Kavin Tyler 
To get the most out of your speakers-whether, it is in-home stereo, computer speakers, or even car speakers-you need to be able to get the most out of your speaker cables. The directionality of the tweeters and woofers can be tweaked by twisting the cable underneath the connector. If you’re having trouble deciding between 2, 4 or 8-conductor speaker cables, there are some things you need to consider.
What are dual voice coil speakers?
A dual voice coil (DVC) or bi-amplified loudspeaker is one with two or more separate voice coils that are wired out of phase so that they are only on at different times.
It allows for more accurate reproduction because an individual driver can be wired for more bass or treble reproduction, allowing higher efficiency. DVC speakers have both Low-level and High-level inputs; if you don’t connect them properly, you’ll get less sound & power than you expect.
The advantages of using dual voice coil speakers
The biggest advantage of using dual voice coil speakers is that they can be made into a 1-ohm load. It allows you to run them with less power than normally required (single 8ohm or 4ohm).
You might want to use these because some amplifiers have two inputs and will only run two speakers. With one of these speakers, you could use both sets of outputs, and your amp would see only one speaker, which it could easily handle.
The disadvantages of using dual voice coil speakers
If you’re starting with car audio, it’s probably best not to go with a double-voice-coil (DVC) speaker. But if you already have one and are trying to figure out how they work, or if you’re having trouble getting your DVC speakers to function correctly, these tips will help. Please note that most of these tips also apply when wiring two speakers in parallel; you can think of them as how-to install two speakers in place of one.
Things to remember about installing a pair of dual voice coil speakers:
- You must wire both channels together! When you wire two speakers in parallel, each track is wired together so that both drivers share one set of positive and negative terminals. In other words, each driver acts like it has its amplifier but really, there’s only one amp powering both drivers through a standard positive and negative terminal connection at each end of the speaker wires.
- Use all four connections! A typical aftermarket receiver is designed with single-voice-coil (SVC) speakers only; therefore, many don’t provide enough power to drive a pair of DVC speakers efficiently.
The three main types of woofers – DIY car audio
Because woofers are one of the most important components in your car stereo system, you must choose one that best fits your needs. When shopping for woofers, you’ll find three main types: coaxial, component, and passive radiators. While each style has its advantages, there are several factors you should consider before making a purchase. In addition to performing at an optimal level, a subwoofer can enhance sound quality by offering multiple options for placement.
What is impedance?
Impedance is a fancy word for resistance. In your car, impedance describes how much opposition an audio system has to get power into its speakers. The unit of measurement is ohms, and one ohm equals one volt per amp (1V/A). So, for example, if your amplifier is rated at 80 watts into two ohms, then it can output 160 watts into four ohms and 240 watts into eight ohms. All you need to know about adding or replacing components in your system is how many ohms they are rated at.
Conclusion
We hope that you enjoyed our blog post about how to hook up a dual voice coil speaker. We wanted to make sure that we were able to give you the information you needed to effectively bring your speaker into your system. Please feel free to contact us anytime for more help or if you have any other questions.
FAQs
How do I add an amplifier?
To add an amplifier and make your speakers produce more sound and output power, connect your car stereo’s tape out or speaker-level output (sometimes marked preamp output) directly to one channel of your new amp. Then connect that amp’s positive (red) lead directly to the positive terminals of both speakers. Connect its negative (black) lead directly to each speaker’s negative terminal.
How does a DVC woofer work?
A DVC subwoofer looks like two woofers in one box, but how does it work? When you connect your woofer in parallel, your electrical connections are in series, and when you connect them in series, they’re in parallel.
How do you wire a 4 Ohm dual voice coil speaker?
A 4 Ohm dual voice coil speaker is a speaker that has two voice coils. Dual voice coils are best for enclosures that are vented because the voice coils can work in series or parallel to create the proper amount of sound pressure level. The voice coils are wired around the frame of the speaker.
What hits harder 2ohm or 4ohm?
That depends on what you are working with. If you are working with a large amplifier, you will likely want to use a 4 ohm speaker. If you are working with a smaller amplifier, you will likely want to use a 2 ohm speaker.
