Are you tired of messing around with multiple amplifiers on your car stereo system? It just makes no sense to do that when there are plenty of good 5-channel amplifiers in the auto stereo marketplace. These 5-channel amps are great because they can run your entire system off of just one amplifier. Yes, that includes your front and rear speaker sets plus a subwoofer. It just makes your car stereo setup that much easier to install.
In this article we will take a look at the best 5-channel car amplifiers you will find in the car audio marketplace. Included in these 5-Channel Car Amplifier reviews will be a list of features that make each one of these amplifiers a joy to own. If you are in the market for a new 5-channel amplifier you will most likely find one on the list that is perfect for your car stereo needs.
Best 5-Channel Car Amplifiers Comparison Chart
PRODUCT | DETAILS | ||
---|---|---|---|
Rockford P1000X5 Punch Amplifier |
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Kenwood Excelon X801-5 Car Amplifier |
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Polk Audio PA D5000.5 Class D PA Series Car Amplifier |
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Rockford Fosgate R600X5 Prime Amplifier |
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Pioneer GM-D9705 GM Series Class D Amp |
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Kenwood Performance Series Power Amplifier |
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Soundstream PN5.640D Picasso Nano Car Audio Amplifier |
| View On Amazon |
Best 5-Channel Car Amplifier Reviews (Updated List)
1. Rockford P1000X5 Punch Amplifier
Rockford Fosgate is one of the big players when it comes to excellent car stereo equipment. Products like this 5-channel amp are the reason why. It has more than enough power to let you crank up the volume in your front and rear speakers and still have enough left over to power your subwoofer too.
This quality amplifier will supply 75 watts of power to each of 4 regular speakers and also supply 150 watts of power to your vehicles subwoofer. That won’t shake the doors off of the car next to you but it will definitely provide you with a much more than adequate volume for your vehicle.
Other nice features on the Rockford P1000X5 include its cast aluminum heatsink that will help keep this amp cooler than you would expect as you run it. It has easy access top mount controls and its crossover feature gives you much frequency adjustability. This car stereo amplifier will also automatically turn on once it detects voltage going through the system.
Pros:
- Cast aluminum heatsink
- 75 Watts per channel x 4 and 150 Watt subwoofer power @ 4-ohms
- Top mount controls
- 12dB/octave crossover
- High quality 4 gauge ground/power connections
- Auto Turn-On circuit
Cons:
- Bass adjustment sold separately
- Not for vehicles that have limited install space
2. Kenwood Excelon X801-5 Car Amplifier
Kenwood is a company that knows how to build quality car stereo components that complement each other. That’s exactly what you get with the Excelon X801-5 car stereo 5-channel amplifier. It’s the only vehicle amplifier you will need to run your front and back speaker sets with a subwoofer.
At 50 watts per channel for the regular speakers and 75 watts for the subwoofer, this amplifier is not going to overwhelm you with volume. What it will do is give you a distortion-free listening experience even when it’s cranked all the way up. Any more volume than it has is probably not good for your ears anyway.
This amplifier is well protected as far as its circuitry goes too with its 3-way protection system that includes thermal, power and short circuit protection. Other nice features on it include its extruded aluminum heatsink, MOSFET modulated power supply and its high-quality capacitors.
Pros:
- 3-Way circuit protection
- 50 Watts per channel x 4 and 75 Watt subwoofer power @ 4-ohms
- Modulated MOSFET power supply
- Fairly compact for a powerful 5-channel amplifier
- Variable high and low pass filters
- High quality audio grade capacitors
Cons:
- Does not provide great volume for vehicles with large interiors
- Works best if you upgrade the speakers on your car stereo system too
3. Polk Audio PA D5000.5 Class D PA Series Car Amplifier
Here is one of the pleasant surprises on our review list of the top 5-channel car stereo amplifiers. It comes from the car stereo component manufacturer Polk who does not often have its products show up on our top review lists. This 5-channel car amplifier from them is and exception and a good one at that.
