Adding a car amplifier is an excellent way to improve the sound quality of a car audio system. They refine overall sound quality by ensuring that the car speakers are powered adequately at all volume levels. Car amplifiers can be used to provide extra power to aftermarket full - range speakers, component speakers, and car subwoofers. Many of these aftermarket speakers require more power to operate correctly than is supplied by a car’s in - dash receiver. Car amplifiers can be purchased from Monney Car Audio. Before buying a car amplifier, shoppers must understand at least some of the basic terms associated with car amplifiers and have a general sense of the various kinds of car amplifiers available. We can also help you to find the right car amplifier for your vehicle.
Picking the Right Car Amplifier
Picking the right car amplifier is key to improving the sound quality of a car audio system. Underpowered car speakers cannot reproduce audio accurately and ruin the listening experience. Consumers must understand that aftermarket full-range speakers, component speakers, and car subwoofers will not perform up to their potential without an adequate power supply. Failure to power speakers satisfactorily can even damage the speakers themselves. To start, potential buyers should understand the terminology that is generally used to describe car amplifiers. Buyers should then become familiar with the different kinds of car amplifiers and how they can be used.
Common Car Amplifier Terms
Understanding the language of car amplifiers is very important to picking the right car amplifier. Shoppers can make a lot of mistakes when buying any type of car audio equipment if they do not know the meanings of some basic terms. Common terms used in the industry to describe car amplifiers include amplifier class, bass boost, channels, filters, inputs, peak power, and RMS power.
Amplifier Class
Car amplifiers are often categorized by classes. These classes relate to the design and features of the amplifier’s electronic circuitry. They are usually associated with particular traits relating to energy efficiency, operating temperature, and sound performance. The classes of car amplifiers include Class A, Class AB,Class B, and Class D. The table below describes the primary advantages and disadvantages of each class of car amplifier.
Car Amplifier Class | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
Class A |
Superb high-frequency sound reproduction
|
Energy inefficient; high operating temperatures
|
Class AB |
Excellent high-frequency sound reproduction; energy efficient; low operating temperatures
|
Slightly lower peak performance than Class A car amplifiers
|
Class B |
Energy efficient; low operating temperatures
|
Some sound distortion at high frequencies
|
Class D |
Energy efficient; low operating temperatures; superb low-frequency sound reproduction
|
Very poor high-frequency sound reproduction
|
Each class of car amplifier has advantages and disadvantages. For most applications, a Class AB car amplifier is suitable. In some cases, especially low-frequency sound applications, a Class D car amplifier is most appropriate. Most people should avoid Class A and Class B car amplifiers because Class AB car amplifiers offer the benefits of both without significant trade-offs.
Bass Boost
Bass boost is a type of electronic circuitry built into some Class AB and most Class D car amplifiers. It increases low-frequency sound reproduction (aka bass). Some car amplifiers permit users to adjust bass boost while in use according to decibel level.
Car Amplifier Channels
A channel is electronic circuitry used to provide power to a single speaker. Car amplifiers with multiple channels can be used to power multiple speakers. Some car amplifiers with multiple channels can have their channels reconfigured for certain applications.
Car Amplifier Filters
Filters are electrical or electronic circuits built into car amplifiers to direct certain sounds away from specific speakers for the purpose of avoiding sound distortion. For example, a low-pass filter can direct high-frequency sounds away from a subwoofer. Likewise, a high-pass filter can direct low-frequency sounds away from a tweeter.
Car Amplifier Inputs
Inputs transmit signals from a car’s in-dash receiver, which is also sometimes called a head unit or a radio, to a car amplifier. Most aftermarket receivers include pre-amp outputs that allow installers to connect the receiver to the amplifier directly. Some factory in-dash receivers do not have pre-amp outputs, which means installers cannot connect the receiver to the amplifier directly. In such instances, an amplifier with speaker-level inputs will be required. These allow a car amplifier to receive signals through the speakers instead of from the receiver directly.
Peak Power of Car Amplifiers
Peak power is the maximum amount of power that a car amplifier can produce. Peak power is not sustainable and can only be achieved intermittently. It is usually equal to or greater than RMS power.
RMS Power of Car Amplifiers
RMS power is the maximum amount of continuous power that a car amplifier can produce. RMS power is sustainable and almost always available to the car speaker powered by the amplifier. Car audio experts consider RMS power the best indicator of a car amplifier’s ability to power a speaker. Shoppers should look for units with an RMS power rating equal to or greater than the RMS power rating of the speaker being powered. This will ensure that the car speakers are powered adequately, which improves sound quality and speaker durability. Never install a car amplifier that does not produce at least 75 percent of the RMS power rating of the most powerful speaker.
As indicated earlier, consumers who understand common car amplifier terms will be better able to pick the right car amplifier for their particular application. Class AB car amplifiers can be used to power any type of car speaker, and Class D car amplifiers are best for powering subwoofers. Bass boost is a handy feature that gives users control over low-frequency sound reproduction, and filters make sure that sounds are reproduced by the most appropriate speakers. Channels are the electrical or electronic circuitry that deliver power to a speaker. Remember that RMS power is the most useful measure of a car amplifier’s ability to power a speaker, so it is important to pay close attention to it while shopping for audio equipment.
