What's the difference between 12v amps and 14.4v amps?

Do you wire them differently? Do you have to adjust anything? I thought the battery voltage was 12v (since most of the car is 12v or lower).

I looked through a few sites and google, but couldn't find an answer.

 

It's just two different ways to measure the power output of the amps. When a car is on the voltage is higher because of the alternator. Typically this voltage is 13-14 volts which is maintained by your voltage regulator. It's extremely rare to get a consistent voltage of 14.4v. So a 14.4v rated amplifier specs aren't going to be that accurate. When a car is off is when you'll get about 12-12.5 volts.

 

as a note, your voltage should never be below 12 when your car is on, if this is the case, you need a new battery or alternator.

 

So does that mean that basically it can handle up to 14.4v?

And when I'm looking at amps, do the RMS ratings compare correctly?

So, for example, I'm looking at an amp that has about 100w RMS/channel @ 4 ohms and the amp is 14.4v. Does that mean it has the same amount of power as a 12v?


haha, I didn't mean to say that it was lower to 12v when it should be 12v, but there was a mention somewhere of 3v LEDs in the window switches so I just figured that there were some accessories that didn't use 12v.

 

From what I have been told.... the rms can be as much as 50% lower at 12 volts when compared to 14.4 volts. Depends on the amp. I find that hard to believe though.... a local audio shop employee was telling me that. I think he just wanted to sell me the jl audio amp that is rated the same voltage from 11.0 volts to 14.5 or something like that.

 

12v amps are better

the only difference between these amps are the output..and a good rule of thumb is more volts=more power(in most cases)

an amp thats rated a 2500wrms @ 1ohm on 12 volts mean it will only take 12 volt to put out the 2500w..Now a normal car puts out 13.8-14.5 volts daily..so that about 1.8-2.5 volts to play with(voltage drops)

BUT is you had one that does 2500wrms on 14.4v that mean you need 14.4 volts to get the 2500w..now with this is you have a voltage drop to about 12.7 you wont be seeing the full 2500w now would you? because it will take 14.4v to make that power from this amp...

I hope i explained this good enough for you..

 

there's a few amps that put out rated power from 12 to 14 volts.

 

I see...

bollux, I thought I found a good deal, but maybe I'll just wait for a 12v one.

Thanks a lot for the explanation guys, I appreciate it.

 

the LEDs in ur doors have tolerances as well as resistors or are run in series enough to take the voltage variance into account so they dont burn out .

 

Ok, can someone recommend an a amp with these specs:

~80-100w RMS/channel
-2 channel
-on 12v
-$100-$200 (ebay prices)
-For running components, so class A or AB (Is that correct? I heard that class D were just for subs)

I'm going blind looking for one. Thanks for any help you can give!

 

Bump

 

Don't worry so much at the rating, because you also have to take into account over and under ratings my companies. Just look for top quality products that fit into your budget. To me, DLS amps that are rated at 50x4 vs say a kenwood or something like that the DLS will sound much better.

 

So if I went with, say, a JL A4300 would that get me what I'm looking for?

 

Eh... no comment on J/L.

 

No comment? Why? I was under the impression that they were a decent brand.

 

Sure they're middle grade product, for the price or less you can get better products. Just research and review some things.

 

I've been doing that, but there are so many out there, it's difficult to do. That, and there's a lot of conflicting opinions.

So if I'm looking for an amp in the $100-200 price range, with 80-110w/channel to power my SLCs @12v what would you recommend? Diamond? Eclipse?

 

Search is over thanks to Don! Audison SRx2 !

 

don strikes again!

 

There really aren't 12v amps and 14.4v amps. Either "type" will run on both voltages. Some amps are rated at 12v (which is low) and some are rated at 14.4v (which is high). Some amps will make the same power at either voltage (or more correctly a range of voltages). A regulated amp will make the same power, more or less, at any voltage that a normal car would have (12v with the engine off and 14.4v with the engine running). An unregulated amp would make more power with more voltage so it might be rated at 100w at 12v and 150w at 14.4v. It's all basically a marketing game and some people prefer regulated amps and some prefer unregulated amps. One is not necessarily better than the other. Here's an article that goes into more detail.

http://www.caraudiohelp.com/newslett...nd_voltage.htm