• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Precision Audio & Tint

Thomasville: (229) 233 5001Bainbridge: (229) 246 2111
  • NEW! SHOP ONLINE
  • Financing/Lease to Own
    • Easy Payments, No Credit Needed
    • $0 Down, 0% APR Financing
  • Our Work
  • Reviews
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Request a Quote
  • About Us
    • Why Choose Us
    • Hours and Directions
    • Our Facilities
    • Virtual Tour Bainbridge Store
    • Virtual Tour Thomasville Store
    • Work for US
    • Gift Cards
    • Contact Us
  • Services
    • Car Audio
      • Backup Safety
      • Mobile Video
      • OEM Integration
      • Professional Installation
      • Smartphone Integration
      • Vehicle Navigation
    • Marine Audio
    • Motorcycle Audio
    • Remote Starters
    • Wheels & Tires
  • Window Tint
  • Customize Your Truck
    • Bed Covers
    • Floor Liners And Accessories
    • Grille Guards And Bumpers
    • Hitches
    • Leveling and Lift Kits
    • Jeep Parts And Accessories
    • Step Bars And Running Boards
    • Toolboxes
  • Brands
    • JL Audio
    • Kenwood
    • Pioneer
    • Fuel Wheels
    • Llumar Window Tint
    • Rockford Fosgate
    • Cam-Locker
    • Ranch Hand
    • Rough Country
    • WeatherTech
You are here: Home / ARTICLES / Understanding Specifications: Car Audio Amplifier Stereo Separation

Understanding Specifications: Car Audio Amplifier Stereo Separation

By BestCarAudio.com Leave a Comment

Amplifier Stereo Separation

We’re back in the lab and working on a few more articles about amplifier specifications in order to wrap up this series. This time, we’re going to talk about the amplifier stereo separation specification. In a nutshell, the stereo separation, or crosstalk, number tells us how much of an audio signal leaks from one channel of an amplifier to the other. Of course, for the number to exist, you need to be looking at a stereo amplifier and in most cases, one that will drive a full-range signal.

Understanding Amplifier Stereo Separation

Amplifier Stereo SeparationThe stereo separation specification is supplied in decibels and describes the amplitude of the signal produced in the adjacent channel. For example, if we have a stereo amp, and we feed a sine wave into the left channel, some of that signal will be reproduced by the right channel. The stereo separation specification tells us how much quieter the signal will be. A good number would be something about 70 dB.

A criterion required to better explain the application of this stereo separation value is to specify at what frequency the signal is tested. In most cases, you’ll see 1 kHz as the specified test frequency. The reason that the frequency needs to be specified is that some amplifiers, in fact, most amplifiers, have more crosstalk (signal leakage from one channel to the other) at higher frequencies.

Why Is Stereo Separation Important?

Amplifier Stereo SeparationWhen trying to recreate a musical experience, one of the many criteria that people will quantify subjectively is stage width. If you are using an amplifier with a poor stereo separation spec, content from the left channel will be reproduced on the right output and vice versa. This has the effect of making the signal more monaural and effectively reducing the width of the soundstage. If you switch to an amplifier with amazing separation performance, the stage may seem to be wider.

Measuring Stereo Separation

To give you an idea of how a good amplifier compares with an inexpensive solution, we set up our QuantAsylum QA401 on the bench and took some measurements.

Amplifier Stereo Separation
This shows the left channel output of our good amplifier when fed with a 1 kHz test tone and the sensitivity controls set to produce 1 watt (2.0 Vrms) of output.

 

Amplifier Stereo Separation
This image shows the output of the right channel output from this same amp. The level of -55.90 dB is 61.94 dB lower than the output on the left channel. This is the crosstalk or channel separation at 1 kHz.

 

Amplifier Stereo Separation
Here we have the same baseline test for our low-quality amplifier. It is set to produce 1 watt of output at 1 kHz.

 

Amplifier Stereo Separation
Here is the output on the right channel of the low-quality amp. You can see that the signal produced is 53.81 lower than that of the adjacent channel. This is 8 dB worse than the good amp shown above.

