In this article: We'll review our best monoblock subwoofer amplifier picks that'll make your subwoofer slam, with quick reviews, photos and price comparisons of each to help you save money.
When you are ready to add thunderous bass to your car audio system, it’s time to invest in a monoblock amplifier to power your subwoofers. A monoblock amp meets the specific requirements of a subwoofer without compromise. The circuitry of a mono amp creates power for low frequencies. A good mono amplifier can handle all the power without overheating.
The most challenging part of buying a new mono amplifier is sifting through the dozens of products on the market today. It can be hard to distinguish between quality amplifiers and those which are just marketing hype. When you buy an amp for your subs, you need power and performance, but it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. We put this list of top performing monoblock amplifiers to help you focus your search and find the right product for your system.
Here Are Our Best Monoblock Subwoofer Car Amplifiers in 2023
- Best Overall Subwoofer Amplifier: Rockford Fosgate Prime Series
- Best 1 Ohm Monoblock Car Amplifier: Hifonics Brutus Gamma BG-Series
- Runner Up, Best 1-Ohm Subwoofer Amplifier: Skar Audio RP Series
- Best Subwoofer Amplifier for Easy Tuning: Kicker KX Series Amplifiers
- Best 1, 2 & 4 Ohm Subwoofer Amplifier: Alpine S2 Series
- Best Class BD Subwoofer Amplifier: Rockford Fosgate POWER T Series
- Best Low Cost Monoblock Amplifier: Taramps HD-Series
- Runner Up, Best Budget Monoblock: Soundstream Tarantula Series
Best Overall Subwoofer Amplifier
Rockford Fosgate Prime Series
Rockford Fosgate PRIME Series Amplifier Review
The Rockford Fosgate PRIME-series of amplifiers continues to improve year after year. The series includes amplifiers pushing 1200 w, 750 w, 500 w, and 250 w. All are Class-D for maximum efficiency and low operating temperature.
Rockford Fosgate engineers these amps to handle low-frequency with plenty of power. The circuitry is specially designed to ease gain setting and provide big bass. In fact, RF says the design produces three times the bass of competitor models due to the integrated Punch EQ. Remote level control and an infrasonic filter make it simple to get the sound you want.
Our pick for a great setup is the Rockford Fosgate PRIME R2-500X1. Each amplifier from RF includes a “birth certificate” demonstrating the actual power output of each amp. These amplifiers regularly exceed the rated power significantly.
Key Features
- Class-D Amplifier
- 1200, 750, 500, and 250 watt variations
- Switchable 4 ohm, 2 ohm, 1 ohm
- C.L.E.A.N. circuitry
- P.O.W.E.R. supply generator
- Overheat, overload, and short protected
- Frequency Response: 20-250 Hz
Pros
- Durable amp
- Options to meet the needs of any system
- Low operating temperature
Cons
- Frequently sold out
Best 1 Ohm Monoblock Car Amplifier
Hifonics Brutus Gamma BG-Series
Hifonics Brutus Gamma BG Series Amplifier Review
Clever marketing often hides garbage products, so with a slogan like “Power From the Gods,” it’d be easy to not take Hifonics seriously. What a mistake that would be, because the Brutus Gamma BG-series of monoblock amplifiers are some of the best you will find. The series is available with power ratings of 3300 watts, 2500 watts, 2200 watts, 1900 watts, and 1300 watts. All are Super Class-D amplifiers offering superior efficiency and power.
Hifonics intends these amps to be run at 1 ohm, so they built them tough and efficient. Even after hours of use, the chassis is cool to the touch. If you need a durable amp, pick up a Hifonics Brutus BG-Series.
Most people will find the BG-1300 to be excellent for everyday use, but most modern cars with high-output alternators should be able to run the BG-1900 for even higher levels of power.
