series parrallel for 3 subs
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=53262
Printed Date: July 09, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Topic: series parrallel for 3 subs
Posted By: knowhimwell
Subject: series parrallel for 3 subs
Date Posted: April 04, 2005 at 10:12 PM
Is there anyone who could tell me if I can wire series parallel on 3 subs. I have the subs and the amp already. The subs are SVC 4 ohm. I am aware if I wire them parallel, they are 1.3 ohms. I can not go that low with my amp. Do I have another option with 3 4 ohm subs? My main issue is that I have the amp, the subs, and the box already and want to use what I have. PLEASE HELP.
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A LIFE WITHOUT CHRIST IS A LIFE THAT IS NEVER FIXED-KJ52
Replies:
Posted By: Satkunas
Date Posted: April 04, 2005 at 10:27 PM
Your only choice is to go parallel or all in series at 12 ohms with only 3 subs. If you had 4 or 6 (or 3 /w DVC) you could do a series parallel combination but with only 3 your choice is limited.
Posted By: Alpine Guy
Date Posted: April 04, 2005 at 10:28 PM
1.3 ohms or 12 ohms are your only options. Either take 1 sub out of the equation, or get a 1 ohm stable amp.
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2003 Chevy Avalanche,Eclipse CD7000,Morel Elate 5,Adire Extremis,Alpine PDX-4.150, 15" TC-3000, 2 Alpine PDX-1.1000, 470Amp HO Alt.
Posted By: Francious70
Date Posted: April 04, 2005 at 10:32 PM
Wire two subs in series for 8 ohms. Then wire the thire in parrell for a total load of 4 ohms. You could aslo wire two subs parallel for 2 ohms, the the third in series for 4 ohms.
Paul
Posted By: Francious70
Date Posted: April 04, 2005 at 10:39 PM
This may cause phasing issues, so check with a 9 Volt battery before you drop everything into a box.
Paul
Posted By: knowhimwell
Date Posted: April 04, 2005 at 11:10 PM
This is the way I was thinking of doing it. Is this 4 ohm? I will be running this bridged on the subwoofer channel of a blaupunkt amp, that is 2ohm stable. Am I good to go, other than it posssibly being out of phase?.  Paul ------------- A LIFE WITHOUT CHRIST IS A LIFE THAT IS NEVER FIXED-KJ52
Posted By: Satkunas
Date Posted: April 04, 2005 at 11:34 PM
Francious70 wrote:
Wire two subs in series for 8 ohms. Then wire the thire in parrell for a total load of 4 ohms. You could aslo wire two subs parallel for 2 ohms, the the third in series for 4 ohms.
Paul
This is not recommended as it will be hard to hear when you've reached the excusion limit on the series sub and there is a good chance you will end up blowing it.
Posted By: Satkunas
Date Posted: April 04, 2005 at 11:38 PM
knowhimwell wrote:
This is the way I was thinking of doing it. Is this 4 ohm? I will be running this bridged on the subwoofer channel of a blaupunkt amp, that is 2ohm stable. Am I good to go, other than it posssibly being out of phase?.
Paul
The right-most speaker in this diagram is wired backwards. The positive terminal should be to the left, then all the speakers will be in phase.
Posted By: stevdart
Date Posted: April 04, 2005 at 11:42 PM
Sorry, Paul and Paul. It's still 12 ohms but now you've got one woofer out of phase....you might as well run just one woofer as to do that. Your best bet is to do what Alpine (aka Clarion) Guy said to do. Here's the math for figuring series: R total = R1 + R2 + R3 etc. for figuring parallel: 1/R total + 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3 etc. In the diagram you have no woofers wired in parallel. You have to have at least two SVC woofers to make either a series or parallel connection. You are showing three subs in series, but one is reversed. There is no magic that will help you. Here is a handy wiring wizard.
Posted By: knowhimwell
Date Posted: April 04, 2005 at 11:42 PM
I didnt even notice that. You are right. Other than that am I ok?
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A LIFE WITHOUT CHRIST IS A LIFE THAT IS NEVER FIXED-KJ52
Posted By: Satkunas
Date Posted: April 04, 2005 at 11:51 PM
Yup, with this diagram using 4 ohm voicecoils your amplifier load will be at 12 ohms. You wont have as much headroom if you ran them in parrallel, but at least you wont wreck any of your equipment.
Posted By: knowhimwell
Date Posted: April 05, 2005 at 12:07 AM
I was afraid that was the case. I appreciate all the help. I have another sub that I can add to the equation. I just had the enclosure for the 3. I guees I can build a new box. Thanks again for all your help.
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A LIFE WITHOUT CHRIST IS A LIFE THAT IS NEVER FIXED-KJ52
Posted By: Satkunas
Date Posted: April 05, 2005 at 12:12 AM
Sounds like a 4 speaker box is too big for your trunk. Considder constructing a 2 speaker box with 4 subs (isobaric), where 2 subs are facing each other in a clamshell. Wire the outside speakers in reverse so they pull instead of pushing. Your box will only need to be 1/2 of the calcualted volume on an isobaric setup. This way you can run a series parallel load with all 4 speakers putting 4 ohms at the amp.
Posted By: stevdart
Date Posted: April 05, 2005 at 12:16 AM
You should nix thoughts of trying your hand at isobaric loading. Forget you ever heard about it. Drop your sub total to two, build a fine enclosure with all the volume those subs want, face the enclosure for optimal sound and power the subs with proper amp power. More is not necessarily better.
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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: knowhimwell
Date Posted: April 05, 2005 at 12:35 AM
I ran some isobaric stuff back in the early 90s. I just had the 3 sub enclosure from another car and it fit nicely. I have plenty of room for 4 10s, I just didnt want to build another enclosure. Thank you all for your kindness.
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A LIFE WITHOUT CHRIST IS A LIFE THAT IS NEVER FIXED-KJ52
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