Determining the wiring of DVD subs

I have 2 Kicker Comp VR 12" subs (2-ohm model) already in a box (install done by someone else, about 4 years ago). The box has two terminals on the back for each sub, so I'm guessing the voice coils for each sub are already wired together inside the box, but I'm not sure how.

From what I've read online, if they're wired together in series then each set of terminals will appear to the amp as a 4ohm load, but if they're parallel then it'll be 1ohm, and it doesn't seem like many amps can handle that.

Any easy way of determining how they're wired, without removing the subs from the box? I tried using a multimeter on them, but it reported the resistance as ~7ohms, which doesn't seem to match with either the 1ohm possibility or the 4ohm possibility.

Also, I've never done any car audio installation before, but I'm trying to learn since my old amp died and someone gave me a cheap amp to use as a replacement (not worth paying someone to install a crappy amp). Is it safe to use a multimeter to check the outputs of the amp? I tried hooking it all up but no sound came out, so I'm trying to troubleshoot what went wrong...

how positive are you they are the 2 ohm models???

sounds to me like the following,

1.) they are 4 ohm models in Series @ 8ohm Znom
2.) all four coils are wired together in series again 8 ohm load, but then one terminal would yield Infinite resistance.

Honestly taking the subs out would be beneficial in this case.. its only like 8 screws and then you can see exactly everything.... what model they are, how they are wired... just a thought.

but you are on the right track with a MultiMeter

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2006 WRX STI
Electrical Engineer
Ohio University Alumni

Oops, I made the subject "DVD subs", should have been DVC subs.

I'm pretty positive they're actually 2ohm subs - I brought the subs in myself (they were a gift, and the boxes said 2ohms), so unless they switched my subs out (or whomever sold the subs originally put 4ohm models in a 2ohm model box) they should be 2ohm. I'm going to just open it up and check.

re: multimeters - if I hook a small radio shack one up to the power wire going to my amp, will it blow the multimeter? If I'm in in voltage mode I imagine it should be ok, but I don't know a lot about these things.

Disconnect the speaker wires from the amp.  Use your meter to check resistance across one of the coils on each sub.  A 2 ohm coil should read 1.something in ohms.  Be sure to subtract out the meter's internal resistance (find that first by touching leads of the meter together).

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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.