Which amp is best for car

Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Jeremy Laukkonen. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn. Updated on September 27, Michael Barton Heine Jr. Lifewire Technology Review Board Member. Article reviewed on Oct 25, Tweet Share Email. In This Article. What Audio Amplifiers Do.

Do You Need One? Channels and Other Features. The Importance of Power. The 3 Best Car Stereo Systems of Was this page helpful?

Thanks for letting us know! If you want your music to sound as realistic as possible, then the choice is clear. First, the amplifier should have a speaker-level input solution. This feature will typically accept up to 20 volts of signal and eliminate the expense of an external line-level adapter module. The amp will need to include a signal-detect switch that, when activated, allows it to turn on when the music starts playing. As another option, some amplifiers monitor the speaker output wiring from the factory radio for a small DC voltage on the speaker leads — this is usually called BTL detection or DC offset turn-on.

When your new amp sees this voltage, it will turn on automatically. Many vehicles automatically shut off the engine when you come to a stop at a traffic light. This feature has proven to save a significant amount of fuel, but it has a drawback when it comes to your audio system.

When the vehicle restarts, the electrical system voltage can drop well below 9 volts. A few amplifiers on the market use a microcontroller that will let the amp continue to function at voltages down to 6. You can tell a lot about the power production capabilities of an amplifier by the fuses on the chassis.

As a quick-and-dirty rule of thumb, you can multiply the fuse rating by a factor of 10 to give you an idea of how much continuous power the amplifier will produce. So, a single 30 amp fuse is good for about watts.

Two 40 amp fuses would be good for watts. As such, there will be some added expense during the installation. Car audio amplifiers draw a lot of current compared to most devices in a vehicle.

A loose power or ground connection or a wiggly fuse will heat up quickly and damage the amp. Whether the amp uses terminal strips, removable connectors or terminal blocks, your installer will want to make sure everything is tight. We briefly mentioned wiring earlier. Different amplifiers include different features to help installers diagnose issues with the installation.

Most amplifiers have some sort of short-circuit detection circuitry that will turn the unit off if a speaker blows or a wire gets pinched. Similarly, most amplifiers monitor the temperature of the heat sink and will either roll back power or turn the amp off if things get too hot. You want to make sure the amp will protect itself and not become damaged if something goes wrong.

Some of the better amplifiers also monitor supply voltage and power supply temperature. It should come as no surprise that the team here at BestCarAudio. They can help you choose a solution that has the correct number of channels and the right features to complete the installation you have in mind.

Likewise, they can use their experience to help you choose an amp that will deliver the clarity and performance needed to make your car audio system sound amazing. Should you run into any issues, the product specialists and technicians can take care of diagnosing and repairing the problem. Perhaps most importantly of all, they can ensure that the amp is mounted safely, wired properly and configured so that it delivers the cleanest sound and all the performance you paid for.

Dave has worked in the mobile electronics industry since in almost every capacity, including roles as a Retail Salesperson, Installer, Sales Representative, Technical Trainer, and Product Development Manager for some of the largest car audio companies in the world. Dave started his writing career in as the Technical Editor of a Toronto-based car audio magazine and has reviewed more than products. Formally trained as an Electronics Technician, Dave is considered an industry expert when it comes to explaining how mobile audio components work and has crafted thousands of articles to share that knowledge.

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All in one great looking amp. The eXcelon line offers amps of all channels for almost all applications. The amplifiers offer excellent performance all around. They have a perfect 5-star rating on Crutchfield—people love these amps! For example, the X channel amplifier utilizes staggered tuning. This makes it all the more loved by users because they can make small adjustments to the system to make music sound just how they want.

These amps use Hybrid Digital Amplification technology, which assures low distortion. The construction of these amps also assures that the sound quality is clear and precise at any load and temperature. We think that the eXcelon series amps also have a cool, modern design. They have a sleek, black aluminum finish that will look great in any car. The size of the amp is compact too, so if you want to put the amp in a less visible spot you can easily do so.

All around, the eXcelon series is a stout, performing amplifier. It offers tremendous power for a great price. Kenwood also offers a 2 year warranty for their amps to back up their products. They are not only confident in the quality of their product, but also stand behind their authorized dealers who will be able to fix any problem, if one ever comes up. A high-density mount circuit board in conjunction with an enhanced air cooling and heat control systems allowed Kenwood to create an incredibly compact design amplifier that blows most standard-sized amplifiers away.

Buy on Crutchfield. Alpine amplifiers are another great choice for getting the most out of aftermarket speaker and head unit upgrades. The X-Series provides a one-stop solution to getting big, rich music in your ride.

There are currently three options in this lineup — a monoblock, 4-channel and 5-channel option. All of which feature a built-in crossover and bass EQ for fine-tuning your system via a control panel located on the top of the amplifier.

Some people just have an ear for music. They can tell the difference between subtle tones, identify notes that sound distorted, and are obsessed with reproducing hi-resolution audio for that live music experience. Satisfying the demands of audiophiles can be a challenge. In recent years, several companies have really stepped up the game to produce amps that faithfully recreate music using numerous technological advantages. When you are searching for an audiophile-grade hi-res amp, these products should be some of the first you look into.

JL Audio is a leader in innovative audio tech, and the VXi-Series of amplifiers is the newest feather in their cap. The VXi amplifiers feature some of the coolest and most revolutionary controls on the planet.

Buy one of these amps and you will wonder how you lived without one all your life. JL Audio NexD2 switching capabilities provides incredibly realistic fidelity for the most discerning listener. But what we think really sets these amplifiers apart is their on-board Digital Signal Processor and digital tuning capability.

JL integrated a band equalizer, timing alignment, crossover controls, gain control and more directly into the amplifier. This software in its own right is a beast, and brings an enormous amount of tuning capability directly to your phone or computer without the need to purchase additional DSP or EQ components.

If you're interested in reading more information about the VXi amplifiers, check out our VXi amplifier overview. Kicker's IQ-Series is another top pick for audiophile-quality sound. They come in a variety of channel configurations including multi-channel 2, 4 or monoblock amps.