There was once a time when car stereo systems performed sufficiently enough that no upgrades were needed, but those times have passed and now if you want excellent audio from your car, you will usually require some sort of enhancement.
The way to achieve an excellent bass quality from your audio system is through competition subwoofers, but the only way to achieve insane power and quality is through the use of an amplifier.
And if you’re a total audiophile or you just want a good sound system to blast your tunes on long car journeys, a competition-grade amplifier might be the perfect choice for you.
But with so many different types of amplifiers on the market all produced by different manufacturers, it can be difficult to know which one is the right choice for you.
That’s why we’ve put together this helpful guide to the best competition grade amplifiers on the market, packed full of all the information you need to know before purchasing with an additional FAQ section to help you in your search.
In a hurry?
If you are in desperate need of great audio why not consider the Rockford Fosgate P1000X1BD amplifier.
We’ve ranked this the best on the market because of its excellent built and the wide variety of amazing features it comes with, including:
- This full chassis mono-amplifier is optimized for use with subwoofers to achieve perfect sound quality.
- It has a continual RMS power of 1000watts at 1-ohm, 500watts at 2-ohm, and 300watts at 4-ohm.
- It is produced with Class-BD technology which produces bass a lot more efficiently than traditional amplifiers.
- It additionally features an RCA pass-through outputs, an onboard equalizer with 18dB boost, and C.L.E.A.N. setup.
OUR TOP PICK
Our favorite competition-grade amplifier on the market is the Rockford Fosgate P1000X1BD. This full chassis mono-amplifier is designed with the famous Rockford Fosgate to build quality which is optimized for exclusive use with subwoofers allowing you to easily achieve perfect sound quality.
It can achieve a massive RMS power of 1000-watts at 1-ohm, and can also achieve 500-watts at 2-ohm and 300-watts at 4-ohm, giving you plenty of power for great audio.
It comes with RCA inputs that can accept hi and low-level audio signals without needing a signal converter among a variety of other features.
These include an on-board equalizer with an 18dB boost at 45Hz and C.L.E.A.N setup. With all these excellent features on offer, it is obvious that this is one of the best amplifiers on the market.
Pros
- Full chassis mono amplifier
- Designed for use with subwoofers
- RMS power of 1000W at 1-ohm
- RCA inputs for high and low-level audio signals
- Onboard equalizer with an 18dB boost at 45Hz
- Class-BD technology produces bass better than traditional amps
Cons
- No notable drawbacks
EDITORS CHOICE
Another excellent option is the Skar Audio SKv2-4500 amplifier. This is a class D mono-amplifier that packs a lot of power.
It has a peak power outage of 7,400-watts at 1-ohm with a continual RMS power of 4,500-watts at 1-ohm. It is designed with a 4-way protection circuit for the safety and protection of the device.
It comes with a user-adjustable low pass filter which is variable between 32-250Hz, giving you extra control over your audio quality.
This amplifier is designed for use with subwoofers and even comes with a subwoofer remote control for extra control over the audio. Considering all these features there is no doubt that this is one of the best on the market.
Pros
- Class D mono-amplifier
- Peak power of 7,400-watts at 1-ohm
- RMS power of 4,500-watts at 1-ohm
- 4-way protection circuit
- User-adjustable filter between 32-250Hz
- Remote control for subwoofer included
Cons
- No notable drawbacks
BEST VALUE
You should also consider the Boss Audio R1100M amplifier. This device is an excellent option if you are looking for an amplifier that is easy to install as it simply connects with power at the lowest point of your vehicle’s chassis.
It comes with a maximum power output of 1100-watts at 2-ohms and runs perfectly with subwoofers. Additionally, it has a low pass crossover to remove all notes below the filter’s frequency.
It also has a variable bass boost for excellent sound quality making it one of the best amplifiers on the market.
Pros
- Easy to install
- Maximum output of 1100-watts at 2-ohms
- Designed to run with subwoofers
- Variable bass boost
- Low pass crossover to remove all notes below filter’s frequency
Cons
- Less powerful than its competitors
RUNNER UP
Additionally, you should consider the Rockville dB15 amplifier. This is a very powerful device with a peak of 6000-watts at 2-ohms and an RMS power of 3000-watts.
It is compliant with all CEA power ratings and comes with less than 1% distortion.
The device uses optical coupler technology to achieve a perfect sound quality among other features. Additionally it has a built-in equalizer with mute and delay options, as well as a subwoofer remote for more control over your sound system.
With all these amazing features, this is clearly one of the best competition grade amplifiers on the market.
Pros
- RMS power rating of 3000-watts at 2-ohms
- Peak power of 6000-watts at 2-ohms
- CEA compliant power ratings
- Optical coupler technology
- Equalizer and remote subwoofer control
Cons
- Produces a quieter sound than its competitors
RUNNER UP
Finally, you should think about the Alpine PDX-M12 digital amplifier. This is another excellent amplifier that can operate at a peak RMS power of 1200-watts at 4-ohms.
