What are Dual Voice Coil (DVC) Speakers?
What Are Dual Voice Coil Speakers?
When it comes to car audio, dual voice coil (DVC) speakers are a pretty cool upgrade over the traditional single voice coil (SVC) speakers. Essentially, a DVC speaker has two separate voice coils, each with its own set of connections, inside one speaker. This gives you more flexibility in wiring and overall better sound quality.
But where did DVC speakers come from? Well, they started gaining popularity as car audio systems evolved. Enthusiasts and manufacturers wanted more options for wiring and better control over impedance, which helps with optimizing the power coming from your amp. For classic car owners, DVC speakers are a solid choice because they let you upgrade your sound without needing a ton of space —perfect for older vehicles where space can be tight.
So why choose a DVC speaker? They’re versatile, easy to work with, and give you more wiring options. Whether you're after more bass, clearer highs, or just want your music to sound better overall, DVC speakers deliver.
How Do Dual Voice Coil Speakers Work?
So, what makes a dual voice coil speaker special? Let’s break it down.
A standard single voice coil speaker has one coil and one set of connections. A dual voice coil speaker, on the other hand, has two separate coils inside, each with its own positive and negative connection. These coils can be wired in different ways—either in series or parallel—depending on what you're trying to achieve with your sound system.
In simple terms, wiring in parallel lowers the impedance (usually to 2 ohms), which can make your amp push out more power. Wiring in series increases the impedance (up to 8 ohms), which can protect your amp if you’re running a higher-powered system. This is super useful when you're fine-tuning your setup to get the best sound and performance from your speakers and amp.
If you really want to get technical, the dual voice coils give the speaker more control over how it handles the electrical signal coming from the amplifier. This means better clarity, more power handling, and overall improved performance compared to a single voice coil setup.
The Benefits of Dual Voice Coil Speakers
Why go with a dual voice coil speaker instead of sticking with the more traditional single voice coil speaker? There are actually quite a few reasons, and they all boil down to versatility and performance.
One of the biggest perks of a DVC speaker is that it gives you multiple wiring options. This flexibility can be a game-changer if you're trying to get the most out of your amp. By adjusting how you wire the coils—either in series or parallel—you can tweak the impedance to match your amplifier’s sweet spot. This lets you get the best performance without overheating or damaging your gear.
Another benefit is power handling. DVC speakers tend to handle more power than their single coil counterparts, which is great if you’re running a more powerful system or if you’re just looking to get more volume and clarity from your setup.
And of course, there's the sound quality. Because of the extra voice coil, DVC speakers generally produce more accurate and detailed sound. This is especially important in a classic car where you might not have a lot of room for big subwoofers or multiple speakers. With DVC speakers, you get better sound without needing a ton of extra equipment.
All in all, dual voice coil speakers give you more control and better performance, which is why they’re such a popular choice for anyone upgrading their car audio system.
Why Dual Voice Coil Speakers are Perfect for Classic Cars
When upgrading the sound system in a classic car, you often run into a couple of challenges—limited space and the desire to keep things looking original. That’s where dual voice coil (DVC) speakers come in handy.
DVC speakers let you maximize sound quality without needing a ton of extra gear. Because they’re versatile, they can handle more power and give you more wiring options to work with, making them ideal for classic cars where space is tight. You can install one speaker and still get stereo sound, which is a huge plus when you're dealing with smaller or tricky-to-modify areas.
And the best part? Many DVC speakers work beautifully with RetroSound radios, which are designed for classic cars. You get modern audio performance without losing that vintage look.
There’s also the added benefit of not having to mess with major modifications to your car’s interior. DVC speakers help you keep things simple and sound great without needing an entire overhaul of your audio setup.
A standard speaker has only a single voice coil and are perfect for standard stereo setups using multiple speakers. These are called single voice coil (SVC) speakers. A dual voice coil (DVC) speaker is a little bit different. A dual voice coil speaker has two voice coils that allow a single speaker to output both stereo channels through one speaker, creating a stereo sound from a single speaker location. Many classic cars came with only one speaker installed in the dashboard. Dual voice coil speakers are perfect for replacing a standard dash speaker, because they allow both stereo channels to come through from a single location.
Another advantage that a dual voice coil speaker has over a standard speaker is more control of impedance depending on how you wire it. A standard speaker can only be wired one way, but with a dual voice coil speaker you have much more flexibility.
For example, the standard wiring technique for a dual voice coil speaker is to wire with both channels in as left and right speakers – which uses both voice coils for a stereo mix.
Another method is to wire both voice coils in series. This will make the voice coils work together to create a 8 ohm mono speaker (most older dash speakers were mono 8 ohm or 10 ohm speakers.
RetroSound® offers many different sizes of dual voice coil speakers. For more information about different types of speakers, visit the following link: https://www.retromanufacturing.com/pages/speaker-basics.
