Music is known to be great medicine to people’s souls. That’s why most vehicles have an audio system integrated with subwoofers that add great bass. If you are a music enthusiast, then you must own at least one subwoofer.
But, you must be confused about various terms such as resistance, wattage, and impedance. Besides, have you ever seen the ohms (Ω) signs on different speakers? Therefore, resistance is denoted in ohms and measures the opposition of the current flow through electrical circuit.
Speakers have audio signals in electric currents from the amplifier, with a certain resistance level to the audio signal. Most of them available in the market today either have a 2 or 4-ohms resistance rating.Therefore, it can be helpful to know which one between4 ohm vs 2 ohm can work best to enhance your bass quality.
In order to help you save time, we have highlighted the best 4 Ohm Vs 2 Ohm Component Speakers at the comparison table below:
Image | Features | Further information |
|---|---|---|
Rockville W12K6D2 V2 | - Brand: Rockville - Item Dimensions: 15.5 x 15.2 x 12.2 inches - Item Weight: 18.66 pounds - Peak Power Handling: 2400 Watts. - Program Power Handling: 1200 Watts. - CEA Rated RMS Power Handling: 600 Watts.. - 2.5" 4-Layer Black Aluminum Voice Coils Wound with OFC (100% Copper) Wire - Double Stacked 100 Oz High Quality Magnet. - Two Chrome-Plated Binding Post Terminals. Impedance: Dual 2-Ohm Voice Coils. | |
Infinity Kappa 60CSX | - Brand: Infinity - Item Dimensions: 20 x 9 x 5 inches - Item Weight: 6.7 pounds - Infinity’s glass fiber woofer cones are lighter and stiffer with more cone-area - Edge-driven textile dome tweeters - High output 2.5 ohm ohm architecture with low impedance voice coils enables the speaker to extract every watt | |
Skar Audio (2) FSX65-4 | - Brand: Skar Audio - Item Dimensions: 14 x 8 x 6 inches - Item Weight: 4.32 pounds - Sold as a package - includes X2 Skar Audio FSX65-4 6. 5" 4 ohm mid-range speakers - 300 watts Max (Each) | 150 watts RMS (each) - 21 oz ferrite motor | Sensitivity: 92.5 dB 1W/1M - Frequency response: 100 Hz - 8, 000 Hz - Featuring a high temperature 1.5" Copper Voice Coil | |
Gikfun EK1725 | - Brand: Gikfun - Item Dimensions: 4.5 x 1.1 x 2.5 inches - Item Weight: 3.2 ounces - 2pcs 2" 4Ohm 3W Full Range Audio Speaker Stereo Woofer Loudspeaker for Arduino - Rated Power: 3W - Rated Impedance: 4 ohm - Diameter: 2 inches | |
Pyle PL42BL | - Brand: Pyle - Item Dimensions: 2.64 x 5.2 x 5.2 inches - Item Weight: 3.05 pounds - 4-OHM IMPEDANCE impedance rating that compensates the undersized wire found in many of today’s cars. - The blue poly injection cone also looks great and allows your music to resonate with full power - 3/4'' ASV VOICE COIL: Pyle car sound speaker system is capable of 3/4'' high-temperature ASV voice coil - 90W RMS AND 180W PEAK - 1/2" neodymium film dome midrange |
Impedance: What is its Meaning?
It is the resistance of the voices coil wire against the electrical current that flows from the amplifier. Most car speakers are made in either 4-ohm or 2-ohm impedance. But, it is hard to find those above 4 ohms due to a low voltage of about 12V.
When you have a speaker with 4 0hm resistance, its impedance can vary. The value changes frequently depending on the speaker’s frequency that can be high above 20 ohms or very low at 2 ohms.
The lower the frequencies, the higher the impedance. This is the main reason why tweeter voice calls are small. Nevertheless, 4-ohm is a nominal impedance value that represents the average of the total impedance.
Impedance is directly proportional to wattage; therefore, the lower the impedance, the higher the current flow from the amplifiers. This means that an amplifier with low resistance is more loaded.
4 Ohms Speakers
They have a high electrical resistance level and use less energy. Thus they tend to be durables than speakers with low electrical resistance. Moreover, they produce less sound, which can be more compact and of premium quality.
