How to Wire 3 Subs to One Amp

Wire the subs to the amp in a series circuit.

Wiring three subwoofers to one amplifier can be accomplished by running a series circuit to prevent one of the subwoofers from sounding louder than the other two.

Things You'll Need

• Wire strippers
• Spool of speaker wire

Instructions

1. Use three subs rated equally in ohms and impedance for connecting to an amplifier that can drive the trio with sufficient power to produce clean, rich bass. For example, three subs rated at 4 ohms will deliver a 12-ohm load.

2. Measure and precut your speaker wire before you begin. Strip about 1/2 inch of insulation from both sides of each speaker wire to speed up the connections. Disconnect the power supply.

3. Connect the positive (red) terminal of the amplifier to speaker wire and connect the other end to the positive terminal of the first sub by wrapping the bare wire around the screw-down post or inserting into the appropriate hole with a clamp lever for the positive wire.

4. Connect a speaker wire to the negative (black) terminal of the first sub and the positive terminal of the second sub.

5. Connect a speaker wire from the negative terminal of the second sub to the positive terminal of the third sub.

6. Connect a speaker wire to the negative terminal of the third sub and hook the other end to the negative terminal of the amp.

7. Reconnect the power supply and test the circuit at low volume.

Tips & Warnings

• The red speaker wire is positive. The black or silver speaker wire is negative.

• Match the sub ratings so as not to overload one of the speakers. Disconnect the power before attempting any wiring project.

References

• the12volt.com: Audio wiring diagrams and forum