How to match subwoofers and amplifiers
Find the right amp for your sub or sub for your amp

The secret to great bass is making sure your subwoofers and amp are evenly matched and will properly work together. And this article will help you figure out how to do just that — match amplifiers and subwoofers.
Getting the right sub for an amp, or the right amp for a sub, is like solving a puzzle. A subwoofer has impedance (measured in ohms) which represents the "load" an amplifier will sense on its output. An amplifier will put out different amounts of power (watts RMS) based on the impedance load it "sees."
Solving the puzzle
The amplifier's capabilities (X watts RMS into Y ohms) needs to match the subwoofer's specifications (Y ohms and can handle X watts RMS). Your goal is to get those two variables to match for both the amplifier and the subwoofer.
Below, we cover the important basics of power-matching, impedance, and planning for the number of subs you want, and we approach the situation from both sides of the system:
- Part A: You have the subs, which amp should you get?
- Part B: You have the amp, which subs should you get?
- And also, Part C: You have neither amp nor sub, and want help deciding how to begin.
Start with either part you want, but A and B are both worth a read.
Part A — You have the subs, which amplifier should you get?
The subwoofers need to be the same
Multiple subs wired together must be the same coil type and impedance. If they’re not, the power won’t divide evenly between them, and some subs would probably be over-powered while others get under-powered. If you want to run different types of subs in a system, each type needs to have its own separate amp.
Step 1: How much power? Find out the “watts RMS” rating of the sub
Then, multiply the number of subs you have by the RMS rating of each, to get their total RMS rating. You want to make sure the amp you choose will supply no more than the sub system’s total RMS rating.
Step 2: What impedance? The results of combining coils and subs
Figure out the possible total impedance(s) that the subs can be wired together to form.
(SVC = single voice coil, 1 pair of terminals; DVC = dual voice coil, 2 pairs of terminals.)
- 1 SVC 2-ohms can only have 2 ohms of impedance
- 1 SVC 4-ohms can only have 4 ohms of impedance
- 1 DVC 2-ohms can have 1 ohm or 4 ohms of impedance
- 1 DVC 4-ohms can have 2 ohms or 8 ohms of impedance
- 2 SVC 2-ohms can have 1 ohm or 4 ohms of impedance
- 2 SVC 4-ohms can have 2 ohms or 8 ohms of impedance
- 2 DVC 2-ohms can have 2 ohms or 8 ohms of impedance
- 2 DVC 4-ohms can have 1 ohm or 4 ohms of impedance
- 3 SVC 2-ohms can have 6 ohms of impedance
- 3 SVC 4-ohms can have 1.3 ohms of impedance
- 3 DVC 2-ohms can have 1.3 ohms or 3 ohms of impedance
- 3 DVC 4-ohms can have 2.7 ohms or 6 ohms of impedance
- 4 SVC 2-ohms can have 2 ohms or 8 ohms of impedance
- 4 SVC 4-ohms can have 1 ohm or 4 ohms of impedance
- 4 DVC 2-ohms can have 1 ohm or 4 ohms of impedance
- 4 DVC 4-ohms can have 2 ohms or 8 ohms of impedance
For more combinations of subs and their impedances, see Subwoofer Wiring Diagrams.
Step 3: Pick an amp that can do both — X watts at Y ohms
Look for an amplifier that can put out power up to the RMS wattage you’ve figured in Step 1, at an impedance load the subs can be wired to form, from Step 2.
Estimating amp power at the odd impedance values:
- 8 ohms — figure on the amp putting out half the power it would at 4 ohms
- 6 ohms — figure on the amp putting out three-quarters of the power it would at 4 ohms
- 3 ohms — figure on the amp putting out the average of what it would at 2 ohms and at 4 ohms
- 2.7 ohms — figure the same as for 3 ohms, and add a few watts
- 1.3 ohms — use the 1-ohm spec and take away a few watts

