Tutorial: Wiring Dual Voice Coil (DVC) Subwoofer Drivers
Tutorial: Wiring Dual Voice Coil (DVC) Subwoofer Drivers
With multi-driver sub systems, which often feature dual voice coils (DVC) on each driver, the level of wiring complexity
can be enough to turn-off even the most adventurous of car audio do-it-yourselfers. Fear not, though, for we have
compiled wiring diagrams of several configurations for dual voice coil (DVC) drivers. Please note that when wiring
multiple drivers it is recommended that series connections between drivers be avoided at all costs. This does not
include series connections made between voice coils on the same driver. Additionally, if you have an idea for a wiring
configuration and you do not see it here, chances are you should re-think its implementation (in other words, don't do
it). You will more than likely find that the results will be less than optimal.
Connecting the two voice coils of the driver in series (+ to -) will result in the following impedances:
Dual-6 Ohm Subwoofer: 12 Ohms
Dual-4 Ohm Subwoofer: 8 Ohms
Dual-2 Ohm Subwoofer: 4 Ohms
Dual-1.5 Ohm Subwoofer: 3 Ohms
1 DVC driver with Voice Coils in Parallel
Connecting the two voice coils of the driver in parallel (+ to +, - to -) will result in the following impedances:
Dual-6 Ohm Subwoofer: 3 Ohms
Dual-4 Ohm Subwoofer: 2 Ohms
Dual-2 Ohm Subwoofer: 1 Ohms
Dual-1.5 Ohm Subwoofer: 0.75 Ohm
2 DVC drivers with Voice Coils in Series / Parallel
Connecting the two voice coils of each driver in series (+ to -) and the drivers themselves in parallel (+ to +, etc.) will
result in the following impedances:
Dual-6 Ohm Subwoofers: 6 Ohms
Dual-4 Ohm Subwoofer: 4 Ohms
Dual-2 Ohm Subwoofer: 2 Ohms
Dual-1.5 Ohm Subwoofer: 1.5 Ohms
2 DVC drivers with Voice Coils in Parallel / Parallel
Connecting the voice coils of each driver in parallel (+ to +, - to -) and the drivers themselves in parallel (+ to +, etc.) will
result in the following impedances:
Dual-6 Ohm Subwoofers: 1.5 Ohms
Dual-4 Ohm Subwoofers: 1 Ohm
Connecting the two voice coils of each driver in series (+ to -) and the drivers themselves in parallel (+ to +, etc.) will
result in the following impedances:
Dual-6 Ohm Subwoofers: 4 Ohms
Dual-4 Ohm Subwoofers: 2.67 Ohms
Dual-2 Ohm Subwoofers: 1.33 Ohms
Dual-1.5 Ohm Subwoofer: 1 Ohm
3 DVC drivers with Voice Coils in Parallel / Parallel
Connecting the two voice coils of each driver in parallel (+ to +, - to -) and the drivers themselves in parallel will result in
the following impedances:
Dual-6 Ohm Subwoofers: 1 Ohm
Dual-4 Ohm Subwoofers: 0.67 Ohm
Dual-2 Ohm Subwoofers: 0.33 Ohm
Dual-1.5 Ohm Subwoofer: 0.25 Ohm
Connecting the two voice coils of each driver in series (+ to -) and the drivers themselves in parallel (+ to +, etc.) will
result in the following impedances:
Dual-6 Ohm Subwoofers: 3 Ohms
Dual-4 Ohm Subwoofers: 2 Ohms
Dual-2 Ohm Subwoofers: 1 Ohm
Dual-1.5 Ohm Subwoofers: 0.75 Ohm
4 DVC drivers with Voice Coils in Parallel / Parallel
Connecting the two voice coils of each driver in parallel (+ to +, - to -) and the drivers themselves in parallel (+ to +,
etc.) will result in the following impedances:
Dual-6 Ohm Subwoofers: 0.75 Ohm
Dual-4 Ohm Subwoofers: 0.5 Ohm
Dual-2 Ohm Subwoofers: 0.25 Ohm
Dual-1.5 Ohm Subwoofer: 0.19 Ohm
5 DVC drivers with Voice Coils in Series / Parallel
Connecting the two voice coils of each driver in series (+ to -) and the drivers themselves in parallel (+ to +, etc.) will
result in the following impedances:
Dual-6 Ohm Subwoofers: 2.4 Ohms
Dual-4 Ohm Subwoofers: 1.6 Ohms
Dual-2 Ohm Subwoofers: 0.8 Ohm
Dual-1.5 Ohm Subwoofer: 0.6 Ohm
5 DVC drivers with Voice Coils in Parallel / Parallel
Connecting the two voice coils of each driver in parallel (+ to +, - to -) and the drivers themselves in parallel will result in
the following impedances:
Dual-6 Ohm Subwoofers: 0.6 Ohm
Dual-4 Ohm Subwoofers: 0.4 Ohm
Dual-2 Ohm Subwoofers: 0.2 Ohm
Dual-1.5 Ohm Subwoofer: 0.15 Ohm
6 DVC drivers with Voice Coils in Series / Parallel
Connecting the two voice coils of each driver in series (+ to -) and the drivers themselves in parallel (+ to +, etc.) will
result in the following impedances:
Dual-6 Ohm Subwoofers: 2 Ohms
Dual-4 Ohm Subwoofers: 1.3 Ohms
Dual-2 Ohm Subwoofers: 0.7 Ohms
Dual-1.5 Ohm Subwoofer: 0.5 Ohms
6 DVC drivers with Voice Coils in Parallel / Parallel
Connecting the two voice coils of each driver in parallel (+ to +, - to -) and the drivers themselves in parallel will result in
the following impedances:
Dual-6 Ohm Subwoofers: 0.5 Ohm
Dual-4 Ohm Subwoofers: 0.33 Ohm
Dual-2 Ohm Subwoofers: 0.167 Ohm
Dual-1.5 Ohm Subwoofer: 0.125 Ohm