What are the main criteria for choosing and buying a car audio power amplifier?
Car audio power amplifier is designed to amplify the input audio signal to the desired level. Amplifiers exist of very different power-from a few dozen watts to several thousand watts per channel. Accordingly, the price range is quite large-from forty to several thousand dollars depending on the characteristics.
Amplifiers are
- monoblocks (there is one channel-“subwoofer”);
- multichannel (up to 8 channels).
The average model of the auto amplifier, as a rule, has two or four channels. Often there are models with an odd number of channels-three-channel and five-channel (one channel is usually used to connect a subwoofer).
A modern car power amplifier can contain a large set of additional functions, among which are the following:
- Equalizer . Present only in expensive power amplifiers for audiophiles. Thanks to the built-in equalizer, you can adjust the sound without any loss of quality.
- Crossover . The so-called low pass filter, high pass filter and rarely a medium pass filter. A very useful feature if your car receiver does not have a built-in crossover.
- Remote Bass Control . Enough convenient option that allows you to quickly and easily adjust the bass for any song.
- The output level control for car speakers, is the so-called “fader” (fader), which makes it possible to balance the sound level across all channels (almost all amplifiers are present).
- High Level Inputs . Allow you to effortlessly connect the sound amplifier to the head unit on the acoustic output of the radio.
If you are going to buy a car power amplifier, then be prepared for the fact that not all amplifiers in the same price category have the same power. Some automotive electronics manufacturers are greatly exaggerating or are specifically lying about the technical characteristics of their amplifiers. Here is one of those reasons why you should pay attention to the well-known and well-established manufacturers-Alpine, Audison, DLS, Hertz, Focal.
The first qualitative criterion for estimating the power of an amplifier is its continuous nominal power (RMS) at an onboard network voltage of 12 V. Next, you should pay attention to such a technical parameter as “signal-to-noise ratio”. This value should be as high as possible (95–100 dB on average).
Do not forget about the coefficient of nonlinear distortion. If an auto-amplifier is used to amplify coaxial or component speakers, it should be as small as possible. Subwoofer amplifier (monoblock) allows large values of this parameter. At 130.com.ua you can buy a sound amplifier in Kharkov, Odessa, Kiev with delivery in Ukraine.
Quality car amplifier
When buying an amplifier, you should pay great attention to the build quality of the product itself. A conditional indicator of quality and output power are considered physical dimensions and weight. A good auto amplifier should be heavy and have a large radiator to remove heat. But this choice is quite conditional-this is not at all the main criterion by which you need to choose the auto-amplifier of sound power. For example, Genesis produces a series of amplifiers that have a slim body and light weight. Due to the high quality of the design development, these amplifiers do not require a large and heavy radiator to remove heat.
If you are going to buy a car audio amplifier of class A – B, then the important criterion of signal power at the amplifier output will be the allowable current fuse power. But such amplifiers are distinguished by high heat generation and large case size.
Class D includes the so-called “digital sound power amplifiers.” In them, the size of the case and the value of the permissible current of the fuses are almost irrelevant, since the digital amplification elements are used in the assembly. The sound quality of such amplifiers directly depends on the price, so be careful when choosing.
If your budget is limited, and you are determined to buy an inexpensive car audio power amplifier, we recommend paying attention primarily to manufacturers such as Power Acoustik and Boschmann. The sound quality of the auto amplifiers of these brands will be slightly inferior to expensive solutions, but the assembly and quality of the components in these amplifiers are at the proper level.
It should also be remembered about the quality of the connecting (interconnecting) wires, as well as the thickness of the power cable. Choose sets of wires in accordance with the parameters of your new car amplifier. Before buying an amplifier in the online store "130", it is recommended to inform our specialists of the nameplate RMS power of your speaker system and the number of RCA car audio outputs.