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DLS SOUND HANDBOOK - SPEAKER BOXES
SPEAKER LOADS
Most car audio speakers have a 4 ohm impedance.
DLS CLASSIC and Reference amplifiers can handle
loads down to 2 ohm on each stereo channel. DLS
ULTIMATE amplifiers can handle loads down to 1
ohm.
If you are using more than one driver they must be
connected in a way so the impedance still is 4 ohm
when connected to a CLASSIC amplifier in bridge
mode. To an ULTIMATE amplifier you can connect
speakers in bridge mode that has an impedance of
only 2 ohms. When you run the amplifier in mono
bridge mode it sees a 4 ohm load as 2 ohm, and a 2
ohm load as 1 ohm.
Below you find different speaker wiring examples.
Two 4 ohm speakers in parallel
+
2 ohm
-
Two speakers in series.
+
8 ohm
-
We don´t recommend this connection.
Four speakers in series/parallel to 4 ohm.
+
Each
speaker
4 ohm
is 4 ohm
-
Three speakers in parallel
+
+
1,3
ohm
-
-
+
+
-
+
+
-
-
+
+
-
-
+
+
-
-
+
+
Each
speaker
is 4
ohm
-
-
SPEAKER CONNECTION
Always use high quality speaker cables such as DLS
SC 2x1,5, SC 2x2,5 or SC 2x4. Subwoofer
connection requires 2 x 4 mm
Connect the speaker + (marked with + or a red dot)
to the amplifier + terminal, and the speaker - to the
amplifier -.
When fitting the cables to the amplifier terminals,
remove only 10 mm of the insulation. Twist the wire
strand together and insert the wire after loosening
the terminal screw. Do not over tighten as this can
cut the cable strands.
If you want an extra high class speaker cable choose
any of the DLS SCP, SCK, SCKS, SC 4x1 or SC
4x1,5 cables.
SPEAKER POLARITY CHECK.
All speakers in a car audio system should be
connected in phase (the same polarity). All speaker
cones must move in the same direction. Out of phase
speakers will cause a lack of bass, and a poor stereo
soundstage.
Checking polarity:
Hold the - connection of the speaker wire to the -
terminal of a 1,5 Volt flashlight battery. Tap the + wire
on to the + terminal of the battery, and observe the
movement of the cone. The cone should move
outwards when the wire touches the battery, and
inwards when the battery is removed. If it is the other
way around, the speaker has been connected
backwards and it must be removed and connected
correctly.
If your system also has a subwoofer connected
through a passive 6 or 12 dB crossover, try to connect
this with various polarity and judge what sounds best.
The phase shift in passive crossovers sometimes
makes it necessary to change polarity.
+
Batteri
1,5 Volt
-
NOTE! You can not test tweeters in this way.
17
2
cable.
+
-
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