Example:
You have two Alpine S Series S-W8D4 8" subwoofers and you want the right amp for them.
They are DVC 4-ohm subs rated at 300 watts RMS each.
Two 300 watts RMS subs together need a maximum total of 600 watts RMS.
Using the chart in Step 2, 2 DVC 4-ohm subs can be wired together to form a 1-ohm, a 4-ohm, or a 16-ohm load.
The last is too high a load to be practical, so you’ll look for an amp that can put out up to 600 watts RMS into either a 4-ohm load, or a 1-ohm impedance load:
- up to 600 watts RMS x 1 at 4 ohms, or
- up to 600 watts RMS x 1 at 1 ohm
Among Crutchfield’s selection of amplifiers you’ll find:
- Memphis Audio PRXA600.1 — 600 watts RMS x 1 at 1 ohm
- JL Audio JD1000/1 — 600 watts RMS x 1 at 4 ohms
- Kicker KEY500.1 — 500 watts RMS x 1 at 1 ohm
Any one of these high-quality amplifiers would work well with those subs. It doesn’t matter which impedance an amp plays through — 600 watts RMS through a 4-ohm load produces the same volume as 600 watts RMS through a 1-ohm load.

JL Audio JD1000/1 subwoofer amplifier

Kicker KEY500.1 subwoofer amplifier
Part B — You have the amplfier, which subs should you get?
Step 1: What can the amp do? Find the RMS ratings of the amp at different loads
Find the amp’s power, expressed in “watts RMS”, at 4 ohms, at 2 ohms, and, if it can, at 1 ohm. Pick the power you’d like to achieve. The load impedance (ohms) of that rating will be what you want your subs’ total impedance to be.
Step 2: How many subs do you want?
Divide the power you picked in Step 1 by the number of subs you want. This number is the target RMS rating for each of the subs you’ll choose.
Step 3: What impedance does each sub need to be and how many voice coils?
Using the impedance you picked in Step 1 and the number of subs from Step 2, cross-reference the possible coil configurations that you can use:
1-ohm | 2-ohms | 4-ohms | |
1 sub | DVC 2-ohms | SVC 2-ohms DVC 4 ohms | SVC 4-ohms DVC 2-ohms |
2 subs | SVC 2-ohms DVC 4-ohms | SVC 4-ohms DVC 2-ohms | SVC 2-ohms DVC 4-ohms |
3 subs | (1.3 ohms)* SVC 4-ohms DVC 2-ohms | (3 or 2.7 ohms)* DVC 2-ohms DVC 4-ohms | (6 ohms)* SVC 2-ohms DVC 4-ohms |
4 subs | SVC 4-ohms DVC 2-ohms | SVC 2-ohms DVC 4 ohms | SVC 4-ohms DVC 2-ohms |
Step 4: Pick a sub that works for both — (SVC or DVC) X-ohms, Y watts RMS)
Look for subs that are rated at the wattage you figured in Step 2, and are configured as you found in Step 3. This might sound confusing, so let's walk through an example and it'll make sense.

Example:
You have a Memphis Audio SRX500D.1 amplifier and you want it to drive two subwoofers
The amp is capable of 350 watts RMS x 1 at 4 ohms and 500 watts RMS x 1 at 2 ohms.
Let’s say you choose to maximize the amp’s potential and want the system to put out 500 watts RMS. This means your subs have to be wired to form a total impedance of 2 ohms.
Two subs on a 500 watts RMS amp will want about 250 watts RMS each.
So you’ll look for subs each rated for 250 watts RMS or more.
Using the chart in Step 3, for two subwoofers, a final 2-ohm load can be achieved with either two SVC 4-ohm subs or two DVC 2-ohm subs.
So, you’ll look for two subs that are either SVC 4-ohms or DVC 2-ohms, rated for at least 250 watts RMS each:
- 2 SVC 4-ohms, at least 250 watts RMS, or
- 2 DVC 2-ohms, at least 250 watts RMS
Among Crutchfield’s selection of subwoofers you’ll find:
- Alpine W10S4 10" — SVC 4-ohm, 250 watts RMS
- JL Audio 12W0v3-4 12" — SVC 4-ohm, 300 watts RMS
- Kicker 44CWCS104 — SVC 4-ohm, 300 watts RMS
- Rockford Fosgate R2D2-10 10" — DVC 2-ohms, 250 watts RMS

