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 Lightning Audio LA-1000MDMINI

by Buck Pomerantz

Lightning strikes again

Lightning Audio makes a great line of amplifiers that'll appeal to car audio fans everywhere. Their compact LA-1000MDMINI mono amp will hit your subs with up to 500 watts RMS, giving your sound a strong foundation. This handsome little amp packs its big wallop using Class D amp technology that allows it to be small enough — about 6" by 9" — and run cool enough to fit almost anywhere in your vehicle.

Precise control

You'll use the low-pass filter to send the right frequencies to your sub system, then tame the extreme low end with a variable subsonic filter, so your sub and enclosure will sound their best. A selectable bass boost adds some bottom to the mix when you need it, and Lightning Audio includes a wired remote that lets you control your sub's level from the front seat.

LA-1000MDMINI control panel

Highlights:

mono subwoofer amplifier
250 watts RMS x 1 at 4 ohms (500 watts RMS x 1 at 2 ohms)
variable low-pass filter (35-250 Hz, 12 dB/octave)
selectable bass boost (0, 6, 12 dB at 45 Hz)
variable subsonic filter (15-55 Hz, 12 dB/octave)
wired remote level control included
Class-D amplifier design
frequency response: 20-250 Hz
preamp inputs
4-gauge power and ground leads and a 60-amp fuse recommended — wiring and hardware not included with amplifier
no onboard fuses — when installing multiple amps in a system, an additional 60-amp in-line fuse between the distribution block and the amplifier is recommended
9"W x 2-5/16"H x 6-1/8"D
warranty: 1 year
Our 60-day money-back guarantee

Preliminary info from the manufacturer

Our Product Research team will verify these specs and supply more detailed information once we receive the product.

Features and Specs

Performance
RMS Power Output (Watts x Channels) Loading...	250 x 1
Peak Power Output (Watts x Channels) Loading...	---
Power at 2 Ohms (Watts x Channels) Loading...	500 x 1
Bridged Power (Watts x Channels) Loading...	---
Minimum Impedance Bridged Loading...	---
Minimum Impedance Unbridged Loading...	2
Best Frequency Response Loading...	20-250 Hz
THD at Rated RMS Power Loading...	---
Signal to Noise Ratio Loading...	---
Input Voltage Loading...	---
Features
Amplifier Class Loading...	D
Low-Pass Crossover Frequency Loading...	35-250 Hz
Low-Pass Slope (dB/octave) Loading...	12 dB/octave
High-Pass Crossover Frequency Loading...	---
High-Pass Slope (dB/octave) Loading...	---
Bass Boost Loading...	0, 6, 12 dB
Bass Boost Frequency Loading...	45 Hz
Fan Cooled Loading...	---
Fuse Rating Loading...	---
Speaker Level Inputs Loading...	No
Preamp Outputs Loading...	No
Width (inches) Loading...	9
Height (inches) Loading...	2-5/16
Depth (inches) Loading...	6-1/8
Parts Warranty Loading...	1 Year
Labor Warranty Loading...	1 Year

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