It is CEA-2006 compliant and comes with additional safety features including a thermal protection circuit. This device is an excellent choice if you have a limited space to install an amplifier, as it has a very small and compact design weighing only 6.5-pounds and measuring 4 x 12 x 10-inches.
However, you should be careful when installing this device as its design means there is a slight risk of surface damage to its aesthetic if care is not taken.
This is a perfect choice for anyone looking for a compact design that packs power, and easily one of the best on the market.
Pros
- RMS power of 1200-watts at 4-ohms
- CEA-2006 compliant
- Thermal protection circuit
- Compact size
Cons
- Risk of surface damage during installation
Best Competition Grade Amplifiers Buying Guide
Whether you’re a total audiophile, or you are simply looking to improve the sound quality in your vehicle, a competition-grade amplifier could be an excellent choice for you.
But with so many different types on the market, it can be difficult to know which one is the best for you, that’s why we’ve put together this handy buyer’s guide to guarantee you know exactly what to look for when you make a purchase.
Power
One very important thing to consider when buying an amplifier is power. Every amplifier you buy will come with a set power outage which is measured in watts, and this determines the amount of power that your car uses to deliver power to subwoofers and speakers.
When looking at amplifiers, you will notice that two measurements of power are given: RMS power and peak power. RMS power stands for root mean square power, and it means the continuous power which the device will operate at, so out of the two measurements, this one is the most important.
Whereas peak power is the maximum outage the device will ever hit, and it will only hit this measurement very rarely during peak moments in the audio. If you are looking for an extremely powerful amplifier, you should look for a device that operates at a high RMS power, but the perfect amplifier for you will depend on your situation.
Channels
You should also consider the channels of the amplifier you are considering buying, as this has a huge impact on the device’s functions. Sometimes amplifiers are referred to as different types depending on the number of channels they offer, but there are four main types of amplifiers: mono, 2-channel, 5, and 6-channel and multi-channel amplifiers.
A mono amplifier produces a low-frequency response with its low pass filters and bass boost. There are several different mono amplifiers on the market, but the best is class D amps as they are a lot more efficient to run as they draw less current and produce less heat while in operation.
Another option is the 2-channel amplifier, these have high pass filters and can operate with either component or full-range speaker systems making them an excellent addition to your car.
The next option you have is a 5 and 6-channel amplifier which is an excellent choice for power as it works well with speakers in both the front and rear of your vehicle, as well as being compatible with the majority of subwoofers on the market.
Finally, there is the multi-channel amplifier which is very similar to the 5 and 6-channel amplifier as it is compatible and ideally built for subwoofers as well as working well with full range allowing for a perfect sound. The right type of competition-grade amplifier will depend on your situation and the audio quality you want to achieve.
Compatibility
It is also important to consider the compatibility of the amplifier with the vehicle you wish to install it in. You should think about the physical size of your car and also the space you have in your car to install one of these devices.
Amplifiers are often installed within your car’s trunk, so you should consider the size of this space and buy an amplifier accordingly to ensure that it will fit.
Not only should you think about the physical size, but you should also consider the size of your vehicle against the power output of the amplifier. If you only have a small car, an amplifier with a large power output might be too much for the space you have and could be overpowering.
Whereas if you have a large car, you should worry about the amplifier not being powerful enough for space rather than too powerful.
Another thing you should consider is the compatibility of the device with the music that you are interested in. Depending on the styles of music you play different types of amplifiers will be better or worse suited.
For example, if you listen to particularly loud music you should look for an amplifier with excellent bass subs, whereas if you listen to quieter music inside speakers may be better suited.
Ease of Use
Finally, you should continue the ease of use of the device. Expensive, more complex amplifiers might seem attractive but the device is no good if you are unable to install and use it. When buying a device you should consider the ease of installation.
Some amplifiers will be easier to install than others and depending on your technical abilities you should buy a device accordingly. If you plan on using the amplifier with other devices, for example, subwoofers, you should also consider the ease of use when connecting these to the amplifier and also the ease of connecting your music.
The importance of ease of use will depend on your technical abilities, but it is something that you should consider before you make a purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of a car amplifier?
An amplifier is an additional device you can add to your car to improve its audio quality. The amplifier works to boost low-level audio signals produced by the head unit so that it is powerful enough to move the speaker’s cone and produce greater sound.
What hits harder 1-ohm or 4-ohm?
Technically 1-ohm will hit harder than 4-ohm as it will produce a much greater resistance while operating.
What is the difference between an amplifier and a subwoofer?
Subwoofers and amplifiers are two very different gadgets that can be used to improve your sound quality, but they often get confused with one another.
To tell the difference you can easily look at what the different devices do. Subwoofers simply reproduce very low sounds to improve the bass quality of audio, whereas amplifiers work to amplify the music signal to produce greater sound.