Key Features
- Super Class-D amplifier
- Simpatico Coil Design for constant voltage protection
- Aluminum heat sink
- Short and overload protection
- Wired remote
- Frequency: 10-500 Hz
Pros
- Durable amplifier
- Exceeds advertised power in many cases
Cons
- Some quality control issues reported
Runner Up, Best 1-Ohm Subwoofer Amplifier
Skar Audio RP Series
Skar Audio RP Series Amplifier Review
Florida-based Skar Audio has a reputation for building tough car audio equipment. If you are looking for a potent amplifier that won’t break the bank, the RP-series will get you the power you need. These amplifiers are all Class-D rated for efficient power use. The RP-Series of monoblock amplifiers are available in numerous power ratings including wattages of 350, 800, 1,200, 1,500, 2,000, 3,500, and 4,500. That’s enough options to get tremendous power for any system.
The Skar Audio RP-1200 makes an ideal daily driver amplifier for pumping up the bass. At 1 Ohm, this amp will peak around 1,600 watts. That’s plenty of power to drive a big single or two moderately-sized subs. The RP-1200 uses a MOSFET power supply for voltage stability and four-way circuit protection to prevent damage from shorts, overheating, and other faults.
Key Features
- Class-D amplifier
- Wide range of wattage
- MOSFET power supply
- Frequency response: 20-250 Hz
- 4 Gauge power and ground
Pros
- Affordable and high-quality
- 1 Ohm stable design
Cons
- Some users experienced premature failure
Best Subwoofer Amplifier for Easy Tuning
Kicker KX Series Amplifiers
Kicker KX Series Amplifier Review
When it comes to getting honest, full bass from your subwoofers, Kicker is a great option. The company is well-known for building durable sound equipment that gets you reliable power. The Kicker KX-Series of amplifiers includes 400 watt, 800 watt, 1,200 watt, 1,600 watt, and 2,400 watt monoblock units. All are Class-D amplifiers that are 1 Ohm stable.
The KX-Series gives you some options that are hard to find on other amps. One of the best and most unique features is a remote control that gives you control over virtually every amp setting. You can control clipping, bass boost, phase and gain using the remote control. Kicker even provides tuning tones specific to your head unit to ensure a perfect match. Another cool feature that's unique to these amps is their light-up gain controls on the control panel. These lights will tell you when the gains are set too high, simplifying the tuning process.
The Kicker KXA1200.1 is a great amp for most drivers. It produces enough power to get deep bass and will work well on most factory vehicles. Invest in high-quality power cables when you install this amp to make sure it get’s the juice it needs.
Key Features
- Class-D amplifier
- Light-up gain tuning control
- One Ohm stable
- Remote ready
- FIT+ noise reduction
Pros
- Durable amp with a proven track record
- Models available for any system
- Great tuning features that simplify the tuning process
Cons
- Not as compact as other designs on our list
Best 1, 2 & 4 Ohm Choice Subwoofer Amplifier
Alpine S2 Series
Alpine S2 Series Amplifier Review
Alpine’s monoblock S series amps have been one of our favorites for a few years now, and the next generation S2-series doesn’t change any of the things that we love about the lineup. Alpine only improved upon a solid platform. Among other things, they upgraded the electronics for enhanced durability, modernized the remote turn on selection, and enlarged the case slightly to provide better thermal efficiency. They’re still our budget friendly compact amplifier choice however with a depth of only 2.25 in.
The biggest change comes with the new model lineup. The previous generation offered just one monoblock amp. With the next gen S2 series, you have two options: a 600-watt amp or a 1200-watt amplifier. Both of which can fit in tight quarters to power the subwoofer of your choice.
Alpine’ S2 amps are Class-D, and like many amps on the market, they have variable low-pass filters and a bass boost function to improve response on the bottom end. They can output power at 1 ohm, 2 ohms or 4 ohms making them flexible to support the power handling of virtually all subs.
