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Step 1
Decide what features you want. This will give you an idea about what technical specifications you'll need. This information should include sound volume, audio quality, additional hook up (for expanding your system at a later time) and what you are going to be hooking up to the system.
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Step 2
Build your own amplifier. If you are electronically savvy, there is a company offering the components you need at a reasonable price to build your own custom amplifier (see Resources). They also have a variety of used amps available, if you are interested in their quality, but not the construction. Visit the Power Amps website for more information.
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Step 3
Research the best product brands that meet your specifications. Do additional Google searches using "audio amplifier kits" to gain awareness on the types of models that exist and the technical specifications. This step should also include narrowing down your top brand picks, as this will make the process less overwhelming when you walk into an audio store.
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Step 4
Check the availability in your area of the particular brand that interests you and meets the technical specifications as the next logical step. Check your local yellow pages for audio stores in your area. Also, check large electronics dealers online, such as Circuit City, for brands and models available. If they are not available at your local store, they can often be special ordered or brought from another store to your area.
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Step 5
Consider pricing and compatibility with your existing components. You will need an audio amplifier that works with your current components and this should be feasible with many models to choose from. Pricing is dependent mostly on the brand, power output of the amp and possible installation costs.
