You don’t need to know how an amplifier works to enjoy the benefits of one in your car.
All you need to know is that the music goes in one end comes out LOUDER from the other end and it uses your car battery to make that happen. There are a few factors to consider such as speaker placement, speaker efficiency, road and engine noise but mostly, it just comes down to your own preference and how loud you like your music.
In the amplifier tutorial part one, you learned all about the power of amplifiers. Now let us tell you more about what everyone should know about amplifiers including gain, crossover, and subsonic filter.
Gain
That little knob is the source of much confusion when it comes to what it does and is the cause of countless blown subwoofers since the beginning of time. We hope you have a warranty because this is NOT a volume control in any way. The gain control allows the installer to match the output of the head unit to the amplifier’s ideal input level.
Once the level is set by the installer, it should be left alone. It is NOT a volume control. Turning it up will not increase the volume of your subwoofers. It will only unbalance the system and make the subs get louder faster than the rest of the system, then with the added distortion from the unneeded input gain, it’ll blow your speakers. Don’t touch the gain knob after it has been set. It is NOT a volume control. If you want louder speakers, you’ll need more power.
Crossover
Also known as high-pass and low-pass filters, crossovers make sure the right signals go the right speakers. High frequencies such as cymbals are sent to the tweeters. Vocals, keyboards, guitars go to the midrange speakers while bass lines and kick drums go to the subwoofers.
Subsonic Filter
The subsonic filter does exactly what it sounds like. It keeps ultra low frequencies (usually below 35 HZ) from damaging your subwoofers (remember to always maintain your audio system).
That’s really all you need to know to make your car audio sound better! Proper gain, crossover, and subsonic filter settings will make sure that your speakers and subs will play as loudly as possible while not damaging clipped signals or distortion to blow them.
- Amplifier Installation Accessories
- Amplifiers
- Antenna
- 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
- Headlight Upgrade - HID
- Headlight Upgrade - LED
- Headphones
- Jeep
- LED Lighting - Boat
- LED Lighting - Chasing
- LED Lighting - Controller
- LED Lighting - Light Bars
- LED Lighting - Motorcycle
- LED Lighting - Strobe
- LED Lighting - Universal
- Marine
- Morimoto Headlight Lenses
- Morimoto Taillight Lenses
- Motorcycle Amplifier Wire Kit
- Motorcycle Communication System
- Motorcycle Dash Camera / DVR
- Motorcycle Dash Camera / DVR Accessories
- Motorcycle Source Unit
- Motorcycle Speaker
- Motorcycle Subwoofer Kit
- NAV
- Offroad Lighting
- Offroad Lighting Accessories
- Phone Mount
- Power Liftgate Kits
- Powersports & Marine Amplifier
- Powersports & Marine Tower Speaker
- RGB Lighting Accessories
- RGB Lighting Controller
- Radar Detector Add-Ons
- Radar Detectors
- Radio Headunit Accessories
- Radio Mounting Kits
- Radio Replacement Antenna Adapter
- Radio Replacement Antenna Adapters
- Radio Replacement Harnesses
- Radio Replacement Interfaces
- Radio Replacement Wiring Harness
- Radios & Recievers
- Rear Seat Entertainment
- Rear Seat Entertainment Accessories
- Remote Start - Smartphone Control
- Remote Start Systems
- Safety & Security
- Soundbar
- Soundbar Accessories
- 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"
- Speaker Adapters
- Speaker Grill
- Steering Wheel Control Interfaces
- 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"
- USB Mount
- 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
- Vehicle Specific Speakers
- Vehicle Specific Subwoofers