We offer different impedance options so that the customer can perfectly match their subwoofer and amplifier combination for optimum performance. We offer voice coils with standard impedance ratings, and also some specialty voice coils with exact impedance ratings.
What’s the difference in the voice coil options?
Standard Coil – Our standard impedance voice coils will actually have a DC resistance that is slightly less than their rated nominal impedance. For example: a voice coil that’s rated as a Dual 1 ohm will have an actual DC resistance of 0.7-0.8 ohms. This is to account for the fact that your impedance will actually change and rise as your subwoofer plays.
Exact Voice Coil Resistance – We list the exact DC resistance of all of our voice coils, for customers who will be wiring multiple subwoofers or plan to use their amplifiers at a very specific starting impedance. If you are using more than 2 subwoofers or have a competition style system, you should pay attention to the exact resistance.
Which voice coil option should I use?
For most applications, you should go with our standard voice coil options. For example: A user who wants to run a pair of subwoofers at a 1 ohm nominal load (the most common amplifier impedance), would be recommended to use our standard Dual 1 ohm voice coils. Wired together, the pair of subwoofers would have a DC resistance slightly less than 1 ohm, but after impedance changes while moving, the nominal load sent to the amplifier would be 1 ohm.
If you need to wire your amplifier at an exact impedance, pay attention to the DC resistance rating of the voice coil instead of the rated impedance. For example: A user who wants to wire their amplifier at an exact 0.5 ohm starting resistance with a pair of subwoofers would likely want to use voice coils with dual 2.0 ohm resistance wired in parallel or dual 0.5 ohm coils wired in series-parallel. If that same user were to wire together a pair of subwoofers using our standard dual 2 ohm (1.4 ohm DC) coils, they would actually have a starting resistance of 0.35 ohms.