Better car audio, Tip #3: Add an amplifier
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Welcome to this article from the Crutchfield archives. Have fun reading it, but be aware that the information may be outdated and links may be broken. 
You may be saying, "My factory stereo puts out 200 watts, and that's plenty of power." But there's a huge difference between 50 watts peak power per channel produced by your car stereo and 50 watts RMS from an outboard amplifier. A separate amplifier will provide more clean power than any car stereo, and that'll make a night-and-day difference in sound quality. Your system will sound better, whether you listen to Mahler at a conversational level or Megadeth turned up to 11. An amplifier is essential to getting great sound in your car.
If you're adding high-quality aftermarket speakers or component systems to your vehicle, they may require more power for peak performance than your existing in-dash receiver can provide. Subwoofers require significantly more power than a brand-name or factory in-dash receiver can provide. With subs, a separate amp is a necessity.
Amplifiers do not come with wiring you need to connect them to your stereo. Wiring Kits provide everything you need to send signal and power to your amp.
Learn more about car amplifiers.
This post is excerpted from a recent article in our Learning Center, Jeff's Tips for Getting Maximum Sound Quality in Your Car.
Meet Jim Richardson
Jim Richardson worked for Crutchfield for a combined total of about 34 years before his retirement in 2021. He started in 1977 as Crutchfield's lucky seventh employee (or #007, as he put it), wearing many hats in different departments, including writing for the catalog.
Jim spent 10 years away from Crutchfield between 1983 and 1993, during which time he finished college and worked as a newspaper reporter and editor. He returned to the company just in time for our 1995 website launch, and helped pioneer early iterations of our online car-fit tools.
More recently, Jim worked as an editor for our home A/V and pro audio articles, where he made huge contributions to the way we present information to help you narrow down your choices and understand how to get the most out of your gear.
More from Jim Richardson
How to choose 3.5 mm audio cables and adapters
How to choose a phono preamp
How to choose a portable projector
Is Dolby Atmos good for music?
What you need to know about ATSC 3.0
Rear channel speakers for home theater