When planning out your vehicle's sound system installation, there's many factors you'll want to consider.

This article will primarly discuss planning, and selecting, the appropriate amplifier for your subwoofers.

We'll specifically be looking at how to determine if your amplifier is 1 or 2 ohm stable, and how that should factor into your planning.

You'll want to select an appropriate amplifier with enough RMS Wattage to power a single high wattage subwoofer, or multiple high wattage subwoofers. If it's a multiple subwoofer installation, you'll also want to decide if you'll be wiring the subwoofers in series, or in parallel.

In an ideal situation for a single subwoofer installation, you'll want to select an amplifier with an RMS output ABOVE your subwoofers maximum RMS output value. This will allow you to keep a good amount of headroom with Wattage over the value that's needed by the subwoofer. You'll also be able to setup your amplifier below it's maximum output, which will allow you go louder with your subwoofers without supplying them with a clipped signal.

If you'll be powering multiple subwoofers, the same logic applies. You'd ideally want to select an amplifier with an RMS output higher than the sum of the RMS value of all your subwoofers combined. This calculation can change based on how the subwoofers are wired (in series, or in parallel), so be sure you're calculating your values correctly. Just like the single subwoofer setup, this will give you more headroom, allowing you go louder with your subwoofers while avoiding a clipped signal.

We're focusing on two different types of stabilty with mono amplifiers in this article.

The first is 1 ohm stability. These are amplifers that have been rated to supply power all the way down at 1 ohm (or sometimes lower!). The easiest way to tell if an amplifier is 1 ohm stable is to look at the manufactuer's specifications. We've taken many of these specifications an transferred them over to our website so you can find them easily there. We've also created a list on our 1 ohm stable amplifiers available on our website in this post.

You'll want to make sure your amplifier specifically states it is compatable with a 1 ohm load. If not, you run the risk of ruining equipment due to an excess of heat created from the incorrect setup.

JL Audio Amplifiers

With all of the mono amplifiers we carry from JL Audio, there is only one model that currently features 1 ohm stability.

The JL Audio RD1500/1 1500 Watt Monoblock Amplifier delievers an incredibly powerful 1500 Watts at 1 ohm. There is an easily selectable switch on the amp that will change it's output from 2 ohms to 1 ohms.

JL Audio RD1500/1 1500 Watt Monoblock Amplifier Class D

Kicker Amplifiers

Kicker's current amplifier series offer a 400, 800, and 1200 Watt amplifier in its CX Series for mono amplifiers with 1 ohm stability.

The Kicker CX Series features 1 ohm stability in the 400, 800, and 1200 Watt power ranges. The CX lineup features many different power options, while still maintaining affordability.

Kicker CXA1200.1 1200-Watt Mono Class D Subwoofer Amplifier

Kicker CXA800.1 800-Watt Mono Class D Subwoofer Amplifier

Kicker CXA400.1 400-Watt Mono Class D Subwoofer Amplifier

Rockford Fosgate Amplifiers

When it comes to 1 ohm stability, Rockford Fosgate offers a variety of options across our selection of their entire lineup of mono amplifiers. Rockford Fosgate's lineup of 1 ohm stable amps is diverse, while offering multiple options at each price point.

Rockford Fosgate's mid-level lineup features two amplifiers with 1 ohm stability. These amps feature an amazing combination affordability with some of the features you'll see on the premiere Power Series amps. The Punch series comes in either a 500 Watt or 1000 Watt Option for a 1 ohm stable amp. If you're looking for a great combination of features and price, all backed by Rockford Fosgate's name, one of these amps might be the best fit your needs.

Rockford Fosgate P1000X1BD Punch 1000 Watt Mono Amplifier

Rockford Fosgate P500X1BD Punch 500 Watt Mono Amplifier

The next step up from the Punch Series is Rockford Fosgate's Power Series. Rockford Fosgate selected its premiere models to offer their biggest selection of power ratings. These amps will deliver the most features, with the largest variation in power ratings. In this lineup, you'll find power ratings of 500, 1000, 1500, and an incredible 2500 watts, all at 1 ohm stability.

RRockford Fosgate T2500-2500 Watt BD Class Mono Amplifier

Rockford Fosgate T1500-1500 Watt BD Class Mono Amplifier

Rockford Fosgate T1000-1000 Watt BD Class Mono Amplifier

Rockford Fosgate T500-500 Watt BD Class Mono Amplifier

Like the Kicker PX series above, Rockford Fosgate also features a compact lineup of amps that have 1 ohm stability. There are two models in this series both with a 1 ohm stable power rating. These amps feature a selection between either 500 or 750 Watts, all rolled up into a compact size.

