-
Willie Greer - August 3, 2021
Even if you have the best car speakers installed, it will be useless without a good amplifier. Among others, the monoblock type of amp is a great choice because it only has a single channel. This results in clear and well-balanced sound since all the power goes into that channel alone.
Our tech experts have rounded up the best monoblock amplifiers for your convenience.
KAC-9106
- Rugged build
- Customizable sound
- Infrasonic filter
- High efficiency
R500X1D Prime
- Excellent bass quality
- Punch Bass-Boost
- Thermal sensing heatsink
- Impressive performance
AC1500.1M
- Remote sub control
- MOSFET for power efficienc
- Easy to install
- Protection from thermal overload
Reviews of the Top Monoblock Amplifiers
Rockford Fosgate R500X1D Prime
Even with its compact design, the Rockford Fosgate R500X1D delivers a very impressive performance. Producing 500 watts RMS into one channel at 2 Ohms, this monoblock amp delivers outstanding bass.
The sound quality is easily the best thing about this amp. Its low-pass filter, remote bass level control, and Punch Bass-Boost work together to deliver a customized sound output at high volumes without distortion.
You don’t have to worry about overheating and short-circuiting as well. The thermal sensing cast aluminum heatsink and the tri-stage power system provide the needed protection.
If you truly want superior sound quality, this is the best you can get for your car’s audio system.
What We Like
- Excellent sound
- Compact design, perfect for tighter spaces
- Class D amplifier
- Low pass filter
- Bass control
- Durable cast-aluminum build
- Highly efficient
- MOSFET Power Supply
- 20Hz - 250Hz frequency response range
- Great overall performance
What We Don’t Like
- A bit expensive
- Won’t drive enough power for 10” or 12” subs
Kenwood KAC-9106D
Kenwood is a noteworthy name in the car audio industry, and the KAC-9106D is one of the most powerful amps in their line. This amp boasts a tough build quality with its sturdy black enclosure and aluminum heat sink.
It has a power output of 1000 watts RMS and 500 watts RMS that hits 2 ohms and 4 ohms of impedance. Furthermore, the +18dB bass boost further builds up the bass, resulting in a deeper and more detailed rumble.
Another noteworthy feature is its signal sensing turn on, which makes it easier to use. Other great features of the Kenwood KAC-9106D include the variable low pass filter, infrasonic filter, and speaker-level inputs.
What We Like
- Delivers high quality sound
- Versatile subwoofer amplifier
- Solid build
- Class D mono amplifier
- MOSFET power supply
- Variable low pass filter
- Frequency response range of 50Hz-200Hz.
- Variable bass boost
What We Don’t Like
- Not enough rumble in bigger subs
- Premium price
Planet Audio AC1500.1M
If the previous amplifiers are out of your budget, our experts highly recommend Planet Audio AC1500 for your sound system. This model is packed with a good array of features, including a remote subwoofer control, variable low pass crossover, and high and low level inputs.
This Class A/B bass amp delivers 1500W of max power output at 2 ohms. And like many monoblock amps, it also has a MOSFET power supply for efficiency. The sound quality is great as well.
Overall, if you want significant tonal impact at a low price, this is one of the best monoblock amps you can get.
What We Like
- Can power 12” or 15” subs
- Clean and deep bass
- Low pass crossover
- Budget-friendly monoblock amp
- Easy to install
- Low and high level inputs
- Delivers 1500W at 2 ohms
- Protection against thermal overload
What We Don’t Like
- No Class D technology
- RMS power is lower than indicated
BOSS Audio Systems AR1500M
The Class A/B design of this subwoofer amp uses a unique linear circuitry that improves power efficiency and reduces distortion. As such, you can expect great sound and impressive performance from this mono amp from BOSS Audio Systems.
With a max power output of 1500W at 2 ohms, the Boss Audio AR1500M allows you to enjoy thumping bass even at high volumes. And with their switchable input sensitivity and variable input control, you can customize the sound to your liking.
Design-wise, this compact subwoofer amplifier has a sleek design that’s easy to install even in smaller spaces. Overall, it’s a great addition to your car audio system.
