Updated 25 Dec 2005

Common Speaker Wiring Topologies

This page illustrates some common speaker wiring topologies and also shows various characteristics for the total system. Here are some important notes regarding the info on this page:

ALL SPEAKERS ARE ASSUMED TO BE IDENTICAL MODELS AND LOADED IN THE SAME MANNER. By "loading", I mean that all speakers are in the same kind of cabinet (if separate cabinets). Why does this matter? If the speakers are installed in cabinets that are significantly different from each other, it can impact the impedance of the speaker (not the DC value, the dynamic impedance). Therefore, if the speakers are identical but loaded differently, it could cause one speaker to work harder than the others. Be aware that different loading of speakers can change the way the system operates.
In the tables, "system impedance" is the nominal load (in ohms) that the amplifier channel will see.
Wiring is critical! If you miswire something, a speaker may be out of phase and will tend to cancel out the sound produced by the other speaker(s)!

Series Wiring of Two Identical Speakers

The figure below shows the wiring for two identical speakers in series:

Figure 1. Series Wiring of Two Speakers.

This wiring is often used with two 4 ohm speakers (bringing the total system impedance to 8 ohms).

Series Wiring of Two Identical Speakers
	For 8 ohm speakers	For 4 ohm speakers
System Impedance	16 Ohms	8 Ohms
System Power Capacity	Twice any one speaker	Twice any one speaker

One thing to keep in mind with this wiring configuration: if one speaker blows (resulting in an open circuit), the second speaker will go silent (like the old fashioned Christmas lights, "if one goes out they all go out").

Parellel Wiring of Two Identical Speakers

The figure below shows the wiring for two identical speakers in parallel:

Figure 2. Parallel Wiring of Two Speakers.

This wiring is often used with two 8 ohm speakers (bringing the total system impedance to 4 ohms).

Parallel Wiring of Two Identical Speakers
	For 8 ohm speakers	For 4 ohm speakers
System Impedance	4 Ohms	2 Ohms
System Power Capacity	Twice any one speaker	Twice any one speaker

Parallel Wiring of Four Identical Speakers

The figure below shows the wiring for four identical speakers in parallel:

Figure 3. Parallel Wiring of Four Speakers.

This wiring may used with four 8 ohm speakers (bringing the total system impedance to 2 ohms).

Parallel Wiring of Four Identical Speakers
	For 8 ohm speakers	For 4 ohm speakers
System Impedance	2 Ohms	1 Ohm
System Power Capacity	4x any one speaker	4x any one speaker

Series-Parallel Wiring of Four Identical Speakers

The figure below shows the wiring for four identical speakers in series-parallel configuration:

Figure 4. Series-Parallel Wiring of Four Speakers.

This wiring may used with any 4 identical speakers and the total system impedance is the same as that of a single speaker!

Series - Parallel Wiring of Four Identical Speakers
	For 8 ohm speakers	For 4 ohm speakers
System Impedance	8 Ohms	4 Ohms
System Power Capacity	4x any one speaker	4x any one speaker

Other Wiring Topologies

There are many ways to wire up speakers, the ones shown above are the most common ones in use today. The main thing to keep in mind: when wiring up multiple speakers, be aware that undersireable problems can come up if the speakers are not the same type.

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