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Willie Greer - August 8, 2021
While you don’t need to throw money down the drain for a new car amp, buying a cheap one might result in negative consequences. You might end up with a fragile product, or worse, you could damage your entire sound system.
So, our tech experts have rounded up the best cheap car amps in the market to prevent you from a bad purchase.
PBR300X4
- 4-channel amp
- All-pass settings
- Speaker level inputs
- Punch EQ Circuit
dB12
- Industry-standard power ratings
- Excellent audio quality
- Customizable sound
- Protection from overheating
Systems R1100M
- MOSFET power supply
- Class A/B amp
- Easy installation
- Impressive features for the price
Reviews of the Top Cheap Car Amps
Rockville dB12
Rockville may not be very popular, but it can strongly compete with brands like Boss Audio and Alpine. Our team has seen surprisingly impressive results, making the Rockville dB12 a hidden gem in quality amplifiers.
This particular amplifier boasts industry-standard power specs, with power ratings of 350 watts RMS at 4 ohms and 550 watts RMS at 2 ohms. These are lab-tested, and there’s even a certificate of verified power that proves this amp works as advertised.
This monoblock amp is also jam-packed with features, including an adjustable low pass filter, bass remote port, phase control switch, subsonic filter, short circuit protection, high-current wiring terminals, and bass EQ feature.
What We Like
- Industry-standard power ratings
- Includes certification sheet with tested power
- Crystal clear sound quality
- Low pass filter
- 15Hz - 250Hz frequency response range
- Subsonic filter
- Phase control switch
- Remote dashboard subwoofer control
- Protection for overheating and short circuiting
What We Don’t Like
- No speaker level inputs
- Can’t handle 1-ohm speakers
Rockford Fosgate PBR300X4
If you’re after a 4-channel budget amp, the Rockford Fosgate PBR300X4 is an excellent option. We’ve listed this model as our premium option, but the higher price tag is mostly because it’s a 4-channel car amplifier.
This compact car amplifier delivers 75 watts RMS power to your front and rear speakers. With its adjustable gain and selectable low-pass and high-pass filters, you can customize the sound according to your liking. Whether you want to emphasize the bass or boost the higher frequencies, you can tweak your settings easily.
The award-winning DTM cooling system is also worth mentioning. This equally distributes the heat through the amplifier, preventing only one spot from overheating.
What We Like
- Budget 4-channel amp
- Solid build
- 20Hz to 20kHz frequency response
- Adjustable gain
- Punch EQ circuit
- Compact and space-saving
- All-pass settings
- High and low level inputs
- More effective heat dissipation
What We Don’t Like
- Lack of control on crossovers
- Not bridgeable
BOSS Audio Systems R1100M
If you’re really strapped for cash and you just want the best budget car amplifier you can get, we highly recommend the R1100M from Boss Audio Systems. This Class A/B mono amp provides up to 825 watts RMS power at 2 ohms and up to 413 watts RMS at 4 ohms.
Equipped with a MOSFET power supply, it runs more efficiently under high temperatures. The R1100M also comes with an impressive feature set, including high and low-level inputs, bass remote control, bass boost switch, and variable low pass crossover. There’s also an included cable that makes remote installation easier.
Overall, it’s a great budget car amp from Boss Audio.
What We Like
- Great value for the price
- MOSFET power supply
- 1100 max power output
- Speaker level inputs
- Bass boost switch
- Easy and convenient installation
- Variable low pass crossover
- Illuminated Boss logo
What We Don’t Like
- Not as rugged as other amps
- Can overheat if used for long periods
Lanzar VIBE452N.5
Another 4-channel amp that powers your front and rear speakers, the Lanzar VIBE452N.5 provides reliable performance backed by an excellent array of features.
At a budget price, this amp produces an astonishing 6000 watts of power output — more power than what most budget car amplifiers can drive. It delivers 1250 watts RMS power at 4 ohms. When bridged with other components, it produces 3000 watts max at 4 ohms.
If you like tweaking your sound system, this amplifier has variable input levels and customizable high and low pass crossovers. With this, you have more freedom in achieving refined and well-balanced sound according to your tastes.
