Is the RD500/1 worth it?

It is a reasonable buy if you run a 2-ohm sub and want 500 watts from a small amp. At 4 ohms it only makes 250 watts, so a 4-ohm sub may want a stronger amp.

Will it power my subwoofer?

Check your sub's RMS rating and impedance. It suits a single sub rated around 500 watts RMS at 2 ohms, or up to 250 watts at 4 ohms.

Does it have a subsonic filter?

No. The filter section is a 50-500 Hz low-pass only, so a ported box tuned very low gets no protection below tuning.

What wiring and fuse does it need?

Use 4 AWG power wire and a 50 A fuse on the power lead. Undersized wire or a wrong fuse will limit output or fail.

About 9-13/16 inches wide, 7 inches deep and 2-3/16 inches tall, which fits under many seats and behind panels.

Car audio amps tend to dip during holiday sales and end-of-model clearance. Watch the price history and buy when the current price sits near the low end of its recent range.

JL Audio RD500/1 Monoblock Amplifier

Last price we saw

$379.99at street beat car audio, last seen Oct 31

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Our take on the JL Audio RD500/1 Monoblock Amplifier

The JL Audio RD500/1 is a Class D monoblock car amplifier rated at 250 watts RMS into 4 ohms and 500 watts into 2 ohms, built to drive a subwoofer. It is compact for its output, at roughly 9-13/16 by 7 inches and just over 2 inches tall, so it fits under seats and behind trim panels. It carries a 50 A fuse, needs 4 AWG power wire, and has a 50-500 Hz low-pass filter with a 12 dB/octave slope plus up to 12 dB of bass boost at 45 Hz. It is a mainstream single-sub amp rather than a flagship; check the current best price against its recent range before buying.

Best forPowering one subwoofer at 2 ohmsSpace-limited installs under a seat