Impedance when wiring subs to an amplifier is one of the most important factors in designing a safe and reliable subwoofer system. Impedance is measured in ohms and refers to the electrical load the subwoofer presents to the amplifier.
In general, lower impedance can allow an amplifier to produce more power, but only if the amplifier is designed to operate safely at that load. For example, some amplifiers may be stable at 2 ohms, while others may only be suitable for 4-ohm operation when bridged. If the final subwoofer load is too low for the amplifier, it may overheat, distort, shut down in protection mode or become damaged.
Subwoofer wiring can change the final impedance seen by the amplifier, especially when using dual voice coil subwoofers or multiple subwoofers. Series wiring, parallel wiring and combined wiring methods can all produce different final ohm loads, so the correct configuration must be chosen carefully.
It is also important to match impedance with RMS power handling, amplifier output, enclosure design and the type of bass performance you want. More subwoofers can move more air and increase bass output, but they also require the right amplifier power, space, wiring and tuning.
There is no single best impedance for every subwoofer system. The right setup depends on your amplifier, subwoofer model, voice coil configuration, available space and performance goals.
For the safest and best-performing result, speak with your nearest Focal Authorised Australian Dealer. A professional dealer can check your amplifier specifications, confirm the correct subwoofer wiring configuration and recommend the best Focal subwoofer setup for your vehicle.
