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 Focal FPP 1000

by Buck Pomerantz

Focal Power Performance (FPP) amplifiers give your music the clean and powerful boost it needs to sound its best. The FPP 1000 mono subwoofer amp can drive a sub or two with up to 500 watts RMS, adding the excitement and impact of great bass in your vehicle.

Extra control over your bass
It's frustrating when you can't get your bass exactly the way you want it — this amp features a low-pass filter, a subsonic filter, variable bass boost, and a phase switch, so you can make those little adjustments that'll give you perfect bass tones. And you can control the level from the front seat, with the included wired remote.

Solid, smart construction
The FPP 1000 sports a heavy aluminum chassis that disperses heat efficiently, so it runs cool even when you're pushing your system hard. This FPP amp also includes high-level inputs with signal-sensing, so you can hook one up to any receiver — even a factory stereo — without needing a separate turn-on lead.

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Highlights:

mono subwoofer amplifier
300 watts RMS CEA-2006 x 1 at 4 ohms
500 watts RMS x 1 at 2 ohms
variable low-pass filter filter (50-150 Hz, 12 dB/octave)
subsonic filter (35 Hz, 24 dB/oct)
variable bass boost (0-9 dB at 50 Hz)
phase switch
wired remote level control included
Class-AB amplifier design
differential-balanced inputs help eliminate noise from your vehicle's electrical system
frequency response: 10-150 Hz
speaker-level and preamp inputs
preamp outputs
4-gauge power and ground leads recommended — wiring and hardware not included with amplifier
fuse rating: 25A x 2
14-15/16"W x 2-3/8"H x 7-7/8"D
warranty: 1 year
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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...	300 x 1
Peak Power Output (Watts x Channels) Loading...	N/A
Power at 2 Ohms (Watts x Channels) Loading...	500 x 1
Bridged Power (Watts x Channels) Loading...	N/A
Minimum Impedance Bridged Loading...	N/A
Minimum Impedance Unbridged Loading...	2
Best Frequency Response Loading...	10-150 Hz
THD at Rated RMS Power Loading...	1%
Signal to Noise Ratio Loading...	85 dB
Input Voltage Loading...	14.4v
Features
Amplifier Class Loading...	AB
Low-Pass Crossover Frequency Loading...	50-150 Hz
Low-Pass Slope (dB/octave) Loading...	12 dB/oct
High-Pass Crossover Frequency Loading...	N/A
High-Pass Slope (dB/octave) Loading...	N/A
Bass Boost Loading...	0-9 dB
Bass Boost Frequency Loading...	50 Hz
Fan Cooled Loading...	No
Fuse Rating Loading...	50
Speaker Level Inputs Loading...	Harness
Preamp Outputs Loading...	1 pair
Width (inches) Loading...	14-15/16
Height (inches) Loading...	2-3/8
Depth (inches) Loading...	7-7/8
Parts Warranty Loading...	1 Year
Labor Warranty Loading...	1 Year

Product Research

What's in the box?

Download owner's manual

Black mono subwoofer amplifier
Four 25 amp ATO fuses (two installed)
Four 2-3/4" Allen-head self-tapping screws
12" Speaker-level input harnesses (4-pin Molex plug on one end)
External remote control
15' External remote control cable (RJ-14 plug on both ends)
5mm Allen wrench
3mm Allen wrench
2.5m Allen wrench
4 Adhesive backed rubber washers
User Manual (English/ French)

Our Product Research Team

At Crutchfield, you'll get detailed, accurate information that's hard to find elsewhere. That's because we have our own in-house Product Research team — they open the box, verify contents, check the owner's manual, and record dimensions, features and specs. We stay on top of new products and technologies to help people make informed choices.

Features

Overview: The Focal Power Performance series amplifiers feature a class-AB design for excellent sound quality. The aluminum chassis efficiently dissipates heat to protect the amp from thermal overload. The front-mounted connections and top-mounted controls are easily accessible for a clean installation.

CEA-2006 Compliant: CEA-2006 is a new system of testing and measurement methods for mobile audio amplifiers. This voluntary standard advocates a uniform method for determining an amplifier's RMS power output and signal-to-noise ratio. The criteria for measuring power uses a DC input voltage of 14.4 volts and the RMS power output is measured into a 4-ohm load with 1% or less Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) plus noise. Signal-to-Noise ratio is measured in weighted absolute decibels (dBA) at a reference of 1 watt into 4 ohms. CEA-2006 allows consumers to compare car amplifiers and receivers on an equal basis. Following the CEA-2006 criteria, the FPP 1000 is rated at 300 Watts RMS x 1 channel with an 85dBA signal to noise ratio.

2-Ohm Stable: The FPP 1000 is stable down to 2-ohms. The amplifier is rated at 500 Watts RMS x 1 channel in 2 ohms.

Top-mounted Controls: The amplifier has controls conveniently mounted on the top panel under a removable cover. The controls include:

Gain Control: rotary control; continuously variable from 0.2 volts to 5.0 volts for the line level inputs and 0.4 volts to 9.0 volts for the speaker level inputs
Subsonic: 2-position switch the turn the subsonic filter on/off; the subsonic filter crossover point is 35 Hz and the slope is 24 dB/octave
Frequency: rotary control to adjust the low pass crossover point; continuously variable from 50 Hz to 150 Hz; the slope is 12 dB/octave
Bass Boost: rotary control to adjust the bass boost; 0-9 dB, centered at 50 Hz
Phase: 2-position switch to easily reverse the subwoofer's polarity; 0°/180°

Front-mounted Terminals: The FPP 1000 has all of its connections on the front of the amplifier for a clean installation. The terminals include:

Speaker Output: one pair of set-screw terminals for connecting a subwoofer; accepts up to 7-gauge wire; tightened/loosened with the supplied 2.5mm Allen wrench
External Remote: RJ-14 jack for use with the included external remote control; the external remote controls the output level of the subwoofer
Line Input: Left and right channel RCA jacks for the input signal from the head unit
Line Output: Left and right channel RCA output jacks to daisy-chain another amplifier without having to run an additional set of cables
Hi Level Inputs: 4-pin Molex jack for use with the supplied speaker level input harness
Fuses: the amp is protected by two 25-amp ATO-type fuses; spare fuses are included with the amplifier
Power: two set-screw terminals for connecting the power and ground cables; they can accept up to 3-gauge wire; a 4-gauge wiring kit is recommended for this amp; tightened/loosened with the supplied 3mm Allen wrench
Remote: set screw terminal for the remote turn-on lead; will accept up to 7-gauge wire; tightened/loosened with the supplied 3mm Allen wrench

External Remote Control: The amp has an RJ-14 jack for use with the included external wired remote control. The amplifier also includes a 15' cable to connect the remote to the amplifier. This remote allows you to adjust the output level of the subwoofer from your listening position. The remote features a rotary knob and a power LED that illuminates when the amplifier is powered on. The remote has two screw holes and can be mounted under the dash (mounting screws not included). The wired remote dimensions are:

Width: 1-5/8"
Height: 1"
Depth: 1-3/4" (2-3/8" including knob and wiring)

Auto Power On: When using the speaker level input, the Auto Power On circuit senses an input signal and turns the amp on automatically. This feature makes it easier to add an amplifier to a factory radio or to a receiver with no preamp outputs.

Protection Circuitry: The FPP amplifiers employ four protection circuits: short circuit, thermal overload, over voltage, and polarity reversal.

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