Key Features
- Class-D amplifier
- 600 W or 1,200 W options
- Variable low-pass filter and bass boost
- Preamp and speaker level inputs
- Optional wired remote
Pros
- The expanded lineup offers better options for finding the perfect amp for any system
- Works perfectly with Alpine Halo subs to generate huge bass
Cons
- The optional controller is important but not included
Best Class BD Subwoofer Amplifier
Rockford Fosgate POWER T Series
Rockford Fosgate Power T Series Amplifier Review
Finding room for an amp is a frequent issue when installing a big system. When the Rockford Fosgate engineers set out to design the T-Series, they found innovative ways to cram all the power you could ever need into a case that will fit anywhere. And when we say anywhere, these amps can even be installed on motorcycles. How’s that for some boom?
There are lots of options in the T-Series. Choose from 2,500 watts, 1,500 watts, 1,000 watts, 750 watts, and one of two 500 watt amps. These amps are all Class-BD for the super-efficiency of a Class-D amp and the high-quality sound production of a Class-B. The T-Series take advantage of RFs unique Constant Power design that provides as much as 25% more power at the same load as other amps.
The Rockford Fosgate Power T1000-1 is a phenomenal amp for most drivers. This particular amp is fully capable of use in sound competition vehicles, but is an ideal amp for earth-shaking bass even in your daily sedan.
Key Features
- Class-BD amp for sound quality and efficiency
- MOSFET power supply and output
- Punch Bass EQ
- Compact design is easy to install
Pros
- Consistently exceeds rated RMS power
- Reliable, even when pushed hard
Cons
- Price tag
Best Low Cost Monoblock Amplifier
Taramps HD-Series
Taramps HD Series Amplifier Review
Taramps is a Brazillian-based builder of some really fine quality amplifiers. The HD-Series are all Class-D amps and are available in 1 ohm, 2 ohm, and 4 ohm variations. Taramps amps are an excellent choice for providing tons of bass when you have an upgraded electrical system. These amps are power-hungry, and it’s essential to run 0 Gauge power to prevent starving the amp.
All of the HD-Series amps are rated at 3,000 watts when set to the appropriate load. Buy the amp that suits your needs the best, but also plan on upgrading wiring throughout your system. These are competition-level amps at entry level pricing, but to get the most out of a Taramps amp, you need to supply more than average power. A second battery or upgraded charging system may be necessary to get the sound you want.
Key Features
- Class-D amplifier
- 3,000 watts RMS@1 Ohm
- Frequency response: 10-20k Hz
- Short/ high or low voltage/ thermal protection
- Thermostatic fan
Pros
- Excellent power in a small package
- 1, 2, 4 Ohm design
Cons
- In some cases, requires more than factory power
- Needs oversized power and ground wiring to prevent overheating
Runner Up, Best Budget Monoblock
Soundstream Tarantula Series
Soundstream Tarantula Series Amplifier Review
Since 2015, the Tarantula-Series of amplifiers from Soundstream have been rocking audio systems all over. The Tarantula amps are built to handle abuse- there is even a model designed to provide stable power at .5 an Ohm without overheating. Soundstream has made an effort to make these amps more visually attractive by adding custom changeable lighting, but why you should buy this amp has nothing to do with looks. It’s tough, powerful, and affordable.
Soundstream produces a 4,000 watt peak power amplifier perfect for most daily drivers. Make sure to have upgraded wiring, at least a 1 gauge power wire, because this amp is going to need the power. Pair it up with a set of good-quality subwoofers and go on a sound rampage. A 6,000 watt monoblock amplifier is also available when you just simply need to go nuts.
Key Features
- Class-D Monoblock amplifier
- MOSFET power supply
- PC board made from military grade materials
- Customizable lighting
Pros
- Tons of power
- Great Value
Cons
- Might require modifications to factory charging system to handle the amount of power
- Power does not exceed ratings like others on our list (doesn't really need to though)
Looking for a different type of amplifier? Check out these list!
Conclusion
Any of the amplifiers we detail here are a perfect compliment to your car audio system. It’s important to remember that bigger isn’t always better- you will be happier with your system by purchasing an amplifier that meets the demands of your subwoofers. Each of these amplifiers makes a great choice depending on how you want to design your system.
