A subwoofer amplifier increases the power level of low-frequency audio signals and gives you enough power to add more robust subwoofers to your car. Many car audio systems have built-in amplifiers to power all speakers, while others have standalone amplifiers to power a subwoofer. It’s important to note that each amplifier has a specific power level and finding the correct one is key to both making the most out of your speakers while not damaging your system. If you are installing a new subwoofer or are dissatisfied with the quality of sound in your car, it may be time to check out a new amplifier.

If this is your first time tweaking a car’s sound system, this BOSS amplifier is a solid option. Instructions are detailed, but the low cost also means it won’t hurt your wallet if you decide that DIY custom audio is not your thing. With both low- and high-level inputs, variable input gain control and weighing just over four pounds, the 1100-watt, single-channel max power of this amp blows away others on this list. Some buyers indicate receiving faulty units that won’t produce the advertised power. 

At eight inches long and less than 2.5 inches high, this Blaupunkt is among the smallest subwoofer amps you’ll find. The German manufacturer claims 563 watts of continuous power, although users say this amp cannot actually reach this level or the maximum 1500 watts. However, its low price and compact size are the real selling points. So long as you don’t overdrive it, this amp should be fine for casual listeners who don’t require the best and loudest bass.

Although this amp is priced higher, Alpine is generally well-regarded when it comes to quality. This amp features integrated terminal converters so you can easily install in a tight space without trying to delicately screw on wires while already partially attached. The four-pound weight and its larger size make this amp best for larger vehicles and trucks, but if placed in a trunk or under a seat (depending on the complexity of your install) it can fit in nearly any car. It won’t be a good fit for off-road vehicles or motorcycles. This single-channel amp also has a two-channel version, but with 500 watts at two ohms or 300 watts at four ohms, the single channel version can deliver plenty of power for a midsize car.

If you’re looking for that satisfying rumble of loud bass, you should consider Kicker. This mono amp boasts a bass boost and subsonic filter. It is the largest amp on our list and among the heaviest, but the Kicker delivers 1600 watts of power and can run at one ohm (which may allow you to add a second subwoofer). The Kicker brand is well-regarded among car audio enthusiasts and its Class D amps are known for efficiency and reliability.

For the audiophile who can afford to splurge, there’s a 4700-watt sub amp that Skar Audio calls “competition grade”—if you’re competing to shake as many windows as possible. This is the equivalent of an $800 computer graphics card. The 3500-watt continuous power, heatsink and a multitude of adjustments make for an over-the-top purchase. You’ll need a big vehicle to house this 21-pound amp.

