Some tips for choosing car audio amplifier

As an indispensable part of the car audio combination, the importance of the amplifier is self-evident. Car audio as a mobile concert hall turns solitary travel into a treat. Whether or not a car audio enthusiast, facing these metal-filled devices will be deeply attracted by its unique magnetism. But perhaps for most people, how to choose a satisfactory audio equipment is a difficult problem. Below we will introduce some tips in the selection of some amplifiers. Determine the comparison power of the same reference amplifier Power is the most important parameter in the audio system, which indicates the ability of the audio system to carry a load. This is also the first place we should pay attention to when buying. However, if each manufacturer uses its own different benchmarks to identify product performance, it is often difficult to make objective comparisons without sufficient knowledge. The same is true for power amplifiers. Pay attention to the following three points when viewing the power amplifier identification: One is the battery voltage. The voltage of a car battery is constantly changing. For two commonly used signs: 14.4V / 100W and 12V / 100W power amplifiers are two completely different power specifications. Because the voltage of the car during driving is basically around 12V, the power value measured under the 12V voltage state is closer to the real situation. Moreover, the power amplifier with a continuous voltage of 12V as the reference mark can achieve greater power when it reaches more than 12V. Second, the harmonic distortion rate THD. When comparing the continuous output power of the power amplifier, it needs to be performed at the same (or closer) THD value. The difference in sound quality tested under different THD values ​​is very obvious. Sometimes the maximum power of the logo is high, but it is likely that its distortion and noise are also high. Therefore, you should pay attention to the THD value when checking the maximum power. Third, the frequency range. The continuous power output of the amplifier shall be detected within the frequency range in which it is actually used. Regarding the power of the power amplifier, it is required to identify the complete detection range, and the power value only has no meaning when identifying a certain frequency. After determining the same benchmark, we can compare the power of the amplifiers. Generally, the principle of high power output is generally followed when purchasing a sound system. The greater the output power of the amplifiers, the stronger their ability to drive speakers. The power of the amplifier should be greater than the indicated power of the speaker. If the selected power is too small, it will easily burn out when long-term high-power output is used, and it will also cause poor sound quality and distortion. Factors for a Good Amplifier Of course, it is impossible to better understand the quality of the power amplifier based on high-power text introduction. A high-quality power amplifier must also be able to respond quickly to the peaks of the music signal, at the same time be able to respond to powerful heavy bass, and provide smooth output under low distortion / low noise conditions. To meet these requirements, you must have the following: First, it is a power supply with excellent performance. This is the key to the sound quality of the power amplifier. The power supply section and the amplifier section should be designed separately to reduce noise. Large step-up transformers are used to increase the supply of stable current, and large capacitors can respond more quickly to supply the current required for amplification. Second, the built-in parameter equalizer. Car audio and home audio are very different, the installation position of the speaker is very limited, and sound adjustment is very important. In addition, the sound effects of the car audio system will be caused by the sound insulation effects of the headrest and window and the installation of the woofer. What works at this time is the parameter equalizer, which can compensate the peaks and troughs of the sound waves caused by the above reasons, and adjust the smooth sound field. Furthermore, it is the built-in frequency divider. No matter how good the amplifier's own function is, when it is actually installed in a car, it will not achieve the best results due to various acoustic problems and speaker configuration problems. To overcome this, a frequency divider is used in addition to the parametric equalizer. The built-in crossover has two major advantages: First, the system is expandable, and you can freely combine power amplifiers and speakers. Second, it makes adjustments simple and easy. This will improve the sound quality of the entire system. The use of an external crossover system is complicated because of the wiring, and it is easy to mix in noise. It requires a large space during installation and increases the price of the system. Therefore, we do not recommend it when selecting a car amplifier. Identify the different uses of the amplifier It is not enough to choose the power amplifier based on the simple parameters given in the manual. It should be based on the entire audio system. It is also necessary to listen to the opinions of other users or professionals, and choose different models and brands of power amplifiers according to different purposes. According to different purposes, it can be roughly divided into the following categories: 1. Amplifier specially designed to promote woofer: built-in infrasound filter, eliminating the need for external filters. 2. Amplifier with equalizer: the tone can be adjusted according to personal preference or different cabin space. 3.5-channel power amplifier: Generally, a 2-channel or 4-channel power amplifier is used to drive the front and rear speakers, while the subwoofer is driven by another power amplifier, which takes up too much area. When a 5-channel power amplifier is used, one power amplifier Can solve the problem. 4. Multi-chip X-card power amplifier: The unique X-card provides a variety of crossover options for the power amplifier: high-pass, band-pass, low-pass, and even super audio filters. 5. Electronic crossover modular power amplifier: These control modules let you choose which signal will reach the power amplifier and the RCA output of the power amplifier, and select the required frequency and crossover point. By replacing the module, one power amplifier can be used for a variety of power amplifiers. Here, we only briefly introduce some common sense tips for selecting a power amplifier. For specific practical applications, you must also go through professional system design and installation to get the perfect sound system.