What We Like
- High maximum power output
- Bridgeable at 3000 watts max
- Variable input levels
- Adjustable crossovers
- Good performance for the price
- Soft turn on/off
- RCA jacks allow you to connect multiple speakers
What We Don’t Like
- May overheat when used for prolonged hours
- More expensive than monoblocks
Planet Audio AC1200.4
Fitted with a MOSFET power supply, the AC1200.4 delivers 1000 watts max power at 2 ohms. This can power your entire sound system, including your front speakers, rear speakers, and subwoofer system.
Despite the low price, this model is a great pick from the line of Planet Audio amps. It’s equipped with a fixed high pass crossover, variable low pass crossover, variable low pass filter, and the variable bass boost, you have a good amount of options to customize the sound. It’s also very easy to install.
With all these features, the inexpensive Planet Audio AC1200.4 Amplifier from is one of the best cheap car amps you can get.
What We Like
- Good power ratings
- Fixed and variable crossovers
- Variable bass boost
- Easy to install with any car stereo
- Speaker level inputs
- Remote subwoofer control
What We Don’t Like
- Can go into protect mode at times
- May overheat with prolonged use
Planet Audio AC1000 2 Channel Car Amplifier
Another budget car amp from Planet Audio, this 2-channel amplifier is great if you just want to power a pair of speakers and a subwoofer.
Like most budget amps in their line, the Planet Audio AC1000 model is packed with all the basic features you need in an amplifier. It has variable low and high pass crossovers, remote sub control, and a bass boost – all the things you need for customizing your car audio.
In the tests conducted by our tech team, this amp doesn’t skimp on features and performance, making it an excellent option if you’re looking for something that gives you a bang for your buck.
What We Like
- Full range Class A/B amp
- Bridgeable
- MOSFET power supply
- High and low level inputs
- Variable low and high pass crossovers
- Customizable bass
- Good performance and value for the price
What We Don’t Like
- Only has 2 channels
- May overheat when used for long hours
Pioneer GM-A6704 4-Channel Bridgeable Amplifier
Being a leading manufacturer in the mobile audio industry, Pioneer produces some of the best car amps in the market. The GM-A6704 is one of their most reliable amplifiers, although it isn’t the cheapest in our list.
Design-wise, this amp has a solid build that looks and feels tough. It can power your front speakers, rear speakers, and a subwoofer for a complete audio system upgrade. You can also use this to power a second sub and a dedicated amp for the bass, making this model very versatile.
Other features include a variable high pass filter, adjustable bass, and auto signal sensing turn on. Overall, the Pioneer GM-A6704-4 provides excellent value.
What We Like
- Increased versatility
- Solid build
- Sends up to 190 watts RMS to a couple of component speakers
- Adjustable bass boost
- Great audio quality
- Audio customization options
- Signal sensing turn on
What We Don’t Like
- A bit expensive
- May not fit in tighter spaces
Cheap Car Amp Buyer’s Guide
Even if you’re looking for budget amps, that doesn’t mean you should settle for subpar performance. We’ve rounded up the best budget car amplifiers that our experts have tested, but you may still be wondering what exactly you should look for when shopping for an amp.
If it’s your first time buying a car amplifier, you might not even understand the specs sheet. Things like max power output, watts RMS, ohms, and crossovers may be nonsense to you. So with our buying guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know.
Power Rating
Before you buy an amplifier, the first thing you have to do is determine the RMS value of your car speakers. That’s because you don’t want to underpower them. According to our experts, you should only buy a car amplifier that has a top RMS output per channel that’s not higher than the top RMS rating of each speaker.
On the other hand, if you intend to overhaul your factory system by buying aftermarket car speakers, we advise that you buy those first before the amp. That way, you can be sure that the amp has enough juice for your speakers.
But you don’t need to worry if you already have an amp and are just looking for speakers to match. As long as you buy speakers that have an RMS rating that’s equal to or greater than the amp’s top RMS output, you’re good to go.
Our sound engineers also point out that many companies in the mobile audio industry tend to focus on advertising the peak power instead of RMS power ratings, and because the former is the higher number, you could be misled into buying a subpar amp.
The truth is, when looking for the best cheap car amps, you should focus more on the RMS rather than max power output. This is because the RMS rating tells you the average power that your amp can continuously deliver without blowing your speakers or subs.
Amplifier Class
You will often see Class A/B or Class D in the specs sheet, and you might not understand what they mean. The amplifier classes are basically design categories that tell us how the electric circuits inside the amp combine power and signal for operation.
Class A/B amplifiers combine the characteristics of Class A and B. These amps deliver high-fidelity amplification for better sound quality. However, the disadvantage is it uses more power. Still, Class A/B is a common topology that’s used in budget amps.
