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.

Featured Car Amps Videos

Car Audio : Car Audio Amplifier Installation Tips
3.20 min. | 4.4615383 user rating
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
 Car Audio : How to Bridge 2 Subwoofers Together
2.73 min. | 4.3773584 user rating
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
Amplifier Tips : Do's & Don'ts of Car Amplifiers
2.62 min. | 4.45679 user rating
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
 Amplifier Tips : Mono D-class Car Stereo Amplifiers
2.50 min. | 4.3333335 user rating
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
Car Audio : How to Prevent Your Car Amplifier From Overheating
2.65 min. | 4.8 user rating
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.
 Car Audio : Troubleshooting Car Audio Amplifiers
2.02 min. | 4.6666665 user rating
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
Amplifier Tips : Controlling Car Stereo Amplifier Power
2.40 min. | 3.9130435 user rating
Car stereo amplifiers can be set to different power output settings easily depending on the speaker system that needs to be pushed. Learn how to control the power of your car stereo amplifier 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
 Amplifier Tips : Car Amplifier Choices
2.80 min. | 3.6086957 user rating
If music is a passion of yours then you probably enjoy a great car stereo system in your car. Learn about all the choices of car amplifiers you have in this free video clip from our stereo expert. Expert: Larry Lundy Bio: Larry Lundy is the general manager of Cartunz motor sports chain located in western Washington. Filmmaker: randy primm
Amplifier Tips : Controlling Car Amplifier Outputs & Inputs
1.97 min. | 4.6666665 user rating
Car stereo amplifiers have outputs and inputs that must be controlled. Learn tips on how to control the outputs and inputs of your car stereo amplifier from our stereo expert 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
 Car Audio : What Do I Need for a Good Car Audio System?
2.98 min. | 4.8974357 user rating
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

Car Amplifiers FAQ