The amplifier Understanding the car audio systems

1. The amplifier: Understanding the car audio systems The main audio units for automobiles in all basic factory sound systems have small and built-in amplifiers to feed a handful of speakers. Meanwhile, the sound systems installed by premium factories generally use larger and powerful "external" amplifiers that are separated from the main unit to feed more speakers and achieve a better sound quality. Before boost An amplifier increases the low-level audio signal generated by the main unit to be powerful enough to move the speaker cones into the system and create sound. But before the signal can be amplified, it must be processed by a preamplifier or "preamplifier. There may be more than one preamp component in a complex car audio system. The preamplifier refers to any stage in the audio path in which the signal is processed before being amplified. The preamp stage is also where these tone controls such as low, acute, and equalization manipulate the audio signal that will finally adjust the sound. When the signal reaches the actual amplifier, its internal input preamplifier stage processes it even more. Crossing over Part of the processing of the preamplifier generally involves the circuits known as a crossing. Electronically divides the full-range audio signal that is fed to the amplifier at separate frequencies. Think of a crossing as traffic of audio signals, directing specific frequencies so that they can be reproduced by specialized speakers, such as woofers and tweeters. Many audio

2. systems use two types of crosses. An active crossover is a preamp component that divides the complete level signal, line-level before amplification, so an amplifier or a separate channel amplifier handles only a certain frequency range for specific speakers. A passive crossover accepts an audio signal after it has been amplified and the siphons of the frequencies of the specific speakers. There are passive crosses in the "bidirectional" speakers that have a pair of speakers mounted on a single frame. A two-way speaker of 6 by 9 inches found on many stock audio systems incorporates a large medium-size and small tweeter. An inconvenience of passive crosses is that they cause an inherent power loss attenuating certain frequencies. That is why many car amplifier has a built-in active crossover circuit. It allows AMPS channels to specialize for specific speakers and also to operate more efficiently. Power and heat The vacuum tubes were used once to amplify the electrical signals, and are still used in some high-end systems. But the amplifiers of the tubes are susceptible to heat and vibration, so they are not ideal in an automotive environment. Electronic transistors generally amplify the audio signal in a car audio system. During this impulse, amplifiers generate heat, so heat management is an important part of the design of an amplifier. Small and low power amplifiers that are constructed within the head units can be crowded into the board without fear of overheating. But external amplifiers produce significantly more power, and therefore, much more heat. Part of the exterior of amplifiers is composed of what is known as a "heat sink". Similar to a car radiator, the heat sink has crests or "fins" to create more surface area to radiate the heat that is generated within the amplifier. Ratings of amplifier power As we hear most stereo music, amplifiers generally have at least two channels, left and right. The power output amplifier is measured in watts per channel. The industry standard to obtain amplifiers vat ranking is RMS. This represents the "average square of the root" and is a mathematical equation to measure the magnitude of the output signal. While you do not need to calculate this formula, when you buy a securities car audio system, you must bear in mind that some post-sales electronic manufacturers are taken to freedoms with the wattage ratings so that their amplifiers seem more powerful. (However, with OEM audio, the power grades of the amplifier are usually legitimate). A tactic that uses after-sales car audio companies is to publish "maximum" or "peak" power ratings instead of RMS or continuous power ratings. But, as you, do not continue continuously your car at your maximum speed, you will rarely achieve the maximum power output claims made by some