Kinds of Car Amplifiers
Consumers can make sure they select the right car amplifier for their car, truck, or sport utility vehicle by matching it to their desired application. It is important to pick the right car amplifier to avoid installation problems and the need to buy additional equipment later on. There are a few basic kinds of car amplifiers, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Shoppers need to know about mono-channel amplifiers, two-channel amplifiers, amplifiers with four or more channels, and classes of car amplifiers. They should also be aware of how different kinds of car amplifiers can be used together before buying any car audio equipment.
Mono-channel Car Amplifiers
A mono - channel car amplifier is an amplifier that has a single channel. These types of amplifiers are best suited to applications that require the ability to reproduce low-frequency sounds. Nearly all mono-channel car amplifiers produce power with great stability until about 2 ohms of electrical resistance. This makes them perfect for powering car subwoofers. Anyone looking for a car audio system that can produce more bass should consider combining a mono-channel amplifier with a car subwoofer.
These amplifiers generally include bass boost circuitry to increase low-frequency output. Bass boost circuitry operates at 40 to 90 hertz (Hz). Some mono-channel car amplifiers with bass boost allow users to increase the bass level of their audio system based on decibel (dB) level. Most of these amplifiers include a low-pass filter to ensure that a car’s subwoofer does not reproduce mid- or high-frequency sounds, limiting sound distortion significantly. Many mono-channel car amplifiers are Class D, which means they are very energy and heat efficient. Class D amplifiers produce sound distortion at high frequencies, but this is not usually an issue when they are used to power subwoofers.
Two-channel Car Amplifiers
A two - channel car amplifier is an amplifier that has two distinct channels. This type of amplifier is best suited to applications that require the ability to power two subwoofers, two full-range speakers, or two component speakers. Two-channel car amplifiers can also be modified to power a single subwoofer. This modification is called bridging, and it involves rewiring the amplifier to deliver the power of two channels to one channel, effectively doubling the power delivered to a single subwoofer. Not all two-channel subwoofers can be bridged.
Many two-channel car amplifiers include a high-pass filter to ensure that a car’s tweeter speakers do not reproduce mid- or low-frequency sounds. This appreciably limits sound distortion. Many such amplifiers include bass boost circuitry as well. Most two-channel car amplifiers are Class AB, which means they are energy efficient, operate at low temperatures, and do not produce sound distortion at high frequencies. Some two-channel car amplifiers are Class A, which reproduce high-frequency sounds well but are energy inefficient and run hot. Some other two-channel car amplifiers are Class B, which are energy efficient and run cool but produce sound distortion at high frequencies.
Car Amplifiers with Four or More Channels
Car amplifiers with four or more channels give consumers a wide range of options and can be configured in a variety of ways. For example, a four - channel car amplifier can be used to power four full-range speakers or two full-range speakers and one subwoofer if two channels are bridged. Many of them include bass boost circuitry, low-pass filters, and high-pass filters. Like two-channel car amplifiers, most car amplifiers with four or more channels are Class AB, while some are Class A or Class B.
The importance of choosing the right kind of car amplifier for a given application cannot be stressed enough. A mono-channel car amplifier is perfect for powering a subwoofer, but it should not be used with full-range or component speakers. Two-channel car amplifiers can be used to power a pair of full-range or component speakers. In some cases, two-channel car amplifiers can be bridged to provide power to a subwoofer. Car amplifiers with four or more channels are similar to two-channel car amplifiers, but they offer even greater flexibility. If the car’s receiver lacks pre-amp outputs, be sure that the car amplifier has speaker-level inputs.
Conclusion
Car amplifiers improve the sound quality of a car’s audio system by making sure that all the car’s speakers are powered sufficiently. These speakers may include full-range speakers, component speakers, or subwoofers. Failure to power speakers adequately can distort sound frequencies at the low, mid, and high levels. Car speakers that are not powered properly can also be damaged or wear out prematurely, so be sure that all the speakers in a car, truck, or sport utility vehicle are powered adequately. Remember to carefully review the common terms used to describe car amplifiers and what makes them important.
Understanding the classes of amplifier that are available and what features they may include is very important to picking the right car amplifier. Class AB amplifiers are great all-around performers, and Class D amplifiers are ideal for powering subwoofers. Special features like bass boost, filters, and speaker-level outputs improve performance or ease installation. Matching the amount of configured amplifier channels to the number of speakers that require power and choosing an amplifier that produces RMS power equal to or greater than the RMS power rating of the most powerful speaker are two other aspects to consider before purchasing car amplifiers. Be careful to avoid car amplifiers that look attractive but contain inferior hardware.
Pay close attention to configurations and specifications while shopping for a car amplifier. Choosing the right car amplifier for your vehicle is key to making sure that your speakers sound their best and last a long time. Best of all, it is easy to make this selection yourself with a bit of time and patience.
source: http://www.ebay.com/gds/How-to-Choose-the-Best-Car-Amplifiers-for-Your-Vehicle-/10000000177631384/g.html
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