Keep reading this article, Hooke Audio will provide in-depth information about the differences between 2 Ohm vs 4 Ohm subwoofer.
Every audio enthusiast has their preference when it comes to the type of subwoofer they want to use in their system. Many prefer having two speakers wired in parallel, which will offer 4 Ohms for drivers. Some prefer the efficiency of using only one driver which will be wired in series; this will provide you with 2 Ohms.
Contents
2ohm vs 4ohm Subwoofer Overview
2 Ohm Subwoofer
A 2-ohm subwoofer is any unit that has a subwoofer resistance rating greater than 2 ohms.
This rating means that the subwoofer resistance value of the amp is low. As any skilled technician will tell you, amps with lower resistance values can supply power to the speaker without too much resistance.
A louder speaker is one that has more electrical current flowing through it.
A 2-ohm sub is the best option if you are looking for a loud system. This sound system has a downside: it uses a lot of power. Low resistance means that this system uses more power. You will get a subwoofer that is louder, but you will have lower bass quality.
A subwoofer with a lower electrical resistance produces a louder sound than one with a higher electrical resistance, which means that 2ohm subwoofers are louder than 4ohm ones.
Pros
- More efficient than higher impedance subwoofers, allowing for higher power output with less power input
- Produces more bass than a higher-impedance subwoofer of the same size
- Compatible with a wide range of amplifiers and can handle more power without overheating
- It can be wired parallel to a lower impedance load, producing more power output from the amplifier.
Cons
- It can be more difficult to wire compared to higher-impedance subwoofers.
- It may require a larger amplifier to produce the same volume as a higher-impedance subwoofer.
- It can be more expensive than higher-impedance subwoofers of the same size.
- It may require more power from the amplifier, resulting in higher energy consumption and costs.
4 Ohm Subwoofer
The 4 O speaker has 4 ohms subwoofer resistance, just like the 2 O speakers. It is less loud than the 2-ohm speaker system due to its higher resistivity. It doesn’t have as much bass.
This might seem like a disadvantage, but it is actually a benefit. You will also enjoy a loud sound quality and higher quality bass performance despite the lower sound.
Pros
- Can handle more power than higher impedance subwoofers
- Generally produces more bass and sub-bass than higher impedance subwoofers.
- Offers more flexibility when connecting to an amplifier or other audio equipment
- Typically more affordable than higher impedance subwoofers
Cons
- It may require a more powerful amplifier to achieve optimal sound quality.
- It can produce more heat than higher-impedance subwoofers, leading to damage if not properly ventilated.
- It may not be compatible with all audio systems or amplifiers, so checking compatibility before purchasing is important.
- It can be more difficult to find in certain sizes or configurations than higher impedance subwoofers.
2 Ohm Vs 4 Ohm Subwoofer – Comparison
You should match your subwoofer impedance to your amplifier as much as possible. An amplifier will produce maximum power at the correct Ohm load.
This means you get the best power for your dollar by matching the lowest impedance amp.
A 2-ohm amp should have its maximum power at 2 OHMs. You can use a subwoofer 2-ohm total sub load when you are using multiple subwoofers.
A 4-ohm amp that produces maximum power at 4 Ohms should be used with a 4 Ohm subwoofer, or a total of 4-ohm subs loaded with multiple subs.
A 4-ohm subwoofer or a 2-ohm subwoofer with equal power will produce the same volume. Each one will have an impact on how much power you get.
Speakers with 2-ohm or 4-ohm output are not “better” than each other. It all depends on how they’ve used and the car amplifier. I’ll also cover some details as I go.
Note:
- Although it is true that a subwoofer with a low impedance will draw twice as much electrical current as one with a higher impedance, there are good reasons for this.
- The Ohm symbol (O), is often used to indicate units of resistance or impermanence.
- Important to note that subwoofers of 2 and 4 ohms might have different wattage ratings and sizes. In fact, many 2 and 4 subs are of the same size and operate at the same wattage.
Understanding the basics: Volts and Amps in Subwoofers of 2-Ohm and 4-Ohm
The car stereo is made up of many components that are interconnected by wires. These wires run from the amp to the speakers and the head unit to the amp. We must first understand the power specifications in volts, amps, and ohms to fully appreciate the differences between speakers with 2 and 4 ohms.
The electrical signals that your subwoofer, amp, and head unit communicate with each other are characterized by varying voltage and current. The voltage of your car subwoofer indicates how strong the signal is. The current is the power that is shared within the wired connection. The sub will be louder if the voltage is higher. The same applies to current: the higher the current, the louder it will sound.
Ohms is the unit of measurement for the relationship between voltage and current. The term speaker impedance is used in car speakers to describe the coil’s resistance to electric current flow when an audio signal is present. The amplifier’s output is affected by speaker impedance.
If you have speakers with a 14V 2 Ohm rating, you will get 7 amps. Ohm’s Law states that a decrease of electrical resistance equals an increase of current. The 4 ohms subs could generate 3.5 amps at 14 V, while the 2-ohm subwoofer can handle 7 amps at the same voltage. The maximum output is doubled by increasing the impedance, while the output is reduced by half when the impedance is doubled.
Your amp’s output is measured in Watts. A 2 Ohm subwoofer produces more watts than a 4 Ohm one. The subwoofer with the highest output wattage will produce a louder sound than one that produces less.
Subwoofers: Why Are They Important?
These units can be used in-car audio systems. These units are made to reproduce low frequencies in a sound signal.
To get your car booming with punchy bass, go beyond regular speakers and use subwoofers.
You might get confused by all the terminology used when comparing different models. Understanding the meaning of these terms is essential to making an informed decision about which subwoofer you should choose.
Subwoofer Resistance And Its Importance
Many people know that resistance is not uncommon. It is represented by the O sign and measured in ohms.
Resistance refers to resistance to electric current flowing through a circuit. You can choose from two resistivity ratings for your speaker system: 2 or 4. This indicates the resistance to audio signals from the amplifier.
Although the car audio system can be used with either a 2 ohms or 4 ohms model, it is best to choose the one that will enhance your system’s bass.
Amplification Circuit
What is an amplifier circuit? The speakers are connected to your stereo.
The speaker sends sounds to the amplifier, which then returns them to the amplifier as an electrical circuit. There are many levels of resistance, from the speaker wire to the speakers.
An amplifier is designed to work with speakers that fall within a certain impedance range. Most stereo speakers for home use have 8-ohm ratings, while car speakers often have 4 or 2 ohms.
How to Properly Test 2ohm vs 4ohm Subs
Here are the steps to follow:
- Turn off the amplifier and disconnect the subwoofers from the wiring.
- Set your multimeter to the ohms measurement mode.
- Touch the multimeter probes to the terminals of the first subwoofer. Make sure the probes make good contact with the metal of the terminals.
- Read the resistance measurement on the multimeter. This will tell you the impedance of the subwoofer.
- Repeat steps 3 and 4 for the second subwoofer.
Once you have measured the impedance of both subwoofers, you can compare the results. If one subwoofer has a 2 ohm impedance and the other has a 4 ohm impedance, you can expect the 2 ohm subwoofer to require more power and deliver louder bass.
However, remember that other factors, such as the size of the subwoofer, the enclosure type, and the amplifier power output, can also affect performance and sound quality.
FAQ
What If You Have Multiple Subwoofers?
The type of wiring you choose for subwoofers in your vehicle will affect their resistance. Subwoofers can be wired in parallel or series. You wire subwoofers in series wiring. This means you connect the negative terminals of each sub to the positive terminals of the next. Parallel wiring means that you wire the sub terminals to each other in a way that the positive and negative terminals are connected.
You will get a higher resistance if you run the multiple subwoofers in a series. If you have two subwoofers with resistances of 2 ohms each, your total resistance is their combined resistances. This would give you a total resistance of 4 ohms.
The total resistance for subwoofers wired in parallel is the resistance of each subwoofer divided by the number of subwoofers. If you have two subwoofers wired in parallel with resistances of 2 ohms each, the total resistance is 2/2. This gives you a total resistance of 1 ohm. This means that wiring subwoofers in parallel lower the total resistance.
What If A Subwoofer Had Dual Voice Coils?
Most subwoofers only have a single voice coil. However, some models come with dual voice coils. A sub can come with a dual-voice coil, where each coil has a resistance between 2 and 4 ohms.
The type of wiring that you use to connect the subwoofer to an amplifier will affect the overall resistance. If you have a dual voice coil subwoofer, each coil has a resistance of 4 ohms. You can wire it in series to get a higher overall resistance (4+4) or in parallel to get a lower resistance (4/2/1 ohm).
whats Better 2ohm or 4ohm subwoofer?
You can see some key differences between these two subwoofer types. The wiring method can also affect the sound quality and volume.
Which bass is best depends on what kind of bass you are looking for. A 4 O model is best if you want a bass with excellent quality and volume.
A 2 O unit is a better choice if you are looking for louder bass and not as much quality.
Connecting in series will increase resistance and provide the best bass quality while connecting in parallel will give you louder bass but lower quality.
