinely shallow design — 57.1 mm behind the mounting surface, nearly 9 mm shallower than the 66 mm SV 165.1, which is often the difference between clearing and not clearing in a tight upper-fairing pod.

Recommended System Use

• High-Pass Filter (MAA recommendation): we recommend 200 Hz at 12 dB/octave. This is our own installation advice, not a Hertz specification: Hertz publishes no high-pass condition against the SV 165 NEO's 150 W continuous rating. It does print exactly that condition (hi-pass filtered at 200 Hz, 12 dB/octave) against the continuous rating of the ferrite SV 165.1, and we consider it the sensible starting point for the NEO as well.
• Why not lower: this is a high-output midrange with only 1.5 mm Xmax, not a mid-bass driver. Hertz publishes an Fs of 120 Hz on the NEO tech sheet (the Hertz web listing shows 110 Hz, so treat the figure as approximate either way). Crossing at or near resonance while feeding it close to full power pushes the cone past its linear travel, and that is what destroys these drivers. Keeping the high-pass well clear of Fs is what makes the full power rating usable.
• Amplifier Power: 100 to 150 W RMS, with the 200 Hz high-pass in place. Run it lower than 200 Hz and you should back the power off accordingly.
• Low-Pass Filter: 3,500–5,000 Hz when paired with separate tweeters
• Note: This is a dedicated midrange. Tweeters are required for full-range playback, and a separate mid-bass driver or subwoofer should carry everything below the high-pass point.

Fitment

• Optimised for Harley-Davidson Touring upper fairings
• Requires a 143.3 mm (5.64 in) cutout and 57.1 mm mounting depth; overall frame diameter 167.2 mm (6.58 in), total depth 65.2 mm
• Suitable for custom fairing pods, lowers, or multi-driver setups
• Recommended for DSP-driven systems with dedicated crossovers

Specifications

Specifications per Hertz published technical documentation.

Choosing Between SV 165.1 and SV 165 NEO?

• Choose SV 165 NEO for lighter weight and easier fitment: 0.9 kg against 1.85 kg, and 57.1 mm mounting depth against 66 mm. That is roughly half the weight and nearly 9 mm less depth for the same 97 dB sensitivity and 150 W RMS.
• Choose SV 165.1 when cost is more important than weight savings and you have the fairing depth to spare.

Need System Advice?

For multi-driver or multi-amp front stages, we can help you match the right tweeters, mid-bass drivers, DSP settings, and amplifier power to get maximum performance from the SV 165 NEO.