speaker ohms

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=7571
Printed Date: May 10, 2025 at 8:25 PM

Topic: speaker ohms

Posted By: navion20is
Subject: speaker ohms
Date Posted: January 02, 2003 at 10:21 PM

what happens if i have 2 speakers dual voice coils on 1 speaker i make it 2ohms ++-- on the other I make it 8ohms +-+- and then I bridge it to a fosgate 500a2.

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Replies:

Posted By: mustangadam
Date Posted: January 02, 2003 at 10:42 PM

The total impedence of the two subs when ran in parallel with the amp is 1.6 ohms. I would recommend not doing this, though.

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Adam Donald Flournoy

Boeing Commercial Airplanes
7E7 "Dreamliner" Project

Posted By: navion20is
Date Posted: January 02, 2003 at 10:57 PM

why

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Posted By: the12volt
Date Posted: January 02, 2003 at 11:01 PM

Although the amplifier would see a nominal impedance of 1.6 ohms mono (or .8 ohms per channel), it would be the same as mixing speakers with different impedances and will result in one speaker playing louder than the other. Remember electricity is lazy and will always follow the path of least resistance.

When wiring two or more speakers to the same channel(s) of an amplifer (excluding speakers playing a different range of frequencies such as 1 woofer, 2 midrange drivers, and a tweeter through a passive crossover network) you want to connect each speaker (set of voice coils) in the same manner.

Using two DVC woofers at 4 ohms per voice coil as you described, you should connect the voice coils, then speakers in one of the following ways depending on the desired nominal impedance.

series both pairs of voice coils, then series the two speakers = 16 ohms
series both pairs of voice coils, then parallel the two speakers = 4 ohms
parallel both pairs of voice coils, then series the two speakers = 4 ohms
parallel both pairs of voice coils, then parallel the two speakers = 1 ohm

Posted By: navion20is
Date Posted: January 02, 2003 at 11:12 PM

i used to run the system at 1ohm and it blew 1 of my speaker just the paper part

so what's the worst that could happen if i do it again

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Posted By: mustangadam
Date Posted: January 02, 2003 at 11:13 PM

Thanks for following up on that one. I was thinking of a good way to explain my answer, but you did better anyway. Thanks

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Adam Donald Flournoy

Boeing Commercial Airplanes
7E7 "Dreamliner" Project

Posted By: navion20is
Date Posted: January 02, 2003 at 11:15 PM

what if i dont turn it up that loud can it still cause damage to my voice coils or my amp

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Posted By: navion20is
Date Posted: January 02, 2003 at 11:17 PM

i had it like that for about a week it sounded really nice thats why i want to do it again

just not loud enough to blow something

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