Subwoofer wiring diagrams
How to hook up your subs for powerful bass
In this article, we'll help you find the best way to connect your subs to your amp. We begin with some basic – and important – subwoofer and amplifier terms. But if you want, you can skip straight to the wiring diagrams.
There are many ways to wire subwoofers and amplifiers together. The ideal setup is when subs and amps match their impedance and power capabilities to optimize performance.
Power with care
The diagrams show wiring configurations for amplifiers and subwoofers that have already been matched for power capabilities. You should never connect subs to an amp that could give them more power than their total watts RMS power ratings. Doing so could damage the subs or the amp. See How to match subs and amps for further guidance.
Here's an example diagram for connecting two 4-ohm DVC subs to a mono-channel amplifier:
Wiring terms you need to know
The diagrams are below, but first let's explain a few important terms.
SVC
A single voice coil sub with two wiring terminal posts, one marked positive and the other marked negative.
DVC
A dual voice coil sub with four wiring terminal posts, two positive terminals and two negative terminals. This gives you more options for wiring the sub in different situations.
Ohms
The impedance load, or resistance against the amplifier's output signal, of a subwoofer coil. Subwoofer voice coils usually come in 2-ohm, 4-ohm, or 8-ohm impedances. The value is often found printed on the magnet, if you're unsure of what you have.
Series wiring and parallel wiring
These terms refer to two ways of routing the speaker wires to properly manage the overall impedance load. Whether you need to use a series wiring configuration, parallel wiring, or a mix of both, our diagrams will show you exactly the best way to wire your speakers, without using confusing technical terms.
When you wire dual voice coils and multiple subs together, the resulting total impedance is not always simple to figure out or practical to use. In the example diagram above, the voice coils of each sub are wired together in series, while the two subs themselves are wired together in parallel.
Amplifier output
An amplifier will put out more power through a low-impedance sub than it will through a high-impedance sub. But a lower impedance also means more stress on the amp. Some amplifiers (marked “low-imp” in the links below) can even drive a 1-ohm load safely, and achieve maximum output. Refer to your amp manufacturer or owner's manual to determine whether or not yours can handle a low-impedance load.
Bridged mode
Bridging an amp combines two amplifier channels into one, to get more power. The disadvantage of bridging is that bridged channels can't drive impedance loads as low as they can when unbridged. The proper way to bridge the amp is usually indicated at the amp's speaker wire terminals. For more information, read our How to bridge an amplifier article.
Wire
All the wires depicted in the Subwoofer Wiring Diagrams are speaker wires. For wiring subwoofers, we recommend using wires of 12- to 16-gauge in size.
Find the right wiring diagram
Now, let's get those subs hooked up! All of our wiring diagrams are listed below. Select the diagram for the number and type of subs you have. Depending on your gear, there might be more than one way to safely wire the subs.
- 2 SVC 2-ohm subs, 2ch amp: 2 x 2 ohms
- 2 SVC 4-ohm subs, 2ch amp: 2 x 4 ohms
- 2 SVC 4-ohm subs, 2ch low-imp amp: 2 ohms
- 2 SVC 8-ohm subs, 2ch amp: 4 ohms
- 2 DVC 2-ohm subs, 2ch amp: 2 x 4 ohms
- 2 DVC 2-ohm subs, 2ch low-imp amp: 2 ohms
- 2 DVC 4-ohm subs, 2ch amp: 2 x 2 ohms
- 2 DVC 4-ohm subs, bridged 2ch amp: 4 ohms
A note about multi-channel amplifiers
5-channel amplifiers are a popular way to get "full system" power in one box — four channels to drive your four speakers, plus a fifth, higher-powered channel for your subwoofer. 6- and 8-channel amps are similar and offer even more flexibility. When it comes to connecting subwoofers to these amps, keep it simple:
- If you're connecting your sub(s) to the subwoofer channel, treat it like a mono-channel amplifier.
- If you're bridging two channels of your amp, simply treat it as a bridged 4-channel amp.
Start building your bass system today
Now that you've seen how to wire subwoofers and amplifiers together, you can knowledgeably shop Crutchfield's extensive selection of subwoofers and amplifiers. We also carry amp wiring kits, speaker wire, RCA cables, capacitors, and much more.