Stereo Separation and Frequency

As we mentioned, crosstalk and channel separation get worse as frequency increases. We took a series of measurements for each of the amplifiers in this test and plotted their channel separation versus frequency in the chart below.

Amplifier Stereo Separation

The graph clearly shows that the signal leakage from one channel to another is very dependent on frequency. At 20 kHz, our low-quality amplifier outperforms the good amp. Since we can’t hear 20 kHz, this isn’t an issue.

What to Look for When Shopping for a Car Audio Amplifier

Very few manufacturers publish an amplifier channel separation specification. If you do find a spec, the higher the number, the better the amp will perform in terms of creating a wide soundstage in your vehicle. Your local mobile electronics retailer can help you choose a great amplifier solution and install it for optimum performance and reliability.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email

Filed Under: ARTICLES, Car Audio, RESOURCE LIBRARY

About BestCarAudio.com

BestCarAudio.com is a showcase for the very best mobile electronics retailers in the world and a place to educate and inform interested consumers about existing and emerging technologies.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Search our Articles and Installs

Recent Customer Review

Request a Quote
Car Audio

Car Audio

Precision Audio & Tint in Bainbridge and Thomasville are truck and car audio upgrade specialists. Whether you are interested in adding Apple … Read More »

Tags

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Amplifiers Android Auto Apple CarPlay Bed Covers Camlocker Chevrolet F-150 Ford Fuel Fuel Wheels GMC Grille Guards Hunter Road Force Jeep JL Audio Kenwood Leveling Kits Llumar Nitto Pioneer Radios RAM Ranch Hand ReadyLift Rockford Fosgate Rough Country Speakers Step Bars Subwoofers Toolboxes Toyota TrailFX Undercover WeatherTech Westin Window Tint Wrangler

Expert Tips for Upgrading Your Boat’s Stereo System

 By BestCarAudio.com Leave a Comment

There’s nothing quite like spending a sunny day out on the water, and having the right soundtrack only enhances the … [Read More...]

The-3-Most-Important-Speaker-Parameters-and-Why-You-Should-Care-Lead-in

The 3 Most Important Speaker Parameters and Why You Should Care

 By BestCarAudio.com Leave a Comment

When you’re upgrading your car audio system, selecting the right speakers involves more than just brand loyalty or power … [Read More...]

The 3 Most Important Speaker Parameters and Why You Should Care

 By BestCarAudio.com Leave a Comment

Saving money feels good. Until it doesn't. Whether it’s a bargain-priced amplifier or a budget installation from someone … [Read More...]

A man sitting in his car driving down the highway glancing out the window

The Safety Net You Didn’t Know You Needed: Aftermarket Blind Spot and Collision Warning Systems

 By BestCarAudio.com Leave a Comment

If you’ve looked at a new vehicle lately, chances are it included some type of advanced safety feature like blind spot … [Read More...]

A man typing on his computer while sitting inside a vehicle

How Time Alignment Transforms Your Car Audio Experience

 By BestCarAudio.com Leave a Comment

When most people think about improving their car’s sound system, their first thought is usually upgrading speakers or … [Read More...]

Bainbridge Location


Get Directions to Precision Audio's Bainbridge Location
Address:
909 Dothan Road, Bainbridge, GA 39817
Phone: 229-246-2111
Secondary phone: 229-246-3888
Email: salesstaff@precisionga.com

Opening Hours:
Monday : 8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Tuesday : 8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Wednesday : 8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Thursday : 8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Friday : 8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Saturday : Closed
Sunday : Closed

Thomasville Location


Get Directions to Precision Audio's Thomasville Location
Address:
12588 US Highway 319 N., Thomasville, GA 31757
Phone: 229-233-5001
Email: thomasville@precisionga.com

Opening Hours:
Monday : 8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Tuesday : 8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Wednesday : 8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Thursday : 8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Friday : 8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Saturday : Closed
Sunday : Closed

MESA retailer

Copyright © 2025 Precision Audio & Tint · Privacy Policy · Website by 1sixty8 media, inc. · Log in