One of the most asked questions we get is what amp do i need for my sound system!
Long gone are the days of just 1 type of amplifier and now there is an array of sizes, classes, channels and powers! So what do you do??
We here at Crown Customs have given you some answer to the basics to make your choices that much easier.
Lets first address Usage/Channels
Monoblock, Stereo, 5 channel, 6 channel what does this all mean? This is inherently the available power outputs for the speakers/subwoofers you wish to use in your system. Now a Monoblock amp is a single channel amplifier that is 95% of the time designed for specific use when powering subwoofers, they are often higher in power than other amplifiers whilst also allowing a lower impedance usage such as a 1 ohm minimum load. There main purpose is to play bass and such majority of the time do not play a full range signal.
Stereo, these are 2 channel amplifiers often used for amplifying the front speaker system in a car, it will use a left and right input and give a full range singal to play a full musical spectrum, a very easy upgrade! These are often used bringing the two channels together to run a subwoofer when a monoblock is not available.
Multi-Channel, these amps can be 3/4/5/6/8/12 channels and are designed for full system integration and custom system builds. The multiple output channels means the user can choose to upgrade every speaker in your system or even chose to custom build the system to include any amount of speakers you want!
Class and Power
Amplifiers come on a variety of classifications and this also then inpacts the power outputs, lets talk about it.
Class A/AB
These are The most traditional style of amplifier and can be obtained at both the budget and prestige end of the amplifier spectrum with very different outcomes. This classification technology is low in efficiency usually around 50-60% this means that half of the power generation is turned to heat (hence why the amps get hot like a radiator) but they sound fantastic! The sound is often very warm and detailed and even in the lower budget area you get great sound for your money. The more premium class A and AB amps are designed to produce the cleanest power with the lowest level of distortion and signal path noise allowing the speakers to show their worth.
Class D
Class D amplification originally started with monoblock amplifiers but due to new technology is now featured across all channels and types of amplifer. The benefits of class D is in their efficiency and size, smaller footprints but more pound for pound power! often at over 80% efficiency more of the generated power is usable hence being able to be smaller in size. This leads to being able to have compact and micro amplifiers for easy plug and play upgrades as well as 10000+ spl amplifiers which dont need a truck to house them!
POWER!!
Now power is how everyone shops right! More is better? this is the general consensus! But lets talk the facts and give you guys a heads up on what to do!
MAX vs RMS this is the age old debate, in very simple terms RMS is the only rating you should ever look at when buying an amplifier, this is the constant power output at the standardised voltage and impedance of the amplifier, this also means that this number is NOT a constant, this will lower with variable impedance (speakers impedance is always in a state of change) and lowering of voltage, always take this into account when matching your amplifier to your set up.
What power to use?? This may sound like common sense but where best match the RMS rating of your speaker to the RMS rating of your amplifier, a small percentage over or under is ok but too smaller power will mean to drive the speakers as loud as you want you will add lots of distortion and blow them up and too much power you will hit the mechanical and thermal limits of the speakers before ever hearing the distortion, so match match match!!
Other technologies
In 2024 there are an array of new amplifier technologies that tcan throw a spanner in the works confusing many and making your system building even harder, lets take a look at a few in the last section of our Blog!
Plug and Play upgrades
A wave of plug and play amplifiers first were introduced around 10 years ago but were very low power and poor quality, since around 2018 companies such as VIBE, BLAM, Pioneer and Alpine have reworked this technology and produced a range of high quality amps that very simply boost your power into your speakers which having the fastest simplest installation possible. These amplifiers plug inline of the stereo, wether that be the OEM deck or an aftermarket upgrade, they use power and ground as well as the speaker outputs from the existing loom to power and output signal for a simple but very affective upgrade, and these things are tiny! a great easy add on for anyone after a little bit added power to your system.
DSP Amplifiers
This new technology is currently the most competitive and evolving area of the market, its no longer enough to just add power to a speaker the ability to tune the speakers from a Digital Signal Processor is now a want from a large portion of consumers wether this via an APP or PC software.
Audiotec Fisher using there MATCH and HELIX products are the market leaders for these items but every brand in the industry is hot on their heels with their own versions.
These amps come in an array of formats, "Plug and Play", multi channel, monoblock, everything you can imagine in amplifier form is now DSP!
The advantage of the DSP amplifier is that rather than some rudimentary dial controls you have full control digitally of all aspects of your system, this includes, crossover points, gain levels, EQ, Shelf filters, Time alignment and more. Meaning with a single box solution you can have a system powered and fully tuned exactly as you want sounding incredible and fully customisable to your taste.
"Brazil Style" Amplifiers
This type amplifier is well know in the SPL community due to its high power and small footprint, the technology itself is not new and was invented by the Japanese over 20 years ago but the Brazilians took this technology in a different direction to generate huge power for SPL and sound clash systems.
The technology is actually "full bridge" technology as opposed to the Half bridge used in standard Class D amplifiers the full bridge means that more power is generated from similar component range and often fits into a smaller package. We here at Crown Customs are the UK distributor for POWERUS amplifiers one of the best Brazilan amplifiers with the most reliable and powerful amplifiers in the market.
These amps come in a huge range of powers frm 1500 watts to 30000 watts and upwards and offer full range signal so they can be used for bass and speakers!
So thats out insight into amplifiers, dont hesitate to get in contact if you have any questions or enquiries!