My system has plenty of power. Who needs an amp?

You might think you don't need an amp because you have a 400-watt system in your car, or because your new stereo puts out 50 watts a channel. But those are peak wattage ratings, which may boil down to 15 or 20 watts per channel, using the more realistic RMS rating. An amp sends your speakers the power they need to deliver your music with clarity and impact, whether you're using factory speakers or high-performance components. And low-frequency reproduction requires lots of power, so an amp is an absolute must if you're adding a sub to your system.

Our take on the Kenwood KAC-7005PS

by Buck Pomerantz

Power and performance for your entire system
Kenwood's Performance Series KAC-7005PS 5-channel amplifier can take care of your entire car audio system's power requirements, and then some. Start with 40 watts RMS of musical clarity to every one of your front and rear speakers, then factor in up to 500 watts RMS for your subs — it all adds up to clear, loud, and rockin' sound in your car. Got a really nice set of speakers you want to drive? You can also bridge the amp into 3-channel mode and send 100 watts RMS to each of your front speakers, along with that 500 watts of bass power.

Reliability is key
This Performance Series car amp offers long-term reliability and superior sound quality in a compact, no-nonsense package. A rugged cast-aluminum heatsink and a cooling fan keep this amp running at optimal temperatures, even when you're pushing your system hard. This versatile amp features separate adjustable crossover filters for the front, rear, and subwoofer channels, as well as a bass boost, so you can dial in exactly the tone you want.

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Highlights:

5-channel car amplifier
40 watts RMS x 4 at 4 ohms + 300 watts x 1 at 4 ohms
50 watts RMS x 4 at 2 ohms + 500 watts RMS x 1 at 2 ohms
100 watts RMS x 2 bridged at 4 ohms + 500 watts RMS x 1 at 2 ohms
CEA-2006 compliant
variable low-pass filter on subwoofer channel (50-200 Hz at 24 dB per octave)
separate variable high-pass filters on front and rear channels (50-200 Hz at 12 dB/octave)
variable bass boost on sub channel (0-18 dB at 40 Hz)
cooling fan
preamp inputs
fuse rating: 40A x 2
4-gauge power and ground leads recommended — wiring and hardware not included with amplifier
13-3/4"W x 2-1/4"H x 7-9/16"D
warranty: 1 year
Our 60-day money-back guarantee

Hands-on research from the Crutchfield Labs (what are the Labs?)

Features and specs chart | What’s in the box? | In-depth notes

Features and Specs

Performance
RMS Power Output (Watts x Channels) Loading...	40 x 4 300 x 1
Peak Power Output (Watts x Channels) Loading...	104 x 4
Power at 2 Ohms (Watts x Channels) Loading...	50 x 4
Bridged Power (Watts x Channels) Loading...	100 x 2
Minimum Impedance Bridged Loading...	4
Minimum Impedance Unbridged Loading...	2
Best Frequency Response Loading...	5-50k Hz
THD at Rated RMS Power Loading...	1%
Signal to Noise Ratio Loading...	80 dB
Input Voltage Loading...	14.4v
Features
Amplifier Class Loading...	AB/D
Low-Pass Crossover Frequency Loading...	50-200 Hz
Low-Pass Slope (dB/octave) Loading...	24 dB/oct
High-Pass Crossover Frequency Loading...	50-200 Hz
High-Pass Slope (dB/octave) Loading...	12 dB/oct
Bass Boost Loading...	0-18 dB
Bass Boost Frequency Loading...	40 Hz
Fan Cooled Loading...	Yes
Fuse Rating Loading...	80
Speaker Level Inputs Loading...	No
Preamp Outputs Loading...	No
Width (inches) Loading...	13-3/4
Height (inches) Loading...	2-1/4
Depth (inches) Loading...	7-9/16
Parts Warranty Loading...	1 Year
Labor Warranty Loading...	1 Year

Product Research

What's in the box?

Download owner's manual

5-Channel amplifier
Two 40-amp ATO fuses (installed)
Four 5/8" Self-tapping screws
2.5mm Allen wrench
2 End caps (installed)
Instruction manual (English/ French/ Spanish)
Warranty card

Our Product Research Team

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Features
Controls
Connections

Features

Multi-Channel Design: The KAC-7005PS is basically three amps built into one chassis, two full-range 2-channel amps (A and B), typically powering the front and rear speakers, and one mono amp to power a subwoofer. Either of the full-range amps can also be bridged to one channel.

CEA 2006 Compliant: The amplifier's power and signal to noise ratio specifications are measured according to CEA-2006 standards, developed by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). These standards allow you to accurately compare the rated power output of all CEA 2006-compliant amplifiers. Manufacturers who adhere to the standards can display the CEA 2006 logo on their products and packaging. The CEA-2006 compliant power output is 40 watts RMS x 4 (into 4Ω, 20-20,000 Hz, no more than 1.0% THD+N, 14.4 volt power supply) plus 300 watts RMS x 1 (into 4Ω, 20-200 Hz, no more than 1.0% THD+N, 14.4 volt power supply). The CEA-2006 compliant signal to noise ratio is 80 dBA (at 1 watt into 4Ω).

Specifications: The manual also lists these non CEA-2006 compliant specifications:

Full-Range Channels:
- 2Ω: 50 watts x 4 (at 1 kHz, no more than 0.5% THD)
- Bridged: 100 watts x 2 (at 100 Hz, no more than 0.5% THD)
Subwoofer Channel: 500 watts x 1-channel (into 2Ω, at 100 Hz, no more than 0.5% THD)
Signal to Noise Ratio: 100 dB (at rated power)

Cooling Fan: There is a cooling fan to help dissipate heat and ensure cool, reliable operation. Make sure not to block the vents or the fan when installing the amplifier.

Controls

Input Sensitivity: The KAC-7005PS features independent gain controls for the front, rear, and subwoofer channels. The input sensitivity of each is adjustable from 200 mV to 5.0 volts.

High-Pass Filter: The front and rear amps have individual switches to set the built-in crossovers to high-pass or off (full-range). The crossover points are independently adjustable from 50-200 Hz. The high-pass crossover slope is 12 dB/octave.

Low-Pass Filter: The subwoofer channel's low-pass crossover is always engaged (it cannot be bypassed). The crossover point is adjustable from 50-200 Hz and the slope is 24 dB/octave.

Bass Boost: The subwoofer's bass boost circuit is centered at 40 Hz; boost is variable from 0 to +18 dB.

Connections

Power And Ground Terminals: The amplifier features screw terminal power and ground terminals. They will accommodate spade connectors up to 0.55" wide.

Remote Turn-On Terminal: The remote turn-on is a screw terminal that will accommodate spade connectors up to 0.35" wide.

Speaker Terminals: The five pair of speaker terminals are screw terminals and will accommodate spade connectors up to 0.35" wide.

Signal Inputs: The amplifier features three pair of RCA input connections, A, B, and Sub.

Fuses: Two 40-amp ATO fuses are installed in the amplifier chassis.