- Anthony
Amplifiers are like the heart of the sound system in cars. It’s what gets the signal from your stereo to come out of the speakers. However, choosing a suitable amplifier isn’t as simple as looking at watts – there are several essential factors you should consider before buying an amp. Keep reading our article to know How To Choose An Amplifier For Car Speakers.
Contents
What’s a Car Amplifier?
An amplifier amplifies a signal, just like its name implies. An amplifier can be used to amplify audio for car amplifiers or home entertainment.
This is the only way you can hear sound through your speakers.
An amplifier uses a technology that takes current, routes it through various components, and then at the end, transistors pull the current through your speakers to produce sound.
How To Choose An Amplifier For Car Speakers
An amplifier can be purchased at your local car audio shop, online outlets like Amazon and eBay, as well as big-box stores. It is essential to research the various types of amplifiers on the market before you buy an amplifier.
You should also know which amplifier is best for your vehicle. There are many amps on the market today, making it difficult to find a suitable amplifier. There are some things you should pay attention to, whether you’re looking to upgrade your amp or buy a new one.
These are the things you should consider before buying the best amplifier.
- Channels
- Power
- System compatibility
- Amplifier class/ Rating
Channels
A channel is an electronic circuit that provides power to one speaker in a car’s sound system. Multiple channels make car amplifiers ideal for powering multiple speakers.
It is essential to ask yourself the following question: How many channels are necessary for your car’s audio system? There are many options for amplifiers.
The number of speakers that are connected to the amplifier will determine how many channels you have. This means that each speaker you want to amplify requires its channel.
A single amp is sufficient to add a subwoofer to an existing system. Some car amps can be configured with multiple channels to suit specific applications.
Mono amplifiers of class D’ rating have been specifically engineered to emit less heat and consume less power when amplifying sub-woofers.
Units with 2, 4, and 6 channels are the most versatile. Two channels of car amplifiers can power two woofers or coaxial speakers. They can also be connected to one sub to power two woofers.
If you need to add subwoofers or increase the power to the rear fullrange speakers, a 4-channel amp will be the best choice. It is possible to run each fullrange speaker with its channel and then bridge the two remaining channels to power the subunit.
Powering four coaxial speakers with one channel amp and creating a separate mono amp for the subwoofer is possible. It is important to note that component systems can be more complex and require multiple amplifiers and external crossovers.
Power
When looking for car amp units, don’t compromise on power. You should not under-power your car’s speakers. Many people make the error of buying the amp before purchasing the channel amp. It is better to do the opposite.
Pick the speakers first, then find the right amp to power them. It is recommended to determine the RMS value of factory-installed speaker units before selecting an amplifier that can deliver a minimum of 755 to 150% of this figure.
If you plan to use the same amplifier for powering your speakers, power is essential. Although connecting three channels to produce enough power to run a sub may seem like a lot, it’s not always the best solution. You might consider a separate mono amplifier if your amplifier cannot match the sub-woofer power.
System compatibility
You have a few options if you are looking to build a car’s audio system. An unamplified signal can be connected to your channel amp for a clear sound.
Most original-installed head units and some aftermarket units don’t have preamp outputs that can be connected to an external amplifier.
An amplifier with speaker-level units is recommended if your current head unit falls into this category. It can also produce better sounds than an external amplifier. This will save you the hassle of wiring and installing additional adapters.
Aftermarket car amplifier installation
Installing your car amp unit is not rocket science. This is not as difficult as you might think. You need to determine the best locations for the amplifier to be installed and route the wires.
When shopping for truck amp units, you must find the best location to fix the hardware and route the cables. Most cars don’t have pre-installed amps, so you will need to locate a spot within your vehicle to install the amp.
It is essential to measure your car before you buy an amplifier. The most common places to mount an amp are under the seat, in the trunk, or against the firewall. Before you purchase an amp, make sure to measure the car speaker.
Amp Classes: Amps come in different classes that depend on the circuit. It is essential to consider the amp class as it affects both heat generation and its efficiency.
Budget: How much money you’re willing to spend on your car’s audio system? While your budget will influence your choice, there are always better options that fit your needs. Although every brand’s price is different, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they perform better.
Amplifier Classes
There are many types of amplifiers. However, there are only a few that are used regularly in-car audio. It is easier to understand the pros and cons of each amp class without going into detail about the physics.
Below are the most popular amplifier classes within the industry.
Class A: An analog amplifier. These amplifiers are used primarily in high-end car audio installations.
Pros:
- High accuracy output
- No crossover distortion
- Excellent high-frequency response
Cons:
- Large in size
- Produces a lot of heat
- Very inefficient
- Heavy
- Expensive
Class B: An analog amplifier using a push/pull method to reproduce audio. It is not often found in-car audio.
Pros:
- High-quality audio output
- More efficient than Class-A amps
Cons:
- Crossover distortion
- Heat generation
- Very inefficient
- Expensive
Class A/B is a hybrid of Class A/B amplifiers. This type uses the best characteristics of both Class A/B amplifiers to produce an amplified signal with no drawbacks.
Pros:
- Acceptable crossover distortion levels
- Class A amps are more efficient
Cons:
- Produces less heat than Class-A amplifiers
- Expensive
Class D: Digital amplifier. This is the most popular amplifier found in-car audio. This amplifier can cause crossover distortion. The amplifier’s make and model will determine how much distortion is created. This may affect the quality of the audio.
Pros:
- Produces very little heat
- They are far more efficient than Class A amps
- Smaller size
- It’s affordable
Cons:
- Crossover distortion
- Sound quality
There are many options for amplifiers. It is easy to determine what amplifier you need by thinking about the audio system you want in your car. To narrow your search, use the Filter Menu (located on your product landing pages on mobile or the left-hand side of the mobile product page on a desktop).
