Top 10 – Best Car Amplifier for the Money

1) Rockford Fosgate R500X1D – Best Performing MonoAmp

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The Rockford Fosgate R500X1D is one of the premier amplifiers on the market today. Providing a solid 300 watts at a 4-Ohm capacity, or 500 watts at 2-Ohms, this amp operates in the range of 20Hz to 250Hz +/- 1dB. With the R500X1D, you get onboard 12dB octave LP/HP/AP crossover and infrasonic filters with a 4 AWG power wire gauge.

With this product,  you will want to use a 75A alternator if you want to provide it with a safe amount of power. Beyond that, the on-board Punch EQ system boosts the system up by 18 dB at 45Hz which adds a nice touch to the amplifier that others in its price range are sorely lacking. However, the input sensitivity is a bit on the low side at only 150 mV to 4 V.

Thankfully, the R5001XD boats a fully aluminum heatsink with a stealth top mounted control panel which makes the unit appear sleek and minimalistic to the untrained eye. The only drawback regarding aesthetics is that it comes with a wired remote which can be an eyesore and frustration at times (the upside, however, is that you never have to change batteries).

Regarding energy efficiency, this system performs quite well. The amplifier is CEA-2006 compliant and reduces the energy load from the power source before transmitting to the loudspeaker or the subwoofer. Best of all, it takes up little space as it is only 8.5 inches in length, 6.8 inches wide and 2 inches tall.

The amps performs quite well given the modest price tag as it provides plenty of reliable power for a mono-channel system. There is virtually no consumer-grade loudspeaker or subwoofer that this amp would not be able to power. Plus, there is 1-Year short circuit protection for added peace of mind.

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2) Boss Audio R1100M – Best Budget MonoAmp

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The Boss Audio R1100M is a budget-friendly power solution for your custom car audio system. The technical specifications on this unit far exceeded the expectations we had when we saw its relatively low price point. An 1100-watt Monoblock, with the option to upgrade as high as 3400 watts, the R1100M is a reliable high-power amp for powering mid-to-high level sound systems.

A standard 1-channel, 2-Ohm setup, the R1100M boasts a MOSFET power supply which is known for its built-in short circuit prevention and longevity. For those who love to have more power contribute to the bass or treble of their audio, this amp lets users tweak the power supply with a variable low pass crossover and switchable bass boost dial.

Aesthetically, this model is excellent. It features a crisp BOSS logo on the front that is backlit by a blue LED, and the metallic finish gives the impression that this is a premium-grade device. Although larger than most other units in its power range, this car amplifier is compatible with virtually all chassis types as it is less than 10.5 inches in width.

Performance-wise, we were pleased with how the Boss Audio R1100M held up, even when powering a heavy subwoofer in the trunk. Although the Boss brand is not exactly synonymous with high performance, this model has no problem powering a 15-inch comp subwoofer without fail. Plus, the plug-and-play setup process makes installation a breeze.

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3) Pioneer GM D8601

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The Pioneer GM D8601 is a high-powered audio solution at a price point that won’t leave your wallet empty after checkout. Providing 1,600W at maximum power, the D8601 is a compact car amplifier that is small enough to be installed in any car chassis. A Class-D amp, this model is roughly half the size of the standard GM series AB amplifiers.

Versatility is the main selling point with this unit. A small-but-mighty device, the D8601 is dramatically more powerful than its Class-D counterparts, and its speaker level inputs allow users to connect any OEM unit without having to buy an adapter. Consequently, installation is easy since it has a basic plug-and-go functionality.

Weighing only six pounds, you will be astonished by the lightweight form factor of the D8601. But do not let looks deceive you, because this device can pump out 500W to a 2-ohm speaker and up to 300W to a 4-ohm.

Overall, this is a great name-brand car amplifier. The Class-D technology makes good use of the 80-amp load, which can be ground through eight-gauge power wire (which we heartily recommend!). However, a sub-par warranty and a relatively short lifespan hold us back from giving this device a perfect rating.

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4) Skar Audio RP-2000

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Another Class-D amp , the Skar Audio RP-2000 packs a lot of value into a mid-size 2,000W Monoblock. At 1 ohm this device can power an astonishing 2800 watts or 2000 watts at RMS power. Plus, an intuitive remote subwoofer controller makes adjustment simple without having to get up and deal with finicky dials.

If you need an extremely powerful Monoblock amp , the RP-2000 may be the right option for you. A high-speed MOSFET power supply and a neatly-organized 4-way circuit board ensure that short circuiting and other power-related defects do not occur.

In our experience, the RP-2000 is a solid car amplifier for powering a pair of 1000W subwoofers or loudspeakers. At this power level, you can expect zero clipping or performance drop-offs. The perfect addition to any car audio system that needs serious power for loud output, the RD-2000 is as good as it gets at its mid-level price point.

Most of the mixed reviews online point to the fact that this products can sometimes put itself into protection mode if wired incorrectly. If you fail to ground the amp properly, you may also run into the same issue.

Therefore, we advise always taking extra care to ensure that the power wire is attached correctly. Luckily, Skar Audio has excellent customer support for wiring advice.

