Home Audio Amplifier Buying Guide

In a car audio system, your installer will connect the output of your radio to the amplifier, then connect the output of the amplifier to your speakers. The radio may be a factory-installed unit or an aftermarket solution with pre-amp outputs. If you are looking for the best sound quality, using pre-amp output connections typically reduces distortion in the audio signal.

Most full-range amplifiers are designed in a way that allows a pair of channels to be wired so that they can drive a single speaker. This wiring configuration method is known as bridging. If the amplifier is designed with an adequately capable power supply, bridging should be able to provide just under four times the single-channel rated power to the connected speaker. As an example, if an amp is rated to produce 50 watts (at 4 ohms) from each of two channels, it should be able to produce about 200 watts when those channels are bridged together to drive a single 4-ohm speaker.Many marine audio systems use four- and eight-channel amplifiers in a bridged configuration to power a wakeboard tower speaker system.

Some subwoofer amps include a phase adjustment. Your installer can use this feature to alter the phase of the audio signal around the crossover point to help align the acoustic output of the subs with that of the midbass drivers in the front of the vehicle.Bass boost is another popular feature. Depending on the amplifier, your installer can apply an adjustable amount of boost around a specific frequency to enhance the performance of small subwoofers. These bass boost equalizations are typically quite narrow in bandwidth and are focused around 45 Hz. Higher-end amplifiers include an adjustment for the bass boost frequency as well.

There are two camps in the car audio industry when it comes to amplifiers: Class-AB and Class-D. While there are audible differences between the two, what matters most is that their design is executed properly. Yes, a world-class Class-AB amp will sound more transparent and accurate than a Class-D amp. With that said, a poorly designed Class-AB will sound worse than a good Class-D.The benefit of Class-D is size. Amplifier heat sinks are (or should be) chosen based on how much heat is generated by the amplifier. The creation of heat depends on the amount of power the amp can produce and the efficiency of the design. As an aside, watch for high-power amplifiers with suspiciously small heat sinks. You may find that they shut themselves down because of overheating when pushed hard.

It should come as no surprise that the team here at BestCarAudio.com recommends that you deal with a local brick-and-mortar mobile enhancement retailer for the purchase and installation of your car audio amplifier. They can help you choose a solution that has the correct number of channels and the right features to complete the installation you have in mind. Likewise, they can use their experience to help you choose an amp that will deliver the clarity and performance needed to make your car audio system sound amazing.Should you run into any issues, the product specialists and technicians can take care of diagnosing and repairing the problem. Perhaps most importantly of all, they can ensure that the amp is mounted safely, wired properly and configured so that it delivers the cleanest sound and all the performance you paid for.

Some amplifier manufacturers will indicate power draws as 1/8 power, 1/3 power, and full power. 1/8 power delivers the amplified signal below the built-in clip limiters, while 1/3 power will have the clip limiters occasionally flashing. Full power will have the limiters in constant activity. When engaging the clip limiters, you are actually rounding off the audio signal to prevent distortion, but the signal of the audio will be compromised. I prefer to run the amplifiers at 1/8 power, which will give plenty of headroom without squaring off the waveforms. You may also use a higher-rated amplifier at 1/8 power without fear of damaging your speakers. Remember, the quickest way to blow a speaker is to underpower it.

he Mackie ProFX12v3 is a 12-channel mixing console featuring seven Onyx microphone preamps with 60 dB of headroom and a built-in effects engine with 24 built-in FX, making it well suited for live sound, home recording, and content creators. The integrated 2x4 USB audio interface offers high-quality 24-bit / 192 kHz recording and playback with zero-latency monitoring.

If you're ready to invest in a top-notch surround sound system, an AV separates system with a great home theater preamplifier/processor at its center can give you accurate, cinema-like sound with crisp dialogue, immersive effects, and earth-moving rumble you can feel. And if you use the same system to listen to music, your stereo sources will also sound great.

Home theater preamp/processors are designed for top audio performance. They're made with high-quality components and feature connections you won't find on most home theater receivers. Another benefit to choosing a separates system over a receiver is that pre/pros offer greater flexibility and more configurations for setting up your surround sound system.

You can use a single multi-channel amplifier or multiple amplifiers to power your home theater surround sound system. You might try a more powerful and better amplifier for your more demanding front speakers and a less powerful multi-channel or multiple stereo amplifiers to power your center and surround speakers.

Though we spend countless hours scouring local HiFi suppliers and reading reviews to find the perfect speakers, often, our choice of amplifier is something of an afterthought. This remains true despite the fact that amplifiers are almost as crucial to the tone and overall presentation of your audio as your speakers are.

Check out our entire stock of guitar amplifiers at the best prices guaranteed! Need a little assistance Use the chat button on the left to speak directly with one of our knowledgeable associates. You can also contact us at info@proaudioland.com or call us toll free at 1-877-671-2200!

At VTL we have developed a full range of reliable and high-performance tubed electronics to satisfy your taste for a truly high-end audio system. To help you select the best VTL product(s) for your audio and home theater needs, the following synopsis of the different product categories that we offer will help you decide which system performance level will best fit your needs.

We believe that the best sounding system is one where each of the components in the entire system are well-matched to work synergistically together as a well balanced system. In particular, we believe that the matching of the amplifiers to the loudspeakers is the most critical link to a musically satisfying system. You may wish to consult our general guidelines for system matching for further details.

Your VTL dealer is your personal guide and consultant who can assist you in putting together the most musical high-end audio/video system to best meet your requirements. Please check the Where to Buy section to receive information about where VTL products are distributed.

The audio system can replay the peak of the music at a higher level due to the increased low-frequency power. And because the main speaker is no longer responsible for replaying the bass, it can be played with loud sounds. Because the cone of the woofer of the main speaker no longer needs to be moved back and forth as intensely as before, the midrange will be clearer when used to replay music.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'hifireport_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_5',618,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-hifireport_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');Active vs Passive SubwooferThe subwoofer has both active and passive. At present, the most popular among home theaters is the active subwoofer. After all, the subwoofer requires a lot of power. Many AV receivers do not have enough driving force. Therefore, independent passive subwoofers are in the professional audio field more often. It is relatively rare in the consumer audio field. The active subwoofer is a built-in power amplifier module. At present, the mainstream use of most home theaters is the active subwoofer.

Most of the major electronics companies make home-theater-in-a-box systems. Some offer systems across all categories and others concentrate on a specific price range. You can use this alphabetized guide to compare home-theater-in-a-box brands.

The result is the profoundly powerful and supremely musical JC 5. John Curl's signature is discreetly imprinted on its front panel, honoring his considerable role in its development. The JC 5 will delight the ears and wallets of serious audiophiles and music lovers alike. With exquisite performance and compelling value, the JC 5 is the new amplifier benchmark.

\"The JC5 is the best amplifier I've ever listened to in my own home. I was unable to identify any specific faults. I am keeping it, and I am pleased to have it. Well done, Parasound.\" Greg Simmons, Stereo Times magazine

Z Custom is our line of ultra-compact components for high-end audio where space is tight. Equally comfortable on a desk or in a rack, Z Custom products are at home wherever good sound is important. See all Z Custom products.

Browsing the pages of Reverb, you'll be met with thousands of music gear listings across all instrument categories. Whether you're here searching for something specific or are waiting until the next thing catches your eye, the buying guides we've put together below are here to help.

Using the navigation bar above, click to any category to be taken to Reverb's relevant buying guides. You'll be able to find guides on topics as broad as picking the right acoustic guitar for you and as specific as a digest of all of the Tube Screamer pedals on the market and their similarities and differences.

Before the music reaches your ears, the DAC processes all the binary codes