Subwoofer tools.
SYSTEM PLANNING / THE TOOLKIT

Subwoofer wiring.

Explore balanced series and parallel networks for identical subwoofers. Check the nominal total load against your amplifier minimum and keep intended polarity.

01 / THE INPUTS
Subwoofer configuration
Ω
Connections
Amplifier reference
Ω
W
02 / THE RESULTS
Nominal total amplifier load
4.00Ω
Nominal load per subwoofer
8.00Ω
Nominal power per driver
500.0W
Parallel strings
2
Drivers per series string
1

Balanced arrangements for these drivers

Coil connectionSeries per stringParallel stringsNominal ohmLoad check
series124.000Meets nominal minimum
series2116.000Meets nominal minimum
parallel121.000Below amplifier minimum
parallel214.000Meets nominal minimum

Read this result with its assumptions.

Connect each driver's coils in series to form 8.00 ohm units. Make 2 equal parallel strings of 1 driver in series. Maintain polarity.

Equal power sharing assumes identical drivers and that the amplifier actually delivers the entered power at this total load.

A nominal load check does not certify real minimum impedance, bridged-mode limits, or amplifier compatibility.

Units & assumptions

Illustrative balanced network. Follow the connection instructions above for your selected configuration.

Your calculations run in this browser. No account needed.

03 / UNDER THE HOOD

The math, in plain sight.

Plan the connection before choosing the load.

Series and parallel connections

Balanced networks have the same number of identical drivers in each series string. The number of drivers per string must divide the total number of drivers exactly.

Zseries=∑i=1nZi,1Zparallel=∑i=1n1ZiZ_{\mathrm{series}}=\sum_{i=1}^n Z_i,\qquad\frac1{Z_{\mathrm{parallel}}}=\sum_{i=1}^n\frac1{Z_i}
ZDVC,series=2Zc,ZDVC,parallel=Zc2Z_{\mathrm{DVC,series}}=2Z_c,\qquad Z_{\mathrm{DVC,parallel}}=\frac{Z_c}{2}
Znominal,total=nsnpZunitZ_{\mathrm{nominal,total}}=\frac{n_s}{n_p}Z_{\mathrm{unit}}

Conditional power sharing

The first expression assumes the amplifier actually delivers the entered total power into this load. The voltage-based expression is a resistive reference, not a calculation of real frequency-dependent electrical power.

Pdriver≈PtotalNdrivers,Preference=VRMS2Znominal,totalP_{\mathrm{driver}}\approx\frac{P_{\mathrm{total}}}{N_{\mathrm{drivers}}},\qquad P_{\mathrm{reference}}=\frac{V_{\mathrm{RMS}}^2}{Z_{\mathrm{nominal,total}}}

Two dual-4 ohm subwoofers with each driver coil pair in series become two nominal 8 ohm drivers. Parallel those drivers for a nominal 4 ohm system. Nominal impedance is not DC resistance or frequency-dependent input impedance. Respect amplifier and bridged-mode limits, coil connection requirements, and polarity.