If you crave big and deep sound from your vehicle’s sound system this amplifier model will help you get there. It distributes a full 70 Watts per channel to four regular speakers and supplies 200-watt subwoofer power also (@ 4-ohms). You probably won’t be able to comfortably turn up the volume in your car all the way it’s so powerful.
Thanks to its ultra-energy efficiency this amplifier runs much cooler than you would expect for an amp with this much power. It also uses the popular MOSFET modulated power supply and includes a remote bass level control feature too. The Polk Audio PA D5000.5 amplifier is very durable to thanks to its coated PB board and the high amount of stainless steel parts used in its construction.
Pros:
- MOSFET modulated power supply
- 70 Watts per channel x 4 and 200 Watt subwoofer power @ 4-ohms
- Super energy efficient/Runs cool
- Thermal, reverse polarity and short circuit protection
- Remote bass level control
- Stainless steel used throughout its construction
Cons:
- It’s very long
- Works best if you upgrade the speakers on your car stereo system too
4. Rockford Fosgate R600X5 Prime Amplifier
It never surprises us when we are doing car stereo component top review lists and we get multiple models from Rockford Fosgate on that list. The company has done it again with their second entry on our list of the best 5-channel amplifiers.
With just 50 Watts per channel delivered to the 4 regular speakers in your system and 200 watts of power delivered to your subwoofer (4-ohms), this amplifier won’t blow you out of your car. What it will do is provide you with a consistently loud undistorted sound.
It’s nicely loaded with much other top quality features too. These include its ability to handle both High and RCA level input. Its 12dB/octave crossover with give you some flexibility with frequency programming and its cast aluminum heatsink will keep it running cool also. The high-quality ground and power connections will also help cut down on interference too.
Pros:
- Can handle High and RCA level input
- 50 Watts per channel x 4 and 200 Watt subwoofer power @ 4-ohms
- 12dB/octave crossover
- High quality 4 gauge ground/power connections
- Cast aluminum heatsink
- Easy access top mount controls
Cons:
- No wires are supplied
- Won’t run dual subwoofers very well
5. Pioneer GM-D9705 GM Series Class D Amp
Pioneer has managed to stack significant power in a moderated size with the GM-D9705. Together with the clean and simple design, the manufacturer has added flexibility and more control options. The amplifier has moderate dimensions of 8 inches by 12 inches with a thickness of 3.5 inches, and five channels are at your disposal.
Two A/B channels for the low and high range. The low 75Watts at 4 ohms and the high 100Watss, at 2ohms. Another two for subwoofers, respectively the low 350Watts at 4ohms and high 600Watts at 2 ohms. The fifth channel is an A/B one with a frequency response between 10Hz and 50kHz.
For maximizing the wattage, bi-wiring is possible, and there is a bass knob available. The knob allows controlling the db and range from 0 to 18dbs.
Connect your door speakers directly to the amplifier using the high-level inputs if you want a cleaner installation. Or use the direct wire contact to reduce resistance.
Pros:
- Peak power at 2000Watts
- Multichannel
- A and B channel rated at 75Watts at 4 RMS
- Subwoofer output rated at 500Watts at 2 ohms
- A wide frequency range of between 10Hz and 50 000Hz
Cons:
- Users have registered overheating instances
6. Kenwood Performance Series Power Amplifier
Here is a very interesting 5-channel car stereo amplifier design from the reputable manufacturer Kenwood. It’s unusual because it powers the front and rear speaker sets in your car with just 40 watts per channel. The most unusual part is it throws 300 watts of power to any subwoofer that you hook up to this car stereo amplifier.
What does all that mean? Well, in a nutshell, it means this is the type of car stereo amplifier you want if you are really into deep, rich bass. Once you start learning to use this 5-channel car stereo amplifier you will see that there is a control you can even further adjust the bass with too.
Other nice features on this Kenwood product include advanced circuit protection and its built-in crossover feature. Its high and low pass filters are also variable too. This amp gives you a nice mix of price versus performance too.
