wiring 2 subs differently in the same box
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=116113
Printed Date: July 05, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Topic: wiring 2 subs differently in the same box
Posted By: thorblizz
Subject: wiring 2 subs differently in the same box
Date Posted: September 05, 2009 at 3:48 PM
Hey guys I just subscribed today and I have a question. I have two Alpine Type R 1042D subs running on a PDX 1.1000 amp. Is it safe to wire the subs differently when they're in the same box. I have one of them wired parallel and one ran independent and it sounds great and the amp doesn't shut off like it obviously would do if I had both subs ran in parallel form. One of the subs hits harder than the other one obviously and it looks wrong as hell but it sounds great and I can turn it up as loud as I want. Any advice would be great. Thanks
Replies:
Posted By: qdt855
Date Posted: September 05, 2009 at 3:56 PM
I'm not exactly sure, but I believe that if your amp can handle the overall ohm load and you arent overworking the sub that's receiving more power it should be fine technically speaking, even though it may go against some theories of wiring.
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AeolianDominate
Posted By: aznboi3644
Date Posted: September 05, 2009 at 8:21 PM
saying one is wired in parallel and one is wired independent makes ZERO sense.
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Custom Enclosure Design
Posted By: thorblizz
Date Posted: September 05, 2009 at 10:33 PM
Ok let me be more specific. I admit I was lazy in my explanation and I'm really not sure what you would call this type of wiring I just stumbled upon it when I was messing around with it. Here is the exact set up. I have the two Type R 1042D subs in one box running to 1 Alpine PDX 1.1000 amp. Each sub is wired parallel at the voice coils. The back of the box is as follows: the right negative has two wires, one running to the negative on the amp and one running to the negative on the left terminal. The right positive is empty. The left negative has, as i said before, one wire which is running to the right negative terminal. The left positive has one wire running to the positive on the amp. The left sub is hitting harder than the right but both still run and hit hard. The two hit harder like I have it now than when I wired the back of the box in a series but not as hard as when I had it all wired in parallel( which didn't last long cause the amp would go into protect because of the 1 ohm load.) What is happening here???
Posted By: tommy...
Date Posted: September 05, 2009 at 11:02 PM
 ------------- M.E.C.P & First-Class
Go slow and drink lots of water...Procrastinators' Unite...Tomorrow!
Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: September 06, 2009 at 4:28 AM
If I had an Alpine PDX 1.1000, I don't think that i would be trying to stumble across some new wiring technology by messing around with it.
Posted By: thorblizz
Date Posted: September 06, 2009 at 10:21 AM
Ok guys does anyone know what's happening or are you just criticizing me because you don't know. If I'm doing something wrong, then I would like to know how to correct it. That's why I'm asking. I came across this when I was disconnecting the wires I used in the parallel wiring and when I removed one of them it was still playing. It sounded better than it ever did and nothing bad is happening. So if anyone knows what's going on here, please enlighten me. If I need to change anything please let me know.
Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: September 06, 2009 at 10:46 AM
Option 2 (series/parallel) = 4 ohm load
Voice coils wired in series, speakers wired in parallel
Recommended Amplifier: Stable at 4, 2, or 1 ohm mono | 
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Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: September 06, 2009 at 10:55 AM
thorblizz, people are criticizing you because it is completely unclear what you are doing. If one sub is "hitting" harder than the other then it is wired at a lower impedance and receiving more power. There is nothing magical about that, but it is an incorrect setup if you want the most benefit from having two woofers. Here is how you should wire your two 4-ohm DVC woofers to the Alpine amp:
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Posted By: thorblizz
Date Posted: September 06, 2009 at 11:39 AM
OK guys thanks for the advice. I know it sounds wrong but its sounds better than all the other wiring methods that I've tried. Will I damage anything by keeping it like this? Also, I'm not sure how I would calculate the impedance of this setup. Will the PDX 1.1000 run on an impedance between 1 and 2 ohms? Thanks for the time fellas.
Posted By: thorblizz
Date Posted: September 06, 2009 at 11:44 AM
One other question. Is there a difference if I wire the voice coils parallel and the subs in a series? The diagram shows this the other way around.
Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: September 06, 2009 at 11:52 AM
Wiring 2 seperate woofers in series will affect the amps ability to control the woofers. You will be much better off wiring the coils in series and then paralleling the woofers.
Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: September 06, 2009 at 11:56 AM
Can you post a diagram of how you had them connected? Couldn't really get what you typed about the setup.
