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 Pioneer PRS-D800

by Buck Pomerantz

High fidelity comes to your car

Pioneer's PRS-D800 2-channel amplifier delivers 125 watts RMS of crystal-clear power per channel, ideal for driving high-quality speakers and components. Switch over to 1-channel mode, and this amp will send 300 watts RMS of clean bass power to your sub. This pure, full-range amplifier doesn't include any frequency filters or bass boosts that'll sidetrack the sound from its direct path to your speakers.

The PRS-D800 offers the superior performance of Pioneer's full-range digital amplifier technology, along with the cool-running operation of Class D design — all in a chassis that's only 10" long and a little over 4" wide. This amp will truly go where other amps don't have a prayer of fitting.

Ultra compact — technologically loaded

Several innovations contribute to the incredible, distortion-free fidelity this little amp will give to your music. Custom-made capacitors keep output stable when you're driving the amp hard, and allow the amp to reproduce sudden peaks without distortion. Anti-vibration material promotes internal stability, eliminating a cause of distortion found in many inferior amps. Pioneer uses a high-performance amplifier section and oxygen-free copper coils to create a superior connection between amp and speakers, so you enjoy clean, accurate reproduction of your music.

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Highlights:

2-channel car amplifier
125 watts RMS x 2 at 4 ohms (150 watts RMS x 2 at 2 ohms)
300 watts RMS x 1 bridged output at 4 ohms (4-ohm stable in bridged mode)
CEA-2006 compliant
Class FD amplifier technology
frequency response: 10-30K Hz
Total Vibration Control and custom-made capacitors minimize distortion
high-performance high-speed op-amps for accurate analog-to-digital conversion
oxygen-free copper coils make bass output tight and clear
preamp inputs
fuse rating: 30A x 1
8-gauge power and ground leads recommended — wiring and hardware not included with amplifier
10-1/16"W x 2"H x 4-1/8"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...	125 x 2
Peak Power Output (Watts x Channels) Loading...	250 x 2
Power at 2 Ohms (Watts x Channels) Loading...	150 x 2
Bridged Power (Watts x Channels) Loading...	300 x 1
Minimum Impedance Bridged Loading...	4
Minimum Impedance Unbridged Loading...	2
Best Frequency Response Loading...	10-30k Hz
THD at Rated RMS Power Loading...	1%
Signal to Noise Ratio Loading...	105 dB
Input Voltage Loading...	14.4v
Features
Amplifier Class Loading...	FD
Low-Pass Crossover Frequency Loading...	N/A
Low-Pass Slope (dB/octave) Loading...	N/A
High-Pass Crossover Frequency Loading...	N/A
High-Pass Slope (dB/octave) Loading...	N/A
Bass Boost Loading...	No
Bass Boost Frequency Loading...	N/A
Fan Cooled Loading...	No
Fuse Rating Loading...	30
Speaker Level Inputs Loading...	No
Preamp Outputs Loading...	No
Width (inches) Loading...	10-1/16
Height (inches) Loading...	2
Depth (inches) Loading...	4-1/8
Parts Warranty Loading...	1 Year
Labor Warranty Loading...	1 Year

Product Research

What's in the box?

Download owner's manual

2-Channel amplifier
4 Mounting brackets
4 Screws (3mm x 8mm)
4 Self-tapping screws (4mm x 18mm)
Owner's Manual (Eng/Fre/Span)
Warranty Sheet

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Features
Controls
Connections

Features

CEA 2006 Compliant: The Pioneer PRS-D800 2-Channel Power Amplifier power ratings are measured according to standards provided by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). These standards allow you to accurately compare the rated power output of all CEA2006-compliant amplifiers, even if they come from different brands. Manufacturers who adhere to the standards can display the CEA2006 logo on their products and packaging. CEA2006 Specifications for this amplifier are:

Two-Channel: 125 watts RMS x 2 at 4-ohms, 14.4 V, and 1% THD+N (150 watts x 2 at 2-ohms, 14.4 V, and 1% THD+N)
Bridged: 300 Watts x 1 at 4-ohms, 14.4 V, and 1% THD+N

Class-FD Amp: A Class-D amplifier offers higher power in a smaller chassis than conventional Class-AB amp designs. Pioneer's exclusive Class-FD design not only delivers full-range Class-D amplification, but is more efficient than other designs. The result is clear and vivid sound in an extraordinarily small amplifier. The ultra-compact design provides a multitude of installation options.

PRS Amp Design: The PRS amplifier includes high-performance, high-slew rate amplifier circuitry from Linear Technology Corporation which accurately generates PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signals from analog input signals. The use of electrolytic capacitors create a wide frequency response and dynamic range for high-end tone and detail. Anti-vibration materials under the power transformer eliminate vibrations that are detrimental to sound, giving you a higher signal-to-noise ratio and lower distortion.

Controls

Input Select Switch: The amplifier's input select switch (on the bottom of the chassis) allows you to choose between a 2-channel or 1-channel mode. The 2-channel mode requires connecting a pair of RCA cords to the amplifier's Channel A and Channel B RCA inputs, while the 1-channel mode only requires you to run a single RCA cord to the amplifier's Channel A RCA input. In 2-channel mode, you can run a stereo or bridged mono configuration. In 1-channel mode, you can run two speakers on a single channel, such as left front and left rear, or one speaker in a bridged configuration.

Independent Gain Controls: The Pioneer PRS-D800 features independent adjustable gain controls for Channel A and Channel B. This means that no matter what kind of radio is connected to this amplifier, the appropriate gain control adjustment can be made to ensure loud, clear, distortion-free music. The Gain Control range is 400mV (0.4V) to 6.5V.

No Crossovers: The PRS-D800 does not have built-in crossovers. You should use the crossovers built into the head unit, or a separate electronic crossover, to filter the audio signals to the amplifier.

Connections

Power Connections: The power and ground connections will accommodate up to 4-gauge wire. The remote turn-on terminal will accept up to 8-gauge wire. A Phillips-head or slotted screwdriver can be used to tighten and loosen the terminals.

Note: Based on the 30A fuse rating and power output of the amplifier, an 8-gauge amplifier wiring kit is recommended.

Speaker Connections: The speaker output terminals will accommodate up to 8-gauge wire. A Phillips-head or slotted screwdriver can be used to tighten and loosen the terminals.

RCA Input: The amplifier features a pair of gold-plated stereo RCA inputs (Channel A/Channel B).

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