Amplifier Experts

Introduction

With a plentiful choice of car amplifiers on the market choosing the right amp can become an energy consuming task. Since a 5-channel amp is a virtually one unit containing two amps, the quest for your car amp can become even more overwhelming. With all the 5 channel car audio amplifier reviews in this article we decided to look at ten 5-channel car amps that fall under a $1000 in the sincere hope this can help you find the best 5 channel car amplifier for your car.

Summary

Reviews

1. Rockford Fosgate Punch P1000X5 1000 Watt 5 Channel Amplifier

What do you think of first when you see the words “amplifier” and “punch” together in one line? We really hope it is not the drink for a family get-together. If your thought went in the direction of the world of sound power, then you’ll want to read this. Yes, Rockford Fosgate Punch P1000X5 is designed to power up your whole car audio system with the consistent 125 watts per channel and steady 500 watts for the subwoofer. Compared with most amplifiers Rockford Fosgate Punch P1000X5 is able to work with 1 ohm resistance on the sub, thus pushing the total power to 1000 watts in the bridged mode. The frequency response is quite wide – 20-20K Hz, so the entire spectrum is covered for you. In terms of sound set-up Punch P1000X5 comes with a set of options: high-pass and low-pass filters, PEQ2 bass/treble variable boost, switchable subsonic filter plus a L.E.A.N. technology gain setup system with a test tone CD.

The unit itself looks so stylish it may as well be an amp for your spaceship. One may wonder how well it can handle the overheating. Well, MEHSA MOSFET and Dynamic Thermal Management do it just fine. There is also a sensor that detects a signal coming through, which switches the system on automatically. The amplifier is remote-ready, but you will need to buy one separately. Also, wiring and mounting hardware is not provided with the amp. Since we love the “easy”, this is the reason why Rockford Fosgate Punch P1000X5 didn’t make it to the 1^st place as the best 5 channel amp       . This is not the bid deal however if you are determined to get a decent sound that you want enjoy, only enjoy and nothing, but enjoy.

Keeping in mind its price, Rockford Fosgate Punch P1000X5 is not for everybody. This amp is for those little more devoted for the quality car sound and willing to spend extra time and money on installation.

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2. Alpine PDR-V75 5 Channel Digital Amplifier

Since what we discuss here is the possible candidate to be the best 5 channel amp that does not cost more than a thousand dollars, it wouldn’t be fair to skip Alpine PDR-V75. We already praised its stronger brother in the beginning of the review, but for some it still may not be the best option money-wise. So let’s see how PDR-V75 stands against its relative. They both come in the same D class, so there shouldn’t be much difference between them. As you can expect, Alpine kept certain degree of consistency in their PD line of amps. For a little cut on price with PDR-V75 you get a little less power for the bass channel, but front channels give the same 100 watts. You can notice a slight cut on such features as low-pass and high-pass crossover frequencies, frequency response and signal to noise ratio. So, Alpine PDR-V75 can be somewhat called a more budget version of PDX-V9. What it does have that V9 doesn’t is the bass boost. Obviously, this feature is present for the reason of less overall power. But what matters the most is that you still get clear quality sound that you’ll be able to set up in your desired way.

Just like its big brother PDR-V75 is a compact unit, featuring the same fashion in the design. So the stylish look is still here. The inputs are RCA’s, so there is one noticeable difference. Overall, Alpine PDR-V75 provides less fancy features while letting you save some money. This is one thing that Alpine took care of – giving you more options to choose the best 5 channel car amp for your car at the desired funds allowance.

Alpine PDR-V75 is not for you if you’re looking for a lot of power and bass, but please by all means consider this amp if the sound quality is your main goal.

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3. Rockville dB55 4000 Watt/2000w RMS 5 Channel Amplifier Car Stereo Amp

At the price significantly lower of that of amplifiers from the top of this review, Rockville dB55 can still maintain the standards set by its more expensive rivals. Well, Rockville dB55 does bring a lot of sound power to your car. So, even this amp, made available in 2017 can still be dubbed as the best 5 channel car amplifier in 2019. The RMS power is rated at 240W for the 4 channels + 1000W for the bass channel. Considering the price this output is way more than one would expect. This is especially true with the crazy peak power of 4000 watts, half of which is designated for the subwoofer. What makes it even more appealing for the bass freaks is that Rockville dB55 comes with a fully adjustable 12dB bass equalizer. Clean sound, no distortion. Amazing, isn’t it? It really is.

