Showcasing the Best in the Mobile Enhancement Industry
I vividly remember the day I walked into work at a local car stereo shop, and the owner had mounted a 3-foot long Coustic AMP-560 amplifier to the front of the sales counter. Back then, bigger was indeed better. I think, at the time, we referred to that amp as a surfboard or maybe a skateboard – hard to remember; it was more than 30 years ago. We also had one of the Read more
The owner of this 2020 Toyota Tundra contacted the team at Speed of Sound Technologies in Milford, Connecticut, to inquire about upgrading the stereo system in the vehicle. While it had the JBL sound system, the client wanted something that played louder and delivered better bass. Store owner Melinton Benavides discussed how to integrate the products the client had chosen into Read more
A while back, we took a quick look at how alternating current (AC) signals in our car audio systems work. While the amount of work done by an AC voltage source can be the same as that of a direct current (DC) source, the changes in current flow direction add complications. In this article, we’ll dive a little deeper into AC signals and explain why a fixed-value resistor can’t Read more
Having your local specialty car audio retailer install an amplifier in your car or truck is a great way to improve the performance of your audio system. The extra power will allow you to turn the volume up higher to extract more from your speakers. If you have a subwoofer installed, you’ll need to choose an amplifier that can produce lots of power. While there are some Read more
In a recent online discussion, someone stated that a car audio amplifier couldn’t be power-hungry. After the eye-twitching passed and our heart rates settled, we knew this was a perfect topic for our series on car audio myths. Let’s look at how amplifiers, specifically subwoofer amplifiers, make use of the power from your vehicle’s electrical system. What Is Amplifier Read more
For car audio enthusiasts, especially those interested in competing in SPL competitions, amplifier efficiency should be one of their primary concerns. In this first of three articles on efficiency, we take a close look at the Rockford Fosgate M5-1000X1 Class-D subwoofer amp and analyze how well it makes use of power at different output levels. What Is Car Audio Subwoofer Amp Read more
When it comes to choosing the right car audio amplifier for your subwoofers, one thing most consumers overlook is an examination of the efficiency specifications. Efficiency describes how much of the power drawn from the vehicle’s electrical system is converted into power to drive a speaker. Low-efficiency amplifiers waste this power as heat. It doesn’t matter whether you’re Read more
The topic of measuring amplifier power is perhaps the most often discussed specification in the car audio industry. There’s a clamor among enthusiasts over YouTube videos of amplifiers cranking out amazing amounts of current while connected to a bank of load resistors or an amp dyno. If your favorite brand of subwoofer amp makes even five more watts than a competitor’s, these Read more
When it comes to car audio product reviews, and specifically, BestCarAudio.com Test Drive Reviews, how I measure amplifier power is a topic that needs some consideration and contemplation. Who would have thought that measuring how much power an amplifier produces could be a controversial subject? The reality is, many factors come in to play as we quantify the capabilities of an Read more
Have you ever purchased something, then regretted your decision a few days later? We recently ran into a situation regarding car audio subwoofer amplifiers where the answer to “Which is better?” became a complicated discussion. We’re going to look at two amplifiers – one is a consumer-grade product that’s extremely popular, the other seems to offer too much bang for your Read more
In the past, we’ve looked at Class AB and Class D amplifier classes, the two most popular configurations in the mobile electronics industry. With that said, a few other classes deserve some explanation, as they can deliver improvements in amplifier efficiency without altering the sound quality. This article will review Class AB and Class D and then talk about G and H designs. Read more
When it comes to car audio amplifiers, people often mistake quality with high power ratings. This misperception has led to manufacturers coming up with every angle or trick possible to measure as much power as possible from their designs. Many manufacturers publish both continuous low-distortion specs as well as maximum power ratings. Are the high numbers useful or relevant? Read more