Stop by your local Car Toys shop if you require additional assistance. We have professional installers and product experts who can assist with any of your car entertainment requirements.
Why Do I Need a Car Amplifier for My Speakers?
You may be asking why an amplifier is necessary when your original-built stereo system can play music just fine.
Head units have an amplifier built-in. Without an amplifier, you wouldn’t be able to hear your music.
Some vehicles come equipped with external amplifiers that are installed in the factory to power high-end sound systems.
If your car doesn’t have a powered OEM stereo amp, you might want to get an aftermarket one.
A Car Amplifier Can Provide Better Sound Quality
An amplifier’s most notable feature is its ability to increase volume without causing distortion.
An amplifier is a suitable choice for you if you like cranking up the volume but don’t want to hear distortion at specific volumes. An aftermarket amplifier that is professionally constructed will produce a high-quality, clean sound.
The fact that the amplifier is not limited in its construction means producing high-quality, clean sound.
It allows your speakers to breathe and creates adequate Headroom with the right components. Your speakers will work harder and produce a better sound quality.
Additional Power Is Available for Your Aftermarket Speakers
Standard OEM factory speakers or amplifiers typically leave the assembly line with 10 to 15 watts of power, unless it is a luxury car, as I said.
Aftermarket speakers will have a higher power rating and efficiency rating than OEM speakers. They can be as high as hundreds or even thousands of watts.
Your stereo’s amplifier will not have enough power or the ability to handle aftermarket speakers.
The audio will not be clear, have depth, or produce a proper frequency response. It will also lack volume. These are just some of the problems you’ll face if you install influential aftermarket speakers on your car’s stereo system without an amplifier.
A Subwoofer Can Be Powered by Your Computer.
An amplifier is essential if you intend to run a subwoofer.
Modern amplifiers have built-in crossovers, which act as a good pass filter and allow frequencies only available to the subwoofer. Your car stereo will not drive a subwoofer if it is generating 15 watts peak RMS.
A stereo probably doesn’t have a subchannel or crossover.
This means that if your subwoofer is connected to your stereo through a standard channel (not recommended), it will produce a sound that could be harmful to those listening.
How Much Power Do I Need?
It seems like a good idea to match the RMS power of your speakers with the RMS power of your amplifier. This will result in excellent sound. You can increase the power of your speakers by 20-50%.
This will create Headroom in your amplifier and produce a richer sound at all volumes. Your amplifier will be able to handle sudden spikes in audio signals because of the additional Headroom.
An amplifier that is not sufficiently powered will not reproduce an audio signal spike and will instead produce a distorted signal.
Below is an example of how much volume an audio signal can output when played at 3/4 volume. An amp rated at 50Watts RMS (the red horizontal line) will show you spikes that exceed the amp’s 50W range. Although these spikes can still be heard, they will be very distorted and cause the amp to produce excessive heat.
An amp rated at 75 Watts (the Green horizontal line) will produce audio spikes that are less than 75 watts. The amp is powerful enough to reproduce the audio signal without distortion.
The volume will be the same without distortion. Headroom is the space between the Red- and Green lines. Headroom refers to how hard your amp can be pushed before it distorts. For this reason, it is always a good idea for your system to have lots of Headroom.
Your 50-watt speakers can distort due to the amplifier’s 50% higher power rating. This can be corrected by lowering the level inputs gain of the amplifier. This will allow the amplifier to work efficiently and not produce too much power.
How to Choose a Car Amplifier for Speakers FAQs
What are some tips for choosing subwoofers for your car stereo?
Choosing the right subwoofer for your car stereo is essential. There are many things to consider when looking for the perfect subwoofer to purchase. The first thing you should think about is the size of the subwoofer.
The size of the subwoofer is measured in terms of cubic inches. The best and most popular subwoofers can be found in 12 and 15-inch sizes.
If you are looking for something that gives the best sound quality, then, in most cases, it is recommended to purchase a subwoofer that has more power than the one you’re currently using.
The next thing you should think about is the brand. Finding a good brand of the subwoofer will mean that the speakers will provide a more impressive sound.
Some brands have been known to produce some fantastic sounding speakers, while others aren’t worth your money.
Is there any way I can make my car speakers louder?
I recently bought a new car, and the speakers seem to be very low even when I turn the volume up. Is there any way I can make them louder? Is there a setting on the radio that I’m not aware of?
The standard level of the speakers in most cars is between 70-80 DB. So, to get them louder, you’ll need to increase the volume on your car stereo or amplifier.
If you want to make your car speaker louder without an amp, let us show you the best way to do that: How To Make Car Speakers Louder Without Amp 2023
Should car speaker wattage be higher than AMP?
It is possible to get a receiver with large power output, but it’s essential to know the size of the car speaker with bass and its rated wattage. It is always better to go for higher wattage speakers than amps, but it is essential to know the size of the speaker and its rated wattage.
For example, some 5 1/4″ speakers can handle up to 200W, while 2-way systems should be below 100W.
You will also want to look at the speaker’s sensitivity; this will determine how much you need to drive it.
A perfect pair would have a 96dB/watt rating or stronger; however, if you are using budget alternatives, then 88dB/watt may be more appropriate.
Also, you should consider the ambient noise in your car; this will determine what power rating you should be going for.
Conclusion
An amplifier is a device that regulates the power of audio amplifiers and loudspeakers. A car amplifier will be the best option for your needs because it is designed to amplify sound with low-wattage power. Hookeaudio hopes that this guide will help you pick the top-picked amplifier for your car and make you save some money.
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