If You Parallel Subwoofer Does The Watts Increase? [Answered]

This article addresses If You Parallel Subwoofer Does The Watts Increase? This question provides a straightforward explanation to help you optimize your audio setup. As part of the sound system setup, the effects of subwoofer configurations on output performance must be taken into account. One of the questions that pop up in the audio community is if connecting subwoofers in parallel results in a higher total wattage brought to them. So, let’s find its answer and provide you with complete details about it.

If You Parallel Subwoofer Does The Watts Increase?

No, paralleling the wiring of subwoofers does not increase the total watts produced by your amplifier. The higher impedance means the amplifier can output more power if it can power the load without temperature stress or protection mode. For instance:

• When two 4-ohm subwoofers are connected in parallel, the impedance reduces to 2 ohms.
• An amplifier configured to be used at 2 Ohms will, on the whole, provide greater power at this lower impedance.

Confirm that the reduced impedance is safe to handle with the amplifier specifications. Otherwise, you risk damaging your equipment.

If You Connect Two Speakers In Series, Will It Increase Or Decrease The Power To Each Speaker?

When two speakers are connected serially, the power delivered to each of them will be reduced concerning connecting them individually or in parallel. This is because the overall impedance of the whole system goes up when speakers are wired in series. For example:

• If the impedance of the speakers is 8 ohms, wiring them in series damps the circuit to 16 ohms impedance.
• The output power of most amplifiers is inadequate at high-impedance loads resulting in decreased total power output.

As the power is equally split between the two speakers, the power dissipated in each of them will be also lower than if they are directly coupled to the amplifier.

Is It Better To Run Subs In Series Or Parallel?

Whether to connect subwoofers in series or parallel depends on your amplifier and the needed performance.

Parallel Wiring

Parallel Wiring decreases the overall impedance and the amplifier can thus deliver more power, and consequently a louder bass. On the other hand, the amplifier has to be able to drive the lower impedance without a thermal overload or go into protection mode. For instance, connecting two 4-ohm subs in parallel produces a 2-ohm load.

Series Wiring

Series Wiring in turn raises the overall impedance and the power p output from the stage. Even though this may lead to less amplitude, it’s a safer choice if your amplifier is not capable of loading low-impedances. For instance, wiring two 4-ohm speakers in series corresponds to an 8-ohm load.

Best Choice

When an amplifier is capable of handling low impedance (e.g., 2 ohms), parallel wiring is usually also preferable to achieve maximal power and bass output.

In case the amplifier has a limited (e.g., 8 ohms) impedance this wiring is safer and ensures the life of your equipment.

Series Vs Parallel: When Watts Are The Same?

While it is theoretically possible for the total power delivered by the amplifier to remain constant when then wired in series and parallel configurations, this typically does not happen in practice. Here’s why:

• In Series Wiring: The higher total impedance decreases the current, thereby lowering the power to be extracted from the amplifier. This usually results in a lower overall wattage output.
• In Parallel Wiring: Increased total impedance is overcome by reduced impedance and thus more current can run through the circuit with resulting increased power output, if the amplifier can tolerate the associated low impedance safely.

When Watts Are the Same?

The model is the only one for which input wattage could stay the same if, for example, the amplifier is designed such that impedance changes are compensated for. For instance, certain controlled amplifiers have constant wattage output regardless of the load impedance.

Yet in the majority of scenarios, the output power of the amplifier will be dependent on impedance rendering it impractical that the total power of the amplifier be constant in series and parallel arrangements.

Does Wiring Affect Watts For Subwoofer?

Yes, wiring Affects Watts For the Subwoofer. The wiring arrangement (e.g., parallel or series), affects the impedance seen by the amplifier and as a consequence the power delivered.

Also, weak or sloppy connections can induce voltage drops, which limit the power the amplifier can deliver to the subwoofer. Thus, correctly selecting the gauge wire, making quality connections, and ensuring impedance matching are necessary for the correct wattage to be supplied to the subwoofer.

Does Adding A 2nd Subwoofer Increase Your SPL?

Yes, by incorporating an additional subwoofer, the SPL can still be increased. By introducing a second subwoofer, one can in effect quadruple the area producing sound waves, which could lead to a larger amplitude and more uniform bass within the listening sphere as well.

Furthermore, due to the use of two subwoofers, room mode artifacts can be attenuated and the quality of the bass frequency can be further improved achieved by the accurate equalization of the audio. Nevertheless, the true rise of SPL is connected to parameters such as the power limit of a subwoofer speaker, the environmental factors, and the acoustic characteristics of the room.

How Multiple Speakers Share Power?

Several sound sources share power concerning their wiring and impedance. If the speakers are connected in series, the total impedance is lowered and hence the additional power output of the amplifier can be delivered to each of the individual speakers. In a series connection, impedance rises and decreases the power allocated to each speaker, but, at the same time, adds load towards the amplifier.