Kicker CompC 10" component subwoofer
All these subwoofers will sound their best when amplified with the proper amount of power. Differences in size have more to do with tonal qualities and frequency response than with power performance. And optimizing performance is the point of matching subs and amps together.
Part C — You have neither amp nor sub, and want help deciding how to begin
Check out our other article, All About Subwoofers to learn the basics of how much bass you need and how to choose your subwoofers.
And of course, if you have any questions, contact our expert advisors and they'll be happy to help you build your system.
Janak from Rajkot
Posted on 5/7/2022
Sir i have come to know everything in this article of yours but have doubt that i don't currently have any subwoofer and amplifier but my idea is of two dvc 4 ohm subwoofer and i know about rms so I see in your diagram. I am confused which amplifier will be correct because in 4 channel amplifier 8 ohm of 8 ohm remains only while 4 of 8 ohm in mono and 2 channel becomes 4ohm of 8 ohm so please explain ohm in power and sound What is the difference between and which ohm amplifier will be correct for
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
on 5/7/2022
Matt C from Houston
Posted on 5/6/2022
I have a single 12" Kicker Q Class L7 installed in a vented enclosure and was wondering which would sound the best (SQ & SPL), a Kicker KXA800.1 or a Kicker CXA1200.1? Or neither and go with a Rockford Fosgate amp? Any thoughts? Thanks
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
on 5/6/2022
Donald Norton from Mansfield
Posted on 5/3/2022
The article is good but flawed. It assumes all amps are a) efficient and b) make the rated power. Its not just ensuring you pick number x to go with sub x. If you buy a sub solely without researching if it can make the power you could have a sub setup that under performs then chase your tail to find out why. For instance you take your shiny 500watt amp out maybe its a class D and find it only has a 30amp fuse. If you are lucky to get 80% efficency you get 348-350watts. 30x14.4v x.80, worse if class a/b amp. Just saying do more research than reading numbers.
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
on 5/4/2022
Luis from Fresno
Posted on 4/28/2022
I bought two Rockford Fosgate Power T1S2-12 Power Series 12" T1 Slim Single 2-Ohm Subwoofer (600W RMS). What amp should I get to power them both?
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
on 4/29/2022
Lee from Bethesda
Posted on 4/22/2022
Hi. I have a hybrid car so limited on what I can use to the 30amp range. I really want to use a the Kicker TRTP 10" as the sensitivity is much better than the 8" model, but the RMS is 200-400. Would AudioControl's ACM 300.1 power this sub fine, or do I really need to find something that goes to 400 RMS or find a different sub that has a max RMS of 300?
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
on 4/23/2022
Terrell
Posted on 4/15/2022
I just bought a 48TRTP122 Sealed downward-firing enclosure with CompRTĀ® 500 rms @ 2 ohms. What amp should I buy to match with the sub?
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
on 4/18/2022
Chris from Buffalo
Posted on 4/15/2022
I have 2 4ohm 12" kenwood excelon subs. 300w RMS each. What would be a good amplifier to make these work the best?
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
on 4/18/2022
Chris W. from Nashville
Posted on 4/13/2022
Awesome Information Source
Noel from Riverside
Posted on 4/3/2022
Hi if I wanted to run 2 JL audio w7 13.5 subs on one fosgate power 2500bdcp amp, can the two subs be wired to close to 1ohm load?? What would the ohm load be to try and get the most power out the amp to the subs?
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
on 4/4/2022
Daniel Rivera from SanLeandro
Posted on 3/27/2022
Hi I'm trying to put together a pounding Bass system. I would like a Rockford amp and JL audio subs. I have limited space under my back seat in my GMC Sierra so i will probably like 10" subs. I had my last system stolen and want to replace it with something that hits harder. I want this thing to shake everything. I hope you can recommend something great. Thank you.
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
on 3/28/2022