Should i get an amplifier

Impedance is a measure of how difficult the speaker is for the amplifier to drive. The sensitivity of a speaker, meanwhile, is a measure of how loud a speaker will go for a given input.

But numbers can only tell you so much, and the best test to gauge if components work well together is to use your ears and have a listen. The surface your stereo amp sits on can make the world of difference to its performance.

Your choice of rack shouldn't be based on looks alone. Different materials have different acoustic properties, so take that into consideration too.

Generally speaking, glass shelves tend to encourage kit to sound forward, while wooden supports tend to result in a warmer and more rounded balance. All stereo amps have line level RCA inputs, which can be used for all the usual sources — music streamers , CD players and so on. One of those RCA connections is sometimes a phono input, designed specifically to be connected to a turntable and handle the very low signal levels and extra equalisation required for such a source.

Then there are three-pin XLR connections, which carry balanced audio signals. These are usually found in a recording studio and most higher-end products. Its main advantage is that it will reject high levels of electrical noise and thus makes the most sense when used in electrically noisy environments or over very long cable runs, say 10m or more. Do you know what a decibel dB is? A dB signal is ten times more powerful than a 90dB one, and times as powerful as an 80dB signal.

Flickr user mujitra Portable amps are still clunky, so buying headphones that work well without one is a smart purchase. So remember when I told you to write down that sensitivity number? Related: Types and signs of hearing loss. Essentially, the math works like this: for every 10dB you want to increase the volume, you need to apply ten times the power. Easy enough, but what about the voltage?

While it only needs 1mW at 0. This set will only need 0. Who will win, the coathanger, or the well-engineered consumer cables? We are located in Virginia USA. Thank you. You are in line to receive a call from.

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Meet Buck Pomerantz Close. More about Buck Started at Crutchfield in Completed our thorough in-house Advisor training, learning about the ins and outs of our various products Stays up-to-date by attending vendor training sessions for new products Earned MECP Mobile Electronics Certified Professional certification Designed and organized Crutchfield's subwoofer wiring diagrams Authored dozens of Crutchfield articles and hundreds of product presentations, primarily focused on car audio amplifiers and pro audio gear Answers the many customer questions posted in the comments on his articles Semi-retired soundman with decades of experience making other people sound good From to , also worked as a sidelines video camera grip for University of Virginia football and basketball games.

Compact power packs like this can often fit behind the dash near the stereo. JL Audio's 8-channel amp makes nearly anything possible. Comments 9 Read comments. Sathish, The size or strength of an amplifier has no bearing on its sound quality, although most people think louder sounds better than soft.

Looking for car amplifiers? Shop our selection. The easiest way to shop car audio online Find what Fits your vehicle Remove. Checking fit Related products. Sony XMSD. In stock. Sound Ordnance M Temporarily out of stock. Kicker 46CXA Go back See more. Popular questions customers ask Toggle Why would I put an amplifier in my car? Toggle How do I choose a car amplifier? Read the full article. Toggle Can I install a car amplifier? Toggle How many watts should my amp have?

Toggle How many channels should my new amp have? Car amplifier buying guide How much power and how many channels do your car speakers need? How to install a car amplifier Check out this overview of a typical installation to see the steps involved when you install an amplifier in your vehicle. Amplifier wiring diagrams These wiring diagrams illustrate how amplifiers connect to your audio system, which will make it easier to shop for the gear you need for the system of your dreams.

Car amplifiers glossary Car amplifier audio terms - like watts, volts, and efficiency - are explained. How to set amplifier gain using test tones You need to set your amplifiers gain correctly in order to enjoy your musics full range of dynamics hearing all the notes clearly, whether loud or soft. Car amplifier installation guide Here's a step-by-step guide to installing a car amplifier, including how to run the cables through your car and how to wire the amp.

Subwoofer wiring diagrams There are many ways to connect subwoofers to an amplifier. Audition speakers before you buy. Virtual Audio technology allows you to compare sonic characteristics between speakers so you can make a more informed shopping decision. SpeakerCompare simulates the sound of home and car speakers through your headphones. It lets you compare sonic characteristics between speakers so that you can make a more informed shopping decision.

Learn how SpeakerCompare works. Select your headphone brand Brand. Select your headphone model Model. Don't see your headphones? Rent our Listening Kit. Please turn active noise cancelling off for best results.

But very low-impedance cans lower the damping factor between the amp and headphones and actually require more current. So while low-impedance headphones may be loud enough from a portable device, sound quality can be significantly improved by adding a headphone amp. The size and dimensions of your headphone may provide some basic clues as to whether an amp is warranted. Most earbud and in ear headphones are typically very efficient and less likely to benefit strongly from an amp.

However, many larger over ear headphones will become clearer and better sounding with an amp. A few select audiophile models may even require a headphone amp to reach listenable volume levels and sonic performance, especially if connected to portable devices. If you are listening to your music on a computer, laptop or tablet, a headphone amp with an internal digital to analog converters DAC can significantly improve your listening by employing the better D-to-A processing power available in outboard DACs.

If no line-out is available, use the headphone jack to send the signal over to the headphone amp. Most in ear headphones or earphones are typically highly efficient so they work well with smartphones or other portable devices without requiring an amp. You do not need a headphone amp when using noise-cancelling headphones, as they essentially already have a built-in headphone amp inside.

It prevents an external headphone amp from adding any significant audio benefit.