Dual Voice Coil (DVC) Wiring Tutorial

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. Wiring Diagrams of several configurations for Dual Voice Coil (DVC) drivers have been compiled.

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. For more information, please consult our Dual Voice Coil FAQs.

Additionally, if the user has an idea for a wiring configuration and is not seen here, the user should re-think its implementation (in other words, don’t do it). Likely the results will be less than optimal.

Note: Amplifier depicted is for reference only - check the capability of the amplifier before making any connections

One DVC driver with Voice Coils in Series

One Dual Voice Coil Speaker in Series

Connecting the two voice coils of the driver in series (+ to -) will result in the following impedances:

• Dual–8 Ohm Subwoofer: 16 Ohms
• 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

One DVC driver with Voice Coils in Parallel

One Dual Voice Coil Speaker in Parallel

Connecting the two voice coils of the driver in parallel (+ to +, - to -) will result in the following impedances:

• Dual–8 Ohm Subwoofer: 4 Ohms
• Dual-6 Ohm Subwoofer: 3 Ohms
• Dual–4 Ohm Subwoofer: 2 Ohms
• Dual–2 Ohm Subwoofer: 1 Ohm
• Dual–1.5 Ohm Subwoofer: 0.75 Ohm

Two DVC drivers with Voice Coils in Series / Parallel

Two Dual Voice Coil Speakers 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–8 Ohm Subwoofers: 8 Ohms
• Dual-6 Ohm Subwoofers: 6 Ohms
• Dual–4 Ohm Subwoofers: 4 Ohms
• Dual–2 Ohm Subwoofers: 2 Ohms
• Dual–1.5 Ohm Subwoofers: 1.5 Ohms

Two DVC drivers with Voice Coils in Parallel / Parallel

Two Dual Voice Coil Speakers 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–8 Ohm Subwoofers: 2 Ohms
• Dual-6 Ohm Subwoofers: 1.5 Ohms
• Dual–4 Ohm Subwoofers: 1 Ohm
• Dual–2 Ohm Subwoofers: 0.5 Ohm
• Dual–1.5 Ohm Subwoofer: 0.38 Ohm

Three DVC drivers with Voice Coils in Series / Parallel

Three Dual Voice Coil Speakers 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–8 Ohm Subwoofers: 5.33 Ohms
• 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

Three DVC drivers with Voice Coils in Parallel / Parallel

Three Dual Voice Coil Speakers 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–8 Ohm Subwoofers: 1.33 Ohms
• 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

Four DVC drivers with Voice Coils in Series / Parallel

Four Dual Voice Coil Speakers 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–8 Ohm Subwoofers: 4 Ohms
• 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

Four DVC drivers with Voice Coils in Parallel / Parallel

Four Dual Voice Coil Speakers 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–8 Ohm Subwoofers: 1 Ohm
• 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

Five DVC drivers with Voice Coils in Series / Parallel

Five Dual Voice Coil Speakers 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–8 Ohm Subwoofers: 3.2 Ohms
• 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

Five DVC drivers with Voice Coils in Parallel / Parallel

Five Dual Voice Coil Speakers 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–8 Ohm Subwoofers: 0.8 Ohm
• 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

Six DVC drivers with Voice Coils in Series / Parallel

Six Dual Voice Coil Speakers 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–8 Ohm Subwoofers: 2.67 Ohms
• Dual-6 Ohm Subwoofers: 2 Ohms
• Dual–4 Ohm Subwoofers: 1.3 Ohms
• Dual–2 Ohm Subwoofers: 0.7 Ohm
• Dual–1.5 Ohm Subwoofer: 0.5 Ohm

Six DVC drivers with Voice Coils in Parallel / Parallel

Six Dual Voice Coil Speakers 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–8 Ohm Subwoofers: 0.67 Ohm
• 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