The amp is protected by a MOSFET power supply, which can be viewed as a standard these days. Optical coupler allows switching between Class-D and A/B depending on what performance is required. What might set you back is the installation process, which is not so easy. It has been found that the mounting screws may not always fit your car. This, however, will not be a big problem for someone who has enough energy for a quick run to a local shop to get all fixed. We actually believe that Rockville dB55 was intentionally designed in such a way as it was targeted for young music lovers, who have as much resources as this amp has power.

If you’re one of those sound hooligans that like to share their music with the whole world around you, then this amp was definitely made with your needs in mind.

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4. Rockville RXH-F5 3200 Watt Peak/1600w RMS 5 Channel

Rockville RXH-F5 is obviously one of the most affordable car amplifiers out there.  There should be no illusion as to what one can get for around $150. On the other hand this unit can easily become the best 5 channel car amplifier for certain folks. Let’s see why. Something, one would notice almost immediately after looking at the specifications, is the shift of power towards the bass: while front channels give 150 watts each, the subwoofer channel is rated as 1000 watts RMS. This is almost twice as much bass power compared to the average amp, where the sum of four channels is usually equal the bass channel power output. Reasonably, the aim of Rockville RXH-F5 was not directed at hi-fi performance at higher frequencies, where some noise can be detected at lower volumes. However, the bass channel will make your car pump and will make you pumped if you are a fan of modern music with main focus on the bass. Needless to say, the bass remote is there for you.

The build of the unit is good old aluminum with some plastic on the front and the back. We can see that as a manufacturer’s way to make the RXH-F5 a cheaper and a more affordable device. It seems that Rockville figured that the target buyers of this amp would not care much about all that as they would care about the bass power.

Rockville RXH-F5 is not meant for true audiophiles, for sure. But for a great and affordable bass power at this amp is the one.

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5. Kenwood KAC-M8005

Kenwood KAC-M8005 is probably the smallest 5-channel car amplifier on the market. If your priority is the size then look no further and let KAC-M8005 be the best 5 channel car amplifier for you. In today’s world with cars stuffed with electronics it can sometimes be a problem finding enough space to add another piece of equipment. Kenwood kept that in mind designing their KAC-M8005 amplifier. What makes this amplifier unique among other amps on this review is that it comes in a weather-resistant build (protected from moisture, dirt and water) so while we review it as a car amp, it can also be installed on a bike or a boat. So keep that in mind if you own a boat too.

The compact size carries a total of 1600 watts of power with the ability to take input signals from any source (it has RCA connectors too). The auto-sensing technology enables the amp to switch on automatically. This amplifier, despite its size, has the required minimum ability to customize the sound from the speakers and from the subwoofer with help of high-pass and low-pass filters.

In case you are in the need of a versatile and very compact weather-proof amplifier, Kenwood has a KAC-M8005 for you.

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6. Planet Audio AC1800.5 Anarchy 1800 Watt car amplifier

Planet Audio AC1800.5 Anarchy stands next to the cheapest amp in this review. It is really easy to become skeptical about its abilities just by looking at its price around 130 dollars. Really, can an amplifier this cheap produce the claimed 1800 watts of power? The power is rated at 225 watts per speakers channel plus 450 watts for the subwoofer channel. It can be noticed then that AC1800.5 is not a bass-focused amp as most of the power is concentrated around the higher frequencies. For output on those Planet Audio has a MOSFET power supply featured. Sure, Planet Audio AC1800.5 is an A/B class amplifier, but with the variable high- and low-pass crossovers you get the control over the sound the way you’d like. As for the subwoofer, you get bass boost plus a remote control for your sub.

The build of the amp is premium quality cast aluminum body which helps with heat dissipation, which comes is pretty handy taking into account the amp’s proneness of overheating. Some distortion can be also experienced with this amp, so in reality the stated power rating cannot be achieved without losing some sound quality.

While Planet Audio AC1800.5 Anarchy is not the top-end unit, it can still be considered the best budget 5 channel car amplifier.

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7. Rockford Fosgate R600X5 Prime

Rockford Fosgate R600X5 Prime is an amplifier designed to power your entire car audio system. Four channels for the speakers and a designated channel for the subwoofer. The total power is evenly distributed between the front speakers and the sub to provide full and tasty sound into the space of your car. And this is one reason why we included Rockford Fosgate R600X5 Prime that was released in as far back as 2013. Another reason is that this system has proven to show longevity due to its optimal features: while not the best bass-focused amp and not the loudest, Rockford Fosgate R600X5 Prime will ensure the music can be enjoyed by everybody in your car, the driver and your passengers in the rear seats. So this is a good choice for a family car, where the main goal is to make everybody happy with whatever is on the playback. In such case you R600X5 may become your only car amplifier you’ll ever going to buy making it your best 5 channel car audio amplifier.

