What is the difference between 2 and 4 ohms

However, exercise caution and match load impedance of the speakers and amp when you go the other way around i. For instance, a 4-ohm speaker that generates W will draw the same wattage from a 4-ohm amp.

In contrast, a 2-ohm speaker will cause the same amp to produce W. Before we can understand the difference between a 2- and 4-ohm car speaker, we need to step back and understand how power gets measured. One part of it, the voltage, measures how hard the signal gets sent. The other part of it, the current, measures how much power is being sent. If you imagine someone throwing a ball, the voltage is how hard they throw it.

The current — also called amperage and measured in amps — is how big the ball is. A baseball being thrown by a professional pitcher would be like a high voltage, low current signal. A young child throwing a basketball is a low voltage, high current signal.

Either characteristic determines how loud your stereo plays. The only constant in the car speakers is voltage, while power and impedance depend on each other. In the case of coaxial speakers or a component system , the car amplifier, when connected to the crossover, recognizes the impedances of the whole set and not individual speakers, which can be different in reality. At the same time, higher impedance means less distortion in the amp and more stable current flow, however more and more modern amplifiers can remain stable while delivering large amounts of power to the speakers with low impedance.

The major advantage of having less impedance is more power coming from the amplifier, which is important inside a noisy car.

But when you have designed a sound system with correctly calculated all resistance, these values can be different. Otherwise, the amplifier will be overloaded with different impedance, and transistors can even blow. For example, when you have a 2xW amplifier working at 4 ohms, you can pair it with either W 4 ohm speakers, or 2x60W 2 ohm speakers. Both sets will drive the same current from the amplifier, but the 4-ohm speakers will make a better sound.

Most cars have installed two pairs of speakers in front and at the back, but do they have the same impedance? The vast majority, yes. When we install 4-ohm speakers, they can be from a different brand, have different sizes or power, and also impedance can be different. However, this is rare. When you wire 4-ohm front speakers and 2 ohm rear speakers to the 4 channel amplifier, you have to be careful with the power level of these 2-ohm speakers to not overload transistors and not damage the amplifier.

Another point to consider is the volume level of these speakers. As we already said, 2-ohm speakers can play louder with the same power, so in our example, when mixing 4 ohm and 2-ohm speakers , you can hear too much from the back of the car. If you want to have a different impedance in the front and the back of the car and one amplifier, make sure 4-ohm speakers have twice as much power as 2 ohms. In this case, you will ensure leveling out amplifier output to all channels. Nevertheless, the best and safest way is to use all speakers in the car with the same either impedance.

Your system will be stable, and you will not have to make too many adjustments to make it work. Subwoofers are different, and when you see a typical car audio system, the speaker with a different usually lower impedance will be the subwoofer.

They can work with 4, 2, or even 1 ohm in some cases and also can have either one or two voice coils, so the number of variations in subwoofer connections is much higher than for the typical car speakers.

The most significant factor in the subwoofers is their ability to create loud and strong bass, and that requires a lot of power. The more powerful the subwoofer, the lower impedance it will have. A 2-ohm subwoofer will play louder than 4 ohms with the same power, but how strong bass will be generated also depends on the enclosure type. For more wiring specifics, check out our subwoofer wiring diagrams.

If you want to get right into choosing a subwoofer, take a look at our top-rated and best-selling subs. The amp that I'm looking at is a 1, watt amp. Conservatively rated at 1, watts RMS power at a 1-ohm load, with the capabilities of reaching beyond 1, watts at max power output.

Would this be a good amp to power both subs? If so, can I connect a pair of 1 inch tweeters to offset the remaining power being given from amp to speaker? What else if any can I connect to the amp and use its maximum power? I can wire the subs down to 2 ohm correct? I would like to know if I have a 12" dvc subwoofer rated for watts rms at 4 ohms, will the rms watts changed when it is then wired in parallel to push 2 ohms?

Or does the rms watts always stay the same wether it gets wired at 2 ohms or 8 ohm? I got 2 jl audio 12w v2-d4 with rms each and a memphis mcd at 2 ohms is rms is this a good set up and if so whats the best way to wire them up? I have a Kia Soul with a all 4 ohm Rockford Fosgate door speakers, which replaced 4 ohm factory speakers.

Same factory head unit. Will the fact that this sub is 2 ohms clash with my setup? I would like to start by saying cruthfield is on OG status and l always learn something new when l search for information. Now lets get into the dish Will this all work together?

Are there any glaring issues with this that would be damaging to any of these components? If so is there a way to minimize the risk or make it work together using all of these components? I just got off the phone with one of your reps and was told that a 4 ohm sub RF P3d could only be wired to 1 or 4 ohm and I wanted it to be wired to 2 ohms.

I am currently running two mtx on a taramps smart 3k. I'm considering getting them reconed with upgraded parts but they told me the only coils they have available for it are dual 1 ohm coils instead of 4ohm. How would that effect the sound and power handling of my subs? Our subwoofer shopping guide will help you determine which kind of subwoofer and bass system you need, to get the sound you want. Here we discuss the most popular fixes for an underpowered electrical system: the big 3 upgrade, a capacitor, a high output alternator, and a second battery.

What does the gain control do anyway? This article describes how to adjust your amplifier so that your subwoofer sounds just the way you want it to. This step-by-step guide will help you make sure that your amps and subs are evenly matched and work well together. We explain how to select one to go with the other.

Which subwoofer will sound the loudest? Or the deepest? Which hits harder: one 12" sub or two 10" subs? How much power do I need? These answers and more in our FAQ. Dual voice coil subwoofers are a popular choice among car audio enthusiasts who want more flexibility in wiring their sound systems. There are many ways to connect subwoofers to an amplifier. Our wiring diagrams will help you find the best way to wire your subs and amps so you'll get the best performance out of your gear.

Helpful tips and step-by-step instructions for designing and building your own custom subwoofer box. This article describes the steps involved in installing a subwoofer in your vehicle. For free personalized advice, call Our Advisors have listened to most of the speakers we carry, and can help you make the best choice for your system.

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