Car audio systems are becoming more and more popular as time passes, simply because technology has provided people with a way to listen to their music the car with tremendous power and quality. Most people will install a power amplifier into their subwoofer speaker system. However, if you are a bass freak who love superior sound quality, another good element to have is the pre-amplifier.
Many car owners are relying on a pre-amplifier to improve the quality and power boost of sound emanating from their car’s subwoofer speaker system. It is not always necessary but is becoming increasingly popular in car stereo systems. The pre-amplifier is great when you want to add a clearer bass that has a lower level of distortion.
What is a pre-amplifier and what does it do?
The pre-amplifier’s main function in the subwoofer speaker system is to prepare the power amplifier’s signal. There are various types of pre amps, such as USB, tube, and phono pre-amplifiers. However, the pre-amplifier you would use in your car’s subwoofer speaker system would be a stereo pre-amplifier.
The pre-amplifier is used to improve the overall quality of sound in a car’s audio system. A key thing to keep in mind is that the pre-amplifier supplies voltage only, not a current. The power amplifier is the component that provides the current, so therefore you cannot have one without the other. Think of it as a team where the pre-amplifier throws the ball to the power amplifier, and the power amplifier shoots the goal.
In your car’s stereo system the pre amp is the “middle man” for the audio input “stereo” and the power amplifier. When you turn your stereo on it sends an audio signal to your pre amplifier. The pre amplifier then takes that signal and levels it out if it is too low. It then sends the level signal to the power amplifier and the power amplifier will add the boost or power needed to get the best signal to your loud speakers.
Some stereo systems are coming equipped with both a pre-amplifier and a power amplifier integrated together. There is a debate on the quality of this method among serious audiophiles. It is safe to say if you have the power amplifier and the pre-amplifier in separate areas of your car audio system you will not have to make as many compromises on sound quality. The pre-amplifier in your car’s subwoofer speaker system will also be like a control panel. From here you can control connections, levels, volume, etc.
Pre-amplifiers are a great piece to have when installing a subwoofer speaker system into your car. They will add to the overall quality, power, and sound to your car’s audio system. Some people choose to leave out the pre-amplifier altogether, but if you want the best quality you will want to be sure to include it.