Rockford Fosgate R600X5 Prime is a simple and time-tested amplifier to enhance your car audio experience.

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8. Audiotek At850.5 5-Channel Class AB 2 Ohm Stable 3200W Stereo Power Car Amplifier W/Bass Control

Audiotek At850.5 is the cheapest 5-channel car audio amplifier on our review. Since we planned to look at different 5-channel car amps under $1000, we could not skip this unit, even though comes only at a price of merely over a hundred bucks. While Audiotek At850.5 is unfairly left out in most of 5-channel car amp reviews, we wanted to fix that. Some may say: why even bother? Well, we know that there are folks out there with different budgets and different demands, so it will only be just the right thing to give some coverage on this budget amp by Audiotek. It weighs only 10 pounds and quite compact, so it is already beneficial in comparison to other feature-rich monsters. Equipped with MOSFET power supply the Audiotek At850.5 is thermal and short protected. It even comes in an aluminum alloy case and with the bass remote. So, all the necessary basics are at your disposal.

If you need all the basic and standard functions and if you don’t make a huge deal of superior sound quality, this amp can solve your task: not the sharpest tool in the box, but it does what it is made for – it powers up your 5-channel car audio system!

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9. Alpine PDX-V9 5-Channel Extreme Power Density Digital Amplifier

Alpine PDX-V9 car amplifier comes first on our list as the main candidate for the title of best 5 channel car amplifier. It has well balanced specifications and features to be able to suit most car owners who made their decision to replace stock stereo system. Alpine PDX-V9 provides 100 watts RMS power for each of the 4 channels plus a 500 RMS power for the bass, which as you can see pretty much evenly distributed power between the foundation bass frequencies and all that sits on top. The maximum power is rated at 1600 watts all together. This will give enough of steady power for most needs of your car and will produce a nice and clean sound: no noises or hisses. That’s what words “power density” mean to us and to the manufacturer, who definitely feels confident incorporating that into the name of the amp.

The PDX-V9 is lightweight and compact stackable unit with a nice stylish design that will take up much space – you can even fit it under your seat. The installation is quick and easy due to the quick release plugs, which is one thing we love to experience. The controls are easily accessible from the front, so all adjustments can be done with no headache. Not to mention the thorough instruction manual so that you can do the job without seeking professional help, thus saving both time and money. The “easy” with this amp continues even after installation with the bass level remote control. The front and the rear channels have separate variable high-pass filters, plus the subwoofer has low-pass and subsonic variable filters. So, the set-up has enough freedom to play around for the perfect sound.

The mounting options are somewhat limited, but with all the described above this shouldn’t turn you away from an amp such consistent in what is does the best – the sound.

Although it may not be the last amp you buy for your car, it is for sure the amp that you may want to start with in order to get clean sound power in your car.

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10. Kenwood KAC-7005PS

Kenwood is the name that has been on the amplifier market for decades and KAC-7005PS is one of their best for your car. This amp offers 700 watts RMS with the 500 watts fed to the subwoofer channel, leaving 50 watts for each speaker channel. Kenwood KAC-7005PS can handle the maximum power of 1200 watts, which is enough for most needs. When bridged, each of the 2 speakers can get 100 watts of signal power. What’s good about this amp is that in addition to the cast aluminum case its cooling system is supported by fan cooling. This enables the unit to maintain optimal temperatures even under excessive use. Kenwood KAC-7005PS comes with separate crossovers for the front, rear and sub channels. Add the bass boost to that and you’ll have the flexibility to get your perfect tone.

Kenwood KAC-7005PS is a simple 5-channel amp solution that will work in most cases.

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Buyer’s Guide

If money is not the issue for you the best, easiest and fully ready option is the Alpine PDX-V9. Next best options are Rockford Fosgate Punch P1000X5 and Alpine PDR-V75 – these assume that you are ready to spend a little more time working on the amps. If your ears can handle limitless power, then go for Rockville dB55. For tons of bass our obvious choice is Rockville RXH-F5. Kenwood KAC-M8005 is a unique entry on our list that will help with tight spaces and even in the open (like boats, bikes). If you are limited on budget, then Planet Audio AC1800.5 can do the trick for you. For a very limited budget Audiotek At850.5 is the best option. Rockford Fosgate R600X5 Prime and Kenwood KAC-7005PS are good solutions in other general cases.

Conclusion

In our review here we’ve covered few different subcategories of 5-channel car amps, in which your primary focus may be. We really hope that it will help you find the right amp for your needs, whether these are more bass, more overall power, saving money or simply the best possible solution.

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