So, first things first, we need
to find out the specifications of the car subwoofer you're interested in. The
key specification you'll be looking for is RMS power. Basically the RMS power
is a rating of the ability of the subwoofer to handle a continuous power
signal. Don’t pay too much attention to the peak power as this is not too
important to us, this is often a way of marketing the subwoofer to sound better
than it actually is.
Next step, find a car amplifier
that has sufficient outputs for your subwoofer(s). For example, if you're going
to power one subwoofer, a mono (single channel) amplifier or a 2-channel
amplifier that can be bridged to a single channel is perfect. For two
subwoofers, a 2-channel amplifier or a 4-channel that can be bridged to 2
channels is appropriate. However to get the best performance from your
subwoofer (budget pending of course) I would recommend having an amp for every
sub!
Ensure that the power output of
the amplifier is a good match for the sub(s). As in Step 1, examine the RMS
power output of the amplifier, not peak power. Match the power output as close
to the RMS power, it doesn’t have to be exact, and it is always better to try
and give the subwoofer more power rather than not enough, especially if you
like your music loud!
Look for options that will make
your amplifier work better with a subwoofer. These include subsonic filters,
which eliminate distorting ultra-low tones, and variable low-pass filters, that
let you fine-tune the signal coming in from your car stereo. If you like extra
"thump" in your tunes, look for a bass boost feature as well.
It is also worth pointing out
that if you over power a subwoofer, or of course under power, you will run the
risk of damaging your subwoofer, and most likely voiding your warranty!
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