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.
Alexis Verdugo from México
Posted on 6/6/2023
Hello, I have a question... I recently connected a jl audio Slash 500/1 amp to a Jl audio 12 w6v2-d4 subwoofer and it is set to 2 ohms but when I turn up the volume the subwoofer cuts out, I would like to know the best way to connect the cables to be able to get more power .
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
on 6/6/2023
Frank Lategano from Richmond
Posted on 6/3/2023
All I want is an 8" Sub at 16 ohms for my Lexus SC 430. How can I do that?
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
on 6/5/2023
Jessi Gilley from Akron
Posted on 5/6/2023
Hi I have the Rockford fosgate t1000-1bdcp amplifier, it's a mono , 1 channel amp but has 2 speaker input/output. So I'm confused on your guys wiring diagram for 1 channel amps cause your diagram shows 1 speaker input/output. I'm trying to figure out my options for wiring my two 12 inch P3D2 Rockford fosgate speakers ? What options do I have? Can they be wired to 1ohm? 2ohm? 4 ohm? Or if all ways which way would give me the most deep breath taking bass. Please help. Its the two speaker a and b outputs that confuse me , I was told that no matter how I plug them in the amp automatically figures out the ohms? But I know that can't be true cause of the different ways the speakers can be wired, like sieres or parallel. Is there a specific guide for wiring speakers to this amp with 2 speaker input/output but only being a 1 channel amp? I originally had the original box and birth sheet and instructions but I had an issue with my amp and the shop which I bought it at which is an official Rockford fosgate dealer ( century 2000 in Akron ohio) sent it out to be repaired and when I picked it up it was in a plain brown box without my original box ,birth sheet, and instructions . I didn't think about it or realize it until days later which sucks, but that's a separate issue. Can you please help me understand how the 2 speaker input/output works when wiring my Rockford fosgate P3D2 12inch subwoofers for different ohms ect. Thanks so much
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
on 5/8/2023
Anthony Aldana from Hanford
Posted on 5/4/2023
I have two 4 ohm 12 inch subs 1 is dvc and the other 1 is svc can I wire them up together just like if you had 2 dvc subs and if I can what would be the best way to wire them?
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
on 5/5/2023
luis
Posted on 4/25/2023
I have 2 12 4 ohm kicker comp Qs with a kicker 1800.1 amp. What would be the best way to wire them?
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
on 4/26/2023
Luke from Bedale
Posted on 4/17/2023
I have 4 db audio xtinct 12s that I'm wanting to wire up to a edge xtreme series 10000w amplifier I believe the impedance is 2 ohm but it can go to 1ohm my question is am I able to do this as the rms power on one sub is 1500w and max is 5000w would I be best running 2 of these amps on 2 separate subs cheers
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
on 4/18/2023
Ryan Powell from Muskegon mi
Posted on 4/10/2023
I have 2 alpine type 4 dual 4ohm 10s and I have a CT Sounds CT-1000.1D Compact Class D Car Audio Monoblock Amplifier, 1000 Watts RMS. What's the best way to get most power for my tens I don't know what I'm doing really lol
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
on 4/12/2023
MrTom
Posted on 4/8/2023
I have a Memphis SRX250.1 2 channel 250 RMS amp with a 250 RMS 10" 4 ohm DVC speaker. By default the box was wired in parallel to create a 2 ohm speaker. Would there be any benefit in wiring each channel to a 4 ohm VC, or keep it as bridged 2 ohm? My amp manual says "RMS Power/CH 4ohm = 150W x 1" and "RMS Power/CH 2ohm = 250W x 1". What does this mean? At dual 4 ohm would I be giving each VC 150W, so the speaker total would be 300W RMS?
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
on 4/10/2023
Lucy
Posted on 4/3/2023
Hi I have 2 DS18 GEN-XX12.4DHE 12's and I want to run them at 4ohms, with a mono lock amp how much 4ohm rms power do I need? Is it just 2x so 800? Im not sure how that works.
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
on 4/3/2023
jake
Posted on 4/1/2023
On a JL audio RD900/5 would it be a good idea to have 2 jl audio 10w3v3-2 subwoofers in a ported box for a final load of 4 ohm to an amp plus later in the summertime i plan to install mids and highs either JL audio c1 or c2 Or 2 10w3v3-4 subwoofers in a vented box for a final load of 4 ohm to JL audio RD900/5 amp plus adding mids and highs later either JL audio c1 or c2 ***Currently I have 1 10w3v3-2 ( I am kind of stuck since I would like to have another 10w3v3 but I would need to buy 2 10w3v3-4 ohm load for final 2 ohm for better output or just buy another 2 ohm and have less output on the rd900/5 ) How would the output compare from 2 10w3v3-2 to a 2 10w3v3-4 in ported box on a JL audio RD900/5 amp???
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
on 4/5/2023