On the other hand, Class D amps are more efficient and more compact. Class D technology [1] is the go-to choice for many amplifiers today due to their efficiency. They are actually 90% more efficient than other amp classes. The only drawback is the dip in audio quality. Then again, not everyone has the discerning ears of an audiophile, so this disadvantage is not such a big deal for many customers.
(To fully enjoy your amp, you can also sync an equalizer to your integrated amplifier using this guide)
Crossovers
Crossovers work by dividing a single audio input signal into two or three signals based on their frequencies. Sounds a bit technical, so let’s simplify.
Try to imagine a crossroad with three paths. On the crossroad, there are three bands of frequencies: low, high, and mid-range. The crossover serves as the sign that tells each band of frequency where to go.
With each band following their own path, the high frequencies go to the tweeters, the middle frequencies go to the mid-range speakers, and the low frequencies go to the subwoofers.
Basically, crossovers direct sound frequencies to the right drivers. Without crossovers, bass and mid notes would clash, and your speakers will play frequencies that they’re not supposed to play. Some frequencies may even vanish, muddying and dulling the quality of audio that you hear.
Of course, you don’t want your speakers to produce dissonant and lifeless sounds. You wouldn’t be able to enjoy any type of music that way.
It’s important to have high or low-pass crossovers in your amplifiers. In fact, all the best budget car amplifiers should have this. Crossovers minimize distortion, resulting in clear and well-balanced sounds even at high volumes.
Head Unit
Our team of tech experts highly recommend purchasing a head unit with preamp outputs, especially if you’re building a new car audio system. This gives the amp unamplified signals, which then results in clear and crisp sound.
If your head unit doesn’t have preamp outputs, you should look for a car amplifier with speaker-level level inputs or high-level inputs. These will allow you to connect your amplifier directly to your stereo without needing more components. In our list above, we’ve included a number of models that have this feature.
However, if you’ve installed an aftermarket car stereo, you can usually connect them to amps that have RCA cables.
Channels
How many channels do you need? Choosing the number of channels in an amp will depend on the number of speakers you’d like to power in your sound system.
You can choose from a single-channel up to an 8-channel amp, but the latter is likely overkill. They’re not even very common in the market. In most cases, 4-channel amps are the best choice.
Single-channel amps, commonly known as monoblock amplifiers, are generally used for the subwoofer. Your speakers will work like usual, they just won’t have that additional oomph from the amp. If you’re only looking to power a sub, a monoblock amp will do the job.
On the other hand, 2-channel car amplifiers are usually connected to a pair of speakers and a subwoofer. These are usually cheaper, but if you have the extra budget, you can go ahead and purchase great 4-channel amps.
4-channel amplifiers can power two pairs of speakers plus the subwoofer, making them the perfect upgrade to most audio systems. If you don’t want to commit to such a big change outright, you can just power your front speakers first. Later on, you can bridge the connection to power your rear speakers.
Size and Fit
When shopping for a budget amp, you might get all excited when you see a big, tough model and you buy it right away without considering the measurements. Beefy amps may look like the best amps, but if they don’t fit in your intended space, they’re practically useless.
First, determine where you want to install your car amplifier. Many people install it in the trunk, but if your vehicle doesn’t have one, you can also mount the amp under, between, or behind the seats.
Once you’ve chosen the ideal spot, find an amp that will fit in that space. If you have pretty limited space, you don’t have to worry too much because there are a lot of small amps that still drive a powerful performance from your speakers and subwoofers.
In a nutshell, get your measurements right first before making a purchase. You don’t want to spend your money on a car amplifier that’s big and beefy, only to find out it doesn’t fit in your car. And remember, a bigger size doesn’t always equate to a powerful performance. That’s why it’s important to know how to read the specs, so you know that you’re getting your money’s worth.
(For connectivity tips and hacks, here’s how you can hook up amps without RCA jacks)
Our Top Pick For a Cheap Car Amp:
Rockville dB12
After rigorous testing, our tech experts picked the Rockville dB12 as the best cheap car amp on the market. With its industry-standard power ratings, this amplifier is lab-tested and proven to deliver as advertised. It’s also equipped with a subsonic filter, subwoofer control, short-circuit protection, bass remote port, and adjustable low pass filters — all of which contribute in delivering well-balanced sounds and hard-hitting bass.
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