By Philip P Daniel
Are you ready to get amped with me…Philip P Daniel! If you are like me (and for your sake I really hope that you aren’t) you like as much bass in your ride as that puppy can handle. Sure you just spent five hundred a piece on two brand new twenty inch sub-woofers, but without the juice, how the heck do you plan on pushing those nasty little buggers? Well luckily, your good friend and comrade Philip P Daniel is here with a little guide on what to look for when buying one of the most important things necessary in a new car stereo…the amplifier homey!
Having a new car stereo installed without spending the money on a decent amplifier, is like upgrading the luck characteristic of a level twenty elf without spending any of your experience points on wisdom! It just doesn’t make sense! A car stereo is only as powerful as the weakest link, and that link better not be your amplifier. Let’s break it down like this…sub woofers (and speakers in general) need power in order to function. Amplifiers are created to boost the amount of watts that are sent to speakers. This is especially important for subwoofers, as the more wattage, the larger the range of bass emitted from your speakers will be.
When purchasing a dedicated subwoofer amplifier, wattage is not the only thing to look into. The speakers that you purchased generally have a recommended power range, showing both the bare minimum amount of power they need to operate, and the maximum power that they can handle. They are usually listed in either continuous of RMS watts, and should help you narrow down the number of units available within the given range. Never purchase an amplifier that is too powerful as it may blow your speakers, and never purchase one that is too powerful, as it will not give you any benefit. For the best results, purchase a unit that is towards the top of the power ratings as it will provide better life, as well as lengthen the life of the sub.
All in all, make sure to buy a system that you are comfortable with. Make a range of money that you are willing to spend and stick with it. There are so many choices available, that there is no reason that you shouldn’t be able to find a unit that both fits your needs, and rest nicely in your budget.
Car Audio Amplifier Reviews: