how to wire 2 amps to a single dvc sub
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=106116
Printed Date: May 15, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Topic: how to wire 2 amps to a single dvc sub
Posted By: cr0d
Subject: how to wire 2 amps to a single dvc sub
Date Posted: July 14, 2008 at 10:04 AM
I am running 2 Alpine M500's and an IDQ12V3.D2. The sub is 2ohm but I am thinking I may need the 4ohm version to get a 2Ohm load. How would I wire this for the 2ohm load? I have looked everywhere for a diagram on this but I can't seem to find it. I initially wasn't comfortable running 2 amps on one Sub but Image Dynamics said to give each coil it's own amp for optimal performance.
Thank you for your help.
Replies:
Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: July 14, 2008 at 10:49 AM
Each voice coil on that subwoofer is a 2-ohm impedance. Your amps can handle 2-ohms, so simply connect one to each voice coil. Make sure the two amps are in phase and preferably receiving the exact same signal for best performance. Set your gain properly. ------------- Support the12volt.com
Posted By: cr0d
Date Posted: July 14, 2008 at 10:57 AM
Thank you, this is how I have it setup, amp setting are matched as well. I'm guessing I just received a bad sub.
Thank you very much for the response though, I just needed to hear from another source that I have it wired correctly.
Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: July 14, 2008 at 11:01 AM
Why do you think you've received a bad sub? Are you certain that both VCs are in phase and do you have the hookup polarity matched? ------------- Support the12volt.com
Posted By: cr0d
Date Posted: July 14, 2008 at 11:06 AM
I am certain the polarity is correct, I have triple checked and I also added an extra rca splitter to have both amps pulling from the same rca feed just to make sure they are pushing the same signal. I'm guessing that's what you mean by being in phase, but I'm not sure. If there is something else I can check before I go through the hassle of getting an exchange please let me know.
Thanks again for the replies.
Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: July 14, 2008 at 11:18 AM
Again, what do you think is wrong? ------------- Support the12volt.com
Posted By: cr0d
Date Posted: July 14, 2008 at 11:23 AM
I'm not sure, maybe a burnt VC? I'm not overly familiar with the internals of a speaker and as much as I read I'm still not getting my head around ohms law but I am pretty certain all my wiring is correct.
So that leaves me with only one unknown... the condition of the sub internals.
I will pull it all out and wire it up again just to make sure this afternoon but I can't think of anything I'm missing.
Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: July 14, 2008 at 11:51 AM
And you are thinking something is wrong because WHY? Low output? No output? Nothing's working? Please describe your problem. Are both amps turning on? ------------- Support the12volt.com
Posted By: cr0d
Date Posted: July 14, 2008 at 11:57 AM
There is no output and both amps are on. I just checked my rca's and all the wiring outside the box, I'll open it up and make sure the wires didn't some how come lose in the box later this afternoon.
Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: July 14, 2008 at 12:13 PM
Try playing only one amp at a time. If each amp plays individually, but you have no output when they are both on, one of the voice coils is wired out of phase. Or one amp is set to 0 and the other is set to 180. If of course the amp has a phase switch.
Posted By: cr0d
Date Posted: July 14, 2008 at 12:28 PM
I will go try that right now, However I should have been more specific, I have the MRP-M500's which do not have a phase switch (unlike Alpine's MRD-M500's.) So if I do find that the amps are out of phase... how do I fix it?
Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: July 14, 2008 at 1:41 PM
Find out first.  ------------- Support the12volt.com
Posted By: cr0d
Date Posted: July 16, 2008 at 3:44 PM
I tried just running one amp with no success, I've unhook and reconnected everything and still no luck. The sub is all that's left I believe. Time to use that warranty...
Posted By: cr0d
Date Posted: July 17, 2008 at 3:41 PM
Here is a diagram of my setup, everything look good?
Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: July 17, 2008 at 8:39 PM
To test the sub, remove the speaker wires from both amps. get a battery AA AAA C D or a 9 volt. Touch and hold the negative wire to the negative terminal of the battery. Now briefly touch the positive wire to the positive terminal of the battery. If the speaker makes a pop sound, the woofer is not your problem. This test will not determine if the speaker is blown or rattling, it will just let you know that it still makes sound. On your drawing you only used one output from the LOC, is this the case or did you just not draw the second cable. You need to feed both inputs of both amps. Do you have a volt meter? What kind of a vehicle are we dealing with? What color wires did you connect to the Line out converter?
Posted By: cr0d
Date Posted: July 18, 2008 at 10:37 PM
I've been running a different setup off the loc for a few years now so I know I have the correct wires and i double checked the connects to make sure nothing has come loose. This setup is running in an 06 Altima.
I have a single side of the loc split to 2 signals and then run to another rca splitter on each amp to make sure both amps and both feeds are the same. I've read allot of arguments over "stereo bass" and I figured there's no harm in taking the precaution.
I picked up a dmm and played with it on my old set of type-r's to make sure I knew how to use it.
The IDQ gives me no reading on either coil. So I'm pretty certain it's a defective sub.
Is there anything else I can do? Or should I just try to exchange it. I've only heard good things about the IDQ's but I've only had the sub for a week... and it hasn't worked yet.
Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: July 19, 2008 at 9:40 PM
What did you have the meter set to when you checked the speakers? Did you use a battery to see if the speaker popped?
Posted By: cr0d
Date Posted: July 21, 2008 at 11:19 AM
I did use a battery with no response from either coil and I had the meter set correctly.
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