Best-selling Subwoofer Amplifiers on Amazon Sponsored Bestseller No. 1 7,435 Reviews Planet Audio AC1500.1M Monoblock Car Amplifier - 1500 Watts Max Power, 2/4 Ohm Stable, Class A/B, Mosfet Power Supply, Remote Subwoofer Control power: max power output of 1500 watts at 2 ohms into one channel. maximum power output of 750 watts at 4 ohms into one channel. this amplifier is designed to run your subwoofer(s) giving them the power that they need to perform as they were meant tohigh level inputs: speaker level inputs are commonly referred to as high-level inputs. this input will be used to connect the ac1500.1m to your factory radio or aftermarket radio that does not have low-level (rca) inputslow level inputs: line level inputs, also known as rca inputs or low-level inputs, use rca interconnect cables to link the ac1500.1m with the source unit. most aftermarket radios have multiple pairs of rca outputs that can connect to multiple amplifiers $79.49 Buy on Amazon Partner Offer Bestseller No. 2 242 Reviews 8'' Under-Seat Car Sub Woofer Modified Speaker Stereo Audio Bass Amplifier 4Ω 480W 1.Box ultra-thin design: the effective saving of interior space, the appearance of the box with high-grade blanket fabric design, reduce resonance.2.The use of high-quality MDF board to ensure pure sound quality.3.The high power tube, has a short circuit reverse protection for the box. $49.99 Buy on Amazon Partner Offer Bestseller No. 3 ALPHASONIK APP122 Complete 1500 Watts Dual 12" Subwoofers Car Bass Package with Amplifier and Installation Kit Included - 2 Sub Woofers with Grills in Custom Ported Box Loaded Enclosure, Black The APP122 Dual 12” bass package comes with EVERYTHING INCLUDED! 2 Subwoofers in Ported Enclosure | Monoblock Amplifier with Bass Knob | Complete Amplifier Wiring Kit | With a power handling capacity of 1500 Watts Max (500 Watts RMS), this is all you need!Mono Block amplifier features a thermal protection circuit, nickel plated terminal blocks, powder coated chassis, comes with a THD level of 0.2%, and a bass boost control to connect near the driver for optimum loudness control.The amplifiers built-in protection circuitry protects your system from input overload, short circuit, and high temperatures. When protection mode is enabled, the LED indicator on the side panel will illuminate. $349.95 Buy on Amazon Partner Offer Bestseller No. 4 Skar Audio Dual 12" Complete 2,400 Watt SDR Series Subwoofer Bass Package - Includes Loaded Enclosure with Amplifier All-in-One Complete SDR Series Loaded Subwoofer Complete Bass PackagePeak Power: 2,400 Watts, RMS Power: 1,200 WattsIncludes x1 Skar Audio SDR-2X12D4 Dual 12" Loaded 2,400 Watt Vented Subwoofer Enclosure Buy on Amazon Partner Offer Sale Bestseller No. 5 8,708 Reviews BOSS Audio Systems R1100M Riot Series Car Audio Subwoofer Amplifier - 1100 High Output, Monoblock, Class A/B, 2/4 Ohm Stable, Low/High Level Inputs, Low Pass Crossover, Mosfet Power Supply, Stereo Power - 1100 Max x 1 @ 2 Ohms, 550 Max x 1 @ 4 OhmsClass A/B Topology - Class ‘A’ amplifiers have enormous amount of current flowing through its output transistors with no audio signal. Class ‘B’ amplifiers have no current flowing through its outputs with no audio signalMosfet Power Supply - A MOSFET is an electrical switch that allows the flow of electrical current. It controls the output voltage & current precisely by removing the output current sensing loss & eliminating all secondary feedback circuitry $133.00 −$49.01 $83.99 Buy on Amazon Partner Offer Sale Bestseller No. 6 75 Reviews MB Quart RW-108A 600W Reference Series 8" Slim Low Profile Compact Under-Seat 4-Ohm Active Powered Subwoofer Enclosure with Built in Amplifier for Car Boat RV ATV MB Quart RW-108A 600W REFERENCE Series 8" 4-Ohm Power Subwoofer AmplifierComplete control of amplifier signal, essential when using two or more amplifiersHighly efficient circuit topology which helps the amplifer develop a lot of power in a very small heatsink. $119.99 −$10.00 $109.99 Buy on Amazon Partner Offer Bestseller No. 7 Rockville RG212CA Dual 12 inches Slim Vented Powered Car Subwoofer Enclosure 2000 Watt Features of RG212CA v2: Rockville RG212CA v2 Dual 12" Slim Vented Powered Car Subwoofer Enclosure, Complete all in one system includes built in amplifier, top quality enclosure, and dual 12” subs, Vinyl finished enclosure with side vents tuned to 40Hz, Enclosure is built with ¾” MDF and is ribbed and braced, 2000 Watts Peak power output, 500 Watts RMS, 12“ Super-Slim Subwoofer, Ultra-Stiff Composite Pulp Cone with Kevlar Reinforcement, 3D Molded Acrylic Dust Cap, Expanded & Rolled Steal BasketHigh Density Laminated Rubber Surround, High Power Strontium Magnet with Ultra Saturated High BL Motor Structure, Vented Core Magnet Motor Structure, 2” High Temperature Aluminum Voice Coil, 8 mm Washer & Yoke Plates, 13.6 mm Peak-to-Peak X-Max, 40 oz. Magnet, Slim Vented MDF Enclosure Design, Impedance: 4-ohms, Frequency response: 30Hz-500Hz, SPL @ 1w/1m: 89dB, Dimensions: 29.52" Length x 15" Height 4.37" Top Depth x 6.65" Bottom depth, Unit Weight: 40.12 LbsAmp Features: Built-in 500 Watts RMS / 2000 Watt Mono Block Amplifier, 2 Ohm stable amplifier, Class D amplifier, Extruded aluminum heatsink stays cool even at high volumes, 200mV – 5V Variable Input Level $239.95 Buy on Amazon Partner Offer Bestseller No. 8 328 Reviews Skar Audio RP-800.1D Monoblock Class D MOSFET Amplifier with Remote Subwoofer Level Control, 800W Class D MOSFET Monoblock Power AmplifierPeak Power at 1 Ohm: 1,200 Watts | RMS Power at 1 Ohm: 800 WattsFrequency Response: 20Hz - 250Hz, On-board Bass EQ Switch with +6 or +12dB boost at 45Hz Buy on Amazon Partner Offer Bestseller No. 9 183 Reviews Skar Audio Single 8" Complete 700 Watt SDR Series Subwoofer Bass Package - Includes Loaded Enclosure with Amplifier All-in-One Complete SDR Series Loaded Subwoofer Complete Bass PackagePeak Power: 700 Watts, RMS Power: 350 WattsIncludes x1 Skar Audio SDR-1X8D2 Single 8" Loaded 700 Watt Vented Subwoofer Enclosure Buy on Amazon Partner Offer Sale Bestseller No. 10 475 Reviews BOSS Audio Systems BAB8 Amplified Car Subwoofer - 800 Watts Max Power, Low Profile, 8 Inch Subwoofer, Remote Subwoofer Control, Great for Vehicles That Need Bass But Have Limited Space Space Saver - The combination of amplifier and subwoofer all into one, makes this ideal for spatially challenged vehicles. With a slim design, there are a few installation options. Embrace the Bass.Built-in Amplifier - A built-in 800 Max watt amplifier powers the subwooferPulse Width Modulated - This design controls the output voltage and current precisely by not only removing the output current sensing loss, but also eliminating all secondary feedback circuitry. It increases efficiency, is lighter, smaller reliable $151.99 −$17.00 $134.99 Buy on Amazon Partner Offer

In order to determine the best subwoofer amplifier for your vehicle, we considered the products most accessible to the widest swath of consumers in the U.S. and evaluated performance, price and value. We also considered a broad range of end-user ratings and evaluations by multiple testers. They were rated on volume capacity, weight, size, ease of installation process and price.  Customer reviews and ratings were taken into consideration to determine the final top five list. 

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