Frequently Asked Questions

Repair times can vary depending on the issue and parts availability, but we strive to complete most repairs within 3 to 10 business days.

Yes, we offer warranties on all our repairs. The length depends on the parts used:

• Cheaper Chinese parts — 10-day warranty
• Mouser or Digikey parts — 90-day warranty (depending on the damage being fixed)

Please contact us for specific warranty details. We will work with you on any problems.

If you want your music to be loud, amplifiers are part of the picture. But whether you run your system wide open or softly enough for conversation, a power amplifier will breathe life into your music, bringing out all of its excitement and detail.

A few main benefits of adding a car audio amplifier:

• Better sound quality — A clean power source that drives your speakers without straining. Your music will sound cleaner and more defined at all volume levels.
• Power for upgraded speakers — High-quality aftermarket speakers may require more power than your in-dash stereo can provide.
• Powering a subwoofer — Subwoofers need significantly more power than a factory in-dash receiver can provide.

We specialize in repairing a wide range of brands, including but not limited to Rockford, JL, MTX, Lanzar, Sundown, Kicker, Powerus, Skar, and many more. See our brands page for the full list.

One of the first questions to ask is how loud you want it. Car audio systems don't need massive amp wattage to sound loud — but having power available gives "headroom" for emotional bursts.

• Small vehicles or factory speakers — 45–50 watts RMS per channel
• Larger vehicles or you like it loud — at least 75 watts RMS per channel
• Maximum impact and eye-popping volume — 100 watts RMS or more per channel

Match your speakers' top RMS rating to the amp output.

All aftermarket speakers benefit from being fed more power than a factory or aftermarket stereo can deliver. Look at the speaker's RMS power rating — usually given as a range like "5–60 watts RMS." The higher number is the approximate driving power at which the speaker plays at its best.

Don't exceed RMS ratings:

• For your speakers, use an amp whose top RMS output per channel is no higher than each speaker's top RMS rating.
• For your amp, get speakers with RMS ratings equal to or higher than each amp channel's top RMS output.

You want bass that musically blends with the rest of your system. A rough guide:

• Speakers powered by factory stereo — 50 to 200 watts RMS for the bass
• Aftermarket receiver — 200 to 300 watts RMS
• Amplified speakers around 50 watts RMS per channel — 250 to 500 watts RMS for bass
• 100 watts RMS or higher per channel system — at least 1,000 watts RMS for subs

Make sure your sub's top RMS rating equals or exceeds the amp's top RMS output, and match impedance correctly to avoid overheating.

Tip: If you're adding a sub to a factory system, get a subwoofer amp with speaker-level inputs so it can pull signal from the factory speaker wires.

Each "channel" of an amplifier is a discrete source of power, intended to power one speaker. How many channels you need depends on your plans.

• Just speakers — 2-channel amp for a single pair, 4-channel for front + rear with fade control
• Speakers + sub — a 3-channel handles a pair plus a sub, but most people choose a 4-channel (two for speakers, two bridged for the sub) for future expansion. A 5-channel can power your entire system from one box.
• Sub only — mono ("Class D") amps are designed for subs and handle a wide range of impedances with built-in tone controls and filters.

If you have an aftermarket receiver, adding an amp is straightforward — RCA cables from the receiver to the amp, speaker wire from the amp to the speakers, and power and ground cables to the battery and chassis.

Many cars today have built-in stereos that can't be replaced, or factory amplifiers that may or may not be bypassable. Often you'll need a line output converter or digital signal processor to reduce powered factory signals down to manageable levels and process factory EQ.

Some amplifiers have high-level inputs with built-in signal mixing and digital processing. For some vehicles, a vehicle-specific T-harness will be necessary. Give us a call before you buy your amp — we can help you figure out exactly what you'll need.