Rockford Fosgate T750X1BD Power Mini 750 Watt Mono Amplifier

Rockford Fosgate T500X1BR Power Mini 500 Watt Mono Amplifier

Rockford Fosgate's Prime Series is their most cost effective lineup. For a great price, combined with either 1200 or 750 Watt power output at 1 ohm stability, look no further than Rockford Fosgate's Prime Series amps.

Rockford Fosgate R2-1200x1 Prime R2 1200 Watt Mono Amplifier

Rockford Fosgate R2-750x1 Prime R2 750 Watt Mono Amplifier

The second type of stability is 2 ohm stability. These are mono amplifiers that have NOT been rated down to 1 ohm stability and need to be outputting at 2 ohms or higher. The power rating description for these amps will be for calculations when wiring the amp for 2 ohm stability.

The easiest way to tell if an amplifier is 2 ohm stable is the same as the 1 ohm stable amps, by looking at the manufactuers specifications. We've also transferred these over to our website and provided a list of our 2 ohm stable mono amps so you can find this information easily.

JL Audio Amplifiers

With it's limited selection of 1 ohm stable amplifiers, JL Audio has a larger selection of 2 ohm stable amplifiers. We carry a variety of lineups of mono amplifiers that are 2 ohm stable from JL Audio. There are several opetions for varying budgets and power requirements across JL Audio's series of 2 ohm stable mono amplifiers.

While there were no 1 ohm stable amplifiers in the JD Series, JL Audio offers three different amps that are 2 ohm stable. These amps also happen to be JL Audio's most budget friendly. If you're looking for a cost effective amp that's 2 ohm stable, JL Audio has three great options at the 250, 500, and 1000 Watt range.

JL Audio JD1000/1 1000 Watt Monoblock Subwoofer Amplifier

JL Audio JD500/1 500 Watt Monoblock Subwoofer Amplifier

JL Audio JD250/1 250 Watt Monoblock Subwoofer Amplifier

JL Audio's only 1 ohm stable amplifier comes in its mid-range RD series. There are still two other amps in this series that are 2 ohm stable. For a great mid-level amplifier at a competitive price, JL Audio offers a 2 ohm stable amp in both 500 and 1000 watts.

JL Audio RD1000/1 1000 Watt Monoblock Amplifier Class D

JL Audio RD500/1 500 Watt Monoblock Amplifier Class D

There were also no 1 ohm stable amplifiers listed in JL Audio's XD Series amplifiers. This lineup is JL Audio's premiere lineup of amps, and features their best technology, features, and design. If you're looking for a top of the line 2 ohm stable amplifier from JL Audio, the XD series is available in 300, 600, and 1000 Watt models.

JL Audio XD1000/1v2 1000 Watt Mono Amplifier

JL Audio XD600/1v2 600 Watt Mono Amplifier

JL Audio XD300/1v2 300 Watt Mono Amplifier

If we created a third category in this article, we'd have to feature the JL Audio HD Series mono amplifiers. These are unique in that they're 1.5 ohm stable. While they aren't fully stable down to 1 ohm, they definitely sit between the 1 and 2 ohm stable categories. These beatiful looking amps are also ultra compact. In addition to delivering great power at either 750 or 1200 Watts, these amps are a major space saver as well.

JL Audio HD1200/1 Monoblock Class D 1200 Watt Amplifier

JL Audio HD Monoblock Class D 750 Watt Amp

Rockford Fosgate Amplifiers

Just like Kicker, Rockford Fosgate's options for 2 ohm stable amplifiers are more limited than its 1 ohm stable lineup. Rockford Fosgate offers 2 ohm stable mono amps in both its mid-level Punch Series, and also its entery-level Prime Sereies. Both of these options are relatively low in their power ratings. If you're looking for something more powerful, you'll definitely want to check out our larger variety of options in the 1 ohm stable series of Rockford Fosgate mono amps.

This is Rockford Fosgate's mid-level amplifier offering in a 2 ohm stable amplifier. For a mono amplifier packed with some of the great technology and features that you would see on its premiere Power Series amps, this is an amazing amplifier to go with. This amplifer can be great in subwoofer applications, or even for powering a dedicated center channel speaker.

Rockford Fosgate P300X1 Punch 300 Watt Mono Amplifier

This is Rockford Fosgate's entry level amplifier series. For power options at 2 ohm stability, Rockford Fosgate offers 2 models, the Prime R2-500x1 and Prime R2-250x1 models are both great entery level options. These amps are both cost effective while offering 2 ohm stable power output at either 500 or 250 Watts.

Rockford Fosgate R2-500x1 Prime 500 Watt Mono Amplifier

Rockford Fosgate R2-250x1 Prime 250 Watt Mono Amplifier