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1) Rockford Fosgate PBR300X2 – Best Performance 2-Channel Amp

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The Rockford Fosgate PBR300X2 provides best-in-class performance for an ultra-lightweight amplifier. When we first opened the box and held this amp in our hands, we had a hard time believing that it could supply 100W RMS to two speakers concurrently. But, after a brief test run, we were blown away by how clean and crisp the sound quality was at this power level.

In the one-channel mode, this amp provides up to 300W RMS to a subwoofer, which supplies enough bass to rattle an entire house. For added convenience, you can use the wired remote to adjust bass levels from the front seat, which fine-tuning a simple, no-fuss process.

At just over one and a half pounds, this amp is deceptively powerful for its size. For its size, you would be hard-pressed to find any other model that can supply 300W RMS at 4 ohms through a bridged output.

Unfortunately, there are no on-board fuses with this device. Consequently, you need to attach a 30-amp inline fuse to the distribution block if you want to install more than one amp in your car audio system.

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2) Planet Audio AC1000 – Best Budget 2 -Channel Amp

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An affordable 2-channel amplifier solution, the Planet Audio AC1000 is one of the best 1000W bridgeable amps on the market. Featuring an incredible 6-Year Platinum Online Dealer warranty and a sleek, blue LED backlit design, this amp is both beautiful and reliable for long-term use.

In 2-channel mode, this amp can supply 250W maximum power at 4-ohm. At its rock-bottom price point, it is virtually impossible to find an equally-powerful model in the 4-ohm range. If you like to adjust the output so that it perfectly suits your preferences, you will be pleased to find that this amp has variable low and high pass crossover and bass boost functionality.

Those concerned about short-circuiting will be glad to find out that this amp has short protection, making power or heat-related issues a non-factor. At a modest six pounds in weight, this device is more than capable of supplying a respectable amount of power at a low cost.

While not the tops in our best car amplifiers list, this unit still deserves solid mention for what it provides in power output and overall performance.

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4 Channel Amps :

Unlike mono or 2-channel amps, 4-channel amplifiers are designed to supply power to four speakers, one for each corner of the vehicle. These amps are ideal for heavily customized car audio systems.

Please refer to our guide on the best 4 channel amplifiers for more products

1) Alpine MRV-F300

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The Alpine MRV-F300 provides the brand-name quality you expect from Alpine at an affordable price point. The MRV-F300 is a great-sounding amp that is housed in a beautiful dark-colored metal chassis that weighs less than five pounds. Using an eight-gauge power wire, it is easy to connect inputs to the amp since each connector is neatly labeled and feature hex-key screws.

Using Class-D technology, this amp provides a respectable 150W RMS across two bridged outputs at 4 ohms or 75W RMS per channel across four 2-ohm speakers. At this performance level, the sound quality is excellent and adequate dynamic thermal cooling makes overheating at any power level a rare occurrence.

The main benefit of this budget-friendly amp is its small chassis. At only 40% the size of similar 4-channel car amps, it is the best choice for those who need a lightweight audio solution without having to stress over installation or setup.

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2) Rockford Fosgate P600X4

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A premium car audio amplifier, the Rockford Fosgate P600X4 packs a lot of power in a Class-AB design. At 72W per channel at 4-ohm and 150W per channel at 2-ohms, the P600X4 is one of the best car amplifier solutions if you want serious power across four channels.

If you want a hassle-free installation process and a sleek, professional-looking amplifier to power every corner of your vehicle, this might be the amp for you. In the box is an optional Punch Level Control (PLC2) remote and a guidebook to help with the Rockford’s “CLEAN” setup procedure.

Although it weighs 12 pounds, you will not be disappointed with the performance quality of this amp. However, users should be aware that this amp might not be suitable for powering a 4-way system with multiple 12-inch subwoofers at 4-ohms.

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1) Alpine PDX-V9

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The Alpine PDX-V9 is one of the best high-performance 5-channel amplifiers if you want reliable, short-free power for a single subwoofer and two loudspeakers in the front and back of your vehicle. Featuring a chic minimalist design, this amp is CEA-2006 compliant and has a rating of 100W RMS across four channels or 500W RMS to one.

Installation problems are a non-issue with this amp, as its Quick-Connect setup system is among of the simplest when it comes to 5-channel amps. At a lightweight 7 pounds, you would be hard-pressed to find similar performance in an amp of this size. Plus, its stackable chassis makes it perfect if you want to upgrade to a multi-amp setup.

The PDX-V9 is one of the best-reviewed systems on Amazon, and for a good reason. If properly wired, you should be able to supply five high-performance speakers with clean, clipless sound even at high frequencies in the 100 kHz range.

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2) Rockville dB55

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The Rockville dB55 is a beautifully-designed and budget-friendly 5-channel amp for loud, car-shaking sound output. If you want the best car amplifier for a highly customized internal sound system, the dB55 will likely give you the best value for your money. Providing 4000W or 2000W RMS across five channels, this device is an excellent choice for serious enthusiasts.

Rated at less than 1% distortion, you never have to worry about inferior sound quality with this amp. Instead, this amp features best-in-class sound quality for its price. While the setup process is simple, and short-circuiting is a non-issue thanks to an IC-Controlled Protection circuit design, there is still the possibility of overheating due to a lack of proper internal cooling.

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