A device designed to amplify sound signals so they are powerful enough to drive speakers well, making the sound more full and loud. Car amplifiers are designed to take up lesser space, a lot of them fit under the passenger seat. Amplifiers are expensive devices, with slight variation in prices depending on the brand and specific model one chooses to buy.

Car amplifier

Amplifiers are used to increase the signal strength to make it powerful enough to drive speakers with the required thump. The only difference between a car amplifier and a regular one is that the ones for cars are designed to be more compact and handle heat better, given they are in an enclosed space. Especially since a lot of them are placed under the driver or passenger seat. This being one of the reasons that at times the whole body is designed like a heat-sink and made from aluminium, making for the most efficient possible cooling.

Amplifiers and their history

An electronic device that is amplifies low-power electronic signals. The electronic signal originates from a source such as a guitar pickup or radio receiver, once it passes through the amplifier it is strong enough to drive large speakers or headphones. An amplifier can be found in all sorts of sound systems including home audio, car audio, at concerts and clubs. Amplifiers have multiple inputs in them, of course depending on the model, but sources can be anything from a turntable to a cassette player. The signal strength can be multiplied a few times over by an amplifier, depending on the requirement. A few hundred microwatt signal can be taken up to a few watts in consumer devices such as small speakers, or a few hundred watts in a home stereo system. In a club, it could increase the signal by a few hundred thousand watts to power all the speakers and subwoofers. Amplifiers are generally aimed at audiophiles.

Invented some time around 1912 by Lee Dee Forest, who was responsible for the base technology allowing amplification; the 'triode vacuum tube' or the 'Audion'. Which is why older style amplifiers are known as tube amplifiers. Interestingly, Lee Dee had a basic understanding of the functionality but this was the foundation technology for radio broadcasting, sound in movies, long-distance phone calls and many many other applications. Modern amplifiers make use of transistors instead of the vacuum tube.

Comments

Car amplifiers are available in various designs, depending on the brand and the specific line by them. The power ratings vary and one can choose the right one based on how many speakers and subwoofers they want to have powered.

Available at many different prices given many brands produce car amplifiers. The prices are from a higher point on the price spectrum. Known brands include Sony, Alpine, Rockford, Kenwood, Pioneer, JBL, Lanzar and many more.