Pros:
- 3-Way circuit protection
- 40 Watts per channel x 4 and 300 Watt subwoofer power @ 4-ohms
- Built-in crossover
- It’s bridgeable
- Variable high and low pass filters
- Variable bass boost
Cons:
- Slightly bulky
- Short 1-year warranty
7. Soundstream PN5.640D Picasso Nano Car Audio Amplifier
Here is one of the more compact 5-channel car stereo amplifiers on our top review list. It will not blast you out of your car with powerful sound but it will give you a pleasurable listening experience with some good bass a generous sound level.
This amplifier unit from Soundstream features 60 watts per channel on the 4 front and back speakers and it supplies 200 watts of power to your subwoofer. It is an amplifier that was designed to have low harmonic distortion and it includes a MOSFET PWM power supply which helps when the unit is starting up and shutting down.
This is a great car stereo amplifier for applications where you do not have much installation room. It measures approximately 5” x 2” x 10”. That means even vehicles with extremely small interiors or trunks should be able to easily find a space to locate this amplifier.
Pros:
- Compact design
- 60 Watts per channel x 4 and 200 Watt subwoofer power @ 4-ohms
- Double sided PC board
- Low harmonic distortion
- MOSFET PWM power supply
- Remote mounted gain control switch
Cons:
- Installation instructions could be better
- No bridged inputs
PRODUCT | DETAILS | ||
---|---|---|---|
Hertz Audio HDP5 Class D Amplifier |
| View On Amazon | |
Alpine PDX-V9 Digital Amplifier |
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BOSS AUDIO PV3700 Phantom Class A/B 5 Channel Amplifier |
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Hifonics BRX5016.5 Brutus 5-Channel Amp |
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Rockville Car Stereo Amplifier |
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Planet Audio AC1800.5 Car Amplifier |
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8. Hertz Audio HDP5 Class D Amplifier
One of the more recognizable brands on the market is Hertz Audio and HDP5-5 channel Class D amp is their common product with compact dimension and substantial price.
For that money, you’ll get a pretty decent specification which includes 950W max power and choice of operating on 2 or 4 ohms. If you operate on 2 ohms you can have 4 x 100w of speakers and subwoofer on 550w and if you choose to operate on 4 ohms you get 4 x 75w of speakers and subwoofer on 380 w.
It depends on your needs and good thing to know is that this amp is very compact and easy to mount in the trunk or in car’s interior and doesn’t require much space. The users speak highly of this product and praise its quality and clear sound so we fell comfortable of recommending it to you.
9. Alpine PDX-V9 Digital Amplifier
The Alpine’s PDX-V9 car amp is a compact and more affordable product with good reviews and manufacturer’s reputation. It features maximum power of 900 W and in 100W RMS x 4 + 500W RMS x 1 configuration. The system’s output is enough to power commonly build in car speakers or aftermarket subwoofers up to 12-inch size. It doesn’t overheat and is well isolated.
Users reported no problems with this product and generally positive reviews. With its compact size and stackable installation design with front-panel controls, it is easy to install and it doesn’t require a lot of space. With the affordable price and good specifications, this is a recommended product.
10. BOSS AUDIO PV3700 Phantom Class A/B 5 Channel Amplifier
Interesting product from Boss Audio is their Phantom 3700 five channel car amp. Very good specification and very low price. But first, let’s talk about power and this amp has 3700 W max power and you can operate it at 2 and 4 ohms and it can be bridged if needed. It also has hi and low filters, bass boost, remote subwoofer controls and even full 6 years dealer warranty.
It is not as compact as some other offerings on the market but is not big or heavy either. With lights on the amp itself, it is a product you can put in a visible place as a tuning or esthetics detail which is suited for guys that are into aftermarket stuff. The users reported no problems and at this price, the Boss Audio PV3700 is a good to buy and recommended for you.
