Ohms question.

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=11926
Printed Date: July 20, 2025 at 7:50 AM

Topic: Ohms question.

Posted By: Edicius
Subject: Ohms question.
Date Posted: April 07, 2003 at 6:20 PM

I know that an amplifiers power varies as the ohms change, but if a sub has different ohm operating levels will that affect the speakers rms power handeling?

Replies:

Posted By: thepencil
Date Posted: April 07, 2003 at 7:02 PM

“ohm operating levels will that affect the speakers rms power handeling”

No, it does not. RMS watts in a subwoofer are basically the maximum power that you can deliver to the speaker before it distort or "break up. In other words, if we have three speakers with a rating of 100-watt rms with different ohm rating say an 8 ohm 4 ohm or 2 ohm, the rms power handing of the speaker will still be the same when you hook it up to an amp.

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Posted By: triver525
Date Posted: April 07, 2003 at 7:06 PM

The RMS power handling of a speaker is just a rating. Essentially it is saying that it can handle a certain amount of normal operating current before it gets too hot and fries.

Posted By: Edicius
Date Posted: April 08, 2003 at 2:00 AM

Is there any way to find out the ohm rating for an amp, if it isn't written on the amp?

Posted By: esmith69
Date Posted: April 08, 2003 at 10:43 AM

Not without potentially causing damage to your amp. I'd try to find a copy of the manual online or maybe even just a product info page somewhere that might tell you what loads it can handle. Some amps have built in protection against impedence loads below what they can support, but not all of them have this protection so you'd be risking it to try to find out by experimentation. Better off finding the manual.

Most typical 2 channel amps can handle a minimum of 2 ohm stereo or 4 ohm mono load. 2 ohms stereo is achieved usually by wiring the 4 ohm voice coils in a dvc sub in parallel, then connecting one sub to each channel. Each channel will see a 2 ohm load. 4 ohm mono is usually (but not always) when you bridge the amp's two channels into one output channel.

Posted By: Edicius
Date Posted: April 08, 2003 at 1:55 PM

So, can I wire the voice coils of a DVC sub to seperate channels of my two channel amp?

Posted By: wvsquirrel
Date Posted: April 08, 2003 at 11:27 PM

Not recommended. You should send the same signal to both coils. Any variation in channels output can affect performance and potentially damage the sub. See DVC info for more info...

I'd suggesting bridging the output of the 2 channel amp for a mono signal if your able. If you provide product specs (amp type and model number, and sub type and model number) we can help give you more info

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Posted By: Edicius
Date Posted: April 09, 2003 at 11:54 AM

Thanks