Adding an amplifier to your car stereo will improve the sound dramatically. Here's what you need to know to choose one that's right for you.
Step 1:Ask a salesperson or installer what power rating you should consider, based on your existing stereo, speakers and musical taste.
Step 2:Select two or three amplifiers to compare.
Step 3:Compare amplifiers' power ratings using the same parameters - ohms rating, voltage or frequency. (Most people in the industry use ohms rating as the standard of comparison, and set the standard at 4 ohms.)
Step 4:Ask the salesperson to plug the possible amplifiers into a radio and speakers that are similar to the ones in your car.
Step 5:Listen to the performance of each amplifier and select the one that sounds best to you.
Step 6:Check the physical size of the amplifier to make sure it will fit where you plan to put it.
1. I disagree. Do your own research and be an informed buyer. Don't fall victim to believing whatever some schlep in a shirt and tie in best buy tries to tell you about car audio. Most of the times, they are dead wrong.
2. narrow your search to the best amplifier for the job in question. you get waht you pay for, so don't be afraid to spend a bit more for quality instead of buying the "most watts per dollar."
3. Unless you can find CEA2006 specs for the amp, forget it. You need to know how power output is measured to be able to compare that spec accurately, and most manufacturers won't give out those details. Does the amp use a tightly regulated, loosely regulated, or unregulated pwoer supply? regulated or unregulated output stage? what class of amplifier is it? is power measured in continuous (RMS), or peak/max/PMPO? Was the output measured at 12, 14, or 16VDC input? ...using a single frequency test tone, or full 20Hz-20KHz signal? Burst or sustained? Too many factors you don't know to rely heavily on power ratings solely.
4. nope. in a show room the response of those speakers is practically anechoic and completely different than in you car, so this is a moot point. Besides, all amplifiers SHOULD sound pretty much the same... transparent. If the amp colors the output, the amp has a problem.
Haha, if you're looking for car audio, you come on to ecoustics and give us your budget and goals. Then we'll give you an unbiased opinion and tell you the harsh truth.