10 Best Budget Car Amplifiers under $100 in 2023 – Reviews & Top Picks

While not an essential component of a basic car stereo system, adding an after-market amplifier is a great way to breathe life into your music. So, whether you want to pump some serious bass with a killer sub-woofer, add more power to your existing car speakers, or just improve the sound quality of your stereo system, installing an amplifier should be on your list of things to do.

But with hundreds of car stereo amplifiers ranging in price, size, type, brand, and quality, choosing the best one can be quite a task. That’s why we’ve taken the time to help you by putting together this list of reviews of the best budget car amplifiers you can buy for under $100.

A Quick Look at Our Favorite Picks in 2023:

Rating	Image	Product	Details
Best Overall		BOSS Audio Systems R1100M Car Amplifier	Variable bass boost Bass remote High & low-level inputs	CHECK PRICE
Best Value		Blaupunkt AMP1504 4-Channel Amplifier	Good value Full-range 4-channel amp	CHECK PRICE
		Planet Audio AC1000 2 Channel Car Amplifier	Price Variable low & high pass crossover Remote sub-woofer control	CHECK PRICE
		BOSS Audio Systems AR1500M Car Amplifier	Power output Build quality Remote sub-woofer control	CHECK PRICE
		Rockford Fosgate Prime 2-Channel Amplifier	Build Quality well-known brand MOSFET power supply	CHECK PRICE

The 10 Best Budget Car Amplifiers under $100:

1. BOSS Audio Systems R1100M Car Amplifier – Best Overall

Since it can deliver 820 watts RMS (1100 watts max power), this monoblock amplifier from BOSS Audio Systems is just the ticket for anybody looking to increase the bass of their stereo with a sub-woofer. Featuring a MOSFET power supply and both high and low-level inputs, this amp is a great choice whether you are connecting it to a factory-fitted stereo or an aftermarket model.

It comes complete with a remote sub-woofer control that allows you to tweak the bass to suit the music and your preference and has a low pass crossover which effectively prevents all the high notes from reaching your sub-woofers. Overall, we found this to be the best budget car amplifier this year.

2. Blaupunkt AMP1504 4-Channel Amplifier – Best Value

If you are looking to power up your existing car speakers, this fantastic full-range 4-channel amplifier from Blaupunkt is, without a doubt, the best budget car amplifier under $100 for the money.

It’s a small amplifier that will fit in even the smallest of car trunks. With its 4 x 150-watt RMS outputs (1500 watts max power), the Blaupunkt can boost power to your front and rear speakers. The only downside we can see with this model is that it only has RCA inputs, which means it will be a little tricky to install if you connect it to a factory-fitted stereo.

3. Planet Audio AC1000 2 Channel Car Amplifier

The Planet Audio AC1000.2 may be an excellent choice to power a pair of speakers or two small sub-woofers.   It features variable low and high pass crossovers, bass boost, and remote subwoofer control, which allow you to customize the sound to your liking.

It is fitted with a MOSFET power supply, has a power output of 2 x 375 watts RMS (1000 watts max power @ 2 Ohms), and has both high and Low-level inputs, making it easy to install regardless of the type of car stereo you have.

4. BOSS Audio Systems AR1500M Car Amplifier

This excellent single channel monoblock amplifier can deliver 1120 Watts RMS @2 Ohms (1500 watts max) and would be another good choice for someone looking to install a new sub-woofer.

This Amplifier can accept high- and low-level inputs, making it easy to install whether you have a factory-installed or aftermarket stereo head unit. It has a variable low pass crossover, switchable bass boost, and a remote sub-woofer control, giving you considerable options to modify and adjust your sound.

5. Rockford Fosgate Prime 2-Channel Amplifier

This 2-channel amplifier from Rockford Fosgate certainly isn’t the cheapest on our review list, and you won’t get much change from your $100 with this amplifier. However, you will have an excellent amplifier from one of the most well-known and respected brands on the market.

This amplifier has a heavy cast-aluminum chassis that draws heat away from its internal components and is designed with reliability in mind.  It may not be the most powerful amplifier on the market, but this versatile amplifier is capable of delivering 2 x 50 watts RMS @ 2 Ohms (2 x 70 watts max power) or being bridged to deliver 150 watts RMS @4 Ohms to a single subwoofer.

6. Skar Audio Monoblock MOSFET Amplifier

The RP-350.1D is a compact monoblock amplifier designed for maximum power and efficiency. It is a well-constructed unit that is rated to 350 watts RMS @ 1 Ohm (380 watts max power) and could be a good choice if you’re looking for an amplifier to pair with a single sub-woofer up to about 400 watts or two smaller subs up to 200 watts each.

It comes with a remote subwoofer control that can be mounted in the front of the vehicle, allowing complete control over the bass levels and ensuring the best possible sound. It also features a MOSFET power supply,4-way protection circuitry, and an efficient heatsink design to guarantee reliability and performance.

