DVC Voice Coil Wiring Principles: Series vs. Parallel
Dual Voice Coil (DVC) subwoofers feature two separate wire coils wrapped around a single former. This provides electrical wiring flexibility, enabling system designers to extract maximum continuous wattage from an amplifier regardless of whether it requires a 1-Ohm, 2-Ohm, or 4-Ohm minimum load under Ohm's Law.
1. Parallel Wiring (Decreases Impedance)
Connecting coils in parallel joins all positive (+) terminals together and all negative (-) terminals together. The total resistance decreases according to the reciprocal formula:
Two 4Ω coils in parallel produce a 2.0Ω load. Four 4Ω coils produce a 1.0Ω load.
2. Series Wiring (Increases Impedance)
Connecting coils in series routes signal through one coil and into the next in a single continuous circuit loop. The impedances add linearly:
Two 2Ω coils in series produce a 4.0Ω load.
Popular Subwoofer Wiring Configurations
| Subwoofer Quantity & Type | Coil Wiring Method | Sub Wiring Method | Final Amp Load |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 × DVC 2Ω Subwoofer | Series | Direct | 4 Ω |
| 1 × DVC 2Ω Subwoofer | Parallel | Direct | 1 Ω |
| 1 × DVC 4Ω Subwoofer | Parallel | Direct | 2 Ω |
| 2 × DVC 4Ω Subwoofers | Parallel | Parallel | 1 Ω |
| 2 × DVC 2Ω Subwoofers | Series | Parallel | 2 Ω |
| 2 × DVC 4Ω Subwoofers | Series | Parallel | 4 Ω |
To calculate the exact driving AC voltage and fuse sizes needed for your subwoofer setup, explore our Car Audio RMS Calculator and Speaker Wire Gauge Guide.