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Car Audio Amplifiers Information |
Car amps are devices that take an audio signal from a pre-amp, some power from your battery, and pass it on as a large audio signal to drive speakers. The main reason of using an amplifier is to get a cleaner and defined sound. Adding an amplifier to your car stereo will improve the sound significantly.
Classes of Amplifiers
There are 3 main classes for amplifier. The design of an amplifier’s circuitry tells what class an amp belongs to. Since each class has its own characteristics, let’s take a look at each one of them:
Class A Amplifiers: Generally speaking, these amps provide quality sound especially when compare with class A/B amps. However, class A amps are considered to be the least efficient because they get over heat quickly due to the constant power consumption. Because of that, you rarely see a pure class A amp. Most class A circuitry are really class A/AB mixture.
Class A/B Amplifiers: These are the most common amps the car audio industry. These amps run cooler than class A amp and provides good sound quality.
Class D Amplifiers: This type of amp uses less current and generates less heat than the other classes. However, Class D amps produce higher distortions than class A/B.
What to look for when buying a car amplifier:
Bridgeable: This feature allows a pair of amplifier power channels to be combined into one channel of greater power. This is usually used for driving a subwoofer although it will work with any other type of speaker as well.
Channels: Choose an amp with multi-channel. This will help you when you do future upgrades to your car audio system.
Crossover/Filter: A built in crossover can be useful, especially if it is many frequencies of adjustment. A filter is a crossover that only affects one channel, not actually splitting frequencies but simply reducing a range of them.
Distortion: Make sure to buy a car amp with low T.H.D (total harmonic distortion). The recommended T.H.D rate is less than 0.1. T.H.D is the measure of how much an amp will change a signal from the input signal it is given.
Stability: High quality amp will be two ohm stable.
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Featured Car Amps Videos |
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Car Audio : Car Audio Amplifier Installation Tips
3.20 min. | 4.469512 user
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In order to install a car amplifier, the required materials are a power wire, a ground wire, a remote wire and an RCA signal. Locate the factory battery before installing a car amplifier with help from a car audio specialist in this free video on installing car audio amplifiers. Expert: Josh Barber Bio: Josh Barber is the owner of Top Tints, which has been in business for over four years. Filmmaker: Nathan Moffett
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Car Audio : How to Bridge 2 Subwoofers Together
2.73 min. | 4.375 user
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When attempting to bridge two subwoofers together, use a single or dual voice coil to connect the subwoofers to an amplifier. Discover which kind of amplifiers are bridgeable with help from the manager of a car audio store in this free video on car audio and subwoofers. Expert: Rich Richards Bio: Rich has over 20 years of experience in home audio and car audio. He is the manager at Innovative Home and Car Audio. Filmmaker: Michael Burton
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Amplifier Tips : Do's & Don'ts of Car Amplifiers
2.62 min. | 4.3480177 user
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There are some things that you should watch out for when using car stereo amplifiers. Learn tips from our stereo expert on the do's and don'ts of car stereo amplifiers in this free video clip on stereo systems. Expert: Larry Lundy Bio: Larry Lundy is the general manager of Cartunz motor sports chain located in western Washington. Filmmaker: randy primm
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Car Audio : Troubleshooting Car Audio Amplifiers
2.02 min. | 4.735849 user
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If something goes wrong with the amplifier of a car audio system, the first things to check are the constant power, the remote power, the ground and the RCA signal. Discover how a 12-volt test light can be used to test car amplifiers with help from a car audio specialist in this free video on troubleshooting car audio amplifiers. Expert: Josh Barber Bio: Josh Barber is the owner of Top Tints, which has been in business for over four years. Filmmaker: Nathan Moffett
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Win a FULL Kicker Sound System! SOTM Contest December '11
2.37 min. | 4.6649747 user
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**SPONSORED BY www.AudioSavings.com ! Some SMD Member is gonna' have an awesome Christmas! Audio Savings has put up the largest SOTM prize to date with this complete Kicker audio system. This month's winner will receive the following (2) Kicker S12L7 Solobaric Woofers -- these handle 750 Watts RMS each! (2) pairs Kicker KS652 Component Speakers In addition, you'll get a PAIR of Kicker IX amplifiers -- they're extremely compact and utilize Kicker's Premium Amplifier Technology! (1) IX500.2 -- for the speakers (1) IX1000.1 -- for the L7s (1) DCK4 Amp kit to hook it all up To win: You MUST be a member of the SMD website forums at www.stevemeadedesigns.com This month, there is no power limitations. Just bring what you have! Show us your BEST pics of your install and final product. The MORE the better!This can be done by going to the "member builds" section of the forum and starting a topic while posting pictures and information about your system. It always helps to show the build process but it is not mandatory. Good final pics are a must though. You can also upload your car and all of the stats of it to the "Garage". Post at least 8-10 pictures minimum. From there, you can go to the "System of the Month" section www.stevemeadedesigns.com and enter/nominate yourself! If you know an active member and you would like to nominate them, then go for it! Let them know they have been nominated so they can participate! After 50 Entries, i will offer a second place prize of $125 Credit ...
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Car Audio : What Do I Need for a Good Car Audio System?
2.98 min. | 4.924051 user
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A good car audio system starts with a head unit and continues with an amplifier, speakers and a subwoofer. Learn about power kits that are used to run amplifiers with help from the manager of a car audio store in this free video on car audio systems. Expert: Rich Richards Bio: Rich has over 20 years of experience in home audio and car audio. He is the manager at Innovative Home and Car Audio. Filmmaker: Michael Burton
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Amplifier Tips : Mono D-class Car Stereo Amplifiers
2.50 min. | 4.361702 user
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There are essentially two types of car stereo amplifiers, stereo and mono. Learn about mono car stereo amplifiers from our stereo expert in this free video clip and get the information you need to get rocking. Expert: Larry Lundy Bio: Larry Lundy is the general manager of Cartunz motor sports chain located in western Washington. Filmmaker: randy primm
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Car Audio : How to Prevent Your Car Amplifier From Overheating
2.65 min. | 4.8039217 user
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The best way to prevent a car amplifier from overheating is to buy an amplifier that isn't too cheap, as cheap amplifiers often give off most of their power in the form of heat. Keep a car amplifier well ventilated to prevent it from overheating with help from a car sound system designer in this free video on car audio tips.
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Car Audio : Choosing a Car Amp
1.52 min. | 4.803279 user
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In choosing a car's amplifier, it's important to note that a two-channel amplifier would only work for two speakers, so a car with four speakers requires a four-channel amplifier. Learn about the limitations of a monoblock amplifier with help from the manager of a car audio store in this free video on car audio and amplifiers. Expert: Rich Richards Bio: Rich has over 20 years of experience in home audio and car audio. He is the manager at Innovative Home and Car Audio. Filmmaker: Michael Burton
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Kenwood 2010 Mobile Electronics
3.07 min. | 5.0 user
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The New 2010 line of Kenwood Car Electronics is HOT! It's all here; Navigation, Bluetooth, iPod/iPhone control, amplifiers, speakers, audio and video.
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