Posted By: thorblizz
Date Posted: September 06, 2009 at 12:03 PM
I'm sorry but how would I do that? I would just send a picture but since I'm a rookie I don't think I can. I know I'm a pain in the *** but can you just let me know the easiest way??? Thanks
Posted By: thorblizz
Date Posted: September 06, 2009 at 2:08 PM
OK I'm a little confused about the wiring diagram that you guys refered me to. I'm not sure where the inside of the box is and where the outside of the box is. I see that you actually wire the two subs together and then do you use the positive of one of the terminals and the negative of the other terminal? Because I see there only being one positive and one negative that all of that wiring is ran to but i have two terminals. And if so, what would the wires look like from the box to the amp? Am I overlooking something??
Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: September 06, 2009 at 2:25 PM
Everything in the picture is inside of your box.
Posted By: thorblizz
Date Posted: September 06, 2009 at 2:41 PM
Ok that sounds great. So then what would the wiring look like from the back of the box to the amp?? Would I just continue running the one positive and the one negative to the amp?
Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: September 06, 2009 at 3:43 PM
Posted By: thorblizz
Date Posted: September 06, 2009 at 4:09 PM
Ok so the positive and the negative would be from just one of the two terminals that are on the box? Either way it's not working for me. I have it exactly how your diagram shows and I'm not getting any power from the subs. I know it shouldn't be this hard. I'm just trying to get it right. Sry dude. I'll just wire it like I had it before where the voice coils in each sub were in parallel, each sub used it's own set of terminals, and the back of the box was ran in a series and it worked fine. I should've never messed with it. If i have to take those screws out one more time I'm gonna scream! lol
Posted By: thorblizz
Date Posted: September 06, 2009 at 5:04 PM
Ok so now I've hooked everything back up like I've had it before and i still get no power from the subs. Is there any way I could've blown the subs or damaged them in any way by wiring them in so many different ways? There was one time where I checked to see if my wiring was correct with the subs out of the box but i turned the bass all the way down and the volume was on 1. I was just trying to see if the subs were on. Everything about my amp is fine. Fuses are fine. All wires are how I had them before when it was working fine. What has happened here?? Very frustrating.
Posted By: custombass
Date Posted: September 07, 2009 at 12:15 PM
Does your box have a divider? The way you described your set up the only sub that would actually be powered would be your left. If your box isn't divided, it could appear as though both subs are working when actually only one, THE LEFT SUB in your box has a complete circuit. There is no logical way the right sub is functioning when you have no positive lead going to the sub. I can only assume that this is your problem. My guess is that your box is sealed as well. Follow the diagram I am an idiot provided for you. Please post your findings.
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Posted By: thorblizz
Date Posted: September 07, 2009 at 4:18 PM
Yeah it does have a divider but I drilled some holes through it to give me some more airspace. Thats what I thought to but it's at least just as loud with just one sub being powered. Would the other sub be providing any bass with no power but the air still going through it? I still have to try the wiring in the diagram that was givin to me. I tried it and it worked for a second then stopped so I hooked it up the way I had it before and it still didn't work. I was tired of messing with it so I left it alone for the night and I went back out there this morning and everything was working fine I just haven't had time to wire it the way it should be. And just to make sure I'm reading this diagram right. I wire the voice coils in a series and then wire the two subs together which will give me one negative wire and one positive wire. Do I use just one of my terminals or one one wire on each terminal?? Thanks alot
Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: September 08, 2009 at 10:29 AM
thorblizz wrote:
Yeah it does have a divider but I drilled some holes through it to give me some more airspace. Thats what I thought to but it's at least just as loud with just one sub being powered. Would the other sub be providing any bass with no power but the air still going through it? I still have to try the wiring in the diagram that was givin to me. I tried it and it worked for a second then stopped so I hooked it up the way I had it before and it still didn't work. I was tired of messing with it so I left it alone for the night and I went back out there this morning and everything was working fine I just haven't had time to wire it the way it should be. And just to make sure I'm reading this diagram right. I wire the voice coils in a series and then wire the two subs together which will give me one negative wire and one positive wire. Do I use just one of my terminals or one one wire on each terminal?? Thanks alot
Wow, there are SO many things wrong with what you've done so far...you should go in and re-seal those holes you drilled into your enclosure. And yes, connect the woofer voice coils in series and then the two woofers together in parallel using one set of binding posts... or use both sets if you want to, connecting one woofer to each then jumper them together outside the enclosure, that's fine too. Then connect to your amplifier and set the gain properly (see the Hot Topics section for assistance.) You have a very fine amplifier it'd be a shame for you to blow it by not knowing what you're doing, so if you can't get this done correctly PLEASE go visit a local shop and get some help. ------------- Support the12volt.com
Posted By: thorblizz
Date Posted: September 08, 2009 at 10:51 AM
Ok understood. I admit I don't know a lot about what I'm doing and and I know now to not trust friends who think they know what they're talking about. I'm glad I found this forum so I can get professional advice and I appreciate you guys helping me out. Anything I do from now on will go through you guys. Thanks a lot fellas.