Therefore, they do not deliver loud bass as needed. Power consumption is relatively low due to high electrical resistance from the amplifier. The price of 4-ohm speakers ranges between $25 to $200 depending on the size and brand.
2 Ohm Speakers
When shopping for a subwoofer or any car speaker the standard electrical resistance (ohms). It indicates the amount of power your speaker can hold and the amount it can transform into quality sound. Therefore, a speaker with low resistance produces a loud sound.
Subwoofer with 2ohms resistance requires an amplifier to feed it extra power with a low resistance level. These types of speakers consume a lot of power, thus low-quality bass. Their prices range between $45 to $250, depending on the size and brand. So, is2 ohm or 4 ohm speakers better?
Differences Between 4 Ohm Vs 2 Ohm Speakers
Ohm is the measure of electrical resistance to electrical flow in the circuit. High resistance slows down the circuit; therefore, the ohm with high value makes it hard for current to flow in the circuit and vice versa.
When looking for high-quality car speakers, one of the fundamental factors you need to consider is the impedance of 4 ohms or 2 ohms. The difference between these two is the amount of energy drawn from the amplifiers. 4-ohm speakers need less powerful amplifiers than 2 ohms.
Particular amplifiers can power subwoofers at different impedances. For instance, a 4-ohm subwoofer can be powered by an amplifier rated 4 ohms, as long its impedance is 4 ohms. Consequently, you can connect several speakers and operate them off an amplifier, provided that the total impedance of the speakers is equal to the final impedance of the amplifiers.
Let’s say you have 180W at 4 ohms and similar watts at 2 ohms. Do you think there is a difference between 2 ohm and 4 ohm? The answer to this question is subjective because there exist different sounds. But, this depends on the efficiency of the amplifier.
Technically, different electrical resistance can change the sound quality of your speaker, depending on the wattage. Therefore, a subwoofer with high impedance can have numerous coil windings, thus extra weight. This is otherwise for a subwoofer with low impedance.
The existing difference in terms of weight produces a minor difference in sound quality. So, at 4 ohms, you get trivial bass frequencies than 2 ohms, but the sound quality is enhanced. Moreover, at 2 ohms, the speaker produces a very loud sound with low sound quality.
The Best 4-Ohms and 2-Ohms Component Sound Units
1. Rockville (W12K6D2 V2) Car Audio 2-Ohm Subwoofer
Rockville uses a lot of watts. It has a black aluminium voice coil wound with copper made in the USA for longevity. It also has a double-stacked premium quality magnet. This subwoofer is highly efficient, courtesy of a cast aluminium basket with a black sanded finish.
It is surrounded by a thick foam enabling it to provide excellent quality sound with negligible distortion. The polypropylene dust cap and red stitching cone reinforcement prolong its lifespan. It has two chrome-plated binding post terminals with a voice call’s impedance of 2-ohms.
Heat dissipation is enhanced through the vented hole. Perfectly customized rubber boot magnet covers make it attractive and protect the speaker. The mounting gasket is appealing and makes it simple to install the subwoofer.
2. Infinity Kappa Component Speaker
Its glass fiber cones are lighter and harder to provide enhanced low-frequency output and outstanding efficiency. It is edge-driven tweeters that offer smooth and broad frequency responses. It provides 2-ohms output with low impedance voice calls.
Therefore, it can extract adequate watts from the amplifier, thus delivering peak power quickly. This speaker undergoes a thorough testing process, unlike other speakers. This is a high-quality speaker that can serve you for a long.
3. Skar Audio 4 Ohm Sound System
Skar is sold in a package that includes two Skar audio and 4-ohm mid-range speakers. It also uses many wattages, such as a maximum of 300 watts and an RMS of 150 watts. Apart from that, it is a very sensitive speaker using a ferrite motor.
This speaker has a quick response in terms of frequency ranging between 100 Hz to 8000 Hz. Its voice coil is coated with a strong copper wire. It features high temperatures for regulating the amount of electrical resistance.