11. Hifonics BRX5016.5 Brutus 5-Channel Amp
The Hilfonic’s presented the good product which comes in various power levels for any car audio fan and their BRX5016.5 car amplifier is available from modest 300 W all the way up to 3000 W for powering big systems. It is a nicely designed product with LED power (green) and protects (red) indicators and built-in system diagnostics for easy monitoring the amp’s functions.
Interestingly, this car amp can be paired with other similar products if you want monstrous power in your system and it has preamp RCA outputs. Users reported no problems with this or similar products from this manufacturer and the price is affordable. Since it comes in lots of different power outputs (at different prices also) you can find one you need easily.
12. Rockville Car Stereo Amplifier
A Rocking amplifier from Rockville with extremely high power rated at 4000Watts in peak. High and low pass, as well as bass, will give you the sound clarity and strength you are looking for. Both A/B and D class are applied through optical coupler technology.
It is recommended using cables size of 4 gauge, and thanks to the five channels, you can hookup your highs, tweeters, and subwoofers at the same time. You can even use it in a home theatre system. There is a good level of protection provided. If one of your speakers blows out, the amplifier will go into protected mode and not come on again until you have solved the problem. It has under-voltage protection at 10V and over-voltage at 16V.
Using the long rj45 cord, you can install the bass knob all the way to the front of the car and adjust as you please. You can put it right next to the Remote Dashboard Subwoofer control, which comes with this beast.
Pros:
- High peak power rate at 4000Watts
- Subwoofer remote control
- Mute and Delay Soft Start System
- CEA Compliant Power Rating at less than 1% distortion
- Safety mode; undervoltage and overvoltage protection
Cons:
- Goods damaged – there have been complaints on a channel not working or filter broken
13. Planet Audio AC1800.5 Car Amplifier
Planet’s car amplifier has dimensions of 19.6 inches in length, 10 inches in width, and 2.25 inches in height. Inside these measures, a peak power of 1800Watts at peak and five channels will make your car audio system sound crystal clear and too loud for the neighbors.
The full range allows you to run both your speaker and subwoofers, and the Class A/B topology gives high and low current flow. A MOSFET power supply acts as a housewife – cleaning up any excess voltage and current, sensing loss, and eliminating all secondary feedback circuitry.
Mounting of the amplifier is possible once you unscrew the plastic covers on its sides. There you can find the screw holes with which you can safely mount in the desired place.
Bridging is possible if you want to increase the power output to your speakers. A variable bass boost will allow you to control the bass directed to your subwoofer.
Pros:
- High peak power of 1800Watts
- 5 channels for diverse connectivity
- MOSFET power supply for precise and clean sound output
- High- and low-level outputs
Cons:
- The big size of the amp may constrain some spaces
Advantages Of 5 Channel Car Amplifiers
The 5 channel amps can be your first and only choice when it comes to choosing a car amplifier. Their price and specifications are good enough for most users and they are available in wide range of power outputs from modest 300 W all the way up to 3000 + W. The 5 channel layout is ideal for most applications since you have four channels for four in-car speakers and one for a subwoofer in the trunk.
Most of the 5 channel amps on the market can be bridged so you can modify it to your own needs. Of course, if you are demanding user and have big ambitions you can always combine a couple of 5 channel amps and create a powerful system with super high output but for the majority of the customers around the world, the right 5 channel amp is one you can buy straight from the shop and install it in a few minutes.
Few Final Thoughts on 5-Channel Car Stereo Amplifiers
Take our word for it. A 5-channel car stereo amp can really help make your vehicle sound system easier to install and sound better if you are using a 4 speaker configuration with an additional subwoofer.
Any of the models found here on our 5-channel car amplifier reviews would make an excellent car stereo amplifier purchase. They truly are among the best 5-channel car amplifiers you will find in the car audio marketplace. So the next time you want to do something different with your car stereo system get one of these 5-channel amplifiers and hook it up. You will love the difference it makes in your car’s sound system.