You don’t need to know how an amplifier works to enjoy the benefits of one in your car or boat.
Since we’ve gone over power, gain, crossover and subsonic filter in part one and two of our amplifier tutorial, we want to make sure your amplifier vocabulary is up-to-par so you can become experts, just like us! Other amplifier terminology includes:
- Stereo. Two channels: left and right.
- Bridged. Combines left and right channels into one mono channel. In most cases, this also increases the power output of the amp.
- Mono. One channel. Most subwoofer amps are offered in a mono configuration.
- Multi-channel. Four, five, six, or even eight channels worth of amplification from a single amplifier.
- Clipping. When the input level exceeds the circuit’s capacity. This distorts the highest and lowest peaks in the musical signal. Clipped input signals destroy speakers, in which we hope you got that warranty! Extra power for when the music demands it. The more power you have, the less likely you will use it all but it will be there when it is needed. Class refers to the amplifier’s circuitry and the way it handles amplification. Class A and AB amps are less efficient than a class D amplifier but they sound better. A Class D amplifier is more efficient and can produce incredible amounts of power but does so at the expense of sound quality. A newer Class BD amp has the power and efficiency of class D with the sound quality of a Class B amp.
- Efficiency. Typical Class AB amplifiers waste around 50% of the power required to produce their rated output. A Class D amplifier has a 75-80% efficiency rating and typically runs a little cooler than a class AB amp.
- Decibel (dB). The standard unit of measure for volume or SPL (sound pressure level).A 3 dB gain requires the doubling of amp power.
- Damping factor. The ability of the amplifier to control the vibration of the speaker cone during signal changes. If the music stops, the speaker should stop too. More damping means greater musical accuracy.
- Ohm. Unit of measurement for impedance or resistance. An eight-ohm speaker requires twice as much power to produce the same volume as a four-ohm speaker. A standard car audio speaker is four ohms. The vast majority of amplifiers are designed to operate with four-ohm speakers. Subwoofer amplifiers typically can handle two and even one-ohm loads.
- RCA Input. A low-level signal input and the industry standard for sending audio signals between units.
- High-level input. An input signal with enough power to drive a speaker. An amplifier with a high-level input has circuitry built-in to handle the extra input power.
Need help putting your system together?
Check out our Guide to the Ultimate Car Audio System. Contact Cartronics for car audio, car stereo installation and car amplifier installation in Nashville, TN, Brentwood, Antioch and Madison, TN.
Home » Maintenance » An Amplifier Tutorial Part 3: Breaking Down Amplifier Terms
Category
- Amplifier Installation Accessories
- Amplifiers
- Audison Sound Pack Components
- Audison Sound Packs
- Bass Restoration Processor
- Bronco Specific Products
- Bronco Specific Subwoofer
- Cooler
- Crossover
- DSP Accessory
- DSP Amplifier
- DSP Processor
- Focal Inside Audio Upgrade Kits
- Harley Davidson Accessories
- Harley Davidson Audio Upgrade Kits
- Harley Davidson Specific Speakers
- Headphones
- Jeep
- Lighting
- Headlight Upgrade - HID
- Headlight Upgrade - LED
- LED Lighting - Boat
- LED Lighting - Chasing
- LED Lighting - Controller
- LED Lighting - Light Bars
- LED Lighting - Motorcycle
- LED Lighting - Strobe
- LED Lighting - Universal
- Morimoto Headlight Lenses
- Morimoto Taillight Lenses
- Offroad Lighting
- Offroad Lighting Accessories
- RGB Lighting Accessories
- RGB Lighting Controller
- Marine
- Marine Subwoofer Enclosures
- Motorcycle Amplifier Wire Kit
- Motorcycle Batteries
- Motorcycle Communication System
- Motorcycle Dash Camera / DVR
- Motorcycle Dash Camera / DVR Accessories
- Motorcycle Source Unit
- Motorcycle Speaker
- Motorcycle Subwoofer Kit
- Phone Mount
- Power Liftgate Kits
- Powersports & Marine Amplifier
- Powersports & Marine Tower Speaker
- Radar Detector Add-Ons
- Radar Detectors
- Radio & Reciever Accessories
- Radios & Recievers
- Rear Seat Entertainment
- Rear Seat Entertainment Accessories
- Remote Start - Smartphone Control
- Remote Start Systems
- Safety & Security
- Soundbar
- Soundbar Accessories
- Speaker Adapters
- Speaker Grill
- Speakers
- Speaker - 3way Component Set
- Speaker - Coaxial 3.5"
- Speaker - Coaxial 4"
- Speaker - Coaxial 4X6"
- Speaker - Coaxial 5.25"
- Speaker - Coaxial 5X7"/6X8"
- Speaker - Coaxial 6"/6.5"/6.75"
- Speaker - Coaxial 6X9"
- Speaker - Coaxial 7X10"
- Speaker - Component Set 3.5"
- Speaker - Component Set 4"
- Speaker - Component Set 5.25"
- Speaker - Component Set 5X7"/6X8"
- Speaker - Component Set 6"/6.5"/6.75"
- Speaker - Component Set 6X9"
- Speaker - Component Set 7"
- Speaker - Component Set 8"
- Speaker - Midbass Driver 7"
- Speaker - Midbass Driver 8"
- Speaker - Midbass driver 6"/6.5"/6.75"
- Speaker - Midbass driver 6X9"
- Speaker - Midrange 3.5"
- Speaker - Midrange Driver 4"
- Speaker - Midrange Driver 5.25"
- Speaker - SPL Coaxial 5.25"
- Speaker - SPL Coaxial 6"/6.5"/6.75"
- Speaker - SPL Coaxial 6X9"
- Speaker - SPL Coaxial 8"
- Speaker - SPL Midbass driver 8"
- Speaker - SPL Midrange driver 6"/6.5"/6.75"
- Speaker - SPL Midrange driver 6X9"
- Speaker - SPL Midrange driver 8"
- Speaker - SPL Tweeter
- Speaker - Tweeter
- Speaker - Wideband 2.75"
- Vehicle Specific Speakers
- Subwoofer Grill
- Subwoofers
- Stealthbox
- Subwoofer - 10"
- Subwoofer - 11"
- Subwoofer - 12"
- Subwoofer - 13"
- Subwoofer - 13.5"
- Subwoofer - 15"
- Subwoofer - 16"
- Subwoofer - 6.5"
- Subwoofer - 8"
- Subwoofer - Amplified Enclosure
- Subwoofer - Loaded Enclosure
- Subwoofer - Shallow 10"
- Subwoofer - Shallow 12"
- Subwoofer - Shallow 13.5"
- Subwoofer - Shallow 8"
- Vehicle Specific Subwoofers
- UTV / Side by Side Audio System
- UTV Accessories - Universal
- UTV Audio Upgrade Kits - Can Am Maverick X3
- UTV Audio Upgrade Kits - Polaris General
- UTV Audio Upgrade Kits - Polaris RZR
- UTV Audio Upgrade Kits - Polaris Ranger
- UTV Audio Upgrade Kits - Yamaha YXZ
- UTV Lighting - Universal
Price