Both audiophiles and car enthusiasts ask themselves the same question.
Do I need an amplifier for my car’s door speakers?
But is it really that simple?
Of course not.
Do You Need an Amp for Door Speakers?
What Amplifiers do?
If you aren’t a sound geek, you probably haven’t even heard or thought about amplifiers, ever. That’s how it was for me, at least. An amplifier is a separate electronic device within a sound system that increases the volume or power of a signal.
It “amplifies” the signal, and that’s where the name comes from.
Simply put, the sound signal going to your speakers can be further amplified with this device. A sound system doesn’t need to have an amplifier, but an amp can’t do its magic without speakers.
An amp can’t reproduce music – it just supplies power to the speakers. Some speakers have small built-in amplifiers but they usually have very low power and are nothing compared to some aftermarket products out there.
Loud Sound Matters to Some People
I always love those tuned cars with a loud muffler and loud music. Amplifiers let you crank up the music in your car without any distortion or sound quality loss. It’s what convinced me to get an amp for my door speakers.
If you feel that you can’t play the music loud enough in your car, then getting an amplifier is probably the right way to go. Car manufacturers often save money on factory speakers and amplifiers. You can get a powerful amp only in expensive vehicles that most of us can’t afford.
Loud music can help you impress people around you. At the same time, they give you the option to enjoy your favorite music just as you would at home.
Amplifiers Give You More Options
Speakers with built-in amps can’t be changed. They have features and quality you can’t change in any way. For example, you can’t add two more speakers on each door to get a rounded, punchy sound in your car. You would have to change them with another set of speakers with a built-in amp.
Not only that, it can be difficult to find the configuration you need, but this would also cost you a lot more than adding a couple of speakers.
But how can you do this? With an amplifier, of course. Amps come with multiple channels. Each channel lets you connect a single speaker.
Some amps have a dozen channels, which means that you can add that many speakers to your doors. At the same time, it’s far less hassle to make customizations to your vehicle.
If you want to change speakers, add subwoofers, or add more into the mix, simply install them and connect to the amplifier.
Adding More Bass
Bass is something all audiophiles love about their sound systems. To get that powerful low end with rich bass, you need to have quality subwoofers. The majority of full-range speakers (factory car door speakers) have built-in subwoofers.
So if you want to add more bass into the mix, you can’t. You would have to find a different set of speakers that offer more bottom end. On the other hand, component speakers with an amp have different speakers designed solely to reproduce certain aspects of the sound.
Simply put, the subwoofers are independent and can be added to the amplifier’s channel. Only an independent subwoofer can give you that ground shaking bass in your vehicle that will leave an impression on everyone around.
Most factory systems don’t have a connection for a subwoofer, and even if they do, the subwoofer won’t give you that quality bass like with an amplifier.
Better Sound Overall
Amplifiers don’t give you a sound boost alone. They give you better sound integrity and let all of your speakers work at their fullest potential. Full-range speakers combine all of the tweeters and woofers in a single unit.
They are made to give an optimized sound that’s well-rounded, so they don’t excel in any way. At the same time, if they offer better performance in some aspect of the general sound, you will often get a weird atmosphere while listening to music.
Amplifiers have different channel configurations.
They are preset for certain types of speakers. For example, a channel with a low pass filter is perfect for subwoofers and lets them reach their maximum potential. In other words, all of the components will work their magic without “choking” each other.
Is an Amplifier for Door Speakers Worth It?
If you love great sound, want loud music, and would like to customize your vehicle according to your vision, getting an amplifier makes sense.
You can customize your door’s layout, put the speaker configuration you like, and build the whole sound system one component at a time.
If you don’t care about these things, you probably shouldn’t be getting an amplifier.
For example, if you have a family car and drive your kids constantly, you don’t want to expose them to very loud music. Think about what your priorities are, and you will get your answer in no time.
