Explain Dual Voice Coil

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=16621
Printed Date: July 25, 2025 at 7:28 PM

Topic: Explain Dual Voice Coil

Posted By: rl50121
Subject: Explain Dual Voice Coil
Date Posted: July 23, 2003 at 3:57 PM

Could some one please explain dual voice coils to me. I have been told that dual voice coils can only be ran in 2 or 8 ohm. This doesn't sound right. Audiobahn AW1200Q is 12'' subs has Dual 4 ohm voice coils and the ALUM12Q has dual 6 ohm voice coils. Whats the deal? What would happen if I ran these off a 4 ohm stable amp in strereo. Would the amp over heat? Help me understand!

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RL

Replies:

Posted By: bberman1
Date Posted: July 23, 2003 at 5:51 PM

Here is a tutorial that should help you out https://www.jlaudio.com/tutorials/dvc/index.html

Posted By: wvsquirrel
Date Posted: July 24, 2003 at 2:19 AM

One 4ohm DVC can be run as 2 or 8 ohms, but there are many other model DVC's out there besides 4ohm DVC's. I've seen at least 2 and 6 ohm DVC's as well. One 2ohm DVC can be run as 1 or 4 ohms, and one 6ohm DVC can be run as 3 or 12 ohms.

Just think of a DVC as 2 SVC's (Single Voice Coils) when you think of how to wire them. If you have two 4ohm SVC's then you can wire them into a 2 or 8 ohm load. So one 4ohm DVC is equivilant to two 4ohm SVC's (wiring wise, not necessarily RMS/Peak power wise).

Here's some links to different wiring wizards that may help out as well...
Rockford Fosgate's Wiring Wizard
JL Audio's Wiring Wizard

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Squirrel
"No more Cpt. Kirk chit chat"
If its too loud, then you're too old
Donate to the12volt.com

Posted By: rl50121
Date Posted: July 24, 2003 at 11:25 AM

So lets say that I have one 4ohm DVC subwoofer and I hook it to a mono amp, what is the ohm rating?

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RL

Posted By: bberman1
Date Posted: July 24, 2003 at 2:49 PM

If you wired the sub in parallel https://www.audiobahninc.com/tech/wiring/parallel_parallel_dual_4.pdf you would have a 4 ohm load on the amp.
If you wired it in series https://www.audiobahninc.com/tech/wiring/Series_Series_dual_4_ohm.pdf you would have an 8 ohm load.
To assist you in wiring the sub to the amp we need the make and model # of your amp

Posted By: wvsquirrel
Date Posted: July 24, 2003 at 8:58 PM

(1) 4ohm DVC wired in parallel would produce a 2ohm load at the amp

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Squirrel
"No more Cpt. Kirk chit chat"
If its too loud, then you're too old
Donate to the12volt.com