The 5 Best CB Amplifiers You Can Get

By: Jeremy Neisser

If the sound made by your CB radio sounds bad or not as clear as it could be, the solution is quite simple – get yourself a CB amplifier!

Of course, this is only true if you buy a quality amplifier, which is something that’s not that easy to find. But, you’ve come to the right place; we’re now going to help you with your quest. All you got to do is check out our best CB amplifier list.

The 5 Best CB Amplifiers

• MegaWatt S-400-12- Best Overall

• MegaWatt S-350-12 - Most Reliable

• MFJ-260C: Best Compact CB Amplifier
  

• Kinter MA170+ Mini - Smallest & Lightweight 

• HYS CB & Ham HF Amplifier - Best SSB Power CB Amplifier
  

The Top Overall: Best Linear CB Amplifier:

It’s true that there are a lot of different CB radios amplifiers on the market, but the ugly truth is that not all of them are actually worth buying. Some are poorly built, some are too expensive, some are difficult to use. 

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So, which one should you pick?

Well, before making your choice, we advise you to get to know each one of these products a little bit better by reading my reviews!

Reviews of the Best CB Amplifiers on the Market

Read our best CB amplifier reviews and you won’t have any problems picking the right one!

1. MegaWatt S-400-12 Linear Radio Amplifier Review

• This is the best of the best cb amplifiers -  I love the MegaWatt® brand because it is like buying a Ferrari for power supplies. This S-400-12x 36 Amps 430 Watts 9.5 to 15 Volts Adjustable CB Radio Power Supply 13.8V will work with just about any radios from Cobra, Galaxy, and all Kenwood/Yaesu radios.
• MegaWatt S-400-12 cb linear amplifier offers a clean output with a highly filtered and regulated structure for almost complete RF noise elimination. It requires just 12 volts of power supply which is within the FCC regulations.
• The voltage stability of the MegaWatt S-400-12 is remarkable and with built in protection against unforeseen power surges - it comes with a grounded power cord and offers automatic shut-down for protection against short circuit.
• The manufacturer included a robust cooling system with mounted fans that are rather quiet. The slowly run to keep the amp cool which allows the MegaWatt S-400-12 to push out from 9.5 volts DC to a little more than 15 volts DC. So if you have a 12 volt or 13.8-volt equipment, you are in great shape. A great value for the price.

2. MegaWatt S-350-12 Linear Radio Amplifier Review - Best Compact CB Amplifier

• Similar to the MegaWatt S-400-12, the MegaWatt S-350-12 offers a tremendous ability to eliminate unwanted RF noise. The biggest difference is that the MegaWatt S-350-12 is slightly smaller than the S-400. They are virtually the same machine offering the same specs (as I noted above).
• I like how the MegaWatt S-350-12 cb linear amplifier has the range of 9.5-15 volts DC. Similar to the S-400, it comes with a over-voltage and short circuit shut-down protection. The cooling fans can be a bit loud like the S-400 but they keep the amp nice and cool, which is perfect when you need the power.
• I would also point out that you will find that setting the power supply to your voltage requirement is very simple, in comparison to other amplifiers.  It does come with a grounded power cord. 

3. MFJ-260C - Best Mobile & Compact  CB Linear Amplifier

• The MFJ-260C is a one of the best dry dummy load amplifier that I have ever used. It is compact and super easy to use.
• When testing a ham or CB radio, it can withstand a maximum of 300 watts for 30 seconds or lower loads for up to 5 minutes. This CB linear amplifier comes with a PL-259 connector and works great with most radios that are within the 1MHZ and 650 MHZ range. When using a 5-watt transceiver, expect it to to allow up to 20 foot of transmission.

4. Kinter MA170+ 2-Channel Mini Amplifier

• Kinter MA170 is one of the newest value leaders in audio amplifiers. It has 18-watt robust power per channel. I love the modern, stylish look. Not only that, but it also features the latest in IC-based amplifier technology that delivers a smooth, natural sound.
• Kinter MA170 is a great CB radio amplifier! You may use it in various things –including an at-home audio system. You can also build it into portable units, which you may take anywhere.
• It offers RCA inputs on this amplifier so it may also work with almost any speakers and source, in order to create an astoundingly sounding audio system.
• Furthermore, the integrated mounting tabs of the product’s black anodized aluminum casing make it easier to mount the amplifier anywhere. It also has glowing LEDs, which is pretty cool.

5. HYS CB or Ham HF Amplifier - Best SSB Power CB Amplifier

• The HYS AM and FM CB Radio Linear Amplifier is on the list because of it flexibility.
• It offers the ability amplify two-way radios or walkie talkies within the range of 3 MHZ to 30 MHZ, the ideal range 15 MHz to 25 MHz.
• When it is operating, the cooling fan attached to the top helps dissipate the heat and the heat sink design also help keeps it cool
• With the two different modes; AM and FM or SSB, you have limitations.
• AM and FM mode - the output power range is 100 watts, the input minimum is 1 watt.
• SSB mode - the output power is 300 watts for an input of 10 watts. The minimum input for SSB is 2 watts.
• All of the switches for the cb amp are located on the front of the machine and are clearly labeled. The power cord is a little short be aware of that when purchasing the cb radio amplifier. 

Tips for Picking the Best CB Amplifier

If you still haven’t decided which CB radio range booster is the best for you, you need to keep on reading this part! But, first, you need to ask yourself the question do you actually need an amplifier?

CB radios come with AM carriers, which you can modulate, thus increasing the radio’s output power to 18-20 watts. Furthermore, using an amplifier with your CB radio is illegal in some countries. So, before you decide to make such a purchase, it’s best to check whether you’re breaking the law.

And once you’re completely sure that a CB radio amplifier is what you need, it’s time to take a look at its specs, particularly these:

• Amplification– Of course, the most important thing about every CB radio amplifier is its ability to amplify the sound. The higher, the better is the rule of thumb.
• Heat handling– Amplifiers get hot when they work, which can impact their performance. Or, even worse, it can make some components melt. So, it’s important to check whether the amplifier you want to buy has a high-speed fan or some other feature that helps with heat dispersion.
• Modes– The more modes it can be used on, the better. The good news is that most of the amplifiers on the market are all-modes boosters, but still, it’s best to check first.

Conclusion

In order to find the best CB amplifier, you have two options in front of you. The first one is to spend hours browsing the offer, checking the specs of dozens of different devices. The second option is to listen to our advice.

This booster has everything you need to amplify the sound of your CB radio. Actually, we can’t name a single bad thing about it, aside from its a bit higher price.

Still, even if it was two times higher, we would’ve still recommended it!

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