4. Gikfun 4-Ohms Full Range Audio Speaker
Gikfun is a robust audio speaker for your car or home. It is a full-range audio speaker for Arduino. It is characterized as a very sensitive loudspeaker. It has a resonance frequency with a range of 320Hz and an insulation resistance of 10 MΩ.
It has a nominal resistance of 4 ohms and an input power that rates at 2W. The range of frequency is rated 0KHz to 30KHz, and it has a maximum distortion factor of 5%. It has some of the most incredible features to give you good quality bass.
5. Pyle Upgraded Blue Poly Injection Speaker
This speaker has a 4-ohms impedance that can compensate for other undersized wires. Moreover, the blue injection cone is excellent and enables your music to resonate with full power. This car system has high temperatures for the voice coil.
The voice coil enhances the performance and efficiency of robust playtime through high temperatures and low weight. It can provide your car with 180W peak power and 90W RMS. This car speaker was manufactured to produce quality sound with excellent responsiveness.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Between 2 ohm vs 4 ohm speakers, which is better?
By now, you have noticed some critical differences between these two speakers. It greatly depends on the impedance that affects the quality of sound and volume. But to answer the question above, the best speaker relies on the quality of the bass.
If you want a quality bass at an average volume, then 4-ohms can be best for you. But if you want a loud bass with low-quality sound, then 2 ohms can be an excellent choice for you.
Can 2 ohm Speakers replace 4 ohm speakers?
When you are replacing the speakers, it is vital to check the impedance critically. Ignoring can cause severe damage during the replacement of 2-ohm speakers with 4 ohms with similar power.
If the amplifier is not designed to work with lower resistance, it can overheat, thus damaging your car’s audio system. On the other hand, if you increase the impedance, the speaker’s loud sound becomes extremely quiet. But it does not destroy the audio system. So, is 2 ohm better than 4?
Can my speakers have different resistance (impedance) than the amplifier?
You should always ensure that the speaker’s impedance matches with that of the amplifier. Nevertheless, these values can be different if the resistance of your sound system is calculated correctly. Additionally, you can connect a 4 ohms’ amplifier with a 2-ohms speaker to avoid damaging it. Otherwise, the transistors can blow if the amplifier is overloaded with different impedance.
Can I install more than one component speaker in my car?
Most car owners want quality sound from the audio system; thus, installing more speakers is much better. So, if you’re going to do this too, there are several aspects you need to consider. The main factor is how to connect multiple sound units in your car.
You can connect them in two ways; that is parallel and series. In a series connection, you connect the speakers in a line. You connect the positive terminal from a unit and joining it with a negative unit of the next.
The units connected in series have high electrical resistance. Therefore, they consume less power and produce premium quality sound. Practically, if you combine two 2 ohm speakers in series, the total impedance is 4 ohms.
In a parallel connection, you stack the units one on another. Thus, both negative and positive terminals are connected. The total electrical resistance is the division of the total number of speakers connected by individual resistance.
For instance, if you connect two 4-ohm units in parallel, the total resistance is 4/2, giving you 2-ohm. Thus you get loud sound but the quality is very poor.
Can I acquire car speakers with a different amplifier than resistance (impedance)?
You should always aspire to have speakers with the same impedance and amplifiers. For instance, if your amplifier is 4-ohm, then purchase 4-ohm speakers. Nevertheless, if your sound system has correct resistance, the values are always different.
Besides, a 4-ohm amp can be connected with 2-ohm speakers. But to avoid any damage, they should be half of the RMS power. Without that, different electrical resistance can overload the amplifier; thus, transistors can blow up.
For instance, if you have a 2, 160W amp operating at 4-ohms, you can connect it with either 2x80W of 2-ohm speakers or a 160W 4-ohm speaker. Thus this is the distinction between 2 ohm vs 4 ohm.
Conclusion
Getting quality bass doesn’t mean you buy any speakers you get in the market. The electrical resistance of a speaker determines its bass quality, amount of power required from the amplifier, and loudness. Ultimately, 4 ohms need more power but it gives you quality bass and low sound.
In contrast, 2 ohms need less power input from the amplifier, thus giving you quality sound. This is also a clear difference between4 ohm vs 2 ohm. So, make a substantial choice depending on the type of bass you desire.
