Boost your speakers’ sound quality with amplifiers.
And rock out some music.
Wait…
You’re not sure which AMP to go for?
Worry not. I’ve got you covered.
Read on to find out:
- What a 600-watt AMP is.
- How to match your speakers to your AMP.
- What size AMP is perfect for your 600-watt speakers.
- And plenty more…
What size AMP for 600 watt speakers?
600-watt speakers need 900 to 1200-watt amplifiers. It’s always better to have a more powerful AMP compared to the loudspeaker. You must also consider the impedance when pairing up speakers and amplifiers.
What does 600 watt AMP mean?
A 600-watt amplifier can deliver 600 watts of power. With this, it can help enhance the speakers’ sound quality.
Now, let’s find out the benefits of getting the right amplifier.
Starting with:
What amplifiers can do for your speakers
Do you value sound quality?
If so, you’d appreciate an amplifier.
Why? Well, here’s what amplifiers are capable of:
- Providing cleaner and crisper sounds.
- Increasing the volume of the speakers.
- Giving power to your speakers for better performance.
Amazing, right?
But how are your amplifiers able to do those?
Well, they take the weak electrical signals from your speakers…
And create a better and stronger copy of that signal.
This is how they amplify the sound.
It’s able to do this because it’s an external energy source.
This means that its extra power helps drive the speakers.
Thus, improving the overall quality of the output sound.
How do I match my speakers to my AMP?
You can pair your speakers and amplifiers by matching their wattage and ohms.
Now, you’ll see those specifications by looking at their product details.
With those, you’ll be able to find the perfect amplifier for your loudspeakers.
#1: Identify the power capacity in watts
The power capacity is the amount of power your loudspeaker or AMP can handle.
Plus, wattage is its unit of measurement.
Now, a rule of thumb is to choose an amplifier that’s more powerful than your speakers. Here are 3 reasons why you need to do so:
- You won’t clip the signals.
- You won’t overdrive your amplifier.
- Your amplifier can sustain continuous use.
But how much more powerful does your AMP have to be?
Well, the power capacity of the AMP has to be 1.5 to 2 times more than the speakers’.
So, if you have 600-watt speakers…
Then you’ll need amplifiers rated between 900 to 1200 watts of power.
Now, should you go for the max 1200-watt amplifier…
Or settle for one that’s 900 watts?
You can decide based on the speakers’ sensitivity.
Let’s walk you through what that is.
Sensitivity is the volume of sound you hear when you’re 1 meter away from the speakers.
And the sound is measured in decibels (dB).
So, if the sensitivity of your speakers is 85 dB…
Then you’re hearing 85 decibels at a 1-meter distance from the device.
So, how does the sensitivity affect your choice of an amplifier?
Well, if the sensitivity of your speakers is low…
Then you’ll need a more powerful amplifier to offset the volume.
In this case, you’re better off choosing an amplifier closer to 1200 watts.
Conversely, if the sensitivity is high…
Then you can settle for a 900-watt amplifier.
Here’s how to know if your loudspeakers’ sensitivity is high or low:
- Low: lower than 85 decibels.
- High: more than 88 decibels.
- Normal: within 85 to 88 decibels.
#2: Identify the nominal impedance in ohms
The nominal impedance is a device’s resistance to let electricity flow.
And its value is represented in Ohms.
An impedance of fewer than 4 ohms is low.
While 8 or 16 ohms is considered high.
But why does that matter?
When the impedance is low, the signals travel faster.
So this means the sound passes through the speakers faster and better.
Now that’s understood…
How do we match the impedance of your speakers and amplifiers?
Well, it’s simple.
The number of ohms must be the same.
For instance, a 4-ohm loudspeaker requires a 4-ohm AMP.
But what if the speakers have an impedance range of 4 to 8 ohms? Should you get a 4-ohm or an 8-ohm AMP?
In this case, you should gp for the lower 4-ohm amplifier…
That’s because the audio signal travels faster. Plus, this results in better and more forceful delivery of the sound.
#3: Select an amplifier
Now that you know the required specs for your AMP…
You can pick out the perfect amplifier.
So, feel free to consider these amplifiers for your 600-watt speakers:
900-watt amplifiers:
- Focal FPD 900.1 at 4 ohms.
- Kenwood XR901-5 at 4 ohms.
- Crown Pro XLi1500 at 8 ohms.
1000-watt amplifiers:
- Pyle PWMA1003BT at 2 to 8 ohms.
- Crunch PDX-1000.2 PowerDriveX at 2 to 4 ohms.
- Sound Storm Labs EV4.1000 Evolution at 2 ohms.
- Sound Storm Labs EV2.1000 Evolution at 2 to 4 ohms.
1200-watt amplifiers:
- Hifonics BXX1200.1D at 1 ohm.
- Skar Audio RP-1200.1D at 1 ohm.
- Rockford Fosgate R1200-1D at 1 ohm.
#4: Test the speakers with the chosen AMP
Now that you’ve chosen your amplifier…
It’s time to test it out:
Step 1: Connect the power and ground wires to the amplifier. They’re colored red and black, respectively.
Step 2: Attach the speaker wires to your amplifier.
Note: The speaker wires are the RCA cables (red, yellow, and white).
Step 3: Play any sound or music. If sound comes out of your speakers, then your amplifier is working.
Note: Make sure the sound is not fuzzy or warped. To know whether to sound is distorted or not, first try out the speakers alone. That’ll be your point of comparison for the sound quality.
So, if everything goes well…
Then you got yourself an amplifier.
And with that, you’re all set.
People also ask
What happens if my speakers and amplifiers don’t match?
Your speakers and amplifiers can be damaged if they aren’t paired correctly. You risk breaking the tweeters or burning the coils. When this happens, you can permanently ruin your audio setup.
What happens if I overdrive my amplifier?
You can harm your speakers if you overdrive your amplifier. This happens when you pair a low-wattage AMP with a high-wattage speaker. You’ll end up clipping the signal. And when that happens, you damage your devices.