The degree of power sharing is determined by the impedance of each speaker and their wiring. Proper impedance matching is the essential process to avoid saturation of the amplifier and achieve the highest sound quality and performance.

How’s The Wattage Shared On Two Speakers Wired Parallel?

So, Does Wattage Increase In Parallel Speakers? If the speakers are wired in parallel, the power dissipated is proportionally shared according to the impedance of each speaker. The amplifier outputs the same voltage to both speakers and the load current is shared based on the impedance of each speaker. As long as the speakers possess identical impedance, they will have the same power delivered to them.

But if the impedance of the speakers is different, the speaker impedance of low impedance will be supplied with more power. The impedance of the coupled speakers should be checked to confirm that the combined impedance of the coupled speakers is equal to the amplifier’s maximum load to prevent it from overloading the system.

Any Advantage Of Running Subs In Parallel

• Subwoofers in parallel mode help to reduce the total impedance and thus, the amplifier can deliver to the subs more power.
• This may lead to louder output and more optimal power consumption of the amplifier, thus increasing the loudness of the system.
• Parallel wiring is most advantageous when the amplifier can drive lower impedance loads (i.e., 2 ohms).
• Yet it must also be confirmed that the amplifier is built for the lower impedance application, because, if the impedance is connected too low, it will overload the amplifier and damage it.

Any Disadvantage Of Running Subs In Parallel?

• Not so good is the parallelism setup of subwoofers which, in addition to reducing the effective total impedance, can overload the amplifier.
• If the impedance goes too low (i.e., below the amplifier’s lowest allowable rating), then the amplifier can be overloaded and damage or blow-up can occur.
• Further, when the subwoofers have different impedances, the sub with the lower impedance is given more power, and that may result in non-uniform performance and even damage to the sub with the lower impedance.
• Proper impedance matching and also proper amplifier ability to deliver the load are very important to prevent these problems.

Is It Possible To Combine Multiple Amplifiers To Get Higher Power?

Yes, it is also possible to combine multiple amplifiers and thus achieve greater power. The following can be achieved by several techniques, for example, by bridging the amplifiers, or by the amplifiers in parallel or series connection. Bridging amplifiers (those that link two amplifier outputs) are used to multiply power delivered by a speaker by a factor of two.

If several amplifiers are used, for example, impedance matching between amplifiers and speakers must be respected as well as the acceptance of the power delivered by the amplifiers. Moreover, the amplifiers need to be compatible and to be correctly set up so as not to harm the system.

How Many Watts Do I Need For 2 12 Inch Subs?

The power consumption you will have to specify when setting up two 12-in subwoofers, mainly, depends on the power handling of the drivers and the desired loudness. Overall, for optimal results, a 12-inch sub needs approximately 200 to 500 Watts RMS (Manufacturer).

Consequently, two 12-in subs require a minimum of 400 to 1000 W RMS of amplifying (AC) current to deliver an output power equal to the subs’ rated output power. The amplifier’s wattage should correspond to the subs’ power handling to prevent underpowering and overpowering the subs provide high-quality sound and avoid damage.

How Do I Give My Subwoofer More Power?

For the better energy of the subwoofer, the subsequent steps may be achieved.

Upgrade the Amplifier

Make sure that the amplifier can output ampacity to correspond with the power handling capability of the subwoofer. A stronger amplifier will produce greater power to the subwoofer, enhancing performance.

Use a Properly Rated Amplifier

Select an amplifier that can deal with the impedance of your subwoofer. However, an amplifier’s output level and subwoofer’s impedance mismatch may lead to less power offload and damage.

Wiring Configuration

Wiring the subwoofer in parallel can lower the overall impedance so that the amplifier can send more power to the subwoofer.

Upgrade the Subwoofer

In case your sub is underperforming, think of replacing your sub with one with higher power handling, which will be able to make use of the maximal power of the amplifier.

Check for Power Loss

Use thick, high-quality speaker wires to minimize power loss. Thin or low-quality wires can lead to less power being sent to the subwoofer.

Using an appropriate amplifier, adequate wiring, and high-quality components will allow you to give the subwoofer more power and enhance its sound.

Conclusion

To conclude, you will get this answer If You Parallel Subwoofer Does The Watts Increase? Paralleling subwoofers does not directly boost power by elevating wattage but does decrease impedance increasing the amount of power that the amplifier can put out if it can provide enough power to compensate for the lower load.

Proper impedance matching must be achieved to prevent damaging the amplifier. Which to wire in parallel or series is determined by the specifications and required performance of an amplifier. Optimal power and sound level from your subwoofers can be attained with the right configuration.

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