FAQ
Every system is different. Depending on the subwoofer you are powering, we recommend matching the amplifier's power requirements of your subwoofer, the impedance (ohms) of your subwoofer, ensuring that the dimensions will match the available space in your car, and that the amplifier class aligns with your application.
Mono subwoofer amplifiers have a single output and are designed specifically to power subwoofers. Multi-channel amplifiers can typically power both subwoofers and other speakers, such as tweeters and mid-range drivers. Some multi-channel amplifiers have a dedicated output channel for subwoofers in addition to speaker channel outputs, for example 5 channel amps.
A subwoofer amplifier's power determines the maximum output it can provide to the sub. A higher power rating can result in louder and more impactful bass, but it's very important to match the power rating of the amplifier to the capabilities of the subwoofer.
Yes, you can use a subwoofer amplifier if your factory stereo has an included subwoofer. However, in most cases you will require a high-level to low-level converter in order to adapt the signal from your factory subwoofer to your aftermarket subwoofer amplifier. You will also need to ensure that the power output matches your factory subwoofer's power rating and that you set your crossover properly on the amplifier.
Typically subwoofer amplifiers have what's called a low pass filter, aka crossover. Crossovers are essential for limiting and separating the audio signal in order to direct the appropriate frequencies to your sub. It ensures only lower frequency signals, which are typically best handled by the sub, are actually sent to it while higher frequencies are directed only at the speakers. This helps to ensure optimal performance from your subwoofer, amplifier and other stereo components and reduces distortion.
Why not the kicker kx-1600watt?
I have two Pioneer D9601’s, each powering a single Skar VXF-15 D2 in the back of a 2016 VW Tiguan. My initial setup can be seen in the following link towards the bottom of the forum page.
https://www.mytiguan.com/index.php?/topic/48552-vw-tiggy/page-3
Currently I’m running the amps at 4 Ohms (~500 watts each until the subs break in, then I’ll run them at ~1200 watts @ 1 Ohm), and after hours of continuous use they are barely warm to the touch despite the lack of a fan and comparatively small heat sink. The units themselves are deceptively small for their output and the clarity so far has been outstanding for class D monoblocks. I’m more of an old-school bass head that is used to the huge big block amps of the 90’s, so these amps are rather amazing to me. The included wired bass remote comes in handy, though the overall adjustibility of the amps are limited (includes only a low pass filter and gain) and best used in system with a DSP or at least a head unit that has an eq for the subwoofer channel. All in all, these amps are well worth the money. Lastly one thing not mentioned in the write up is that the power/ground connections are a beefy 4 gauge (they are set at an odd back-angle, so 4 gauge ferrules should be used during installation) and they have dual speaker outlets to help with running two subs in parallel if desired.
Do you need an extra set of outputs in order to hook up multiple subs in parallel? I thought it was still all out of one set of outputs and just run to and – to – all the way down the line. I may be wrong and I’m certainly not trying to rock the boat but I am glad I stopped and thought about this because if I am wrong I might have just saved myself a lot of head/heartache. Thanks guys.
I just purchased a 18 in Sundown Audio zv4 what sort of amp am I looking at needing to purchase. And what’s a decent capacitor to get so it won’t drain my battery
Those amps are good,but Diamond audio amps smash them.
Wrong! That’s like comparing apples to steaks two totally different amps! Diamond is sound quality all the way sundown is spl all the way big power! So no a diamond amp want even come close to powering a huge sundown sub! Gonna take a 3-4k watt amp to get anything out of that sub!
I have 2 r2sd2 fosgate 10” subs. I have a R2-500×1 amp but I can’t turn the gain up past 5 without clipping badly. Should I switch to the R2-1200×1. Each sub is 200 rms but it doesn’t seem to work well with the 500 rms. Is it the amp or my electrical setup?