What We Like
- Sleek design
- Powerful bass
- Reduced distortion
- Switchable input sensitivity
- Easy to install
- Sound customization
- Bridgeable
What We Don’t Like
- Not suitable for high power applications
- Potential overheating issues
Rockford Fosgate Prime R1200-1D
Another Class D monoblock amp on our list, the Rockford Fosgate Prime R1200-1D is a compact amp that’s perfect for beginners who are just dipping their toes into car audio systems.
This subwoofer amp can produce 1200 watts into a 1 ohm load without being too hard on the system. It also has an impressive lineup of features, including a variable low-pass and subsonic filter, adjustable bass equalizer, power supply from MOSFET, and Rockford’s proprietary Punch Bass-Boost.
Our tech experts were pleased to find the installation process very easy. Since this Class D amp is very compact, wiring it up to your subwoofer enclosure is a breeze.
What We Like
- Optimized exclusively for subwoofers
- Max power output of 1200W at 1 ohm impedance
- Efficient power supply
- Bass equalizer
- Easy installation
- RCA pass-thru outputs
What We Don’t Like
- Steep price
- Not enough power for serious amplification
Rockville dB13
Although not as famous as its competitors, the Rockville dB13 can definitely go head-to-head with many car audio systems from brands like Rockford, BOSS, and JL Audio. From power alone, the dB13 monoblock amp delivers an impressive 3,000W peak with 750W Dyno Certified power at 2 ohms.
Our sound engineers were also impressed by its professional peak limiter circuitry, which does an excellent job in delivering clean and distortion-free music even at high volumes. This mono amplifier is also packed with features like a phase control switch, dashboard subwoofer control, subsonic filter, and a mute and delay soft start technology.
What We Like
- Class D monoblock amplifier
- 750W Dyno Certified Power at 2 ohms
- No sound distortion
- Peak limiter circuitry
- Subsonic filter
- Variable bass boost
- Remote dashboard subwoofer control
- Mute and delay soft start technology
What We Don’t Like
- Not very durable
- Can overheat at times
Pioneer GM-D9701 2400W
As a leading manufacturer in the audio industry, Pioneer also produces some of the best amps in the market. The GM-D9071 is no exception.
Equipped with Class D tech, this monoblock amp is highly efficient in keeping the temperature stable even in high volumes. It also has impressive ratings and can deliver 1200 watts RMS at 1 ohm or 800 watts RMS at 2 ohms impedance.
When our audio team tested out the Pioneer GM-D9071, it did an awesome job in producing deep rumbling bass throughout the car.
This compact unit also has preamp RCA outputs — useful if you want to daisy chain multiple amps.
What We Like
- Impressive power ratings
- Vibrant bass tones
- Can deliver 1200 watts RMS at 1 ohm
- Compact size
- Class D amp
- Highly efficient
- Wired bass boost remote control
- Easy to install
What We Don’t Like
- Wiring is not included in the box
- Remote is a little awkward to use
BOSS Audio RIOT R1100M
The RIOT R1100M is one of the mono car amplifiers that prove you can get amazing sound even when you’re pinching pennies. At under $100, this amp has a 1100W max power output at 2 ohms. Granted that it’s not very powerful, but it’s a good bang for your buck.
Performance-wise, this amplifier delivers surprisingly strong bass frequencies. Sound customization is great as well, with its low pass crossover and bass boost that lets you tweak the sound to your liking.
It’s a great alternative to the RIOT 2400, which has a 2400W rating on 1 ohm impedance. Overall, it’s a great product for beginners in the car audio sphere.
What We Like
- Affordable price
- Strong and thudding bass
- 1100 max power output
- Speaker level inputs
- Options for sound customization
- Automatic shut-off feature
- Ideal for first-time car audio buyers
- Easy to install
What We Don’t Like
- Some distortion at high volumes
- May overheat at times
Monoblock Amplifiers Buyer’s Guide
Searching for the best monoblock amplifiers on the market is a tough task, so we’ve done the legwork and testing for you, so you don’t have to wonder which products deliver on their promises.
However, it’s crucial for you to understand the numbers and features on the specs sheet. Watts, RMS, Ohms, and amplifier classes may sound gibberish to beginner buyers, so we’ve written a guide below to help you know what to look for in monoblock amps.
Power
The power output is measured in watts per channel. In general, having a higher wattage rating means that more power is delivered to the speakers, which then means louder volume.
When looking at power ratings, we’re always inclined to think that the higher the wattage, the better. For example, you have a mono amp with 2000W peak power output and another with 1500W peak power. The 2000W amp may appear to be the better product, but that’s not always the case.