Contact us by phone, chat, or email and an Advisor will help you get what you need. If you want to learn more about amplifier systems, check out our Amplifier Installation Guide.
Scotty D from Utah
Posted on 11/24/2022
@ Jason d from Ofallon First, Happy Thanksgiving! I doubt Buck will reply today. I'm commenting because after reading the article I thought power sharing should have been touched on in the article. It might be mentioned in any of the 1,185 comments prior to yours Jason d from Ofallon, but digging for it could prove time consuming and perhaps fruitless. If this type of question is commented frequently please consider editing the article to touch on this principle. If you have any number of subs of identical resistance/impedance/ohms then the power delivered to the group will be divided equally among them. 1000/4=250 Your question / example is, "So if you are going to hook up 4 subs to a mono amp The amp should be 1000 watts if your speakers are 250, is that correct? Or 4000 watt amp and 1000 watt subs?" Yes it is correct, but there are parameters and considerations relating to ohms and watts as well as RMS and peak. If the four subs are 250 watts RMS at 4 ohms and you wire all four in parallel to a mono amp rated 1000 watts at 1 ohm you've got a good match. Talk to the Crutchfield Team! Purchase from Crutchfield for lifetime tech support! Hope this answer helps you for the holiday.
Jason d from Ofallon
Posted on 11/24/2022
So if you are going to hook up 4 subs to a mono amp The amp should be 1000 watts if your speakers are 250, is that correct? Or 4000 watt amp and 1000 watt subs?
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
on 11/25/2022
Jessi Gilley from Akron
Posted on 11/13/2022
Hi I have the Rockford fosgate t1000-1bdcp amplifier it's confusing me cause it Is a mono amplifier but has 2 speaker inputs? Your wiring diagram only shows 1 speaker input options with a mono amp. I originally had 2 P3d2 12inch subwoofers hooked to it. I wanted to know what wiring options I have with this amp and the 2 Rockford p3d2 subwoofers? Much appreciated
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
on 11/14/2022
Senica Robinson from Marion
Posted on 10/20/2022
I have 6 dc audio level 6 m5s that I'm about to get recones for what ohm load would I be at if I run dual .7s or dual 1s 3 subs per amp Trying to stay close as possible to .5 ohm with 3 per amp
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
on 10/20/2022
Michael Skoblin from San Marcos
Posted on 10/13/2022
Hi, my Sub EQ unit has a SUB OUT that is stereo, instead of mono. Is it O.K. to use a single DVC 4 ohm sub, with a 2 channel amp, where the left sub out goes to one of the 4 ohm voice coils, and the right to the other VC?
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
on 10/14/2022
Aleksi Torvi
Posted on 10/10/2022
Hi is it possible to put 3 DVC 4-ohm subs,with a mono amp: 2.0 ohm with the 2.7 ohm wiring guide or will i have huge powerloss with that?
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
on 10/11/2022
Christopher Palacios from Mount pleasant
Posted on 9/24/2022
I have four kicker L7's 8 inch I want to wire them to 1 ohm stable amp a nemesis 1600 mono block what amp do you recommend? Or how do I wire to one ohm or what happens if I wire .8 ohms
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
on 9/25/2022
Sirius Raycraft from Saskatoon
Posted on 9/22/2022
I have 2, 4ohm dual voice coil subs. And I want to wire them to 2 ohms of output from the amp. There wasn't a diagram to show how to do that. Is it even possible?
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
on 9/23/2022
Benjamin from Sailsbury
Posted on 9/16/2022
Why can't you wire one subwoofer positive to positive negative to negative and then the other subwoofer positive to positive negative then negative run that positive off the first one to the amp run the negative off the opposite sub to the end and cross from negative to positive between subwoofers to make two two ohm into one ohm breaking point at the amp and that creates a parallel series between the two 2 2ohm subwoofers down to a one ohm amp
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
on 9/17/2022
Michael Merritt from Pennsburg
Posted on 9/15/2022
Hello, I have a Skar Audio RP-800.1DM 800 Watt Monoblock installed in my boat and was wondering if the Clarion CM2513WL 10-inch Marine Subwoofer 250W RMS power handling Dual 2 ohm would be a good match and what is the best wiring setup. Also would it be possible to add another of the same sub later? Thanks
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
on 9/16/2022