7. Pioneer GM-A6704 4-Channel Bridgeable Amplifier

If you are looking for versatility from an amplifier, we recommend that you take a closer look at this model GM-A670 from Pioneer. This amplifier can supply 60 watts of RMS power to your front and rear speakers and will be a great choice if you want to power up your factory-fitted speakers.

However, it can also be installed with the two back channels bridged, allowing you to power two front speakers and a 190-watt sub-woofer. This nifty and well-built amplifier comes with an auto signal sensing turn-on, a variable high pass filter, and an adjustable bass boost. However, the amplifier isn’t the cheapest and only scrapes in under our $100 budget by a whisker.

8. Ignite Audio R1600/1D Mono Block Car Amplifier

If you are looking for an inexpensive amplifier to power your subwoofer, the Ignite Audio R1600/ID is another model you should consider. For the price, it is quite a powerful unit and can produce up to 530 RMS watts of power @ 2 Ohms.

According to the manufacturer, it has a max power of 4000 watts, but based on several independent tests and reviews we’ve read, we suspect this is an exaggeration of the unit’s capability.

It is, nonetheless, a very good amplifier. It’s not as well built as some of the other models on our list, but it will certainly do until you can afford to upgrade to a better-quality amplifier later.

9. Planet Audio TR1500.1M Monoblock Car Amplifier

At this point, we are starting to get into the lower end of our list of recommended amplifiers, so it should be no surprise that we don’t feel this model is as good as some of our earlier recommendations. However, all the amplifiers on this list could be a good choice if you need to get something for less than $100.

That is certainly the case with the TR1500.1M monoblock from Planet Audio, which may be a good option for you if you need an amplifier to power a moderate-size sub-woofer. It can deliver 1125 watts RMS @2 Ohms to a single channel, with a maximum power of 1500 watts RMS.

Like most Planet Audio Amps, it features a MOSFET power supply and high and low-level inputs. This model also has a variable low pass crossover and switchable bass boost.

10. Rockville RXA-T1 RMS 2 Channel Amplifier

The final amplifier on our list, the RXA-T1 from Rockford, is a budget amplifier worth considering if you want to add power to a single pair of car speakers. The RXA T1 is a two-channel amplifier with an output of 2 x 375 watts RMS @ 2 Ohms (1,500 Watts peak power).

It features a high-speed MOSFET power supply and high-level inputs, allowing you to connect it easily to a factory-installed stereo unit that does not have RCA cable outputs.

Buyer’s Guide – Choosing the Best Budget Car Amplifier Under $100

If you’ve read through our reviews of the best budget car amplifiers, you may already have noticed that when it comes to installing an amplifier, there is no simple one-size-fits-all solution. In fact, there are several factors you need to consider, and we’ll go through them briefly for you here.

Stereo head unit

If you have a factory-fitted stereo, the first thing you should look for in an amplifier is whether or not it has high-level inputs (also known as speaker-level inputs). An amplifier with these inputs can be connected directly to your stereo without additional components.

This won’t be as important if you have an aftermarket stereo installed, as most of these units can be connected to amplifiers with RCA cables.

Speaker set-up

Your speakers’ number, type, and capability is an important consideration when installing an amplifier. If you are still running factory speakers in your car, there is no need to purchase a high powered amplifier, as it will be too powerful for your speakers to handle. Instead, you may want to consider a compact, 4-channel amplifier to boost the power of your front and rear speakers.

On the other hand, if you install an amplifier with a new sub-woofer, you may want a monoblock or single-channel amplifier that will power your sub-woofer without being connected to your front or rear speakers.

There are also 2-channel amplifiers, which can power a single pair of speakers, bridged to power a large subwoofer or two smaller subs. A whole range of options is available depending on the number of channels your amplifier has and your speaker setup.

Each channel on an amplifier is a single power source, and each speaker needs its own power.

Don’t exceed RMS power ratings

You must choose an amplifier with a top RMS output per channel no higher than your speaker’s top RMS rating. Conversely, if you are looking for speakers to match an amplifier, buy models with a top RMS rating equal to or higher than each amp channel’s top RMS output.

Never exceed your RMS power ratings. This is the golden rule when purchasing an amplifier, and failing to follow it will damage your speakers and amp.

Conclusion

As we mentioned at the start of this article, adding an amplifier to your car stereo is a great way to improve the quality of the sound of your speakers and a great way to get some extra volume out of them. Hopefully, this list of reviews gives you a better idea of which budget amplifier under $100 is right for you. To recap, our picks for the Best Budget Car Amplifiers under $100 are:

Best Overall:    BOSS Audio Systems R1100M Monoblock

Best Value:        Blaupunkt AMP1504 4-Channel Amplifier

Featured Image Credit: Jace, Pixabay