Posted By: custombass
Date Posted: September 08, 2009 at 2:49 PM
You just need to get to a shop. I would be worried about the power wiring, fuses, etc.. If you couldn't wire your subs.. -------------
Posted By: thorblizz
Date Posted: September 08, 2009 at 7:25 PM
Everything works fine when I wire the voice coils in parallel and the subs in a series, but when I try to series the voice coils and parallel the subs I can't get it to work. I 99% sure I'm doing everything right. I follow the diagram 100% and did all the things that were asked of me and I still get nothing.
Posted By: KPierson
Date Posted: September 08, 2009 at 8:28 PM
It sounds, to me, like your box is not sized properly. Assuming that it gets louder when you play only one sub vs playing two subs in series I would size the air space in the box and make sure it matches up. I woudl also make sure when you wired the two subs together that you didn't get one out of phase. Also, I, too, would like to see a picture of how you have things hooked up - I couldn't follow your post on it. ------------- Kevin Pierson
Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: September 08, 2009 at 8:35 PM
You may have one open voice coil on each woofer. This would explain why it will work with the coils in parallel and not work in series. Connect one voice coil of speaker 1 and see if it plays. Then connect the second voice coil of that same woofer. Connect only that voice coil. See if it plays. Repeat for the second woofer. If only one coil plays on each woofer, you have opened one coil on each speaker.
Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: September 08, 2009 at 8:38 PM
thorblizz wrote:
Everything works fine when I wire the voice coils in parallel and the subs in a series, but when I try to series the voice coils and parallel the subs I can't get it to work. I 99% sure I'm doing everything right. I follow the diagram 100% and did all the things that were asked of me and I still get nothing.
Then either you are not doing it right even if you think you are, or you have the gain cranked so high on your amp that as soon as you place a 4-ohm load on it it shuts down in protection. You really should go talk to a pro who can see your setup... or post some pictures. ------------- Support the12volt.com
Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: September 08, 2009 at 8:40 PM
Yes, as unlikely as it seems one open VC on each woofer would make sense given the symptoms as they are being described. Or bad tinsel leads. ------------- Support the12volt.com
Posted By: thorblizz
Date Posted: September 08, 2009 at 8:45 PM
Yeah it's quite a bit louder with just one sub playing. All that mess I was talking in my earlier posts was all just a very confusing way of saying just one of my subs was playing. I just wasn't sure why it was louder. It sucks not knowing anything. Anyways, the box gives .75 cuft per chamber and the subs call for .5-.8. I would love to take it to a professional but I don't have the money for it guys. Dare I ask if the amp is underpowering the two subs but gives the right amount of power to just one?
Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: September 08, 2009 at 9:18 PM
Do you have an ohm meter? ------------- Support the12volt.com
Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: September 08, 2009 at 9:35 PM
If you do not have an ohm meter, I am surprized that nobody has suggested connecting one voice coil at a time.
Posted By: thorblizz
Date Posted: September 08, 2009 at 9:43 PM
I do not have an ohm meter fellas. What would connecting one voice coil at a time do for me?
Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: September 08, 2009 at 9:50 PM
It will tell you whether or not all of your voice coils are in working order. If you have one open voice coil on each woofer, that would explain why the woofers work when you parallel the coils and then wire the woofers in series.
Posted By: thorblizz
Date Posted: September 08, 2009 at 10:13 PM
Ok so I just run the wires from one voice coil to to that sub's terminal and then from the terminal to the amp and the sub should play? Then do this with all the voice coils? What if one or more of them doesn't work? Would that explain why they won't work with the voice coils wired in a series?
Posted By: thorblizz
Date Posted: September 08, 2009 at 10:18 PM
also, why would one sub be louder than two? It is a very noticable difference.
Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: September 08, 2009 at 10:18 PM
https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp~TID~116113~get~last#565316 when both subs are playing, are they moving a lot? Or do they barely move? If they are moving a lot, and are not making much bass, you have one of them wired out of phase. Try reversing the positive and negative wires going to only one of the speakers.
Posted By: thorblizz
Date Posted: September 08, 2009 at 10:22 PM
that link just sent me to the page the posts were on. Did I ask a stupid question or something? I'm just making sure I understand.
Posted By: thorblizz
Date Posted: September 08, 2009 at 10:25 PM
they move a lot and it gets loud but then again i'm not sure what they really should sound like. I wouldn't say the two of them move as much as the one does by itself.
Posted By: thorblizz
Date Posted: September 08, 2009 at 10:31 PM
So just put the positive where the negative is a the negative where the positive is at the voice coils? Not sure I get that part. lol I'm sry dude. I feel like an idiot. I just want to get it RIGHT. I don't have much listening time before I go to boot camp.
Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: September 08, 2009 at 10:36 PM
Yes put the positive wire where the negative wire was and vice versa. Do this only on one woofer.
Posted By: thorblizz
Date Posted: September 08, 2009 at 10:40 PM
ok will do. I'll have to try it tomorrow. I'll post my findings in the morning. Is there anything else it might be that I could try if that doesn't work?
Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: September 08, 2009 at 10:52 PM
You could try connecting each voice coil by itself to make sure all 4 of them are in working order.
Posted By: thorblizz
Date Posted: September 08, 2009 at 10:56 PM
Good deal. Can't thank you enough.
Posted By: thorblizz
Date Posted: September 09, 2009 at 11:32 AM
Ok I hooked up each voice coil and they're all good. I reversed the positive and the negative on one of the woofers and it didnt play as loud so I wired it like i had it before. I tried each sub by itself and each one was equally as loud as the other. If I ran each sub from it's own terminal and combined the wires into one of the quick connect plugs, would that be the same as running them parallel? I only have one of the plugs so that would be the only option. By the way, where could I purchase n new qucik connect plug?
Posted By: stevdart
Date Posted: September 09, 2009 at 11:57 PM
]If I wrote:
ran each sub from it's own terminal and combined the wires into one of the quick connect plugs, would that be the same as running them parallel?
Yes, if same-polarity wires are connected at any point it is parallel wiring. ------------- Build the box so that it performs well in the worst case scenario and, in return, it will reward you at all times.
Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: September 10, 2009 at 2:59 AM
i am an idiot wrote:
Yes put the positive wire where the negative wire was and vice versa. Do this only on one woofer.
I noticed that you said you reversed the wires on the wooferS. Did you miss the part about only one woofer?
I think I remember that you have a box with 2 chambers and 2 sets of terminals. Let's change this up and wire one woofer to it's corresponding terminals. Wire each woofer as shown in the following diagram. All of this picture is inside your box. After you wire the woofers this way, play each woofer by itself to make sure it is playing, if they each play, we are now going to wire the speakers in series. You will need to follow these instructions precisely. Disconnect all wires that run between the amp and box. Connect a single wire from one of the positive terminals of the amp and connect the other end of that wire to the left positive terminal of the box. Now connect another single wire from one of the amp's negative terminals to the right negative terminal of the box. Now you ahould have 2 wires between the amp and the box. One from a positive amp terminal to the left positive connection on the box. The other from a negative terminal of the amp to the right negative terminal of the box. If this is correct, proceed. You will now have 2 empty connections on your speaker box, the left negative and the right positive terminals. Take another single wire and connect these 2 terminals together. THE ABOVE CONNECTION IS ON YOUR SPEAKER BOX. Do NOT connect the unused terminals of the amp together. Let's recap before you turn the amp on. There shouid be one wire from one of the positive terminals of the amp to the left positive wire of the box. Then there should be a wire connecting the left negative terminal of the box to the right positive terminal of the box. Then there should be a wire going from the right negative terminal of the box to one of the negative terminals of the amp. There should be 2 unused terminals on the amp. If this is not the case, stop and do not turn the amp on. Wire each woofer as follows and connect it to the terminals on that side of the box. | | Left Woofer | | Option 2 (series) = 8 ohm load
Voice coils wired in series
Recommended Amplifier: Stable at 4, 2, or 1 ohm mono | 
Right Woofer | | Option 2 (series) = 8 ohm load
Voice coils wired in series
Recommended Amplifier: Stable at 4, 2, or 1 ohm mono |
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Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: September 10, 2009 at 3:38 AM
Posted By: tommy...
Date Posted: September 10, 2009 at 9:51 PM
i am an idiot wrote:
What a guy...What a guy...! ------------- M.E.C.P & First-Class
Go slow and drink lots of water...Procrastinators' Unite...Tomorrow!
Posted By: thorblizz
Date Posted: September 10, 2009 at 10:37 PM
Yeah he is working hard isn't he. Wouldn't wiring the subs this way give me a really high ohm load? Like 16 or am I way off?
Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: September 11, 2009 at 3:50 AM
You are right. I am the one that is way off. Follow the diagrams in the first post and then parallel the speakers at the box.
Posted By: thorblizz
Date Posted: September 11, 2009 at 9:10 AM
You're better than that I am An Idiot. Don't let a rookie show you up dude. lol. Ok I'll try that.
Posted By: KarTuneMan
Date Posted: September 11, 2009 at 10:44 PM
Don't use purple wire though..... thats just wrong!
Posted By: thorblizz
Date Posted: September 12, 2009 at 1:36 AM
Yeah you just gotta wonder where these guys think this stuff up sometimes. Acoustic pros are kinda wacky.
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