Car Audio Amplifiers

When you are on the look out for car audio amplifiers, first you got to know how it functions and what is it used for. The purpose of a car audio amplifier is to convert a low level signal from the source unit to a high level signal for driving the loudspeakers. Amplifiers can range in power from 20 watts to over a thousand watts per channel. And their prices too differ from one amplifier to another depending on their features, quality and power. The most popular type of amplifier is the one with 2 to 4 channels model.

If needed, you can even add extra built-in features to car audio amplifiers whenever required. Some of these extra built-in features may include, crossovers, speaker level units, equalizers, and signal processing. While purchasing an amplifier for your car stereo system, there is one thing you need to take into consideration when it comes to dealing with amplifier power ratings. You should see that all power ratings are not created equal. The true measurement for an amplifier power is the RMS rating or the continuous power ratings.

Quality of the car audio amplifier is very important to take into account when buying the amplifier. But the question is how do you know if it is a high quality amplifier? The good indicator of a quality amplifier will be determined by the weight and the size of the amplifier. The heavier the amplifier the better the quality it will produce. But size is not all that matters

Another indication that you can consider is the quality of the car audio amplifier by the size of the fuse used. There are different classes of amplifier, and a quick and easy way to check the true power output is to take the fuse value of the amplifier or the sum of the multiple fuses and multiply it by 6, if it is an A or B class amps, or 10 for class D amps where the efficiency is higher. Though this will not give you an accurate result, but it will be able to indicate if your car audio amplifier is close to the specifications.

If you have a tight budget or lack of space, the most economical thing to do is to opt for a multi-channel amplifier with the required built-in processor and features that you need. This will save you a lot of money and space, which will in turn allow you to add any extra feature to your car audio amplifier. Though there will be difference in quality compared to the outboard processors but this will not be noticeable. Sometime adding too many components can lessen the chance of noise entering into the system.

To sum out in brief, the key features you need to look into before purchasing a car audio amplifier includes, bridgeable, channels, connectors, class, crossovers, distortion, filters, power output, efficiency, speaker level input, stability, separate gain controls, tube amplifier, tri-mode out put, power supply, pre-amp inputs and outputs. But make sure that you always opt for genuine brands through genuine dealers.

Car Woofers

Woofers are the vital part of audio system. The term woofer is the modernized expression for speakers. In fact the term is used for the loudspeaker. Basically, woofers are the drivers that produce low frequency sound, ranges from 40 hertz to a kilohertz higher. Car woofers usually reproduce low bass frequency sound, such as audio frequencies below 35 Hz.

Audio systems used in cars most of the time are of standard quality. They mainly include a radio, compact disc player and a number of loudspeakers like tweeters, speakers and woofers. Actually, the sound quality obtained from the audio system depends on the loudspeakers used in the system. But the car speakers produce low frequency output and high power signal that generates acoustic energy, which tends to affect the output of the sensor. These acoustic problems that generally happen in the car interiors is that it becomes too reflective and noisy at ample frequencies. Therefore, for reinforcing lower band sounds in the car audio system, these are additionally installed on the trunk of the car.

One more reason for installing the car woofers additionally in the back seat space or trunk of the car is the limited space. And it is just next to impossible to fit those drivers into doors or dashboard.

Sometimes people in a hope to produce very high sound pressure levels in the confines of their cars, add woofers in the cabin. It can be said that this sound pressure level competition has increased the demand for the car woofers. But if minutely considered, in the sound quality level, they have not gained much popularity.

There are normal consumer grade woofers that are capable of generating extremely high levels in cars due to the small volume of the typical car interior. But high sound levels are not actually recommended as they can cause hearing loss, if someone is exposed to them for longer period of time.

The most common car woofers used are the electrodynamic driver. They use a cone that is driven by a voice coil, surrounded by a magnetic field. The voice coil and the magnet form a linear electric motor. When current flows through the voice coil, it moves in relation to the frame, causing the coil to push or pull on the driver cone in a piston like way. However, the voice coil is attached by adhesives to the back of the speaker cone. And finally, the motion of the cone creates sound waves as it moves in and out.

However, there are various types that produce different level of sound. Component woofers give powerful and accurate bass. It only needs to be connected to the amplifier and fit the woofer into an enclosure.

Enclosed woofer is a woofer that is matched to the enclosure of the car, at the factory.

Custom-fit woofer, is designed to fit into unused spaces of the cars. There are many models of this kind of woofer that come in well-built amplifiers for an all in one bass solution.

Powered woofer is a combination of a woofer and amplifier in a compatible enclosure. They come in variety of sizes like compact, small and large.

Car Speakers

For a proficient and good quality car audio systems, car stereo speakers play a vital role. They are exceptional in the sense that they are designed only for reproducing sound frequencies. The audio system of the car is judged by a number of specifications matching the core.

The first criterion that a buyer should consider is the frequency response. It should be higher and wider so that the function of capturing and reproducing the sound is performed in a much better way. In addition, a buyer should also consider the efficiency or sensitivity of the car stereo speakers, which decide how far the sound will travel.

Focusing on the maximum power RMS, that is, the maximum power, which the speaker can produce continuously, is important if the system is to be played continuously.

Going for a component speaker will make the listening more thrilling since it gives a complete range and quality of sound inside the car. The power of them should be efficient enough not to diminish the riding power of the car. Not only this, while shopping for various types of speaker systems it is always a good idea to listen to each type all of them should sound a bit different from the other.

With the advancement in technology and the demand of music lovers, today, one can find many types of car stereo speakers. The automakers have designed various kinds of stereo systems, which could reproduce certain frequencies. The wider the frequency response of a speaker the larger sound signal the speaker can capture and reproduce. This can be explained with an example. To capture and reproduce treble high pitched frequencies a tweeter is the best. A sub woofer can only capture the low frequency, i.e. the bass.

Today, in market one can find a wide range of car stereo speakers. These are Multi Element speakers a.k.a coaxial speakers, Midbass or Midrange speakers, Component speakers and Sub Woofers.

Multi Element or coaxial speakers consist of two types speakers i.e., woofers and tweeters that are constructed into one. The woofer, which is shaped as a large cone, generates low range frequencies, on the other hand, there are three tweeters in the form of three small cones that handle the higher pitched frequencies.

Midrange speakers are those systems that are designed to capture and reproduce the middle and sometimes some low bass frequencies. A midrange speaker is generally smaller than a woofer and can reproduce frequency range of approximately 300 to 5000 hertz. These types are fitted in the side or the door panels of the cars.

Component speakers can reproduce high pitched frequencies. These kinds of speakers contain tweeters and horn loaded compression drivers. If a tweeter comes above 25 kilo hertz then it is called a super tweeter.

Another of the car stereo speakers is the sub woofer, which is capable of reproducing the lowest frequencies. The sub woofers have the capability of reproducing sound of the highest quality without reducing too much audio signal off it.