Complete guide on car amplifiers

If you've just bought a car, you've probably realized that the factory audio system isn't the best. And if you've bought a used vehicle, you're probably in for some nasty surprises when trying to play your favorite music: poor quality stereos, poorly wired speakers… poof!

In any case, installing a good car audio system is the first step. The choice of amplifiers is the second. Today we will give you a guide so that you know everything about amplifiers in order to choose the right one to listen to your favorite music while you are behind the wheel. Let's get started!

What are car amplifiers?

Car audio amplifiers are devices that increase the power of the audio signal from the sound system. On many occasions, the ones that the vehicle has from the factory are used since they include an internal amplifier connected directly to the speakers.

To add a greater degree of intensity to the sound equipment, an external amplifier is essential since with it you will be able to reproduce your music more reliably and enjoy the notes and melodies of each song. Whether it's a live jazz concert, the metallic sounds of rock, classical music or your favorite pop band; the sounds are more alive and of better quality.

Parameters when choosing an amplifier

Power

The power of the amplifiers is measured in watts and indicates the force with which they transmit the electrical energy of the sound equipment.

Now, to express the power, two values are used:

• RMS Power (Root Main Square). The effective value of the optimal performance power of a loudspeaker. If it is operated above this power, the loudspeaker could be damaged.
• PMPO power (Peak Music Power Output). It is the maximum power value during a certain period, which expresses the point of destruction of the loudspeaker, or the power at which it can be damaged.

In order not to get confused, the power you should pay more attention to is the RMS since it is the one that will give you the best idea to know the device´s performance without forcing the components.

S/N ratio

The signal to noise ratio, expressed as S/R or SNR for signal to noise ratio, is the ratio between the output power of the sound signal and the power of the noise that corrupts or distorts. This margin is measured in decibels, and the higher it is, the better the sound quality.

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Total Harmonic Distortion

It is a parameter that measures the musical signal that it receives with more or less precision and distortions. The closer to zero is ideal for better sound quality.

Damping factor

It´s a parameter that indicates the ability of the amplifier to control the diaphragm´s displacement of the speakers integrated in a loudspeaker. The higher it is, the better it will control speaker movement in bass sounds, which is why it is important in subwoofers.

Your vehicle´s size

While this is not a technical factor, you should consider it. The best amplifiers are not necessarily the most powerful, but the most effective for the size of your car. For example, if you have a compact or hatchback model, a 50 watt RMS amp will work great. In contrast, larger vehicles benefit more from amplifiers over 75 watts.

A truck or minivan can work just fine with an amp of 100 watts or more, giving you a good quality listening experience.

Benefits of a good amplifier

Definitely, if you are thinking of investing in a good amplifier, we want to tell you that you will not regret it, since you will get:

• Better sound quality. You'll be able to listen to your favorite music without distortion and without straining your speakers, so you'll enjoy cleaner, more defined sounds no matter what volume level you listen to.
• Greater power for your speakers. Especially if you have the factory stereo, adding an amp will give you more power. Standard agency stereos have only 10 watts of RMS output power per channel, which isn't enough to listen to your music on the road, let alone turn up the volume a little louder than normal without the sounds starting to distort.
• You don't have to change the appearance of your car. If you don't like the idea of seeing your car with huge speakers protruding from the back seat and you prefer a more discreet, but very efficient sound system, investing in amplifiers is a great option. You can even take advantage of the factory sound system to improve it.

Where to buy an amplifier?

If after reading all this you have decided to invest in an amplifier, let the experts guide you. At Genius Audio you will find a wide variety of amplifiers of the highest quality and power, as well as car audio wire cables so you can properly connect it to your sound system and improve your subwoofer for car. 

If you don't know how to choose, have questions or need more information, send us a message through the WhatsApp button, we will gladly assist you and guide you to choose the right amplifiers for your vehicle.