Why replace the factory car stereo in your car or truck’s dash when it already has an amplifier? There are a number of reasons why you might need an amplifier for your car’s stereo, but the bottom line is that an aftermarket amp is far superior to a head unit alone. Because most amplifiers aren’t designed to fit inside a dash, they don’t have to sacrifice components, power, or space. As a result, the amplifier can produce much clearer sound with significantly less distortion, especially at higher volumes. Also, if you’re using a car subwoofer to augment your bass, you’ll need an amplifier. Without it, the large speaker would lack the necessary power.
Our best car amplifier shopping guide is chock-full of devices hand-picked by our editors and covers all you need to know. We’ll go over the different types of channels and how many you’ll need. We’ll explain power ratings and how to match an amplifier to your car speakers. (You should never skimp on wattage, but there is such a thing as too much of a good thing.) We’ll go through difficult topics like impedance, which you need to understand if you want to choose the best amplifier for your automobile.
You could use a four or five-channel amp to power your subwoofer and car speakers, but you might prefer to give it its own amp. If this is the case, check out our list of the best mono subwoofer amplifiers. (Single channel amplifiers are another name for them.) This post will go over the three types of amplifiers and why I prefer Class D. For more information, see our page on amplifier classes. It also explains what CEA2006 certification means, in case you’ve ever wondered what those symbols imply.
When I produce our car amplifier buying guides, our number one goal is to provide you with reliable information and goods that you can trust. If you’re curious about how I put these lists together, have a look at how the team and I put our shopping guides together. I’m constantly updating these listings to keep them up to date with the most recent goods, so bookmark our page for the next time you need a vehicle amplifier!
