How to Wire 4 Ohm Sub To 2 Ohm (Complete Solutions)

If you are a car music enthusiast, you would love investing in high-quality equipment to attain the sound that makes you satisfied. Among all the other equipment that you find on a car audio system, a subwoofer could be at top of your priority list.

Subwoofers play low-pitched sounds that are commonly known as bass. Typically, 2-ohm and 4-ohm subs are considered for car music systems. There are two ways to improve your car music experience: investing in a high-quality amplifier or a subwoofer with amazing sound.

Sadly, a high-quality car amplifier can be expensive. As such, it leaves you with the option to connect your 4-ohm subwoofer to the 2-ohm amplifier. But, how to wire 4-ohm sub to 2-ohm? Continue reading the post to know how to do that in the right way and find more about the 4 ohm vs 2-ohm sub.

Things To Consider When Planning to Wire 4 Ohm Sub to A 2-Ohm Amp

Before getting into things that need consideration when planning to connect a 4-ohm sub to a 2-ohm amplifier, let’s see whether it will work or not. Yes, the combination would work because a 4-ohm speaker has double the resistance compared to a 2-ohm speaker.

As such, it will have almost half the power that will come out. However, there are lots of factors that should be considered as to how you want to wire things up. Besides, many people wonder whether a 4-ohm sub can handle a 2-ohm amp.

As said, there is not going to be a problem when you combine them. But sometimes, it may create havoc on your amplifier. If the impedance doesn’t match, there could be a power drain, as a result, your car amp will overheat and will fail to perform eventually.

Therefore, consider the impedance of the subs first. The electrical resistance of the speaker’s coil or impedance is responsible when it comes to deciding how much power it requires to drive the sub and make it work effectively. If the impedance is higher, the sub would need more power to function efficiently.

Also, it is crucial to know the type of amplifier that you are using. In general, car amps come with a 2-ohm rating for impedance. In that case, you need to use a wire that has a resistance of 2 ohms so that you can connect it to the sub with ease.

Moreover, try to consider the best wiring method for the connection. If the wiring isn’t done the right way, the sound will have distortion and might damage your sub. Now that becomes true when you are using cheap materials such as aluminum and copper rather than gold or silver for the conductors.

Or, you are using low-quality long wires. Keep in mind that when you use a cheaper, longer wire, chances are that the system gets damaged by improper installation. When you follow these steps with caution, you can wire a 4-ohm sub to a 2-ohm amp with ease.

How To Wire A 4-Ohm Dual Sub for A 2-Ohm Amp

When you want to get the most power out of the amp for the subwoofer, having a parallel connection is the best way. This traditional method works well. The sub is wired in parallel so that it achieves the right impedance. Follow the steps below and you are good to go.

1. Get the Box Ready

Get a well-vented box where the sub will go inside. You can fill the box with Poly-Fil because it will result in deeper, crisp bass. Also, it will optimize the sub’s performance to a great extent.

2. Prepare the Wire for The Sub

Use the recommended speaker wires for your system and cut them into two pieces. Start with the blue wire that represents the positive terminal. Cut two pieces from it: a 2-foot and a 1-foot piece. Next, cut the black wire that represents the negative terminal into two pieces like the blue wire.

The two 2-feet pieces will be used to connect the sub to the terminals inside the box. And, the remaining ones will be used to connect the sub’s voice coil. Different manufacturers use different color codes to represent negative and positive wires.

Since it is a dual 4-ohm sub, you have to connect the two terminals on the speaker itself. Hence, you would require a one-foot section of both positive and negative wire cut and prepared. Use the wire stripper to cut about 1/4 or 1/8-inch and expose the wise from the insulation.

3. Wire the Negative and Positive Terminals

Gently press on the first negative terminal on the top and open it up. Slide back the stripped section of the black speaker wire into it. Follow on with the first positive terminal while inserting the blue striped wire into it.

4. Wire the Second Positive Terminal

Insert the exposed end of the second piece of blue wire into the first positive terminal. Insert the other end into the other positive terminal.

5. Wire the Second Negative Terminal

Insert the exposed end of the second piece of black wire into the first negative terminal. Insert the other end into the other negative terminal.

6. Mount the Sub After Checking the Wiring

Now, you have an X-crossed wire pattern on the bottom of the sub. It connects the voice coils while wiring them in a parallel configuration. Finally, mount the sub into the wooden box by using a power drill and screws.

You can connect the loaded sub enclosure to the amp that matches the ratings of the subwoofer. Connect the wires accordingly and you can hear a deep bass sound.

4 Ohm Vs 2 Ohm Sub: What Do They Mean?

You may be wondering whether a small or large value of ohms impacts the quality of sound. So, let’s find it out about the 4 ohm vs 2 ohm sub.

• A 2-Ohm Sub – Because of its low resistance, a 2-ohm sub is a powerful one. As such, it has increased power production with great load capacity. The sound is louder and a perfect fit for a bigger audience. Although it has an impressive volume, the sub consumes more power.
• A 4-Ohm Sub – It is the preferred choice for many car music enthusiasts because of its incredible sound. It isn’t loud like the former one. Because of high impedance, it translates to less current along with decreased power and a small load.

4-Ohm Vs 2-Ohm Sub: Which One to Choose

Both 2-ohm and 4-ohm subs have their selling points. The 2-ohm is loud and perfect for large audiences. Whereas the 4-ohm sub has a low pitch but excellent sound and is good for confined spaces.

In short, if you want excellent quality sound, opt for the 4-ohm sub. For maximum loud volume, it is good to choose a 2-ohm sub.

Conclusion

Hooking a sub to the amp is something that many car enthusiasts tend to do without giving it much thought. However, the most important thing is to look for certain aspects when it comes to wiring a 4-ohm sub with a 2-ohm amplifier.

The best thing to do is match the sub’s impedance to the amp’s impedance. That way, you can have a crisp sound without damaging your amp or sub. Additionally, you may have got an idea about the 4 ohm vs 2 ohm sub and which one to choose.