Actually, the industry standard for wattage ratings is RMS. It basically refers to how much continuous power an amplifier can output. The RMS power output tells you the average power that your amplifier can deliver continuously and safely. As such, it’s the more reliable measure when you’re looking at power handling.
One tactic that many companies use is to emphasize the peak power instead of the RMS, and this can be misleading. RMS ratings are typically half of the maximum power, so customers might be paying attention to the larger number and therefore conclude it’s the better purchase. In truth, it’s improbable that you’ll achieve the max power output of your amp, just as you’re not driving your car at max speed all the time.
In a nutshell, it’s better to look at the RMS power rating instead of the maximum output when searching for amplifiers.
Impedance
You’ll most likely find impedance when looking at an amp specs sheet, but what exactly is it? We’re simplifying here, but impedance is the measure of electrical resistance in your components. This is measured in Ohms.
Basically, an audio system will perform at its best when the ohm load of the loudspeakers is correct for the amp. If the speaker impedance is too high, then the power will be reduced. Oppositely, when the loudspeaker impedance is too low, then the power will be higher. This can result in overloading and damaging your amp.
It’s also common for speakers and amps to have multiple impedance ratings. Most subwoofer amps have ports with different impedances, such as 1 ohm or 2 ohms. However, it’s crucial to note that this doesn’t mean the amplifier will work well with all kinds of systems.
All that said, ensure that you choose a monoblock amp that has the same impedance rating as your car speakers.
Amplifier Class
You will also see specifications such as Class A/B and Class D when shopping for amps. These classes simply describe the amp’s characteristics and the electric circuits within.
Class A/B amps [1] have the characteristics of Class A and B. It’s much more efficient than Class A, but it also has less distortion than Class B. The advantage of this class is it produces full-range, high-fidelity amplification. It’s more power-hungry, though.
On the other hand, Class D amplifiers run cooler than other classes and are therefore more efficient by 90%. Although it doesn’t produce the perfect fidelity, Class D has become the go-to choice for car audio.
Compatibility
Before you buy an amp, you should first investigate your car model. Some audio systems may not be compatible with your car, and that would render your amp useless.
According to our tech experts, you should investigate any battery-related problems that your car may have. This way, you’d be able to make modifications if need be.
Size
Another thing you should inspect is the space where you will mount the amplifier. Before buying the amp, make sure it’s going to fit. Double-check or triple-check your measurements before making the purchase. Otherwise, you would end up with an amp that you can’t install due to size differences.
About Monoblock Amplifiers
A mono amplifier is a single channel amp that is designed to deliver power to a single channel speaker. Mono amps can only transmit a single audio signal, so it’s not ideal for stereo music. Instead, it’s more suited for low frequencies, such as a subwoofer.
Mono amplifiers can maintain electrical current resistance better, so they’re also fit to be wired to two subs for higher efficiency.
Monoblock Amp vs 2-Channel Amp
As the name implies, the difference between a monoblock amp and a 2-channel amp is the number of channels. While mono amps have a single unidirectional channel, 2-channel amps have left and right ones.
A monoblock amp is usually used for subwoofers or a PA system, while 2-channel amps are mostly used for full-range speakers.
FAQ
Can a monoblock amplifier support two subwoofers?
You can connect two subwoofers to a monoblock amplifier. In fact, mono amplifiers are suited to wiring two subwoofers. You would need a few tools, including a wire cutter, screwdriver, and speaker wire.
First, cut two lengths of wire and strip off the insulation at the ends by half an inch. You then connect one end of the first wire to the amp’s output terminals. Finally, connect the other end terminals of the sub and tighten them down. Make sure that both wires are secure.
Can this type of amplifier run speakers?
A monoblock amp can run speakers, but make sure it has a full-range option. However, you won’t get stereo sound when you connect this type of amp to speakers.
Our Top Pick For a Monoblock Amplifier:
Rockford Fosgate R500X1D Prime
After hours of testing and deliberation, our team has picked the Rockford Fosgate R500X1D Prime as the best monoblock amplifier in the market. It has excellent power handling ratings, a compact design, durable build, options for sound customization, and outstanding bass performance. With a great feature set, this amp is worth every penny.
If you are looking for reliable amps to add to your speaker system, you can check these pages below:
