Amplifiers are often associated with high-end car audio. However, every car audio system requires an amplifier, whether it is a weak, built-in feature or a separate, powerful unit. In fact, a car stereo wouldn’t work without one. Most car audio systems and simple upgrades do not include a separate amplifier, although many do include a dedicated amplifier to drive a subwoofer.
Choosing a Car Audio Amplifier – Do's and Don'ts
In both home and car audio systems, an amplifier amplifies a weak audio signal. When the signal going into the amplifier is too weak to drive speakers, the signal coming out can do the job. The power of an amplifier determines how loud and distortion-free the sound is.
Here are some of the benefits of incorporating a separate amplifier into your car audio system:
If you don’t mind a little distortion and don’t feel like cranking your head unit up to 11, you can probably skip the amp and focus on the head unit and speakers. Some head units have enough power to deliver relatively distortion-free sound, and adding a high-pass crossover can help clean things up.
