CAR AMPLIFIERS BUYING GUIDE
November 10, 2007
First let us understand the meaning of the term “amplifier”. An amplifier is a unit or device dedicatedly made for amplifying the audio or sound effects. There are different types of amplifiers. Keyboard amplifiers, guitar amplifiers, power amplifiers and stereo amplifiers are the distinct types of amplifiers. Amplifiers dedicatedly designed and used for cars are called as car amplifiers. These car amplifiers are sold in almost all the leading shops in the UK.
The need for amplifiers in a car arises when the wattage does not match between your car audio system and its supporting accessories like car speakers, tweeter and speakers. The main task of the car amplifiers is to convert low powered signals into high power signals by enhancing the quality as well as the volume of sound. Car amplifiers are the only solution for enhancing the audio output of car audio system. Different models of car amplifiers are marketed with distinct sizes, features and audio compatibilities.
DISTINCT KINDS OF CAR AMPLIFIER
• Mono Amplifiers - Amplifiers which amplifies audio through only one channel or speaker. These types of car amplifiers are known by another name as “monaural amps”. It is apt to use these amps only for low frequency applications like playing soft music.
• Stereo Amplifiers - While you use 2 speakers and a subwoofer, it is better to use stereo or two channel amplifiers.
• 4 channel Amplifiers - These 4 channels amplifiers are needed while you need 3 or more speakers and more than a subwoofer. In this kind of amps, 2 channels are powered at the front and the rest of the channels are powered at the rear.
BUYING CONSIDERATIONS / FEATURES OF CAR AMPS
To buy a right car amplifier, it is suggested to confirm weather the following features are available in your car amp.
• Bass setting
Bass sound can be improved with the help of ‘low pass filter’ option. When you want to have a hearty bass line, it is essential to use a car amp with this feature. All low frequency notes will be sent by a low pass filter to your subwoofer for reproducing high powered notes. If you use subwoofer, you are recommended to buy a car amp with this filter for the prevention of high notes duplication.
• Ability to bridge
Certain car amplifiers do not allow bridging another amp for achieving high power audio output. This bridging becomes essential when you buy a 4 channel car amp which has to be bridged safely.
• Built-in High pass filters
It is a useful feature usually embedded within a car amp for prevention of reproducing low frequency sound. This inbuilt feature has the capability to offer high frequency sound continuously.
• Speaker-level
An amp with speaker-level input is useful for processing already amplified audio notes.
• Extra Amplification
It is simple to achieve extra amplification by connecting one car amp with other. If you want to enjoy multi-amplifier system in your amp, never forget to check whether the amp has featured with “preamp output”. This facility permits you to send signals to secondary car amp. You can enjoy even sound distribution with the help of this feature. When your car amp is featured with preamp output, the combined power utilization can be eliminated to some extent.
SUPPLEMENT ACCESSORIES
It is impossible to achieve impressive audio while you drive through your car only with the support of amplifiers. You have to make use of other elements together for having an ideal car audio system. Essential accessories of a car amplifier are listed as:
• Remote controls
• Control centre
• Car wiring kits
• Line output converter
• Custom covers
• Car amplifier bridges
• Voltage monitors
INSTALLATION TIPS
Choosing a right place for installing a car amplifier is an essential step. Adequate ventilation is required for your car amp as it gets hot quickly. High end models of car amplifiers have come with built-in fans to cool the air circulation. It is not advisable to keep your amp near your radio receiver which may cause interference. Try to keep 2 feet away from the radio receiver. You can prefer any on the following location to install your new amp in your car:
• Under the seat
• Trunk of the car
After choosing an appropriate place, take out your installation kit. Never forget to buy from the shop while you buy car amp. Check whether all the needy tools are put inside the installation kit to reduce your strain in the installation process. It is well and good to read instructions about the installation given in the product manual, so that you can avoid certain silly mistakes during installation. The method of installation will not be same for all brands.
OFTENLY USED TERMINOLOGIES
• Bi-amplification
When an amp uses separate circuits for audio amplification, it is known as “Bi-amplification”.
• Channel separation
It refers the total amount of sound passing between 2 audio channels.
• Distortion
A measurement used to find the difference between reproduced signals from its original signals.
• Preamp Output
It is nothing but a jack used for sending audio signals to an external amp before internal amplification of signal is accomplished.
• Sensitivity
A term refers ‘efficiency’ of a speaker in converting electrical power from a car amplifier. If sensitivity is high, you will get more volume of sound.
• Subwoofer
A device which produces extremely low powered signals is a subwoofer.
These are some of the technical terms often used while discussing about car amplifiers.
Now you may have got an overall idea about the need of car amplifiers for your car audio system, its type, buying tips, supporting units of amps, installation suggestions and some tough technical terms by reading this simple guide.
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