Two 4 ohm woofers in series or two 16 ohm in parallel. Which is better?

[Cal Weldon]

Hi everyone,

I'm not sure about anyone else but I don't seem to have much luck when I run two 4 ohm woofers in series. It seems to change the sound. I don't mean that it's quieter, I mean that it seems to lose some of the bass altogether and gain some in the mid. I recognize the change in impedance will alter the Xover point but I just seem to lose bass. I am using a 6.2 mH choke in series and a cap across for a 2nd order.

When I parallel two 16 ohm woofers, not only do I get an increase in the volume, but the overall sound doesn't seem to change. I don't have a scope or an SPL meter to check.

I would like to keep my impedance at 8 ohms.

Do I just live with the fact I enjoy the parallel circuit more and be done with it or is there more I should know?

Thank for your help

Cal

[markp]

Its the series inductance of the voicecoils that changes things. In series each woofer see the source resistance and inductance of the other woofer. Use a parallel setup for 8 ohms from 2 16s.

[coolkhoa]

Originally posted by Cal Weldon
I'm not sure about anyone else but I don't seem to have much luck when I run two 4 ohm woofers in series. It seems to change the sound. I don't mean that it's quieter, I mean that it seems to lose some of the bass altogether and gain some in the mid.
Cal [/B]

How many times have you wired 4-ohm woofers in series? If your claim is the result of multiple experiences, I must take it seriously...

[markp]

Also with 2 woofers in parallel you get a 6db increase relative to a single driver. Half the impedance = 3db and two drivers producing the same sound = 3db.

[Cal Weldon]

Car audio woofers are often 4 ohms and quite inexpensive. When I run them on a house system, I prefer 8 ohms. So I series them. My big ones are that way, so are the 4 dual 10 cabinets on top.

Here they are again,
Cal

[officeboy]

Hah, you just like to show that picture..

[woody]

Cal,
Could you be wiring them out of phase ?

[sreten]

My opinion is two 4 ohm in series with one driver reversed and
connected out of phase is the best arrangement for 8 ohms.

sreten.

[Cal Weldon]

You're right officeboy,

I waited twenty five years to get that set up, and now I want the whole world to see.

Look at me, look at me!

But seriously, I have that problem everytime I do two in series. Just last night I did an experiment with the biggies and once again I am not as happy as I should be. I rewired and swapped woofers etc. The big ones actually sound better with only one 4 ohm woofer hooked up.

What a guy to do?

[Cal Weldon]

They are not out of phase.

When you wire these out of phase you are left with nothing more than a great big midrange. A crappy one at that.

This is the wiring