In that case it’s fixed and designed only for that purpose. It’s often a dedicated subwoofer channel with only a low-pass output. 5 channel amps vs 4 channel ampsĥ channel amps are slightly different in that unlike 4-channel amps, the 5th channel may have different configuration options.Īlso, the added 5th channel in some cases cannot be used for full-range sound. However, with the continued innovation and experimentation of many car audio brands, class D technology has excelled and the best models now have great sound quality with lower noise levels.īelow you can find a list of several amps that provide excellent sound quality! All these recommendations exceed the average design of typical class D amps – and all of them have advanced engineering designs that enhance sound quality. Until recent years, class D amps were “okay” and decent. Low-end amps won’t have the same sound quality If you’re highly critical of your amp’s noise level and sound quality, be sure to thoroughly look at the specs and buy an amp with the best design. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is also lower than other types of amps – if the gain is turned up high, you might hear some “hissing” noise as you listen. However, as with everything else, there’s a drawback: the sound quality may not be on par with A/B amps except for better-designed amps made by the best name brands. Prices also go down since manufacturers no longer need to use costly aluminum heatsinks for production (except for high-powered models) as Class D amps run much cooler than older amplifiers. The production of lighter, smaller, and highly efficient (90% efficiency is possible) amps is possible thanks to this new technology. This means that since the amp is turned off a significant amount of time the power consumed (and the power wasted) is reduced significantly. In this type of design, an extremely high-speed switching frequency is used to switch the power-delivering transistors on and off rapidly when an audio signal is input and used to produce an amplified output signal to drive speakers. The waveform is then “smoothed” to produce an audio signal and drive speakers.Ĭlass D amplifiers are far more efficient and generate far less heat. Class DĬlass D amplifiers work by taking an input audio signal from a stereo head unit and using it to drive a circuit that switches power transistors on incredibly fast. They’re good producers of sound and are used in more expensive amps, too. However, many car audio companies have switched to class D although there are still some products that purely use A or B technology.Ĭlass A/B amps are very common and usually used for budget models. Class A/BĬlass A/B is a type of amplifier technology that has been around for many decades and is a combination of class A and class B.Ĭlasses A and B basically differ in how efficient they are and the sound quality they produce.Ĭlass A is currently the best possible sound quality reproduction while being the least efficient (somewhere around 20% efficient, meaning 80% of electrical current is wasted as heat) and with B being the opposite.Ī/B is a combination of the two and offers a good compromise between sound quality and efficiency (say 65% and below, depending on the design).įor many years, car amps were based on these two classes. Nowadays, amps are categorized into several classes – meaning they have slightly different design operation internally.įor each amp class or design, there are both pros and cons to consider when buying. These design types dictate how they work and produce boosted output signals that drive your speakers. You’re now able to get much better quality and value for the same price as amps sold years ago! Car amp technologies explainedįor the most part, modern car amps use 1 of 2 basic design styles. Not only that, but some of the best amps aren’t restricted to mediocre brands like they used to be. You’re able to get even more amplifier in an even smaller package than ever before possible. Technology has changed for the better in the car audio world over the last several years and the last 5 or so have been especially great. Pick a great 5-channel amp like the fantastic Alpine PDR-V75 to power an entire system. You’ll get a very small, sweet-sounding amp that can fit under many car seats! 5 channel amps today vs years ago The selection list of 5-channel amps used to be very limited, but not anymore – there are some very amazing and compact models to choose from today. I’ve installed so many amplifiers over the years that I’ve lost count, but I’ve always regarded 5-channel amps as a cool and unique way to build a multi-channel car audio system. Ultimately choosing the best 5 channel amplifier that meets your needs comes down to several factors:
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